US6798984B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image pick-up device on board a space craft, space craft and image sensing method comprising same
Assignee: Centre National d'Études Spatiales
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Filing: 2001-06-06
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Granted: 2004-09-28
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Expires: 2021-06-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a camera device for mounting on board a spacecraft, the camera device having at least one observation sensor and displacement means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) for controlled displacement of said device relative to the spacecraft with at least one degree of freedom, the device being characterized in that said displacement means comprise at least one transducer of an active material suitable for deforming dynamically under the effect of a variable electric and/or magnetic field, together with driver means suitable for controlling the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in compliance with a variable control relationship adapted to compensating movements induced by the flight dynamics of the satellite.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Antikidis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/221; H04N23/00; H04N23/58; H04N23/60; H04N23/68; H04N23/682; H04N23/685; H04N23/687; H04N25/00; H04N25/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A camera device for mounting on board a spacecraft, the camera device having at least one observation sensor and a displacement member for controlled displacement of said device relative to the spacecraft with at least one degree of freedom, said displacement member comprising at least one transducer of an active material suitable for deforming dynamically in response to a variable electric and/or magnetic field, together with a driver for controlling the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A camera device for mounting on board a spacecraft, the camera device having at least one observation sensor and a displacement member for controlled displacement of said device relative to the spacecraft with at least one degree of freedom, said displacement member comprising at least one transducer of an active material suitable for deforming dynamically in response to a variable electric and/or magnetic field, together with a driver for controlling the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein the active material is a piezoelectric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein the active material is a magnetostrictive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 1 , which further comprises a servo-control member for each transducer adapted to compensate disturbing movements affecting the position of each sensor relative to an object to be observed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein the active material is mounted directly on a matrix of observation sensors to form an integrated structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 1 , wherein each observation sensor is a photosensitive charge transfer element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A spacecraft including a camera device with at least one observation sensor and a displacement member for controlled displacement of the camera device relative to the spacecraft in at least one degree of freedom, the displacement member having a transducer of an active material that will deform in response to an electric field and/or a magnetic field, together with a driver for controlling the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A spacecraft including a camera device with at least one observation sensor and a displacement member for controlled displacement of the camera device relative to the spacecraft in at least one degree of freedom, the displacement member having a transducer of an active material that will deform in response to an electric field and/or a magnetic field, together with a driver for controlling the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of imaging in space by displacing a camera device relative to a spacecraft, the method comprising the steps of applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field to deform an active material interposed between the camera device and the spacecraft, and driving the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of imaging in space by displacing a camera device relative to a spacecraft, the method comprising the steps of applying an electric field and/or a magnetic field to deform an active material interposed between the camera device and the spacecraft, and driving the transducer so as to displace the observation sensor in the opposite direction to the displacement of the satellite along its trajectory, at the same speed and throughout at least the duration of an exposure time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of compensating smearing associated with movements of a spacecraft relative to an object to be observed that is remote from said spacecraft, the movements corresponding to displacement of said spacecraft along a trajectory (V).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of using the active material to cause a matrix of observation sensors extending mainly in a plane to tilt relative to the tangent of the trajectory (V) of the spacecraft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of taking a first image of the object to be observed from a first position on the trajectory (V), and a second image of said object from a position downstream from said first position, to form a stereoscopic image of the object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of, between taking two images of the object to be observed, displacing the camera device laterally relative to the trajectory (V) of the spacecraft to form a stereoscopic image of the object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of causing the camera device to turn about an axis perpendicular to the trajectory (V) to form a stereoscopic image of the object to be observed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of taking a plurality of images corresponding to the camera device occupying positions that are juxtaposed beside one another by displacing the camera device between taking two images, the device being displaced laterally relative to the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to form, after processing all of the images, an image of the object to be observed that corresponds to a field that is wider than that which would be obtained using only one of said images.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of using the active material to cause a matrix of observation sensors extending mainly in a plane to tilt relative to the tangent of the trajectory (V) of the spacecraft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of, between taking two images of the object to be observed, displacing the camera device laterally relative to the trajectory (V) of the spacecraft to form a stereoscopic image of the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of, between taking two images of the object to be observed, displacing the camera device laterally relative to the trajectory (V) of the spacecraft to form a stereoscopic image of the object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of causing the camera device to turn about an axis perpendicular to the trajectory (V) to form a stereoscopic image of the object to be observed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of causing the camera device to turn about an axis perpendicular to the trajectory (V) to form a stereoscopic image of the object to be observed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of causing the camera device to turn about an axis perpendicular to the trajectory (V) to form a stereoscopic image of the object to be observed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of taking a plurality of images corresponding to the camera device occupying positions that are juxtaposed beside one another by displacing the camera device between taking two images, the device being displaced laterally relative to the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to form, after processing all of the images, an image of the object to be observed that corresponds to a field that is wider than that which would be obtained using only one of said images.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of taking a plurality of images corresponding to the camera device occupying positions that are juxtaposed beside one another by displacing the camera device between taking two images, the device being displaced laterally relative to the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to form, after processing all of the images, an image of the object to be observed that corresponds to a field that is wider than that which would be obtained using only one of said images.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of taking a plurality of images corresponding to the camera device occupying positions that are juxtaposed beside one another by displacing the camera device between taking two images, the device being displaced laterally relative to the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to form, after processing all of the images, an image of the object to be observed that corresponds to a field that is wider than that which would be obtained using only one of said images.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of taking a plurality of images corresponding to the camera device occupying positions that are juxtaposed beside one another by displacing the camera device between taking two images, the device being displaced laterally relative to the trajectory of the spacecraft so as to form, after processing all of the images, an image of the object to be observed that corresponds to a field that is wider than that which would be obtained using only one of said images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-09-28 | 2008-03-29 | 2008-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-03-29 | 2012-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-28 | 2016-03-29 | 2016-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |