Star scanning method for determining the line of sight of an electro-optical instrument
US5821526A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S3/7867
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining the line of sight of an electro-optical device mounted in a spacecraft such as a satellite. The electro-optical device includes an electo-optical element that detects impinging light energy and produces electrical pulses corresponding to the light energy detected. The method involves providing the electro-optical device with a scan mirror which is rotated to scan space to detect the light produced by a suitably bright star. Once detected, the scan mirror selectively directs the light produced by the detected star toward the electro-optical element which produces electrical pulses in response to the light. A computer on-board the spacecraft then compares the electrical pulses outpputed by the electro-optical device to a predetermined output expected for the star, to determine the line of sight of the electro-optical device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.