Jul 21, 2026

US12689834 - Apparatus and method for imaging

Apparatus and method for compiling an image is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a deflector, a detector, and a processor. The deflector is operable to deflect light incident thereon by a controllable angular deflection, and is arranged to receive light from a moveable field of view within a field of regard by controlling the angular deflection. The detector is arranged to receive deflected light and output an image component composed from the deflected light. The processor is arranged to control the angular deflection to select a part of the field of regard to be received at the detector, and to receive a sequence of such image components from the detector. The apparatus is configured to receive each image component passively, and the processor is operable to compile the sequence of image components to form a composite image of at least a part of the field of regard.

Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITED
Inventors: Antony Joseph Frank Lowe
Filing date: 2022-12-02

The patent describes an apparatus for compiling images using a deflector that can control the angular deflection of light from a moveable field of view, along with a detector to output image components. A processor manages the deflection and compilation of these components into a composite image, allowing for variable sizes of image components based on the selected field of regard.

Claim 1

1 . Apparatus for compiling an image, the apparatus comprising: a) a deflector operable to deflect light incident thereon by a controllable angular deflection and arranged to receive light from a field of view, which field of view is moveable within a field of regard by controlling the angular deflection; b) a detector arranged to receive deflected light from the deflector and operable to output an image component composed from the deflected light; and c) a processor arranged to control at least one of a staretime for each image component or dwell times for the deflector within the staretime for each image component such that a size of each image component with respect to the field of regard is variable, whereby the control selects a part of the field of regard to be received at the detector for each image component, and to receive a sequence of such image components from the detector; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive each image component passively, and wherein the processor is operable to compile the sequence of image components to form a composite image of at least a part of the field of regard. a) a deflector operable to deflect light incident thereon by a controllable angular deflection and arranged to receive light from a field of view, which field of view is moveable within a field of regard by controlling the angular deflection; b) a detector arranged to receive deflected light from the deflector and operable to output an image component composed from the deflected light; and c) a processor arranged to control at least one of a staretime for each image component or dwell times for the deflector within the staretime for each image component such that a size of each image component with respect to the field of regard is variable, whereby the control selects a part of the field of regard to be received at the detector for each image component, and to receive a sequence of such image components from the detector; wherein the apparatus is configured to receive each image component passively, and wherein the processor is operable to compile the sequence of image components to form a composite image of at least a part of the field of regard.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12689834

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12689834