Earth observation method
First Claim
1. A method of remote earth observation comprising the steps ofcontinuously sensing data concerning the earth'"'"'s surface in an area which follows a predetermined path using a first earth observation sensor;
- transmitting said data sensed by said first sensor, concurrently with said sensing to ground stations currently within a reception radius;
making a selection of a desired data set at a ground station based on information contained in said data sensed by said first sensor;
transmitting said selection of said desired data set to a second earth observation sensor which continuously senses data concerning the earth'"'"'s surface in an area which follows the same predetermined path as said first earth observation sensor at a predetermined distance behind said first earth observation sensor, wherein the path continuously scanned by said second sensor is coincident with the path continuously scanned by said first sensor;
causing said second earth observation sensor to acquire said desired data set and to transmit it to said ground station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Two sensors are carried on board a spacecraft: a first, low resolution "preview" sensor, and a second high resolution "fine sensor", the latter having sensing parameters which can be adjusted to satisfy the needs of a particular customer. The instantaneous field of view of the preview sensor is located at a fixed distance ahead of that of the fine sensor, so that within a predetermined time period, users may decide which partial data are to be transmitted by the fine sensor and under which observation parameters (such as spacial resolution, spectral channels, measuring site, size of the measured area) to their earth station in near real time, still within the course of the actual overflight. Compilation of the specific data requested by the customers takes place on-board the spacecraft upon telecommands by the customers themselves. Sensing of the data requested by the customer is then performed by the fine sensor.
43 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A method of remote earth observation comprising the steps of
continuously sensing data concerning the earth'"'"'s surface in an area which follows a predetermined path using a first earth observation sensor; -
transmitting said data sensed by said first sensor, concurrently with said sensing to ground stations currently within a reception radius; making a selection of a desired data set at a ground station based on information contained in said data sensed by said first sensor; transmitting said selection of said desired data set to a second earth observation sensor which continuously senses data concerning the earth'"'"'s surface in an area which follows the same predetermined path as said first earth observation sensor at a predetermined distance behind said first earth observation sensor, wherein the path continuously scanned by said second sensor is coincident with the path continuously scanned by said first sensor; causing said second earth observation sensor to acquire said desired data set and to transmit it to said ground station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeDornier GmbH (Government of France)
-
Original AssigneeDornier GmbH (Government of France)
-
InventorsLangemann, Manfred, Schussler, Harald, Benz, Rudolf, Mallow, Uwe
-
Primary Examiner(s)Lee, Thomas D.
-
Application NumberUS08/065,346Time in Patent Office2,125 DaysField of Search340/870.01, 340/870.1, 348/117, 348/143, 348/144, 348/145, 348/147, 342/352, 342/357, 455/12.1US Class Current340/870.01CPC Class CodesB64G 1/1021 Earth observation satellitesG01C 11/025 by scanning the object
