Multi-Telescope Imaging System Using Shared Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-telescope imaging systems are costly, large in size, and heavy, making them inefficient for spacecraft applications, and they require multiple sensors which increase complexity and weight.
Innovation Solution
A multi-telescope imaging system where multiple telescopes share a single sensor, with shutters alternatingly opening to prevent simultaneous exposure and using a planar backscan-stabilization mirror to compensate for movement, allowing for reduced size and weight while maintaining high-quality imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple telescopes are used to image from different angles, then stereoscopic viewing and multi-angle information are obtained, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple telescope optical paths to image onto a single sensor, merging the detection function of multiple telescopes into one shared sensor platform. This reduces the total number of sensors needed while maintaining multi-angle imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor serves multiple telescopes simultaneously, making it a universal detection element that handles imaging from multiple angles. The sensor performs the same detection function for all telescope inputs, reducing redundancy
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used for each telescope, then each telescope has dedicated imaging capability, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple telescope optical paths are merged to image onto a single sensor, reducing the number of sensors from N (one per telescope) to 1. This simplifies the system while maintaining the ability to capture images from multiple angles through temporal or spatial multiplexing
3Object-affected harmful factors
If telescopes are positioned with sufficient clearance to avoid interference, then optical interference is prevented, but spatial envelope size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves spatial interference by separating telescope outputs in the temporal dimension rather than requiring spatial separation. Telescopes can be positioned closer together physically, with their images alternating on the sensor over time, thus trading spatial separation for temporal multiplexing
4Adaptability or versatility
If large focal plane arrays are used to obtain large field of view, then information gathering capability is improved, but cost and pixel count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic alternation between different telescope inputs on the same sensor. Each telescope captures images at different times, allowing the sensor to maintain a reasonable pixel count while still achieving wide effective coverage through the combined fields of view of multiple telescopes over time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the cost, weight, and spatial envelope of the imaging system, simplifies image registration and calibration, and enables high-quality, high-resolution imaging with reduced size and weight, making it suitable for spacecraft applications.
Implementation Method 1
Each telescope includes an optical train with reflective and/or refractive optics that gathers the light from the scene and images it at a focal surface
Implementation Method 2
Each telescope includes an optical train with reflective and/or refractive optics that gathers the light from the scene and images it at a focal surface
Implementation Method 3
Each telescope includes a sensor such as a focal plane array positioned at the focal surface to receive the image from the optical train and convert the image to an electrical signal for signal processing
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-telescope imaging system includes a first telescope and a second telescope, each telescope having an input line of sight, a ray path that is incident upon a focal surface imaging location at a non-normal angle of incidence, and a shutter lying on the ray path. A single common sensor lies at the focal surface imaging location, such that the first-telescope ray path and the second-telescope ray path are alternatingly incident upon the same focal surface imaging location of the sensor. A shutter controller alternatingly opens and closes the two shutters, so that the sensor alternatingly views the scenes imaged by the two telescopes.