ONBOARD OPTICAL LOCATOR FOR DETERMINING APPROACH PARAMETERS OF TWO SPACECRAFTS Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC G01S11/12 B64G1/64 

FIELD: engineering of measuring devices for movement control systems, in particular, for spacecrafts, possible use during approach and docking of spacecrafts.

SUBSTANCE: suggested locator contains objective, scanning unit placed in its focal plane, in form of digital micro-mirror device, photo-receiver with projection system, block for processing signals from photo-receiver, block for controlling scanning unit and emitters of radiation with high frequency modulation. Aforementioned sources (not less than two) are mounted on one of spacecrafts, while remaining aforementioned elements of locator - in another spacecraft. Block for controlling scanning unit is combined with block for computing spacecraft approach parameters. Data produced in this block is sent into spacecraft control system during approach. In suggested locator, useful signal of aforementioned light sources is separated from possible light interference, created by structural elements of spacecraft, due to usage of photo-receiver with time constant which is a lot less than modulation period of received optical radiation.

EFFECT: creation of onboard locator of minimal dimensions and mass, with low energy consumption and increased reliability when determining approach parameters of two spacecrafts.

1 dwg