Patent ID: 6310336
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B64G,G01C,G01S

Abstract:
An apparatus for sensing the position of the sun relative to a spacecraft, said apparatus comprising:a wide-field-of-view (WFOV) optical sensor head located in said spacecraft, said WFOV optical sensor having at least one reticle, said WFOV optical sensor receiving an optical position of the sun relative to the spacecraft on at least one photovoltaic cell disposed behind each reticle, said WFOV optical sensor generating a sun position signal;a spacecraft computer located in said spacecraft and separate from said WFOV optical sensor, said spacecraft computer including a microprocessor and a power supply;a set of interface electronics integrated with said spacecraft computer and powered by said power supply, said set of interface electronics coupled to said WFOV optical sensor through an interface bus and receiving said sun position signal, wherein said set of interface electronics processes said sun position signal for use by said microprocessor.