Wide field-of-view radiation sensors and methods
US6087646A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C21/02
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods are provided for sensing radiation direction over a wide field-of-view. In one process step, radiation is received over a first solid angle and, in response, the direction of that radiation is sensed along a first sensor axis. In a similar process step, radiation is received over a second solid angle and, in response, the direction of that radiation is sensed along a second sensor axis. The first and second solid angles are arranged to spatially intersect over a third solid angle that is a subset of the first solid angle and a subset of the second solid angle. These methods facilitate the determination of inertial planes over a wide field-of-view and the third solid angle facilitates the determination of inertial vectors. Radiation sensor structures in accordance with the methods are also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.