US005681009A

United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,681,009

Wandersteen et al. 45 Date of Patent: Oct. 28, 1997
54 MISSILE HAVING ENDOATMOSPHERC 5,161,051 11/1992 Whitney et al. ....................... 244/3.16
AND EXOATMOSPHERIC SEEKER 5,529,261 6/1996 Iddan ..................................... 244/3.16
CAPABLTY
Primary Examiner Michael J. Carone
Assistant Examiner-Theresa M. Wesson
75 Inventors: Anthony D. Wandersteen, Cupertino; Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry J. Groth; W. Mark
William C. Lynch, Los Altos, both of Biewlawski; Terry McHugh
Calif.
57 ABSTRACT
73 Assignee: Lockheed Missiles and Space
Company, Sunnyvale, Calif. A seeker device, such as a seeker head, includes a housing
for both a first optical assembly and a second optical
21 Appl. No.: 722,836 assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the first optical
assembly is an infrared telescope having a fixed, relatively
22 Filed: Sep. 27, 1996 narrow field of view for receiving incoming energy via afirst
51 Int. Cl. ... F42B 15/01; G01J 5/02 path through an optical opening through the housing. The
52 U.S. Cl. .................................... 2443.16; 250/347
second optical assembly may be a pivotable mirror that is
pivoted to provide a wide field of regard. The incoming
58 Field of Search ............................... 244/3.16, 3.15; energy that impinges the pivotable mirror enters through a
250/353, 347 second path through the optical opening. The energy from
56 References Cited the pivotable mirroris redirected into the infrared telescope.
In the preferred embodiment, the redirection is achieved by
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS a dichroic mirror that has a high transmissivity with respect
to long wave infrared energy and a high reflectivity with
4,107,530 8/1978 Brumfield et al. ...................... 250,342 respect to mid wave infrared energy. In an exoatmospheric
4,354,742 10/1982 Abel et al. .......... ... 350/442 mode, the long wave infrared energy that passes through the
4,877,317 10/1989 Gibbons et al. ... 350/559 dichroic mirror from the narrow field of view is utilized,
4952,042 8/1990 Pinson ............. ... 350/56,
4989,962 2/1991 Kebo ....... ... 350,537 while in an endoatmospheric mode mid wave infrared
5,022,608 6/1991 Beam .. 2443.18 energy from the wide field of regard is utilized.
5,049,740 9/1991 Pines et al. . ... 2SO/235
5,113,281 5/1992. Mandelboum a- - - - - - - 359,236 18 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1997 Sheet 1 of 2 5,681,009
U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1997 Sheet 2 of 2 5,681,009
 5,681,009
1. 2
MSSLE HAVING ENDOATMOSPHERC to resolve both stars and targets. The seeker generates two
AND EXOATMOSPHERC SEEKER signals. The first signal is indicative of the angle between a
CAPABILITY longitudinal axis extending through the missile and the line
of sight of the missile to the target. The second signal is
indicative of the angle between the longitudinal axis extend
TECHNICAL FIELD ing through the missile and a line of sight between the
The invention relates generally to optical devices for missile and a celestial body, such as a star. From these two
seeking a radiation-emitting target and more particularly to signals, a velocity vector for the missile propulsion system
a seeker head for a missile having multiple modes of is calculated. The calculation is executed in a manner to
operation for seeking and acquiring radiation. 10 guide the KKV so as to complete the intended mission.
In order to maximize the range of a missile having a given
BACKGROUND ART energy supply, designers attempt to minimize the weight of
There are numerous applications for devices that optically the various systems that comprise the missile. Regulating
detect radiation emitted from an object of interest. For the weight is particularly important for exoatmospheric
15 missiles, such as the KKV described in Beam. Another
example, a land-based seeker device may be used to detect
and track an object that emits or reflects radiation. Optical concern is the space requirement of each system within the
seekers that illuminate a target and utilize the reflected missile. Consequently, the mass and the number of compo
radiation to track and/or identify the target are sometimes nents required for target acquisition, tracking and ranging
referred to as "active devices.” In comparison, seekers that are important, Nevertheless, seekers having more than one
detect radiation emitted by the object of interest are referred mode of operation are known. The different modes of
to as "passive devices.” operation may be distinguishable by frequencies of interest,
Seekers are also utilized in missiles. For example, a such as a system capable of sensing both in the millimeter
seeker head of a missile may be used for navigation and/or wave spectrum and the infrared spectrum.
