CA2266679A1 - Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging - Google Patents
Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imagingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2266679A1 CA2266679A1 CA002266679A CA2266679A CA2266679A1 CA 2266679 A1 CA2266679 A1 CA 2266679A1 CA 002266679 A CA002266679 A CA 002266679A CA 2266679 A CA2266679 A CA 2266679A CA 2266679 A1 CA2266679 A1 CA 2266679A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- detector
- attitude
- boundary
- providing
- satellite
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000001931 thermography Methods 0.000 title 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract 4
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005670 electromagnetic radiation Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 abstract 1
Landscapes
- Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for distinguishing a boundary of an object, and the object itself, from its background. In the method electromagnetic radiation is detected from at least two fields of view substantially spanning the boundary of the object and background adjacent to the boundary and superimposed or overlaid as images onto a detector (36). The method includes correlating spatial transitions in intensity of the overlaid images on the detector with a boundary of the object.
When used for determining the attitude of a satellite with respect to the earth, the detector is a thermal infrared detector (36) thereby providing a sharp contrast between the thermal emission of the earth and cold space. The invention provides a simple, effective method and device for determining satellite orientation and/or attitude with respect to a thermal infrared-emitting target body.
The sensor includes a segmented limb-looking mirror (32) to provide multiple fields-of-view within the field-of-regard and superimposing these fields-of-view as images onto a common detector (36).
The required resolution can be obtained while providing a wide range of operational orbital altitudes. The attitude of the satellite can vary by a large angle from the minimal orientation while still permitting an accurate determination of attitude. Multiple channels in a modular form provide redundancy, improved accuracy, and the opportunity of providing more diverse configurations. The utilization of uncooled microbolometer arrays as imaging detectors removes the requirement for additional cooling equipment thereby providing a low cost, small size and low mass sensor with configurational flexibility and no moving parts.
When used for determining the attitude of a satellite with respect to the earth, the detector is a thermal infrared detector (36) thereby providing a sharp contrast between the thermal emission of the earth and cold space. The invention provides a simple, effective method and device for determining satellite orientation and/or attitude with respect to a thermal infrared-emitting target body.
The sensor includes a segmented limb-looking mirror (32) to provide multiple fields-of-view within the field-of-regard and superimposing these fields-of-view as images onto a common detector (36).
The required resolution can be obtained while providing a wide range of operational orbital altitudes. The attitude of the satellite can vary by a large angle from the minimal orientation while still permitting an accurate determination of attitude. Multiple channels in a modular form provide redundancy, improved accuracy, and the opportunity of providing more diverse configurations. The utilization of uncooled microbolometer arrays as imaging detectors removes the requirement for additional cooling equipment thereby providing a low cost, small size and low mass sensor with configurational flexibility and no moving parts.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002266679A CA2266679C (en) | 1996-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/710,308 | 1996-09-17 | ||
US08/710,308 US5721431A (en) | 1996-09-17 | 1996-09-17 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
CA 2186211 CA2186211A1 (en) | 1996-09-23 | 1996-09-23 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
CA2,186,211 | 1996-09-23 | ||
PCT/CA1997/000672 WO1998012108A2 (en) | 1996-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
CA002266679A CA2266679C (en) | 1996-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2266679A1 true CA2266679A1 (en) | 1998-03-26 |
CA2266679C CA2266679C (en) | 2005-11-15 |
Family
ID=29715690
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002266679A Expired - Lifetime CA2266679C (en) | 1996-09-17 | 1997-09-17 | Satellite attitude sensor using thermal imaging |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA2266679C (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN115060227A (en) * | 2022-06-15 | 2022-09-16 | 北京信息科技大学 | Combined included angle measuring method for satellite on-orbit visual axis pointing change high-precision measurement |
-
1997
- 1997-09-17 CA CA002266679A patent/CA2266679C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN115060227A (en) * | 2022-06-15 | 2022-09-16 | 北京信息科技大学 | Combined included angle measuring method for satellite on-orbit visual axis pointing change high-precision measurement |
CN115060227B (en) * | 2022-06-15 | 2023-05-12 | 北京信息科技大学 | Combined included angle measurement method for high-precision measurement of satellite in-orbit visual axis pointing change |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2266679C (en) | 2005-11-15 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20170918 |