Star tracker with steerable field-of-view baffle coupled to wide field-of-view camera

摘要

A star tracker has an electronically steerable point of view, without requiring a precision aiming mechanism. The star tracker can be strapped down, thereby avoiding problems associated with precision aiming of mechanical devices. The star tracker images selectable narrow portions of a scene, such as the sky. Each stellar sighting can image a different portion of the sky, depending on which navigational star or group of navigational stars is of interest. The selectability of the portion of the sky imaged enables the star tracker to avoid unwanted light, such as from the sun.

主权项

1. A star tracker, comprising:
a camera having a field of view; and an electronically adjustable baffle assembly disposed relative to the camera and configured to expose a selectable portion, less than all, of the camera field of view to a scene, wherein direction of the selectable portion of the field of view, relative to the star tracker, is electronically selectable in both azimuth and elevation, and wherein the baffle assembly comprises at least a portion of a dome, the dome defining an aperture configured to expose the selectable portion of the camera field of view to the scene, the baffle assembly being rotatable about an optical axis of the camera.