IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0206087
(2002-07-29)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Sigler,Robert Dayton
- Ducan,Alan Lee
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A space-based multi-aperture telescope is capable of achieving high fill factors, on the order of at least 50% and more preferably at least 80%. High fill factors can be achieved according to the present invention by providing a combiner section that combines the light collected by plural sub-apertu
A space-based multi-aperture telescope is capable of achieving high fill factors, on the order of at least 50% and more preferably at least 80%. High fill factors can be achieved according to the present invention by providing a combiner section that combines the light collected by plural sub-aperture telescopes at the exit pupil of the telescope.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A high fill factor telescope, comprising: a collector section, the collector section comprising a plurality of sub-aperture telescopes disposed to collect light from an image; a combiner section, the combiner section comprising a plurality of mirrors; and a relay sectio
The invention claimed is: 1. A high fill factor telescope, comprising: a collector section, the collector section comprising a plurality of sub-aperture telescopes disposed to collect light from an image; a combiner section, the combiner section comprising a plurality of mirrors; and a relay section for relaying the light from the collector section to the combiner section; wherein the combiner section further comprises an array of mirrors, each mirror in the array being located substantially at a real exit pupil of each of the sub-aperture collector telescopes, and each mirror in the array being disposed to combine light from the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes and to focus the combined light at an image plane. 2. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein each sub-aperture telescope comprises a primary element, a secondary element, and a tertiary element. 3. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 2, wherein the primary, secondary, and tertiary elements of each sub-aperture telescope are refractive elements. 4. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 2, wherein the primary, secondary, and tertiary elements of each sub-aperture telescope are reflective elements. 5. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 2, wherein the primary elements of the sub-aperture telescopes collectively define a primary collector plane. 6. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 2, wherein the primary elements of the sub-aperture telescopes collectively define a generally annular high fill primary reflector. 7. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein each sub-aperture telescope comprises a primary reflector, a secondary reflector, and a tertiary reflector, and wherein the combiner section comprises a plurality of optical elements, which are displaced in a radial direction, thereby permitting the combiner optical elements to have a size sufficient to accommodate a finite field of view without physically interfering with optical elements of adjacent sub-aperture telescopes. 8. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes comprises six sub-aperture telescopes, each comprises a primary reflector, a secondary reflector, and a tertiary reflector, wherein the primary reflectors are arranged to define a primary reflector plane, and the secondary reflectors are arranged to define a secondary reflector plane. 9. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the combiner section comprises a plurality of reflector elements defining a plurality of combiner sub-sections, each combiner sub-section being positioned to receive light from one of the sub-aperture telescopes at positions spaced radially from and around an axis of the telescope array, and each combiner sub-section comprising a plurality of exit pupil mirrors disposed radially around the axis of, and at the exit pupil of, the telescope array. 10. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of exit pupil mirrors reflect focused light to the image plane. 11. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the fill factor is at least about 50%. 12. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the fill factor is at least about 80%. 13. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the relay section comprises a plurality of flat mirrors for directing light from the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to an axis of the telescope array. 14. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 13, wherein the relay section comprises a plurality of relay sub-sections, each comprising a first fold flat mirror receiving light from a corresponding one of the sub-aperture telescopes, a trombone mirror pair receiving light reflected from the first fold flat mirror, and a second fold flat mirror radially spaced outwardly in relationship to an axis of the combiner and inwardly relative to the first fold flat mirror, and being positioned to receive light reflected from the trombone mirror pair. 15. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 14, wherein the combiner section comprises a plurality of combiner sub-sections, each comprising an exit pupil mirror located at the exit pupil of the telescope array, and a plurality of non-flat mirrors in an optical path between a corresponding second fold flat mirror of the corresponding relay sub-section and the exit pupil mirror. 16. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 15, wherein the exit pupil mirrors of the combiner sub-sections form an array of mirrors centered on an optical axis of the telescope array. 17. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 14, wherein the first fold flat mirror is adjustable to provide LOS control, and the trombone mirror pair is adjustable to provide pathlength adjustment and image rotation. 18. A high fill factor telescope array according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes are deployable in space and mounted on structure which facilitates stowing the telescope array in a cargo bay of a launch vehicle, and deploying the telescope array in space whereby a plurality of primary collector elements of the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes define a generally circular primary collector having a collector plane. 19. A space-based multi-aperture telescope comprising: a plurality of sub-aperture telescopes which are deployable in space so as to form a multi-operative telescope array having a diameter of at least about eight meters, and wherein the array of sub-aperture telescopes have a fill factor of at least about 50% and wherein the space-based multi-aperture telescope further comprises a combiner section having an array of mirrors, each mirror in the array being located substantially at the real exit pupil of each of the sub-aperture collector telescopes so as to produce a substantially unvignetted field of view. 20. A space-based multi-aperture telescope according to claim 19, wherein the fill factor is at least about 80%. 21. An optical system for use in space, comprising: plural collector means for collecting light from object space; and relay means for relaying the collected light to a combiner means, the combiner means comprising an optical array of mirrors, each mirror in the array being located substantially at a real exit pupil of one of the plural collector means, and wherein the optical array has a fill factor of at least about 50%. 22. An optical system according to claim 21, wherein the plural collector means comprises a collector section having a plurality of sub-aperture telescopes, each including a primary collector, a secondary collector, and a tertiary collector. 23. An optical system according to claim 22, wherein the combiner means comprises a plurality of combiner sub-sections disposed to combine light from the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes at about an exit pupil of the system and to focus the combined light at an image plane. 24. An optical system according to claim 23, wherein the relay means comprises a plurality of relay sub-sections, each being positioned in operable relation to corresponding ones of a plurality of combiner sub-sections. 25. An optical system according to claim 22, wherein the primary collectors of the plurality of sub-aperture telescopes are deployable from a relatively small dimension to a relatively larger dimension after launching in space. 26. An optical system according to claim 25, wherein the primary collectors, after deployment, form a substantially circularly shaped primary collector defining a primary collector plane. 27. An optical system according to claim 26, wherein each sub-aperture telescope comprises a primary reflector, a secondary reflector, and a tertiary reflector, and the combiner means comprises a plurality of optical elements, which are displaced in a radial direction, thereby permitting the combiner optical elements to have a size sufficient to accommodate a finite field of view without physically interfering with optical elements of adjacent sub-aperture telescopes. 28. An optical system according to claim 21, wherein the optical array has a fill factor of at least about 80%. 29. A method of achieving a fill factor of at least about 50% in a multi-aperture telescope system, comprising: collecting light from a plurality of sub-aperture telescopes; and relaying the collected light with relay optical components to a combining section which combines the relayed light with an array; and an array of mirrors, wherein one mirror in the array is located substantially at a real exit pupil of each of the sub-aperture collector telescopes. 30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the combining comprises positioning a plurality of exit pupil mirrors around an optical axis of the telescope system, and in an optical path with the sub-aperture telescopes and the relay optical components. 31. The telescope according to the claim 29, wherein the combiner section is disposed between the primary collector elements and the secondary collector elements of the sub-aperture telescopes. 32. The telescope according to claim 29, further comprising a relay section configured to relay radiation collected by the sub-aperture telescopes from the sub-aperture telescopes to the collector section.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.