US 12,461,352 B2
Method for acquiring images of at least one celestial body and apparatus for implementing the method
Arnaud Malvache, Fuveau (FR); and Antonin Borot, Marseilles (FR)
Assigned to UNISTELLAR, Marseilles (FR)
Filed by UNISTELLAR, Marseilles (FR)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/878,145.
Claims priority of application No. 2108394 (FR), filed on Aug. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0049756 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 17/06 (2006.01); G02B 17/08 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 17/0694 (2013.01) [G02B 17/061 (2013.01); G02B 17/0896 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for acquiring an image of at least one celestial body, comprising:
using an apparatus comprising a hollow body inside which, in use, light rays coming from at least one observed celestial body penetrate, said observed celestial body chosen from among at least one first celestial body of a first nature and one second celestial body of a second nature, the nature of the first celestial body being different from the nature of the second celestial body
arranging, in the hollow body, an optical system having an optical axis, the optical system is configured such that the light rays form, in an image focus located in a focal plane, an image of the observed celestial body,
arranging in the image focus, a matrix of optical sensors to acquire the image of the observed celestial body, wherein the matrix has a plurality n of unit pixels P1,
defining a first optical sensor configuration of the matrix to acquire the image of the first celestial body of first nature, said first configuration having the plurality n of unit pixels P1, n being a natural integer,
defining at least one second optical sensor configuration of the matrix to acquire the image of the second celestial body of second nature, said second configuration having a plurality m2 of macro-pixels P2 formed by groupings of unit pixels P1, m2 being a natural integer,
selecting one of the optical sensor configurations to acquire the image of the celestial body formed in the image focus, the selection of the optical sensor configuration carried out according to the nature of the observed celestial body, either the first celestial body of first nature or the second celestial body of second nature, and
defining the second optical sensor configuration according to the formula m2=n/k2 with k2 a natural integer of greater than or equal to 2.