Orbital debris detection and tracking system utilizing sun or moon occlusion
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01S-017/66
G01S-017/00
출원번호
US-0970045
(2004-10-20)
발명자
/ 주소
Poller,Brian
출원인 / 주소
Poller,Brian
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
9인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
A system for using an image of the Sun for detecting objects traveling through Earth's atmosphere is disclosed. The system includes a receiver for collecting incident sunlight (solar energy) and a light sensitive device that produces a signal in response to exposure to light. A signal processor that
A system for using an image of the Sun for detecting objects traveling through Earth's atmosphere is disclosed. The system includes a receiver for collecting incident sunlight (solar energy) and a light sensitive device that produces a signal in response to exposure to light. A signal processor that is coupled to the light sensitive device, the signal processor sensing the collected incident sunlight and is programmed for providing an output signal corresponding to provide a detection signal in response to a shadow that moves across the light sensitive device.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A system for using an image of the Sun or Moon for detecting and tracking objects traveling above or through the Earth's atmosphere, the system comprising: a receiver for collecting incident solar energy, as Sunlight, or reflected solar energy, as Moonlight, the receiver bein
What is claimed is: 1. A system for using an image of the Sun or Moon for detecting and tracking objects traveling above or through the Earth's atmosphere, the system comprising: a receiver for collecting incident solar energy, as Sunlight, or reflected solar energy, as Moonlight, the receiver being within the Earth's atmosphere and programmed for following the Sun or Moon's trajectory relative to the Earth as viewed from within the Earth's atmosphere, so that the receiver collects images of the Sun or Moon as the sun or Moon is observed from within the Earth's atmosphere; a light sensitive device that produces a signal representing the image of the Sun or Moon; and a signal processor that is coupled to the light sensitive device, the signal processor sensing the collected incident Sunlight or Moonlight and is programmed for providing an output signal representing a plurality of pixels corresponding to the image of the Sun or Moon as projected on the receiver and programmed for providing a detection signal in response to an object shadow represented by varied intensity within the plurality of pixels within the image of the Sun or Moon as created by the light sensitive device. 2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said signal processor further provides a signal indicating the presence, position, and bearing of a target object disposed between said receiver and the Sun or Moon. 3. The system recited in claim 1 wherein said system further comprises an image filter for focusing the image of the Sun or Moon on said light sensitive device as a continuous illuminated round area representing the image of the Sun or Moon with a determinable geometric center and perimeter. 4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said image filter is adapted for maintaining a focal plane image of incident Sunlight or Moonlight on said light sensitive device as the position of the Sun or Moon varies relative to the system. 5. A system for detecting and tracking objects in space utilizing an image of the Sun or Moon as observed from Earth without requiring that the object to be in the Earth's shadow for detection, the system comprising: a first telescope fixedly mounted on Earth, the first telescope having an axis centered on the Sun or Moon and programmed to remain centered on the Sun or Moon a tracking system that aligns the axis of the telescope with the Sun or Moon as the location of the Sun or Moon varies relative to the first telescope; a first sensor for sensing the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the sensor by the telescope and for providing a sensor output signal comprising of a plurality of pixels representing an image of the Sun or Moon, the pixels indicating the intensity of the sensed Sunlight or Moonlight, so that an object shadow appearing on the image as one or more pixels of different intensity within the plurality of pixels representing image of the Sun or Moon will be detected as the presence of a target object between the Sun or Moon and the system; a signal processor, responsive to said first sensor output signal, the signal processor being programmed for storing the signal corresponding to one or more pixels of different intensity within the plurality of pixels representing the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the first sensor at a point in time and then comparing the sensor output signal to a recent first sensor output signal corresponding to one or more pixels of different intensity within the plurality of pixels representing to the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the sensor to provide a target detection signal indicating whether the target object has passed between said system and the Sun or Moon. 6. The system recited in claim 5 wherein said signal processor further provides a series of signals indicating the presence, position, and bearing of the target object disposed between said system and the Sun or Moon. 7. The system recited in claim 5 wherein said system further comprises an image filter focusing the entire image of the Sun or Moon on said first sensor. 8. The system recited in claim 7 wherein said image filter is adapted for transposing a focal plane image of incident Sunlight or Moonlight onto said first sensor. 9. The system recited in claim 5 and further comprising a second telescope having an axis towards the Sun or Moon, the second telescope being connected to a second tracking system that aligns the axis of the second telescope with the Sun or Moon; a second sensor for sensing the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the second sensor by the second telescope and for providing a second sensor output signal comprising a plurality of pixels representing the image of the Sun or Moon, the second sensor being correlated to the first sensor, so that the target object is confirmed by correlating the object shadow obtained through the first telescope and the first sensor. 10. A method for detecting objects in space utilizing a receiver for collecting an image of the sun or Moon without requiring that the object to be in the Earth's shadow for detection, the method comprising: providing and positioning within the Earth's atmosphere a first system comprising; a telescope having an axis of operation, the telescope being connected to a signal processor for sensing the image of the Sun or Moon focused on a sensor by the telescope, the image of the Sun or Moon being centered on the axis of operation of the telescope; following the Sun or Moon by moving the axis of operation of the telescope to maintain the image of the Sun or Moon centered on the axis of the telescope; creating a sensor output signal corresponding to the image of the Sun or Moon projected on the sensor as a resolved area defined by a plurality of pixels at a first point in time and identifying differences in pixel intensity as object shadows on the image of the Sun or Moon at the first point in time; creating a sensor output signal corresponding to the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the sensor as a resolved area defined by a plurality of pixels at a second point in time and identifying differences in pixel intensity as object shadows on the image of the Sun or Moon at the second point in time; comparing the object shadows from said sensor output signal from the resolved area at a first point in time with the object shadows from the output signal from the resolved area at the second point in time, and selecting at least one target object based on the comparison of the object shadows; and collecting location and movement observations of said target object from the object shadows in the resolved area to track the presence, position, and bearing of selected target objects. 11. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising the step of tracking the Sun by maintaining the axis of the telescope pointed at the Sun during daylight hours, and the step of tracking the Moon by maintaining the axis of the telescope pointed at the Moon during nighttime hours. 12. A method according to claim 11 and further comprising the step of correlating the movement of the target object with sensor locations and pointing angles, and accounting for the rotation of the Earth. 13. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising providing an ensemble of systems comprising: a plurality of telescopes having axes of operation, each of the telescopes being connected to signal processors for sensing the image of the Sun or Moon focused on the sensor by the telescope and for providing a sensor output signal, the image of the Sun or Moon being defined by a plurality of pixels centered on the axis of operation of the telescope, the pixels being generated by the sensors; and positioning each system at a different distance from the first system for obtaining target object detection at multiple times and locations; and comparing the presences, locations, and bearings of the target object from one system to the target object from any and all other systems to correlate and confirm the target object presence, location, and bearing.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Schall Wolfgang (Waldenbuch DEX), Method and device for removing space debris.
Yamawaki Koji,JPX ; Takami Yasuhiro,JPX ; Nishio Yoko,JPX ; Kaneko Yutaka,JPX ; Kinoshita Takahiro,JPX, System for spotting moving objects based on a plurality of artificial satellites.
Martin, Bernard; Le Berre, François; Caillau, Damien; Leveque, Louis, Optical surveillance system for a space survey system for monitoring near-earth space having a matrix of telescopes coupled to image sensors.
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