Optical Components to Reduce Retroreflection from Uncooled Infrared Focal Plane Array

The use of long wave infrared (LWIR) sensors is limited in many covert environments by their unacceptably high reflectivity. The high reflectivity makes them susceptible to detection by search CW laser systems. There are many traditional methods for the reduction of optical signature, but most adversely affect the final system image quality and are not cost effective for large volume applications. CDM Optics has an innovative method for redistributing the reflected intensity while retaining high image quality with reflectivity reductions of 4 orders of magnitude being possible. The technique called Wavefront Coding has previously been used to realize other system benefits such as a reduction in system complexity, a reduction in system size, cost and weight, passive athermalization with a simple housing and an increase in imaging volume where the user can clearly see targets simultaneously over a large range of object distances. The Wavefront Coding low-reflectivity concept can be fused with these other benefits to realize a system with superior performance and a favorable benefit to cost ratio. Additionally, the methodology and the specific optical design can be applied across any platforms that use a sensor with the same geometry and can be cost effective through the utilization of moldable IR materials.