Optical Module for Observing Event or Object

• US 20080186605A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SatByul Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Industry Collaboration Foundation of EWHA University
• Inventors: Park, Jae Hyoung, PARK, IL HUNG
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/857
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1021 Earth observation satellites
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/16 Measuring atmospheric potential differences, e.g. due to electrical charges in clouds measuring potentiels in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/06 having a focussing action, e.g. parabolic mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B

Abstract

An optical module that effectively observes a rapidly moving event or object is provided. The optical module includes first and second mirrors, and an optical signals detector, which are installed in a body thereof. The first mirror has a wide field of view and detects the event or object over a wide observing region. The second mirror observes the event or object detected by the first mirror at a high resolution. The focal length of the second mirror is greater than that of the first mirror. The optical signal detector detects an optical signal in light transmitted from the first mirror or the second mirror. The body forms apertures which correspond to the first and second mirrors, respectively and provides an optical path from the first and second mirrors to the optical signal detector. Therefore, the optical module can observe the event or object detected by the first mirror at a high resolution.

Claims

1. An optical module observing an event or an object comprising:

a first mirror having a wide field of view, for detecting the event or object over a wide observing region;

at lease one or more second mirrors, whose focal length is greater than that of the first mirror, for observing the event or object detected by the first mirror at a high resolution;

an optical signal detector for detecting an optical signal in light transmitted from the first mirror or at least one or more second mirrors; and

a body including the first mirror, at least one or more second mirrors, and the optical signal detector therein, and forming apertures which correspond to the first mirror and at least one or more second mirrors, respectively, the body providing an optical path from the first mirror and at least one or more second mirrors to the optical signal detector.

2. The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for determining whether the detected event or object is an observation target, for reading a location of the detected event or object when determining that the detected event or object is an observation target, and for controlling the first mirror and at least one or more second mirrors.

3. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror comprises a digital mirror that is switched off after detecting the event or object.

4. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or more second mirrors comprises an analog mirror that can rapidly change its tilting angle.

5. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror and at least one or more second mirrors change an optical path of an image to a certain path.

6. The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or more second mirrors adjust the resolution to a certain value.

7. The optical module according to any one of claims 1, wherein the first mirror and at least one or more second mirrors are operated through a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS).