Optical inertial reference generator

• US 6,700,109 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Tech Corporation Company Limited
• Inventors: Sebesta, Henry R., Eckelkamp-Baker, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyo, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C.
• Application Number:
  US10/173,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 250/203.1, 250/216, 701/220, 74/56.A, 74/54, 735/70, 735/96, 736/01, 736/49, 736/52
• US Class Current: 250/203.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68

Abstract

A system for stabilizing an optical line of sight. An optical system including primary optics and relay optics includes a jitter rejection mirror located within the path of the relay optics. An auto alignment system is provided for maintaining alignment of the jitter rejection mirror in response to a control signal. An auto alignment sensor detects jitter in a reference beam passing through the jitter rejection mirror, and the generated control signal is used to reduce the jitter. The reference beam is supplied by a stabilized source of laser signals which are received by the primary optics, and relayed to the jitter rejection mirror.

Claims

1. A stabilized source of laser signals for providing a reference line of sight for an optical system comprising:

a platform supported by a gimbal system, said platform directing a reference laser signal to an optical system on said gimbal system;

a plurality of sensors for detecting the inertial motion of said platform;

a plurality of actuators connected to displace said platform position with respect to said gimbal system; and

a controller connected to said sensors and said actuators for displacing said platform in a direction to cancel vibration incident to said platform.

2. The stabilized source of laser signals according to claim 1 wherein said sensors include both low frequency and high frequency detectors having a blended output wherein a wideband signal is produced representing said inertial motion of said platform.

3. The stablilzed source of laser signals according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of sensors comprise:

a first sensor for measuring low frequency variations in position of said platform;

a second sensor for measuring high frequency variations in position of said platform;

a blending filter for combining the signals from said first and second sensors with attitude commands received for positioning said platform and supplying a signal to said controller;

a linear displacement sensor for determining the displacement of said platform with respect to a base connected to said gimbal system; and

a Kalman filter connected to said linear displacement sensor for providing a signal to said gimbal system for reducing the displacement between said platform and said base.

4. The stabilized source of laser signals according to claim 3, wherein said Kalman filter provides a signal to said controller.