Optical scanning system with a crossed scanning pattern

Claim 2

An optical scanning system comprising: detection means responsive to radiation for producing an electrical signal; optical means for imaging radiation on said detection means, and scanning means having a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern for transmitting the radiation received via the scanning pattern to said optical means.

Claim 3

An optical scanning system comprising: detection means responsive to radiation for producing an electrical signal; at least one prism; and means for rotating said prism relative to said detecting means so that said prism produces a dual-lobe crossing type of scanning pattern and transmits radiation to said detection means received with said scanning pattern.

Claim 4

An optical scanning system comprising: detection means responsive to radiation for producing an electrical signal; at least one prism; and means for rotating said prism relative to said detecting means so that said prism produces a dual-lobe crossing type of scanning pattern and transmits radiation to said detection means received with said scanning pattern.

Claim 5

An optical scanner system as defined in claim 2 including: two prisms mounted to form a double dove prism.

Claim 6

An optical scanning system comprising: a source of radiation, and scanning means for receiving radiation from said source and transmitting the radiation in a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern.

Claim 7

An optical scanning system comprising: a source of radiation, and scanning means for receiving radiation from said source and transmitting the radiation in a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern.

Claim 8

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 4 wherEin said scanning means includes: at least one prism, and means for rotating said prism relative to said source so that said prism projects the radiation along said dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern.

Claim 9

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 4 wherein said scanning means includes: a double dove prism, and means for rotating said prism relative to said source so that said double dove prism projects the radiation along the dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern.

Claim 10

A horizon sensor for controlling the attitude of a space vehicle relative to a space object comprising: detection means responsive to radiation for producing an electrical signal; scanning means having a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern for scanning the object and transmitting radiation received from object scanned via at least a portion of the scanning pattern to said detection means; signal generating means coupled to said scanning means for providing electrical signals for identifying the portions of the scanning pattern being traversed, and circuit means responsive to the electrical signals from the detection means and said signal generation means for providing control signals for orienting the attitude of the vehicle relative to the object.

Claim 11

A horizon sensor for controlling the attitude of a space vehicle relative to a space object comprising: detection means responsive to radiation for producing an electrical signal; scanning means having a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern for scanning the object and transmitting radiation received from object scanned via at least a portion of the scanning pattern to said detection means; signal generating means coupled to said scanning means for providing electrical signals for identifying the portions of the scanning pattern being traversed, and circuit means responsive to the electrical signals from the detection means and said signal generation means for providing control signals for orienting the attitude of the vehicle relative to the object.

Claim 12

A horizon sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein said scanning means includes: at least one prism, and means for rotating said prism relative to said detection means so that said prism produces the dual-lobe crossed pattern.

Claim 13

A horizon sensor as defined in claim 7 wherein said scanning means includes: a double dove prism, and means for rotating said double dove prism relative to said detection means so that said double dove prism produces the dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern.

Claim 14

A photoelectric scanning system comprising: first optical means including a planar surface having two radiation reflective sides; means for mounting said first optical means for rotation about an axis that is transverse to said planar surface at an angle other than normal so that said first optical means, when rotated, produces a crossed scanning pattern; radiation sensitive detection means, and second optical means mounted to alternately receive radiation from opposite reflective sides of said first optical means as said first optical means is rotated for directing the radiation so received to said detection means.

Claim 15

A photoelectric scanning system comprising: first optical means including a planar surface having two radiation reflective sides; means for mounting said first optical means for rotation about an axis that is transverse to said planar surface at an angle other than normal so that said first optical means, when rotated, produces a crossed scanning pattern; radiation sensitive detection means, and second optical means mounted to alternately receive radiation from opposite reflective sides of said first optical means as said first optical means is rotated for directing the radiation so received to said detection means.

Claim 16

A photoelectric scanning system as defined in claim 10 wherein: said first optical means includes at least one prism.

Claim 17

A photoelectric scanning system as defined in claim 10 wherein: said first optical means includes two prisms having a surface of each abutting to form the planar surface.

Claim 18

A photoelectric scanning system as defined in claim 10 wherein: the optical axis of said second optical means lies at an angle substantially normal to the axis of rotation.

Claim 19

A photoelectric scanning system as defined in claim 13 wherein: said planar surface forms an angle between 30* to 60* with the rotational axis.

Claim 20

A photoelectric scanning system as defined in claim 10 wherein: said detection means includes three radiation sensitive surfaces for providing electrical signals in response to radiation applied thereto.

