Slit-type sun sensor having a plurality of slits
First Claim
1. A slit-type sun sensor which, as well as at least one coarse attitude detector, is connected to an attitude control system on a mobile craft, which sensor is of the kind using a linear array of photodetectors extending at an angle relative to a slit interposed between said array and the sun, characterized in that it comprises at least a first sun sensor having a plurality of slits disposed in parallel, each slit serving to detect a sector of the overall field of view of a first angular position of the sun to be measured, in such a manner that at least one of the photodetectors of said array is, always exposed to the sun said first sun sensor further comprising calculation means which receive, on the one hand, information about the exposure of said array to the sun and, on the other hand, information originating from said attitude control system, in combination with the date, indicating in which sector of the field of view the sun is situated, and which derive from said information the angular position of the sun in said overall field of view.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This sensor, which is connected to an attitude control system comprising a coarse attitude detector on a mobile craft, has an array of photodetectors (1) and a slit (3) interposed between the array and the sun. According to the invention, it comprises a sun sensor having a plurality of parallel slits (3, 4, 5), each slit detecting a sector (C1, A, C2) of the overall field of view for a first angular position of the sun to be measured, with a small overlap between adjacent sectors. Said sun sensor further comprises calculation means (31) which receive, on the one hand, information about the insolation of the array and, on the other hand, information originating from the attitude control system (inertial unit 32), in combination with the date, indicating in which sector of the field of view the sun is situated, and which derive from said information the angular position of the sun in said overall field of view.
35 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A slit-type sun sensor which, as well as at least one coarse attitude detector, is connected to an attitude control system on a mobile craft, which sensor is of the kind using a linear array of photodetectors extending at an angle relative to a slit interposed between said array and the sun, characterized in that it comprises at least a first sun sensor having a plurality of slits disposed in parallel, each slit serving to detect a sector of the overall field of view of a first angular position of the sun to be measured, in such a manner that at least one of the photodetectors of said array is, always exposed to the sun said first sun sensor further comprising calculation means which receive, on the one hand, information about the exposure of said array to the sun and, on the other hand, information originating from said attitude control system, in combination with the date, indicating in which sector of the field of view the sun is situated, and which derive from said information the angular position of the sun in said overall field of view.
Specification