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Abstract

A dual-band optical system 10 preferably for use in the thermal infrared waveband provides initial detection of a target in a first waveband (8-12 .mu.m) having a wide field of view and discriminated target recognition in the second waveband (3-5 .mu.m) at higher magnification and narrow field of view without any field-of-view change mechanism. The system 10 comprises a detector array 11 which is responsive in both wavebands and an optical arrangement 16 with a common objective component 15 for both wavabands. One waveband is transmitted through dichroic beamsplitters 17,18 to the array 11 whereas the other waveband is reflected by the beamsplitters 17,18 and transmitted through a field lens 28 before reaching the array 11. Both wavebands are incident upon a spectrally selective aperture stop 20 providing a large aperture for the low magnification field and a small aperture for the high magnification field.

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First Claim