target detection. In addition to categorizing a seeker based 25
Alternatively, the modes may be related to fields of view.
upon its "active" or "passive" approach to detection, seekers U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,530 to Brumfield et al., which is
can be categorized based upon the frequency bands of assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describes
interest. Detection of millimeter waves (MMW) or infrared an infrared acquisition device having a wide field of view
energy may be used for target acquisition, tracking and that can be reduced for fine tracking once target energy has
ranging. Within the infrared spectrum, long wave infrared 30
come into focus. An optical system of the infrared acquisi
(LWER) seekers and mid wave infrared (MWIR) seekers are tion device provides focus of the target onto a mosaic of
utilized. The selection of an appropriate sensor for a seeker separate detectors arranged in concentric fields. A first array
depends upon a number of factors, particularly the intended of infrared detectors is used to provide the fine tuning. A
mission of the missile. second array of infrared detectors provides the wide field of
An endoatmospheric missile is one that remains within 35
view for the initial focusing. When the second array detects
the earth's atmosphere, i.e., at an altitude below 100 kilo the target, the infrared energy is redirected to the first array
meters. For endo-atmospheric missions, three desirable sen and away from the second array.
sor characteristics are a wide field of regard that includes Another type of seeker having more than one mode of
radiation detection when the missile is at a low angle of operation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,529.261 to Iddan.
attack (i.e., forward-looking detection), uncooled optics, and In a search/seek mode, a seeker head extends out of the tip
detection within the MWIR spectrum. Exoatmospheric mis of a missile to allow a gimbal-mounted sensor to scan a wide
siles are capable of completing missions outside of the field of view. However, after a target has been detected, the
earth's atmosphere. Exoatmospheric missiles may be used to seeker head is retracted into the missile tip so as to improve
provide an orbital defense layer against hostile ballistic the aerodynamic continuum of the missile. While the field of
missiles. Typically, desired sensor characteristics for exoat 45 regard is narrower when the seeker head is in the retracted
mospheric missions include a narrow field of regard and condition, the field of regard is sufficiently wide to permit
LWIR detection. The field of regard for the sensor of an reliable tracking after the target has been detected.
exoatmospheric missile is less sensitive to the angle of While significant advances have been realized in the
attack. However, providing sufficient cooling or a thermal design of seekers, what is needed is a seeker device that
operation is often more important than for endoatmospheric 50 accommodates both exoatmospheric requirements and
missiles. endoatmospheric requirements, without placing high
U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,608 to Beam describes a seeker for an demands on available space and without a substantial
exoatmospheric missile. The missile is referred to as a increase in total weight.
kinetic kill vehicle (KKV) and is used to provide antisatellite SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
capability. The KKV is a light-weight missile having 55
on-board propulsion and guidance systems. The KKV differs A seeker device has an exoatmospheric mode of operation
from conventional missiles in that the vehicle is not in which a first optical assembly forms a narrow and
equipped with a warhead, but instead delivers sufficient preferably fixed field of view for receiving incoming energy
kinetic energy upon striking the target to disable or destroy via a first path through an optical opening. The seeker device
the target. As described in Beam, the conventional seeker is also includes a second optical assembly for providing a wide
an infrared sensor that receives energy from a target to field of regard and for receiving incoming energy via a
determine a target angle relative to a boresight of the KKV. second path through the optical opening. The incoming
The measurements from the seeker are combined with body energy from the wide field of regard is directed into the first
orientation sensed by a gyro-based altitude reference optical assembly, so that components for collecting, focus
system, producing a target line-of-sight measurement. In 65 ing and sensing optical energy are not duplicated.
