The applications for larger format infrared focal plane arrays are numerous: more pixels on target, wider fields of regard, and digital windowing while retaining the highest resolutions possible are just a few examples. As manufacturing capabilities at the sensor level begin rising to meet these challenges, it is imperative advancements in the design and manufacturing practices of optical assemblies run in parallel. The principle challenges met by optical designers in this field are those driven by the size of the optical elements required. This paper will detail some of these challenges, specifically the form of the lens design and the difficulties of mounting and aligning large optical elements.
We describe a case study in which a telescope system, originally designed for a large format, visible camera, needed MWIR imaging capabilities while maintaining its original setup. The dedicated telescope system was adapted to share its existing optics with a new imaging module via a skew path concept. The challenges of non-rotationally symmetric design are explored along with an explanation of the methodology used to analyze and address the unique configuration.
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