Collimators are optical systems used to imitate standard targets placed in "optical infinity" (very long distance). The collimators are used for projection of image of reference targets into direction of tested imagers.  According to type of optical elements used in design, collimators are divided into two groups: reflective collimators and refractive collimators. Reflective collimators due to their wide spectral range are almost exclusively used in systems for testing thermal imagers and are also preferable in systems testing TV cameras, SWIR imagers, laser systems or multi-sensor surveillance systems. Refractive collimators are mostly used in systems for testing night vision devices or TV cameras working in visible/near infrared range.

From optical designer view, the reflective collimators are inverted telescopes. Therefore it can be claimed that there are many types of reflective collimators depending on mirrors configurations (Newton, Cassegrain, Schwarzschild, Maksutov, etc). However, practically reflective collimators are typically built using Newton design (big parabolic primary, collimating mirror and smaller secondary flat mirror). Next, the reflective collimators can be divided into two basic types:  off axis collimators and on-axis collimators.  

Off axis reflective collimators offers un-obstructed aperture because the secondary mirror is located outside collimator aperture (Fig.2). However, off axis reflective collimators are also more costly than reflective on axis collimators. Low cost symmetric parabolic mirrors are used to design on-axis reflective collimators. Non symmetric mirrors (parts of a bigger mother symmetric mirror) are needed in case of off axis collimators. Next, aligning of off-axis collimators is more difficult than in case of typical on axis collimators. Inframet manufactures a long series of CDT off axis reflective collimators that are used as blocks of Inframet test systems or sold as independent optical modules.

Fig. 1. A series of CDT collimators of different apertures and focal lengths	Fig. 2. Optical diagram of an off axis collimator

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Manufacturing of on-axis parabolic mirrors is much easier comparing to off axis parabolic mirrors. Market of on-axis parabolic mirrors is much wider that market of  off axis parabolic mirrors. Therefore prices of high quality  off axis parabolic mirrors are much higher than prices of on-axis parabolic mirrors of similar manufacturing accuracy excluding low cost, low quality aluminium off axis mirrors. CDT collimators are built using expensive  ultra precion glass grinded mirrors suitable suitable to generate high quality images. These are not collimators made from low cost aluminium cast/grinded mirrors suitable only for less demanding application.   

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Fig.5. Photos of exemplary Inframet test systems built using different CDT off axis collimators:  a)DT150, b)DT110, c)DT400 test systems for testing thermal imagers

Inframet typically deliver collimators for a vertical configuration test systems (blackbody, wheel and targets are on the collimator) due to better thermal stability of such test systems (important when testing high-tech thermal imagers -> see paper). However, Inframet can deliver collimators for a horizontal configuration test systems (blackbody, wheel and targets are at the same horizontal level as the collimator). Apertures of typical off axis collimators are up to about 350 mm, but Inframet can deliver off axis collimators of apertures as high as 600mm.

Data sheets:

• CDT off axis collimators
• CJT on axis collimators