Patent ID: 8023117
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
1. A multi-aperture interferometric optical system formed of multiple mirror segment trains cooperating to focus incident electromagnetic radiation at a focal plane, the optical system comprising: a set of spaced-apart segment trains arranged around a region on a focal plane and configured to generate a diffraction pattern at the focal plane, each segment train comprising a set of mirrors configured to reflect incident electromagnetic radiation toward the focal plane; a detector positioned at the focal plane and configured to generate data for focusing the optical system and forming an image from the diffraction pattern; multiple mirror actuators associated with the segment-train mirrors, the multiple mirror actuators configured to respond to actuator commands by moving respective segment-train mirror positions; and a controller configured to, based on the data from the detector, estimate a bias representing a misalignment of the optical system, and, based on the estimated bias, generate actuator commands for controlling the multiple mirror actuators to establish and maintain focus of the optical system.