Multi-aperture interferometric optical system
OwnerGeoffrey Rhoadsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-aperture interferometric optical system collects light propagating from a source of light and develops overlapping diffraction patterns on an optical detector that produces output signals for processing to form an image corresponding to the diffraction patterns. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a large aperture orbiting, earth-watching ring interferometric optical system configured such that there is no macro-structure pointing. Four mirror-ring structures direct incoming light to a multi-spectral primary optical detector that acquires light-pattern information from which an image can be derived.
Claims7
A multi-aperture interferometric optical system formed of multiple sets of mirrors mounted on support structures operatively coupled to a platform, the optical system defining a system optical axis and the multiple sets of mirrors cooperating to point the system optical axis without moving the platform on which the optical system is supported, comprising:
- a set of spaced-apart mirrors arranged in fixed positions along the periphery of a ring structure, the mirrors configured to receive incident electromagnetic radiation propagating from a target;
- and
- tip/tilt positioning mechanisms operatively associated with multiple ones of the mirrors to steer the electromagnetic radiation for incidence on a detector, the tip/tilt positioning mechanisms moving their associated mirrors in response to a change in the angle between the system optical axis relative to the support structure to provide a combined coherent radiation pattern at the detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.