comparison with the conventional approach, the Beam guid In the preferred embodiment, the first optical assembly is
ance system preferably uses a visible or ultra-violet sensor an infrared telescope mounted within the housing of a
 5,681,009
3 4
missile. The infrared telescope is mounted to have a direct additional components. For the preferred embodiment in
line of sight through the optical opening, with the line of which the dichroic mirror is fixed in position, the mirror
sight being off-axis of the missile housing, suitable for eliminates the need for moving components in order to
exoatmospheric flight. The second optical assembly is pref switch modes, eliminates the need for a pre-launch com
erably a mirror that is pivoted to define the wide field of mand to select either the wide field of regard for endoat
regard. At one extent of the field of regard, the line of sight mospheric operation or the narrow field of view for exoat
of a pivotable mirror provides a low angle of attack mospheric operation, and allows simultaneous split band
potential, as measured with respect to the axis of the missile spectra to be present at the focal plane, so that a single
housing, which is required for endoatmospheric flight. in-flight command to the internal filter can be used to select
In the preferred embodiment, the seeker device includes 10 between LWIR and MWIR wavelength bandpass.
a second mirror which is a dichroic mirror that is selective
with respect to transmission of bands of frequencies. The Alternatively, a dual FPA/Dewar or a single dual-band FPA,
Such as a gallium arsenide multiple quantum device, could
dichroic mirror is preferably fixed in place. In the fixed eliminate the need for filtering, thereby eliminating all mode
embodiment, the dichroic mirror has a high transmissivity Switching. Also, the use of cryo-cooled optical elements
with respect to long wave infrared (LWTR) energy within the 15 increases the effective range in the exoatmospheric mode by
narrow field of view of the telescope. The dichroic mirroris increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the seekers.
in the direct line-of-sight axis of the telescope through the
optical opening of the housing. The rear surface of the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
dichroic mirroris highly reflective with respect to mid wave
infrared (MWIR) energy. The pivotable mirroris positioned 20
FIG. It is a side sectional view of a multi-mode seeker
to direct energy onto the rear surface of the dichroic mirror, head having a fixed dichroic mirror in accordance with a first
so that the MWIR is reflected by the dichroic mirror into the embodiment of the invention.
infrared telescope. Thus, the dichroic mirror enables two FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seeker device of FIG.
modes of operation with a single fixed element. 1.
In an alternative embodiment the second mirror is dis 25 FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a portion of a seeker
placeable and band selectivity is not critical. That is, the head having a displaceable mirror in accordance with a
second mirror may be replaced with a more conventional second embodiment of the invention.
mirror or other assembly for redirecting the energy from the
pivotable mirror to the telescope. In the exoatmospheric BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
mode, the mirror is removed from the direct line-of-sight 30 NVENTION
axis of the telescope. In the endoatmospheric mode, the
displaceable mirror is switched into the line of sight of the With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a seeker device 10 is
telescope. As in the fixed dichroic mirror embodiment, the shown as being contained within a housing 12. In the
energy from the pivotable mirror is reflected at the internal preferred embodiment, the seeker device is an infrared
surface of the displaceable mirror to direct the energy into 35
seeker housed within a head of a missile. For example, the
the telescope. embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be a seeker head for a
The collected and focused energy from the telescope is kinetic kill vehicle.
directed to a sensor that converts the optical signal into an The housing 12 may be formed of materials conventional
electrical signal representative of the collected radiation. to seeker heads. The housing includes an optical opening 14,
The sensor may be a focal plane array (FPA) or a Dewar, but which may be a silicon window having an antireflective
this is not critical. Mode switching can take place down coating or may be an opening. However, the optical opening
stream of the telescope. For example, a switching filter may be formed by removing a section of the housing
assembly may be used to select between filtering MWR and following a launch. Typically, a seeker head is protected by
LWR prior to optical signal sensing. a shroud during a launch. The protective shroud is jettisoned
As previously noted, the optical elements are preferably 45 when the seeker device 10 is to be activated.
cryogenically cooled for exoatmospheric operation. In the The window 14 that forms the optical opening is trans
preferred embodiment, the optical elements of the telescope parent to the frequencies of interest. In the preferred
are made of silicon carbide, which has stiffness approaching embodiment, the seeker device 10 is used to detect infrared
that of beryllium and a desirable coefficient of thermal energy. Coolant systems 16 and 18 are used to regulate the
expansion close to that of an optical bench which may be a 50 temperature of the window 14. Since thermal expansion of
structure made of aluminum-doped graphite epoxy, for the window will affect the passage of infrared energy
example. This substantially matches the thermal expansion through the window, the operation of the coolant system to
of the silicon carbide optics, so that the optical system thermally regulate the window enhances the performance of
remains in focus under dynamic thermal environments. The the seeker device 10. The window 14 is connected to the
combination of cryogenic cooling and the selection of the 55 metallic portion of the housing 12 by fasteners 20 and 22.
