HYPERSPECTRAL INFRARED SOUNDERS DEPLOYABLE AS A CONSTELLATION FOR LOW ORBIT MWIR ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS
First Claim
1. A device suitable for making infrared atmospheric measurements, the device comprising:
- an avalanche infrared photodiode array;
a cryo-cooler configured to cool the photodiode array;
a spectrometer having an Offner architecture, said spectrometer including a grating and a refractive element proximal to the grating;
an optical and self-emission baffle; and
a two-zone passive thermal radiator having a first zone configured to cool the baffle while in orbit and a second zone configured to cool the spectrometer while in orbit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mid-wave infrared system provides high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of atmospheric temperatures and moisture fields using a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. The disclosed system is smaller, lighter, less complex, and requires less energy than existing systems, due to implementation of an infrared avalanche photodiode array detector that provides enhanced sensitivity with reduced cooling requirements, and an Offner spectrometer having a novel a refractive element inserted near the grating that reduces the size and power requirements of the spectrometer. Embodiments of the disclosed method include deploying a constellation of devices for cooperative infrared sensing of atmospheric phenomena at similar rates, lower cost, and much higher resolution compared to geosynchronous approaches. Some embodiments further include combined analysis of measurements obtained by the disclosed devices with complementary measurements made by other low-earth and high-earth orbital and/or ground-based devices.
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17 Claims
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1. A device suitable for making infrared atmospheric measurements, the device comprising:
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an avalanche infrared photodiode array; a cryo-cooler configured to cool the photodiode array; a spectrometer having an Offner architecture, said spectrometer including a grating and a refractive element proximal to the grating; an optical and self-emission baffle; and a two-zone passive thermal radiator having a first zone configured to cool the baffle while in orbit and a second zone configured to cool the spectrometer while in orbit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification