US 12,228,727 B1
Polarization-aided image contrast enhancement with rotating polarization element and control software
Sloane J. Wiktorowicz, Long Beach, CA (US); David J. Gutierrez, Long Beach, CA (US); and Kirk B. Crawford, Lomita, CA (US)
Assigned to THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed by The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/458,936.
Int. Cl. G02B 26/06 (2006.01); G02B 5/30 (2006.01); G02B 23/02 (2006.01); G02B 23/12 (2006.01); G02B 27/28 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 26/06 (2013.01) [G02B 5/3083 (2013.01); G02B 23/02 (2013.01); G02B 23/12 (2013.01); G02B 27/288 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A polarization-aided image contrast enhancement system, comprising:
a photodetector;
a rotatable polarization element configured to receive light from one or more mirrors of a telescope and located in an optical path between the one or more mirrors of the telescope and the photodetector; and
a computing system comprising memory and control software stored on the memory, the computing system operably connected to the photodetector and the rotatable polarization element, wherein
the control software is configured to cause the computing system to control an orientation of the rotatable polarization element,
the control software comprises scan parameters, and
the scan parameters are configured to set a start angle, a step size, and a stop angle for changing the orientation of the rotatable polarization element.