materials provides a substantially athermal design which The type of fastener is not critical to the invention.
also reduces the thermal noise contribution of the mirrors to Within the housing 12 is an infrared telescope 24 for
the total noise at the sensors (FPA). In the exoatmospheric collecting and focusing infrared energy. The telescope 24
mode, the preferred embodiment uses cryogenically cooled and other components of the seeker device 10 are attached
optical elements, including the window, second mirror, to a mounting structure 26. In the preferred embodiment, the
telescope and other optical elements in the line of sight to the optical elements 28, 30 and 32 for collecting and focusing
sensor FPA. One method of removing heating effects from infrared radiation are formed of silicon carbide. The arrange
the window is to eject the window (by a suitable actuator ment of optical elements is conventional and well known in
device) from the seeker forecone after the missile is in the the art. However, the use of silicon carbide provides a
exoatmosphere. 65 stiffness that approaches that of beryllium and provides a
Another advantage of the invention is that the multi-mode desirable low coefficient of thermal expansion to achieve an
capability is achieved with a substantially small number of athermal operation and to minimize thermally induced opti
 5,681,009
5 6
cal distortion. The use of cryo-cooled optics reduces th In operation, the telescope 24 has a fixed, narrow field of
likelihood that the optical signal formed by the telescope view, as represented by lines 50 in FIG.1. The narrow field
will be adversely affected by “thermal noise.” of view is designed for energy detection within an exoat
In order to accommodate thermal expansion by the silicon mospheric mode of operation for the seeker device 10. In the
graphite optical elements 28, 30 and 32, the mounting preferred embodiment, the frequency band of interest is
structure 26 is preferably formed of aluminum-doped graph LWTR. Where the switched filter assembly 44 is utilized, the
ite epoxy, which has a thermal expansion coefficient that appropriate filter is positioned along an optical axis 52 from
approaches that of silicon carbide. However, these specific the fast steering mirror 42 to the sensor 46.
materials are not critical to the invention. As will be
explained more fully below, the other components of the The field of view 50 of the telescope 24 has a line-of-sight
10 axis 54 (shown in FIG. 2) that passes through a dichroic
seeker device 10 are attached to the one-piece mounting
structure 26 which functions as an optical bench. The mirror 56. The dichroic mirror is selective with respect to
arrangement allows the device to remain in focus within transmission of frequencies. In the preferred embodiment,
dynamic thermal environments. the dichroic mirror has a high transmissivity with respect to
The mounting structure 26 is attached to the housing 12 LWIR, but is highly reflective on the rear surface with
15 respect to MWR. Thus, the LWIR has a direct path through
by brackets 34, 36 and 38 and fastening members, not
shown. This allows the seeker device 10 to be removed as a the optical opening 14 to the telescope 24. Infrared energy
single unit. However, such a capability is not critical to the is collected and focused by the telescope, and an optical
invention. signal is directed to the sensor 46.
The telescope 24 may be fixed to the mounting structure 20
In an endoatmospheric mode of operation, the telescope
26 by an annular member 40, but preferably is in direct 24 receives energy via apath through the optical opening 14
thermal contact with the thermal expansion-matched mount that is different than the path defined by the narrow field of
ing structure 26. The telescope is cryogenically cooled using view 50. A pivotable mirror 58 establishes a field of regard
the coolant systems 16 and 18. For example, liquid argon or that is significantly wider than the field of view 50 of the
other such cryogenic coolant may be used. Cryogenically 25
telescope 24. A motor 60 pivots the pivotable mirror about
cooling the telescope reduces the thermal noise produced by axis 62 (shown in FIG. 2).
the optics at the focal plane, thereby allowing the seeker One of the extreme positions of the pivotable mirror 58 is
device 10 to have a greater range with respect to acquiring shown in phantom 58' in FIG. 1 as providing a field of view
infrared energy. Cryogenic coolant systems are well known 64 for missions having a low angle of attack. The low angle
by persons skilled in the art. 30 of attack is the lo angle measurement between the line-of
As previously noted, the mounting structure 26 is con sight axis 66 of the field of view 64 and the longitudinal axis
nected to the housing 12 by brackets. In addition to allowing 68 of the missile housing 12. At the other extreme of the
the seeker device 10 to be installed and removed as a single pivotable mirror 58, the field of view is shifted to position
unit, this arrangement provides some thermal isolation of the 70. The field of regard in the endoatmospheric mode of
seeker device from the exterior walls of the housing 12. This 35 operation is the complete scan from the low angle of attack
thermal isolation and the selection of materials for the of view field position 64 to the view field position 70.
