Passively athermalized hybrid objective for a far-infrared uncooled thermal imager

Andrew P. Wood; L. Lewell; Paul Antony Manning; Paul P. Donohue

doi:10.1117/12.243490

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27 June 1996 Passively athermalized hybrid objective for a far-infrared uncooled thermal imager

Andrew P. Wood, L. Lewell, Paul Antony Manning, Paul P. Donohue

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Proceedings Volume 2744, Infrared Technology and Applications XXII; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243490
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1996, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The development of a Petzval objective lens which is passively athermalized over the temperature range minus 20 degrees Celsius to plus 50 degrees Celsius is described. The lens is compatible with a latest generation uncooled staring array imager operating in the far infrared band, currently under development at the UK Defence Research Agency (DRA). In order to minimize the number of lens components which are required, a diamond turned hybrid refractive-diffractive element is employed. Design options are presented and the manufacturing issues relating to the diffractive surface are described. The goal is to produce a cost effective solution rather than placing the emphasis on achieving the ultimate in performance. Results from optical performance tests are given, including interferometry at a range of temperatures and broadband MTF.

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Andrew P. Wood, L. Lewell, Paul Antony Manning, and Paul P. Donohue "Passively athermalized hybrid objective for a far-infrared uncooled thermal imager", Proc. SPIE 2744, Infrared Technology and Applications XXII, (27 June 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.243490

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