Method and apparatus for radiometer star sensing

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 4801202
SERIAL NO

06811963

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

A method and apparatus for determining the orientation of the optical axis of radiometer instruments mounted on a satellite involves a star sensing technique. The technique makes use of a servo system to orient the scan mirror of the radiometer into the path of a sufficiently bright star such that motion of the satellite will cause the star's light to impinge on the scan mirror and then the visible light detectors of the radiometer. The light impinging on the detectors is converted to an electronic signal whereby, knowing the position of the star relative to appropriate earth coordinates and the time of transition of the star image through the detector array, the orientation of the optical axis of the instrument relative to earth coordinates can be accurately determined.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ITT CORPORATION A CORP OF DE1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK NY 10019

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Wilcox, Jack E Dekalb, IN 1 7

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation