Interferometric tracking device
AssigneeOptical Physics Company
InventorRichard A. Hutchin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interferometric tracking device is disclosed. A first grating is optically coupled to a second grading such that the second grating is rotationally offset from the first grating. Imaging optics are adapted to image light passing through the first and second gratings onto a focal plane array. A plurality of wedge plates are optically disposed between the imaging optics and the second grating, such that the wedge plates generate a plurality of spots on the FPA when light from a point source is incident upon the first grating.
Claims62
An interferometric tracking device comprising:
- a shearing interferometer,
- an image divider adapted to generate a plurality of images for each of one or more light sources from which light is incident upon the shearing interferometer, and
- a focal plane array (FPA) optically coupled to the image divider to receive the plurality of images.
An interferometric tracking device comprising:
- a shearing interferometer;
- an image divider adapted to generate a plurality of images of for each of one or more light sources from which light is incident upon the shearing interferometer;
- a focal plane array (FPA);
- and
- imaging optics optically coupled between the image divider and the FPA, wherein a combination of the image divider and the imaging optics is adapted to generate the plurality of images on the FPA.
An interferometric tracking device comprising:
- a shearing interferometer;
- an image divider adapted to generate a plurality of images of for each of one or more light sources from which light is incident upon the shearing interferometer;
- a focal plane array (FPA);
- an image intensifier optically disposed between the image divider and the FPA;
- an image reducer optically coupling the image intensifier to the FPA;
- and
- imaging optics adapted to image light passing through the image divider onto the image intensifier.
A method of determining a position of a source of light, the method comprising:
- receiving light from the source into an aperture;
- generating a fringe using received light from the source;
- generating a plurality of images of the fringe on a focal plane array (FPA);
- estimating a relative coarse position of the source from a centroid of the images on the FPA;
- and
- estimating a relative fine position of the source from relative intensities of the images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.