Imaging Freeform Optical Systems Designed with NURBS Surfaces

Abstract

The designs of two imaging freeform systems using NURBS optical surfaces are described. The first system, a three-mirror anastigmat has six times higher spatial resolution over the image plane compared with the equivalent conventional design. Analyzing the mirror surface shapes for both designs shows that the average aspheric departures per surface are the same. Alignment tolerances are tighter for the freeform design to maintain the higher spatial resolution. In the second system, a Ritchey-Chretien telescope is corrected by a two-mirror freeform system, providing a telecentric exit pupil and meeting the spatial resolution requirements for a visible to mid-wave infrared imaging spectrometer. Both of these NURBS freeform designs are possible due to a custom optical design code for fast accurate NURBS optimization (FANO), and its advantages in designing freeform systems are presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2015
Accession Number
AD1033999

Entities

People

  • Brian Primeau
  • Michael A. Echter
  • Michael P. Chrisp

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Assembly
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Engineering
  • Errors
  • Grids
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Structure
  • Optimization
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Point Clouds
  • Telescopes
  • United States
  • United States Government

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Marine Ecological Systems Migration
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space