Polarization optical compass
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Twede, James N. O'Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical assembly that includes at least one polarizing filter assembly and at least one sensor. The polarizing filter assembly is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by a sun and transmit at least three different portions of EMR towards the at least one sensor, each portion filtered based on a different polarization orientation. A processor device is configured to receive sensor data generated by the at least one sensor in response to receipt of the at least three different portions of EMR, and determine an elevation angle of the sun with respect to a horizon from a geographic location of the optical assembly.
Claims22
An optical assembly comprising:
- at least one polarizing filter assembly;
- at least one sensor comprising a grid of a plurality of detector elements;
- and
- a processor device coupled to the at least one sensor;
- wherein the at least one polarizing filter assembly is configured to:
- receive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by a sun;
- transmit, by the at least one polarizing filter assembly, at least three different portions of EMR towards the at least one sensor, each portion filtered based on a different polarization orientation, and at least two portions of the at least three different portions of EMR comprising different wavebands of EMR;
- and
- wherein the processor device is configured to:
- receive sensor data generated by the at least one sensor in response to receipt of the at least three different portions of EMR;
- and
- based on the sensor data, determine an elevation angle of the sun with respect to a horizon from a geographic location of the optical assembly.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one polarizing filter assembly, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by a sun;
- passing, by the at least one polarizing filter assembly, at least three different portions of EMR towards at least one sensor, each portion filtered based on a different polarization orientation and at least two portions of the at least three different portions of EMR comprising different wavebands of EMR, the at least one sensor comprising a grid of a plurality of detector elements;
- generating, by the at least one sensor, sensor data in response to receipt of the at least three different portions of EMR;
- and
- based on the sensor data, determining an elevation angle of the sun with respect to a horizon from a geographic location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.