Two Axis Interferometer Tracking Device Using Image Dividers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical tracking devices are limited to single-axis tracking, which restricts their accuracy along two axes, and combining two single-axis devices to achieve two-axis tracking increases device size and weight, making them impractical for many applications.
Innovation Solution
A two-axis interferometric tracking device using image dividers and shearing interferometers to split incident light into orthogonally polarized beams, which are then imaged onto focal plane arrays to estimate both coarse and fine positions of a light source, allowing for precise angular position determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two single-axis interferometric tracking devices are coupled together to achieve two-axis tracking, then tracking accuracy along two axes is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two single-axis interferometric tracking devices into a single integrated two-axis tracking device. The first and second interferometers are combined with shared optical components including a common aperture stop, collimating optics, and a single focal plane array, achieving two-axis tracking capability while reducing overall device weight and size compared to using two separate single-axis devices
2Measurement precision
If two single-axis interferometric tracking devices are coupled together to achieve two-axis tracking, then tracking accuracy along two axes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two interferometric tracking systems into a unified device with shared optical paths and common components. Both interferometers use the same aperture stop, collimating optics, and focal plane array, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining two-axis tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The optical components serve multiple functions: the single aperture stop controls both interferometers, the collimating optics work for both axes, and the focal plane array detects signals from both interferometers. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant components
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 solution enables accurate two-axis tracking with improved precision and reduced size and weight, allowing for more practical and efficient determination of light source positions and trajectories.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the image dividers splits incident light into a plurality of non-parallel orthogonally polarized beams
Implementation Method 2
One of a plurality of shearing interferometers is optically coupled between optically adjacent image dividers in the optical cascade
Data Source
AI summary
An interferometric tracking device includes image dividers arranged to form an optical cascade, with one of the image dividers being an incident image divider for the optical cascade and one or more of the image dividers being one or more exit image dividers for the optical cascade. Each of the image dividers splits incident light into a plurality of non-parallel orthogonally polarized beams, the beams from the incident image divider cascading through the other image dividers in the cascade. One of a plurality of shearing interferometers is optically coupled between optically adjacent image dividers in the cascade. The orthogonally polarized beams from the one or more exit image dividers are imaged onto one or more focal plane arrays.