Satellite Staring Sensor with Co-Collimated Telescopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite imaging systems cannot produce real-time, high-resolution images of the entire Earth hemisphere due to their scanning sensor design, which results in distorted images and significant delays, limiting their effectiveness in applications like weather monitoring and forecasting.
Innovation Solution
A staring sensor system with co-collimated telescopes and sparsely populated focal plane arrays that capture images simultaneously across the entire observable hemisphere, allowing for optimized light integration times and radiation compensation, enabling persistent, high-resolution imaging with minimal distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a scanning sensor is used to image the Earth hemisphere, then the sensor can capture the entire observable area, but the images are distorted and delayed by minutes to tens of minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor divides the observable hemisphere into multiple fields of view, with each focal plane array capturing a specific portion. By segmenting the imaging task across multiple FPAs, the system can capture the entire hemisphere simultaneously without sequential scanning, eliminating image delay and distortion while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional scanning approach to a two-dimensional simultaneous capture approach using multiple focal plane arrays arranged to cover different portions of the hemisphere. This dimensional change allows all areas to be imaged at the same moment rather than sequentially, resolving the time delay problem
2Area of stationary object
If a scanning sensor is used to image the Earth hemisphere, then the sensor can capture the entire observable area, but the images of moving objects are distorted
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the hemisphere into multiple simultaneous fields of view captured by separate focal plane arrays, the system eliminates the temporal separation inherent in scanning. Each segment is captured at the same moment, preserving the true geometric relationships of moving objects without the distortions caused by sequential scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple simultaneous images from different focal plane arrays into a single composite hemisphere image. This combining process integrates all spatial information captured at the same moment, preserving geometric accuracy while achieving complete hemisphere coverage
3Area of stationary object
If conventional satellite imaging systems are used, then they can provide hemisphere images, but the resolution is moderate to low (500m to 4km per pixel)
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor allocates dedicated focal plane arrays to specific regions of the hemisphere, allowing each FPA to optimize its detection capability for its assigned area. This segmentation enables high-resolution imaging across the entire hemisphere rather than forcing all areas into a single low-resolution scan
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the hemisphere can be imaged with locally optimized resolution characteristics by assigning appropriate focal plane arrays to different regions. This allows high spatial resolution (100m per pixel or better) to be achieved across the entire hemisphere by tailoring the imaging quality to local requirements
4Productivity
If a staring sensor with multiple focal plane arrays is used, then real-time high-resolution imaging is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex task of capturing the entire hemisphere simultaneously is segmented into manageable portions, each handled by a dedicated focal plane array. This segmentation makes the overall complex system implementable by dividing it into independent, manageable imaging units that can be individually optimized and controlled
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
The system achieves real-time, high-resolution imaging of the entire Earth hemisphere with minimal distortion, enabling continuous and persistent monitoring of weather patterns and other Earth phenomena, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of data delivery.
Implementation Method 1
co-collimated telescopes which directly illuminate focal planes
Implementation Method 2
focal plane arrays that are sparsely populated with multiple focal plane arrays for each focal plane
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for Real-time Satellite Imaging (10) are disclosed. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention an imaging sensor (14) for a satellite having one or more co-collimated telescopes (18). The telescopes (18) illuminate focal planes (22) which are sparsely populated with focal plane arrays (24). The focal plane arrays (24) record the entire observable Earth hemisphere at one time.