Sun sensors

Details Sun sensors Sun sensors

1995-07-21

1997-07-01

Willis, Davis L.

Radiant energy

Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling

Ultraviolet light responsive means

244171, B64G 136

Patent

active

056441347

ABSTRACT:
A method is provided for greatly increasing the ratio of direct sunlight to earthshine in a sun sensor used on a spacecraft which is orbiting the earth and is used for the attitude determination of spacecraft with respect to the sun illuminated earth. The sun sensor is provided with a detector in which radiation applied thereto is restricted to a spectral region where the earth's atmosphere is extremely absorbent. Therefore, the detector only receives radiation in that spectral region directly from the sun, while any reflected light from the earth in the selected spectral region is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere, thereby never reaching the detector. One suitable spectral region is the ultraviolet absorption band from 200-290 nm and a UV enhanced silicon detector would be used in the sun sensor.

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patent: 4999483 (1991-03-01), Okamoto
patent: 5041727 (1991-08-01), Kojima et al.
patent: 5168152 (1992-12-01), Kelley

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