Scanning horizon sensors using an inner and an outer radiation senstive detector
First Claim
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1. A scanning horizon sensor which comprises, in combination:
- optical means, and a detector assembly, said optical means having an optical axis and being operative to direct received radiation onto said detector assembly, wherein said detector assembly comprises an inner radiation-sensitive detector element and an outer radiation-sensitive detector element surrounding and spaced from said inner element relative to said optical axis, and difference-determining means connected to said detector elements for deriving a signal commensurate with a difference between the radiation received by said inner detector element and the radiation received by said outer detector element.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for accurately determining the horizon position of a celestial body is disclosed in the form of inner and outer detector portions arranged generally-concentrically relative to an optical axis. Difference-determining electrical circuitry determines a difference between the outputs of the two detectors.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A scanning horizon sensor which comprises, in combination:
- optical means, and a detector assembly, said optical means having an optical axis and being operative to direct received radiation onto said detector assembly, wherein said detector assembly comprises an inner radiation-sensitive detector element and an outer radiation-sensitive detector element surrounding and spaced from said inner element relative to said optical axis, and difference-determining means connected to said detector elements for deriving a signal commensurate with a difference between the radiation received by said inner detector element and the radiation received by said outer detector element.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The method of detecting a horizon crossing which comprises the steps of:
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moving an optical field-of-view across a detector assembly having an inner radiation-sensitive detector element and an outer radiation-sensitive detector element surrounding and spaced from said inner element relative to the optical axis of said optical field-of-view; and deriving a signal commensurate with a difference between the radiation being received by said inner detector element and the radiation received by said outer detector element. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification