Multi-dimensional staring lens system

1. A stationary lens system for performing a two dimensional scan of a scene, the system comprising:

a stationary lens having an optical axis;

a first scan mirror having a first axis, the first axis being parallel to a light-reflecting surface of the first scan mirror, the first scan mirror pivoting about the first axis to direct images of the scene along a first dimension, the first scan mirror directing the images of the scene along an optical path;

a second scan mirror having a second axis, the second scan mirror being located in the optical path between the first scan mirror and the stationary lens, the second scan mirror pivoting about the second axis to direct images of the scene to the stationary lens along a second dimension, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the stationary lens, the second dimension being perpendicular to the first dimension; and

at least one actuator that controls the first and the second scan mirrors to step through multiple positions to perform the two dimensional scan of the scene, wherein the first and second scan mirrors stop and stare to acquire a scene image at each of the multiple positions without causing the scene images to appear to rotate on the stationary lens through the multiple positions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a standoff distance to the scene is less than four miles.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical axis is substantially horizontal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is substantially vertical.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stationary lens transmits infrared light to a camera.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second scan mirror pivots less than ninety degrees.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second scan mirror pivots more than ninety degrees.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially in the same plane as the light-reflecting surface of the first scan mirror.

9. A staring lens system comprising:

a first scan mirror that pivots about a first axis, the first scan mirror directing an image along a first image path;

a second scan mirror that pivots about a second axis, the second scan mirror receiving the image from the first scan mirror along the first image path, the second scan mirror redirecting the image along a second image path;

a stationary lens that receives the image from the second scan mirror along the second image path, the second image path being aligned to an optical axis of the stationary lens; and

a control system that positions the first and the second scan mirrors, the control system stepping the first and the second scan mirrors through multiple positions to cover a multi-dimensional view of a wide area scene, the control system stopping and staring at each of the multiple positions.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first axis and the optical axis of the stationary lens are parallel.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a camera that receives the image from the stationary lens, the camera having a field of view less than one degree.

13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a camera that receives the image from the stationary lens, the camera having a field of view greater than one degree.

14. A method of directing an image to a stationary lens along multiple dimensions, the method comprising:

receiving an image of a scene at a first scan mirror having a light-reflecting surface that reflects light from the scene;

pivoting the first scan mirror about a first axis;

directing the image of the scene along a first dimension utilizing the pivoting motion of the first scan mirror;

receiving the image of the scene at a second scan mirror, the second scan mirror having a light-reflecting surface that receives light from the first scan mirror and reflects the received light along an optical path that is aligned with an optical axis of the stationary lens, the optical axis of the stationary lens intersecting the light-reflecting surface of the second scan mirror;

pivoting the second scan mirror about a second axis;

directing the image of the scene along a second dimension utilizing the pivoting motion of the second scan mirror; and

receiving the image of the scene at the stationary lens.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least two of the multiple dimensions are perpendicular.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

intermittently stopping the first scan mirror pivoting; and

intermittently stopping the second scan mirror pivoting.

17. A wide area stop and stare imaging system comprising:

a pivoting scan mirror that directs an optical image along an optical axis;

a stationary imaging lens that receives the optical image along the optical axis;

an electronics controller that generates signals to control a step size and synchronization of the pivoting scan mirror; and

an actuator that is operably coupled to the pivoting scan mirror and to the electronics controller, the actuator stepping the pivoting scan mirror through a plurality of angular positions in response to the signals from the electronics controller, such that the pivoting scan mirror stops and stares at each of the plurality of angular positions.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the pivoting scan mirror has a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first and the second pivot axes are substantially perpendicular.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the pivoting scan mirror pivots about a first axis, wherein the system further comprises a second pivoting scan mirror that pivots about a second axis, wherein the pivoting scan mirror is in an optical path between the stationary imaging lens and the second pivoting scan mirror, and wherein the second pivoting scan mirror directs the optical image along an image path to the pivoting scan mirror.