Claim 21

An optical scanning system comprising: optical means providing a planar surface having two radiation reflective sides; means for mounting said optical means for rotation about an axis that is transverse the planar surface at an angle other than normal so that said optical means, when rotated about said axis, produces a crossed scanning pattern; means for rotating said optical means about said axis, and means for directing a beam of radiation toward said optical means along a direction lying in a plane that is transverse said axis of rotation to alternately impinge on opposite reflective sides of said planar surface when said optical means is rotated.

Claim 22

An optical scanning system comprising: optical means providing a planar surface having two radiation reflective sides; means for mounting said optical means for rotation about an axis that is transverse the planar surface at an angle other than normal so that said optical means, when rotated about said axis, produces a crossed scanning pattern; means for rotating said optical means about said axis, and means for directing a beam of radiation toward said optical means along a direction lying in a plane that is transverse said axis of rotation to alternately impinge on opposite reflective sides of said planar surface when said optical means is rotated.

Claim 23

An optical scanning systEm as defined in claim 16 wherein: said optical means includes at least one prism.

Claim 24

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 16 wherein: said optical means includes two prisms having a surface of each abutting to form the planar surface.

Claim 25

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 16 wherein: said beam of radiation is directed along a plane that is normal to said axis of rotation.

Claim 26

A horizon sensing system for space vehicles adapted for controlling the attitude thereof relative to space objects comprising: radiation sensitive means for producing electrical signals in response to radiation applied thereto; optical scanning means having a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern for directing radiation received from said scanning pattern as said object is scanned to said radiation sensitive means, and control circuit means receiving said electrical signals from said radiation sensitive means for generating control signals that are a function of the attitude of said optical means relative to said object.

Claim 27

A horizon sensing system for space vehicles adapted for controlling the attitude thereof relative to space objects comprising: radiation sensitive means for producing electrical signals in response to radiation applied thereto; optical scanning means having a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern for directing radiation received from said scanning pattern as said object is scanned to said radiation sensitive means, and control circuit means receiving said electrical signals from said radiation sensitive means for generating control signals that are a function of the attitude of said optical means relative to said object.

Claim 28

A horizon sensor for providing signals for controlling the attitude of a vehicle relative to a space object comprising: radiation sensitive means for generating an electrical signal in response to radiation applied thereto; a double dove prism; mounting means for mounting said double dove prism with one surface of each of the prisms abutting, and for rotation about an axis extending at an angle transverse said abutting surfaces so that said double dove prism when rotated provides a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern; optical means positioned to receive radiation from the double dove prism and directing the radiation so received to said radiation sensitive means, and control means connected to receive electrical signals from said radiation sensitive means for providing signals corresponding to the pitch and roll attitude of the vehicle relative to the space object.

Claim 29

A horizon sensor for providing signals for controlling the attitude of a vehicle relative to a space object comprising: radiation sensitive means for generating an electrical signal in response to radiation applied thereto; a double dove prism; mounting means for mounting said double dove prism with one surface of each of the prisms abutting, and for rotation about an axis extending at an angle transverse said abutting surfaces so that said double dove prism when rotated provides a dual-lobe crossed scanning pattern; optical means positioned to receive radiation from the double dove prism and directing the radiation so received to said radiation sensitive means, and control means connected to receive electrical signals from said radiation sensitive means for providing signals corresponding to the pitch and roll attitude of the vehicle relative to the space object.

Claim 30

A horizon sensor as defined in claim 21 wherein: said planet is the earth; said radiation sensitive means includes a three flake infrared bolometer, and the arrangement being such that the three flake bolometer, said prism and said optical means provides a means for sun radiation rejection.

Claim 31

A horizon sensor as defined in claim 21 wherein said control circuit means includes: detection means for detecting the rotational position of the double dove prism, and circuit means synchronized by said detection means for converting the signals from the radiation sensitive means into signals providing an indication of the magnitude and direction of any pitch and roll errors.

Claim 32

A horizon sensor as defined in claim 23 wherein: said circuit means provides signal pulses having a duration and a polarity that is a function of the pitch and roll errors.

Claim 33

An optical scanning system comprising: radiation detection means; optical means including a surface that is radiation reflecting on opposite sides thereof; and means for rotating said optical means so that said optical means produces a crossed scanning pattern having a single crossover for each complete rotation thereof and directs radiation received via said scanning pattern onto said radiation detection means.

Claim 34

An optical scanning system comprising: radiation detection means; optical means including a surface that is radiation reflecting on opposite sides thereof; and means for rotating said optical means so that said optical means produces a crossed scanning pattern having a single crossover for each complete rotation thereof and directs radiation received via said scanning pattern onto said radiation detection means.

Claim 35

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 25 wherein: said optical means includes at least one prism.

Claim 36

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 25 wherein: said optical means include two prisms having a surface of each abutting to define said planar surface.

Claim 37

An optical scanning system as defined in claim 25 wherein: said optical means includes a double dove prism.