Tracking telescope using an atomic resonance filter
US5079414A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/786
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tracking system to enable a tracking telescope follow a light source, utilizes an atomic resonance filter positioned in close proximity to said telescope, and imaging optics positioned between the light source and the atomic resonance filter. The atomic resonance filter is positioned such that light signals from the light source pass through the imaging optics and are focused in a region within its interior. A plurality of optical sensors are positioned to detect re-emitted light signals from the atomic resonance filter. The optical sensors convert the detected re-emitted light signals to electrical signals proportional to the intensity of said re-emitted light signals. The telescope is repositioned by using these differences in electrical signals to equalize the re-emitted light signals detected by each of the optical sensors, thereby pointing the telescope directly at incoming light from the light source. Several configurations of the imaging optics, the atomic resonance filter and the optical sensors are possible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.