Inertially stabilized mirror system
First Claim
1. A method of using the inherent moment-of-inertia of a mirror mounted on a rotation axis to maintain orientation of the mirror and stabilization of the line-of-sight observed by an optical instrument mounted on a platform that experiences angular and translational disturbances, said method comprising,mounting a first mirror for rotation about a first axis of rotation,orienting the first mirror so that the first mirror reflects the incident radiation parallel to the first axis of rotation,locating the center-of-mass of the first mirror on the first axis of rotation to prevent introduction of torque on the first mirror due to translational accelerations, andusing the inherent moment-of-inertia of the first mirror to maintain the orientation of the first mirror so as to result in a stabilized line-of-sight as observed by the optical instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stabilization of pointing and stabilization mirror systems is provided by using the inherent moment of inertia of the mirrors. Inertially stabilized mirror systems have mirror orientations and rotation axes such that the mirrors reflect incident radiation parallel to the rotation axes. One mirror is provided for each axis of stabilization. In order to maintain stabilization in space for incident radiation to the mirror, any prior mirrors are provided with rotation axes parallel to the stabilization axis.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of using the inherent moment-of-inertia of a mirror mounted on a rotation axis to maintain orientation of the mirror and stabilization of the line-of-sight observed by an optical instrument mounted on a platform that experiences angular and translational disturbances, said method comprising,
mounting a first mirror for rotation about a first axis of rotation, orienting the first mirror so that the first mirror reflects the incident radiation parallel to the first axis of rotation, locating the center-of-mass of the first mirror on the first axis of rotation to prevent introduction of torque on the first mirror due to translational accelerations, and using the inherent moment-of-inertia of the first mirror to maintain the orientation of the first mirror so as to result in a stabilized line-of-sight as observed by the optical instrument.
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9. Apparatus for using the inherent moment-of-inertia of a mirror mounted on a rotation axis to maintain orientation of the mirror and stabilization of the line-of-sight observed by an optical instrument mounted on a platform that experiences angular and translational disturbances, said apparatus comprising,
a first mirror mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, said mirror being oriented so that the first mirror reflects the incident radiation parallel to the first axis of rotation, said mirror having its center-of-mass located on the first axis of rotation to prevent introduction of torque on the first mirror due to translational accelerations, and wherein the inherent moment-of-inertia of the first mirror maintains the orientation of the first mirror so as to result in a stabilized line-of-sight as observed by the optical instrument.
Specification