CAMERA SYSTEM WITH BI-DIRECTIONAL IMAGING CAPABILITY FOR SATELLITE-OPTICAL PAYLOAD

摘要

An optical camera system attached to a satellite for bi-directional photographing is provided to select an upward analog signal or a downward analog signal output from a photo-detector by using a multiplexer to enable bi-directional photographing. An optical camera system mounted in a satellite(101) includes a photo-detector(103), a multiplexer(106), a video signal processor(113), a video data transmitter(114), and a camera controller(105). The photo-detector converts optical energy radiated from a photographing region in an upward direction identical to the traveling direction of the satellite or a photographing region in a downward direction opposite to the upward direction into an electric signal and outputs an upward analog signal or a downward analog signal. The multiplexer selectively processes the upward analog signal and the downward analog signal. The video signal processor converts the upward analog signal or the downward analog signal output from the multiplexer into digital data. The video data transmitter transmits the digital data. The camera controller controls the photo-detector and the multiplexer to selectively capture an upward image and a downward image.