Field condensing imaging system for remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases
AssigneeBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
InventorsThomas Ulrich Kampe, Brian R. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor system featuring a field angle compression telescope optical system for measuring atmospheric trace gases is provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the telescope optical system condenses the field angle of received light with respect to a cross track plane, while leaving the field angle with respect to an along-track plane uncompressed. Such an anamorphic telescope design provides a wide field of view, while allowing information regarding the altitude or height distribution of a gas to be obtained. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the field angle of received light is compressed by magnifying the received light by a value less than 1.0 in all directions.
Claims33
A field condensing sensor device, comprising:
- a telescope optical system having an input encompassing a first field of view and an output that is magnified by less than one in at least a first plane;
- a filter positioned to receive light output by said telescope, optical system, wherein said filter features a number of passbands, wherein said light output by said telescope optical system within said first plane is incident on said filter within a first maximum angle, wherein said light is incident on said filter within a second maximum angle, and wherein said first maximum angle is less than said second maximum angle;
- and
- a detector positioned to receive light passed by said filter.
A field condensing sensor device, comprising:
- a telescope optical system having an input encompassing a first field of view and an output that is magnified by less than one in at least a first plane;
- a filter positioned to receive light output by said telescope optical system;
- and
- a detector positioned to receive light passed by said filter, wherein said first field of view is about four degrees, wherein light collected from within said first field of view has a maximum angle of incidence with respect to said filter of no more than one degree in said at least a first plane.
A field condensing sensor device, comprising:
- a telescope optical system having an input encompassing a first field of view and an output that is magnified by less than one in at least a first plane;
- a filter positioned to receive light output by said telescope optical system;
- and
- a detector positioned to receive light passed by said filter, wherein said first field of view is about ten degrees, and wherein light collected from within said field of view has a maximum angle of incidence with respect to said filter of no more than one degree in said at least a first plane.
A field condensing sensor device comprising:
- a telescopic optical system having an input encompassing a first field of view and an output that is magnified by less than one in at least a first plane;
- a detector positioned to receive light passed by said filter, wherein said filter comprises at high index of refraction, wherein a maximum angle of incidence of light collected from within said first field of view that is incident on said filter is no more than one degree in said at least a first plane, and wherein a maximum angle of said light collected from within said first field of view within said optical cavity is less than 0.2 degree.
A field condensing sensor device, comprising:
- a telescope optical system having an input en compassing a first field of view and an output that is magnified by less than one in at least a first plane;
- a filter positioned to receive light output by said telescope optical system;
- a detector positioned to receive light passed by said filter, wherein said filter comprises a plurality of optical cavities, and wherein said filter comprises at least a first thin layer reflector stack.
A method for remotely sensing atmospheric trace gas, comprising:
- collecting light from within a first field of view;
- magnifying said collected light in at least a first plane by a magnification factor that is less than one;
- and
- filtering said light magnified in said at least a first plane in a filter having an optical cavity, wherein said filtering comprises substantially blocking light at wavelength not corresponding to a selected number of spectral lines of absorption of an atmospheric trace gas.
A method for remotely sensing atmospheric trace gas, comprising:
- collecting light from within a first field of view;
- magnifying said collected light in at least a first plane by a magnification factor that is less than one;
- and
- filtering said light magnified in said at least a first plane in a filter having an optical cavity wherein filtering said light comprises passing wavelengths of said magnified light corresponding to spectral lines of absorption of an atmospheric gas.
A system for remotely sensing atmospheric trace gas, comprising:
- means for condensing a field angle of light collected from within a first field of view within at least a first plane, wherein an output of said means for condensing comprises light having a condensed field angle within said at least a first plane;
- and
- means for filtering said light having a condensed field angle, wherein said field angle is measured with respect to a surface of said means for filtering.
A system for remotely sensing atmospheric trace gas, comprising:
- means for condensing a field angle of light collected from within a first field of view within at least a first plane;
- and
- means for filtering said light having, a condensed field angle, wherein said first field of view is greater than about 4 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.