mounting structure and the telescope 24 achieve a substan Throughout the range of motion of the pivotable mirror
tially athermal operation of the seeker device. 58, the energy reflected from the pivotable mirror impinges
The optical signal from the telescope 24 is reflected by a the rear surface of the dichroic mirror 56, which has a high
fast steering mirror 42. The fast steering mirror is used to reflectivity with respect to MWR. The angle of the dichroic
provide signal stabilization. That is, the component is mirror relative to the telescope 24 directs the reflected
designed to reduce or eliminate jitter that is caused by MWTR into the telescope. In the endoatmospheric mode, the
movement of the missile during a mission. A fast steering switched filter assembly 44 filters out any LWER that is
mirror is not critical to the invention. received via the path through the dichroic mirror 56.
The optical signal that is reflected at the fast steering 45 The dichroic mirror 56 preferably has a transmissivity of
mirror 42 is passed through a switched filter assembly 44 to at least 75% for the LWIR energy. The reflectivity for the
a sensor 46. Acceptable types of sensors are focal plane MWIR is preferably at least 75%. However, lower level
arrays (FPA) and Dewar sensors. In the preferred transmissive and reflective characteristics can be imple
embodiment, the seeker device 10 is capable of multiple mented without diverging from the invention.
modes of energy detection. The switched filter assembly SO In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the dichroic mirror
may be used to selectively pass frequency bands. For 56 is fixed in position. The fixed dichroic mirror eliminates
example, the filter assembly may have two separate wave need for a pre-launch command to select between the wide
length bandpass filters, one for MWR and the other for field of regard for the endoatmospheric mode and the narrow
LWTR. Depending upon the mode of operation of the seeker field of view 50 of the exoatmospheric mode of operation.
device 10, the first or second filter is positioned along the 55 However, in some applications, a displaceable mirror may
path of the optical signal. Other filtering assemblies may be be desirable. Referring now to the embodiment of FIG. 3, a
substituted without effect on the invention. In fact, bandpass conventional mirror 72 is selectively removed from the
filtering may not be necessary if the sensor 46 includes a direct line of sight of the telescope 24 when the seeker
dual band focal plane. For example, the sensor 46 may have device 74 is in the exoatmospheric mode. Consequently, the
a gallium arsenide dual band multiple quantum well focal telescope will receive all of the energy that passes through
plane that permits presence of simultaneous split band the window 14. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a
spectra. switched filter assembly 44 or other known means may be
As is well known in the art, the sensor 46 converts an used to remove or disregard the MWIR energy that is
optical signal into a corresponding electrical signal. The collected and focused by the telescope 24. In the embodi
electrical signal is conducted to a signal processor 48 for 65 ment of FIG.3, many of the components are duplicated from
target identification, tracking and/or homing. The circuitry the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, reference
of the signal processor is conventional to the art. numerals are also duplicated.
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7 8
When the seeker device 74 is switched from the exoat 9. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for selecting
mospheric mode to the endoatmospheric mode, the displace includes a switched filter.
able mirror 72 is pivoted by a mirror controller 76 to the 10. A seeker head for a missile comprising:
position in front of the telescope 24. As a result, incoming a housing having a window;
energy that is reflected by the pivotable mirror 58 impinges an infrared telescope having a direct line-of-sight axis
the rear surface of the displaceable mirror 72 and is reflected through said window, said telescope having a first field
into the telescope 24. The operation in the endoatmospheric of view which is substantially fixed relative to said
mode is identical to that described with reference to FIGS. housing;
1 and 2. However, in the second embodiment, the mirror 72 a pivotable mirror off-axis of said line-of-sight axis of said
does not need to be a dichroic mirror. Any reflective device O telescope, said pivotable mirror having a second field
that redirects the incoming energy to the telescope 24 may of view, said pivotable mirror being mounted within
be used.
