Patent ID: 9559427
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: H01Q

Claim:
1. A hybrid image gathering system, the system comprising: at least one parabolic reflector configured to direct incident electromagnetic radiation; a beam splitter comprising a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) beam splitter having a plurality of radially spaced elliptical rings, the beam splitter positioned at a select angle in relation to the incident electromagnetic radiation, the beam splitter configured and arranged to receive the incident electromagnetic radiation from the at least one parabolic reflector and separately focus microwave radiation and visual radiation from the incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the Fresnel zone plate (FZP) beam splitter is configured to direct the microwave radiation through the Fresnel zone plate (FZP), the beam splitter further configured and arranged to provide a gain in the microwave radiation and the visual radiation; a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured and arranged to receive the microwave radiation from the beam splitter; a focal plane array (FPA) configured and arranged to receive the visual radiation from the beam splitter; and a processor in communication with the RF receiver and the FPA, the processor configured and arranged to process signals received by the RF receiver and the FPA for transmission.