Method and apparatus for determining obscuration of sensors...

Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Simulating nonelectrical device or system

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C703S007000, C703S008000, C703S013000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06850875

ABSTRACT:
The field of view of a sensor mounted on a satellite (or other spacecraft) is obscured by various objects, such as celestial bodies and the satellite's own solar panels. A method is disclosed for visualizing and quantifying, with respect to time, variations in the portions of the sensor's field of view that are obscured. The graphical output of a satellite systems analysis program, which features high-resolution, three-dimensional, animated images of spacecraft, celestial bodies and other objects in the space environment, is utilized. The graphical output is simplified to only a few colors to differentiate only background and irrelevant objects from relevant objects. Differentiation is also made, using different colors, in representation of those portions of the field of view that overlap relevant (obscuring) objects from the remainder of the field of view which is unobscured. By counting pixels of the respective colors, frame-by-frame during animation, the percentage of obscuration over time is quantified.

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Copyright Registration Certificate No. TX4-819-010, registered Sep. 9, 1998, Only the First and Last 25 Pages of Each.

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