Steering Mirror Telescope for Variable View Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pointing telescope systems face challenges in maintaining minimal distortions while allowing for a variable view angle, particularly in high-precision applications like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, where long-distance beam alignment is critical and large optical assemblies are impractical to move.
Innovation Solution
A pointing telescope system with a steering mirror placed at an intermediate pupil, allowing controllable rotation to adjust the view angle without significantly affecting light passing through the aperture stop, and utilizing afocal configurations with parabolic mirrors to maintain collimation and minimize distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a steering mirror is embedded into the optical design to enable in-field pointing, then variable view angle is achieved, but additional complication of a two-stage optical design is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into two functional stages: a first telescope stage for collecting and conditioning light, and a second telescope stage for delivering the beam to the target. The steering mirror is positioned at the intermediate pupil between these stages, allowing independent optimization of each stage while achieving variable view angle capability.
2Measurement precision
If the optical assembly is articulated to correct for orbital motion variations, then line of sight accuracy is maintained, but the relatively large assembly becomes impractical to move
Solution Approach 1:
The steering mirror is extracted from the main optical assembly and positioned at the intermediate pupil plane. This allows the mirror to be rotated independently to correct for orbital motion variations, while the rest of the optical assembly remains fixed and manageable in size.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering mirror acts as an intermediary element between the two telescope stages, positioned at the intermediate pupil. It mediates the correction of line of sight accuracy by rotating to compensate for orbital motion, while the optical benches remain fixed.
3Measurement precision
If a single mode optical fiber backlink is used to exchange optical phase reference between moving optical benches, then phase reference is maintained, but the system requires moving relatively large assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The backlink fiber is removed from the system by embedding the steering mirror directly into the optical design. The steering mirror enables direct optical coupling between the fixed optical benches, eliminating the need for a single mode optical fiber backlink and the associated large moving assemblies.
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
Enables precise adjustment of the view angle with minimal distortion, ensuring accurate beam alignment over long distances with reduced complexity and movement of optical components.
Implementation Method 1
a steering mirror arranged in a part of the optical path between the first telescope stage and the second telescope stage, wherein the steering mirror is configured to controllably rotate over a rotation angle for controlling a view angle
Implementation Method 2
utilizing afocal configurations with parabolic mirrors to maintain collimation and minimize distortions
Data Source
AI summary
A telescope system (100) comprises a steering minor (M5) arranged in a part of its optical path (L5-L6) between a first telescope stage (10) and a second telescope stage (20). The steering mirror (M5) is configured to controllably rotate over a rotation angle (θm) for controlling a view angle (θv) of the telescope system (100) from the entrance aperture (A1). The steering mirror (M5) is disposed at an intermediate pupil (Pi) of the telescope system (100), at which position an image of the aperture stop (As) is formed by one or more of the optical components (M7, M6) there between.