While the invention has been described and illustrated as said housing to accommodate movement that defines a
being housed within a missile, this is not critical. The field of regard substantially wider than said first field of
multi-mode seeker device having a fixed narrow field of view; and
view and having a separate wide field of regard may be 15 a second mirror positioned relative to said pivotable
utilized in other embodiments, including land-based seekers. mirror to reflect energy from said pivotable mirror to
We claim: enter said infrared telescope.
1. A seeker device comprising: 11. The seeker head of claim 10 wherein said second
a housing having an optical opening; mirroris a dichroic mirror fixed in position along said direct
a first optical assembly within said housing for forming an 20 line-of-sight axis, said dichroic mirror having a high trans
optical signal, said first optical assembly having a first missivity to infrared energy entering said housing along said
direct line-of-sight axis, said dichroic mirror having a high
field of view for receiving incoming energy via a first reflectivity to infrared energy impinging arear surface from
path through said optical opening; said pivotable mirror, said rear surface being at aside of said
a second optical assembly within said housing, said 25 dichroic mirror adjacent to said telescope.
second optical assembly having a field of regard wider 12. The seeker of claim 10 wherein said second mirror is
than said first field of view, said second optical assem displaceable between an endoatmospheric seek position for
bly having a second field of view for receiving incom reflecting said energy from said pivotable mirror and an
ing energy via a second path through said optical exoatmopsheric seek position in which said energy from
opening; and said pivotable mirror remains outside of said telescope.
means for directing said energy of said second field of 13. The seeker head of claim 10 wherein said telescope
view into said first field of view. has silicon carbide elements and is cryogenically cooled,
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first optical assem said telescope being mounted to an aluminum-doped, graph
bly includes a telescope for collecting and focusing said ite epoxy structure to enhance athermal operation,
energy, said telescope having a direct line of sight through 14. The seeker head of claim 10 further comprising a
Said optical opening.
35 sensor for receiving optical signals from said telescope.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for directing 15. The seeker head for a missile comprising:
includes a dichroic mirror within said direct line of sight, means for collecting and focusing infrared energy from a
said dichroic mirror having a high optical transmissivity for fixed field of view;
said incoming energy via said first path, said dichroic mirror 40
means for pivoting an optical element through a wide field
having a rear surface with a high reflectivity for said energy of regard, said pivoting means being off-axis of said
directed from said second optical assembly. collecting means;
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said second optical means for directing infrared energy from said optical
assembly includes a reflective member positioned to direct element into said collecting means;
Said incoming energy via said second path so as to impinge sensor means for generating a signal representative of
said rear Surface of said dichroic mirror adjacent to said 45
infrared energy received from said collecting means;
telescope. and
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a motor switching means for selecting between an endoatmo
means for selectively pivoting said reflective member spheric mode of operation in which said sensor means
through a range of angles in which said reflective member is primarily responsive to infrared energy from said
directs said energy to impinge said rear surface, thereby 50
pivoting means and an exoatmospheric mode of opera
defining said field of regard.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for directing tion in which said sensor means is primarily responsive
includes a displaceable mirror having an endoatmospheric to infrared energy entering said fixed field of view
mode of operation in which said displaceable mirror is along a direct line of sight exclusive of said pivoting
positioned to inhibit receiving incoming energy via said first 55
SeaS
path, said displaceable mirror having an exoatmospheric 16. The seeker head of claim 15 wherein said collecting
mode of operation in which said displaceable mirror is means is a telescope and said switching means is a filter for
positioned to inhibit said directing of energy of said second selecting between filtering long wave infrared energy and
field of view into said first field of view. mid wave infrared energy.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is a missile 17. The seeker head of claim 15 wherein said directing
and said first optical assembly is an infrared telescope means is a fixed dichroic mirror positioned to pass infrared
having silicon carbide elements, said infrared telescope energy along a path within said fixed field of view of said
being mounted to an aluminum-doped, graphite epoxy struc collecting means, said fixed dichroic mirror being reflective
ture to enhance athermal operation. to radiation energy from said pivoting means.
8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for 18. The seeker head of claim 17 wherein said pivoting
receiving said optical signal and means for selecting 65 means includes a pivotally mounted mirror.
between long wave infrared detection and midwave infrared
detection employing said sensor. k ::