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US 6,556,351 B1Granted
System and method for attitude determination based on optical imaging
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsJohn L. Junkins, Thomas C. Pollock, Daniele Mortari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provide for receiving a first set of optical data from a first field of view and receiving a second set of optical data from a second field of view. A portion of the first set of optical data is communicated and a portion of the second set of optical data is reflected, both toward an optical combiner. The optical combiner then focuses the portions onto the image plane such that information at the image plane that is associated with the first and second fields of view is received by an optical detector and used to determine an attitude characteristic.
Claims25
A method, comprising:
- receiving a first set of optical data from a first field of view;
- receiving a second set of optical data from a second field of view;
- passing a portion of the first set of optical data and reflecting a portion of the second set of optical data toward an optical element;
- receiving the portions of the sets of optical data at the optical element;
- focusing, by the optical element, the portions onto an image plane;
- and
- determining an attitude characteristic based on information received at the image plane that is associated with the portions.
4 more elements
An apparatus associated with a unit, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical combiner operable to receive a first set of optical data from a first field of view and to receive a second set of optical data from a second field of view, the optical combiner being further operable to pass a portion of the first set of optical data and to reflect a portion of the second set of optical data toward an optical element;
- the optical element is operable to receive the portions and focus the portions onto an image plane;
- and
- an optical detector that receives information at the image plane that is associated with the portions such that a determination of an attitude characteristic of the unit is made that is based on the information.
1 more element
An apparatus associated with a unit, the apparatus comprising:
- a first optical element operable to receive and to direct a first set of optical data from a first field of view;
- a second optical element operable to receive and to direct a second set of optical data from a second field of view;
- an optical combiner operable to receive the first and second sets of optical data from the optical elements, the optical combiner being further operable to pass a portion of the first set of optical data toward an image plane and to reflect a portion of the second set of optical data toward the image plane;
- and
- an optical detector that receives information at the image plane that is associated with the portions such that a determination of an attitude characteristic of the unit is made that is based on the information.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- means for receiving a first set of optical data from a first field of view;
- means for receiving a second set of optical data from a second field of view;
- means for communicating a portion of the first set of optical data and reflecting a portion of the second set of optical data toward an optical element;
- means for receiving the portions of the sets of optical data at the optical element;
- means for focusing the portions onto an image plane;
- and
- means for determining an attitude characteristic based on information received at the image plane that is associated with the portions.
4 more elements
An apparatus associated with a unit, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical combiner operable to receive a first set of optical data from a first field of view and to receive a second set of optical data from a second field of view, the optical combiner being further operable to pass a portion of the first set of optical data and to reflect a portion of the second set of optical data;
- an optical element operable to receive the portions and focus the portions onto an image plane;
- a first aberrator positioned in an optical path associated with the first field of view, the first aberrator operable to communicate the first set of optical data toward the optical combiner and to provide a first optical tag for the first set of optical data that identifies an origin associated with the first set of optical data when the first set of optical data reaches the image plane;
- a second aberrator positioned in an optical path associated with the second field of view, the second aberrator operable to communicate the second set of optical data toward the optical combiner and to provide a second optical tag for the second set of optical data that identifies an origin associated with the second set of optical data when the second set of optical data reaches the image plane;
- and
- an optical detector that communicates with the image plane such that information received at the image plane that is associated with the portions is used to determine an attitude characteristic of the unit, wherein the optical detector is further operable to identify the optical tags such that the origins of the first and second sets of optical data are determined.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.