US 12,406,331 B2
Accommodating dissimilar cameras on a common scanning gimbal—stagger-step scanning
David Christopher Mann, Frisco, TX (US); and Randall W. Zywicki, McKinney, TX (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by RAYTHEON COMPANY, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on May 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,962.
Prior Publication US 2023/0385999 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G06T 5/50 (2006.01); G01J 3/28 (2006.01)
CPC G06T 5/50 (2013.01) [G01J 3/2823 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10036 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical imaging apparatus comprising:
optics configured to provide a first optical channel and a second optical channel through the optics;
a two-dimensional image sensor optically coupled to the optics, the two-dimensional image sensor configured to receive a first optical signal from the first optical channel and provide a two-dimensional image;
a one-dimensional image sensor assembly optically coupled to the optics and sharing a same optical path, the one-dimensional image sensor assembly configured to receive a second optical signal from the second optical channel at a one-dimensional image sensor therein to provide an image, the image with an overlapping coverage area in the two-dimensional image;
at least one processor configured to operate the two-dimensional image sensor and the one-dimensional image sensor assembly; and
an electromechanically actuated scanning mirror configured to move the image in an elevation direction to provide scans in elevation of the image to the one-dimensional image sensor assembly, the movement of the electromechanically actuated scanning mirror is responsive to receiving a control signal from the at least one processor.