Dual-mode electro-optic sensor and method of using target designation as a guide star for wavefront error estimation
US8502128B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2012 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B15/01
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A dual-mode sensor uses the active guidance radiation as a “guide star” to generate a wavefront error estimate for the primary optical element in-situ without interfering with the generation of either the active guidance or passive imaging guidance signals. An array of optical focusing elements performs the normal function of spatially encoding an angle of incidence of the active guidance radiation at an entrance pupil onto an active imaging detector. The array also performs an additional function of spatially encoding wavefront tilt deviations emanating from sub-pupils of an exit pupil onto the active imaging detector. A processor processes the electrical signals from the imaging detector in accordance with the respective spatial encodings to generate an active guidance signal and the wavefront error estimate for the primary optical element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.