Method for finding viewing intervals for the control of instruments, star trackers, and sensors on earth and solar system object orbiting platforms

A method for determining intervals of time for observing a target with a viewing instrument, said method including the steps of:

• determining more than one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• determining an amount of background light flux incident during said first intervals of time;
• calculating a plurality of accumulations of said incident background light flux, each of said accumulations being calculated after a different accumulation start time;
• comparing each of said accumulations to a predetermined threshold;
• determining a plurality of accumulation end times which correspond to said accumulation start times, each of said accumulation end times being based on when said corresponding accumulation reaches said predetermined threshold;
• determining a plurality of second intervals of time within said first intervals of time for observation of said target, each of said second intervals of time being between one of said accumulation start times and said corresponding accumulation end time;
• and
• viewing said target in accordance with said second intervals of time.

A method for determining intervals of time for observing a plurality of targets with a viewing instrument, said method including the steps of:

• determining an interval of time for observing a first target, said determination including the steps of:
• determining at least one first preliminary interval of time for observation of said first target, and
• determining at least one second interval of time for observation of said first target, said second interval of time being based on an accumulated amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said first preliminary interval of time;
• determining an interval of time for observing a second target, said determination including the steps of:
• determining at least one second preliminary interval of time for observation of said second target, and
• determining at least one second interval of time for observation of said second target, said second interval of time being based on an accumulated amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said second preliminary interval of time;
• and
• scheduling observations of said plurality of targets based on said second intervals of time for observing said first and said second target.

A method for determining an interval of time for observing a target with a viewing instrument, the method including the steps of:

• determining at least one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• determining an amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said first interval of time;
• calculating an accumulation of said background light flux incident during a portion of said first interval of time;
• comparing said accumulation to a predetermined threshold;
• determining a second interval of time within said first interval of time for observation of said target, said second interval of time starting at a beginning of said portion of said first interval of time and ending when said accumulated background light flux reaches said predetermined threshold;
• and
• viewing said target in accordance with said second interval of time.

A method for determining intervals of time for observing a target with a viewing instrument, said method including the steps of:

• determining more than one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• determining an amount of background light flux incident during said first intervals of time;
• calculating accumulations of said background light flux incident during different portions of said first intervals of time;
• comparing each of said accumulations to a predetermined threshold;
• determining a plurality of second intervals of time within said first intervals of time for observation of said target, each of said second intervals of time starting at a beginning of one of said portions and ending when said accumulated background light flux within said one portion reaches said predetermined threshold;
• and
• viewing said target in accordance with said second intervals of time.

A method for determining an interval of time for observing a target with a viewing instrument, the method including the steps of:

• determining at least one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• determining an amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said first interval of time;
• calculating an accumulation of said background light flux incident during a portion of said first interval of time;
• comparing said accumulation to a predetermined threshold;
• determining a second interval of time within said first interval of time for observation of said target, said second interval of time ending when said accumulated background light flux reaches said predetermined threshold;
• and
• viewing said target in accordance with said second interval of time.

A method for determining intervals of time for observing a target with a viewing instrument, said method including the steps of:

• determining more than one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• determining an amount of background light flux incident during said first intervals of time;
• calculating accumulations of said background light flux incident during portions of said first intervals of time;
• comparing each of said accumulations to a predetermined threshold;
• determining a plurality of second intervals of time within said first intervals of time for observation of said target, one of said second intervals of time ending when said accumulated background light flux within one of said portions reaches said predetermined threshold;
• and
• viewing said target in accordance with said second intervals of time.

A viewing instrument apparatus for determining intervals of time for observation of a target, said viewing instrument comprising:

• means for determining at least one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• means for determining an amount of background light flux incident during said first interval of time;
• means for calculating an accumulation of said background light flux incident after an accumulation start time in said first interval of time;
• means for comparing said accumulation to a predetermined threshold;
• means for determining an accumulation end time corresponding to said accumulation start time based on when said accumulation reaches said predetermined threshold;
• means for determining a second interval of time within said first interval of time for observation of said target, said second interval of time being between said accumulation start time and said corresponding accumulation end time;
• and
• means for viewing said target in accordance with said second interval of time.

A viewing instrument apparatus for determining intervals of time for observation of a target, said viewing instrument comprising:

• means for determining more than one first interval of time for conducting target observations;
• means for determining an amount of background light flux incident during said first intervals of time;
• means for calculating a plurality of accumulations of said incident background light flux, each of said accumulations being calculated after a different accumulation start time;
• means for comparing each of said accumulations to a predetermined threshold;
• means for determining a plurality of accumulation end times which correspond to said accumulation start times, each of said accumulation end times being based on when said corresponding accumulation reaches said predetermined threshold;
• means for determining a plurality of second intervals of time within said first intervals of time for observation of said target, each of said second intervals of time being between one of said accumulation start times and said corresponding accumulation end time;
• and
• means for viewing said target in accordance with said second intervals of time.

A viewing instrument apparatus for determining intervals of time for observation of a target, said viewing instrument comprising:

• first determining means for determining an interval of time for observing a first target, said first determining means including:
• means for determining at least one first preliminary interval of time for observation of said first target, and
• means for determining at least one second interval of time for observation of said first target, said second interval of time being based on an accumulated amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said first preliminary interval of time;
• second determining means for determining an interval of time for observing a second target, said second determining means including:
• means for determining at least one second preliminary interval of time for observation of said second target, and
• means for determining at least one second interval of time for observation of said second target, said second interval of time being based on an accumulated amount of background light flux incident on said viewing instrument during said second preliminary interval of time;
• and
• means for scheduling observations of said plurality of targets based on said second intervals of time for observing said first and said second target.