OPTICAL ANGLE SENSOR FOR USE IN A POSITION AND/OR ATTITUDE DETERMINATION SYSTEM

摘要

An optical angular sensor comprises a plurality of optical receiving elements (6), each of which is preferably fluorescent. In response to incident light each element generates light which is reflected internally of the element. For each element a respective detecting means (7) responds to the said generated light. The sensor is disposed so that the outputs from the detecting means vary in accordance with the angular orientation of the sensor relative to the incident light. In one embodiment, each element comprises a lamina of which a broad face (12) receives the incident light and of which the narrow faces constitute internal mirrors (14), and the respective detecting means is disposed to receive the radiation from part of the narrow face of the element. The sensor may include an apertured mask (10) disposed in the path of the incident light.