High performance scanning miniature star camera system

A method of capturing a star image for celestial navigation, orientation, position and attitude measurement, and solution correction, comprising:

• projecting the star image onto a collector in the form of an electron bombarded active pixel sensor, the electron bombarded active pixel sensor, including:
• a photocathode disposed in a vacuum to release electrons in the vacuum when exposed to radiation from the star focused thereon by an optical system;
• an active pixel sensor anode distant from the photocathode in the vacuum to detect the image of the electrons released from the photocathode;
• and
• a voltage source to generate an electric field between the photocathode and the active pixel sensor anode to move the electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode;
• outputting a first signal indicative of a first image from the active pixel sensor anode;
• moving the collector having pixels of a predetermined size within the focal plane of the optical system by an amount less than pixel size relative to the optical system using a translation device on which the collector is mounted;
• outputting a second signal indicative of a second image from the active pixel sensor anode;
• and
• integrating the first signal and the second signal to increase image resolution.

A star camera, comprising:

• an optical system configured to focus radiation from a star to be imaged onto a collector;
• and
• a collector in the form of an electron bombarded active pixel sensor, comprising:
• a photocathode disposed in a vacuum and configured to release electrons into the vacuum when exposed to radiation focused thereon by the optical system;
• an active pixel sensor anode having pixels of a predetermined size disposed distant from the photocathode in the vacuum;
• and
• a voltage source to generate an electric field between the photocathode and the active pixel sensor anode configured to direct the electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode to generate an image of the star,
• wherein the optical system is mounted on a translation device configured to move the optical system relative to the collector by a predetermined amount of less than pixel size in the focal plane of the optical system,
• thereby increasing image resolution when a plurality of images taken at different relative positions are compared.

A method of capturing a star image for celestial navigation, orientation, position and attitude measurement, and solution correction, comprising:

• focusing an optical system of an imager toward a star;
• projecting a star image onto a collector in the form of an electron bombarded active pixel sensor, the electron bombarded active pixel sensor, comprising:
• a photocathode disposed in a vacuum to release electrons in the vacuum;
• an active pixel sensor anode having pixels of a predetermined size distant from the photocathode in the vacuum to detect the electrons released from the photocathode;
• and
• a voltage source to direct the electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode;
• outputting a first signal from the active pixel sensor anode;
• moving the optical system in the focal plane of the collector using a translation device, on which the optical system is mounted, relative to the collector by a predetermined amount less than the pixel size;
• outputting a second signal from the active pixel sensor anode;
• and
• integrating the first signal and the second signal to increase image resolution.

A method of capturing a star image for celestial navigation, orientation, position and attitude measurement, and solution correction, comprising:

• focusing, at least part partially, one or more stars with an optical system onto an imager of a star camera system;
• projecting a star image onto a collector, wherein the collector comprises:
• a photocathode disposed in a vacuum to release electrons in the vacuum;
• an active pixel sensor anode having pixels of a predetermined size distance from the photocathode in the vacuum to detect the electrons released from the photocathode;
• and
• a voltage source to direct the electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode;
• outputting a first signal from the active pixel sensor anode;
• moving the star camera system using a rotation device, to move the star image on the focal plane by a predetermined amount less than pixel size;
• outputting a second signal from the active pixel sensor anode;
• and
• integrating the first signal and the second signal to increase image resolution and decrease image noise effects.