JP2646981B2 - Observation method by satellite - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
On the observation method due to the on-board artificial satellite observation machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a tendency to launch large-scale artificial satellites for earth observation on a platform capable of simultaneously mounting a plurality of observation sensors for different purposes. However, such a large artificial satellite has a problem that the development time is long, the cost required for development and operation is increased, and it is difficult to operate for a certain specialized purpose. Therefore, it is planned to launch and operate a large number of low-cost single-function artificial satellites equipped with a single-function mounting observation machine. Conventionally, this type of on-board observation device includes an on-board observation device for observing the composition of the atmosphere and an on-board observation device for observing an image of the ground surface (for example, the technology described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-673, Tokiko 1
There are many types of on-board observation machines having different purposes, such as the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 42422).

[0003]

However, it is difficult for the above-described on-board observation device to observe different information in the same area at the same time. That is, for example, when trying to obtain observation information relating to the atmospheric composition due to the effect of volcanic activity, observation data from an artificial satellite equipped with an onboard observation machine for observing the atmospheric composition and the ground surface Analysis will be performed using observation data from artificial satellites equipped with on-board observation equipment for observing images, but since the buses of these satellites are different, the time of observation data from each satellite will differ. As a result, accurate composition and surface analysis may not be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is an artificial satellite capable of simultaneously obtaining ground surface perception data indicating an image and atmospheric observation data indicating an atmospheric composition.
It aims to provide a method of observation by stars .

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an observation method using an artificial satellite according to the present invention provides a method for observing a ground surface or the like.
Scans the surface and extracts light of the target wavelength band from the observation light.
The scanning optical system to be taken out and the optical system taken out by this scanning optical system
An atmosphere sensor that detects the spectrum of the light, etc.
The spectrum detected by the atmosphere sensor is converted to digital electricity
And a photoelectric conversion system for converting and outputting signals.
Atmospheric observation means and light from the above surface
The focusing optics that image and the imaging of the focusing optics are electronically scanned.
Equipped with an imaging unit and査satellites, the atmospheric observations hand
Scanning width by scanning the objective surface of the step and electronic scanning of the photographing means
In addition to setting the survey width to be almost the same,
And the visual line direction of the imaging means is set to the same direction.
Observation and data measured by the above atmospheric observation means
Data and ground surface visual data measured by the above-mentioned imaging means.
The digital electric signal is multiplexed and transmitted .

[0006] In addition, the viewing by the artificial satellite according to the second aspect.
Measuring method according to claim 1, Eject in the scanning optical system
Detect light spectrum etc. from the above-mentioned interference line of light
The interferometer and the above spectra detected by this interferometer
A photoelectric conversion unit for converting the digital electric signal
Approximately 2,000 pixels with the air sensor
And a linear CCD with a surface resolution of about 50m
And the scanning light by this linear CCD is converted into a digital electric signal.
Photoelectric conversion of the imaging means, comprising
The configuration uses a conversion processing system .

[0007]

According to the observation method using the artificial satellite , the atmosphere observation means detects the composition of the atmosphere from the observation light, and the like.
The atmospheric observation data is output to the multiplexing means as a digital electric signal. At the same time, by the imaging means,
The ground surface and the like in the same area are imaged from the observation light, and the ground surface visual data is output to the multiplexing means as a digital electric signal. The multiplexing means multiplexes the digital electric signal indicating the atmospheric observation data and the digital electric signal indicating the ground surface visual data and outputs the multiplexed signal.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an onboard observation machine for performing the method of the present invention. The on- board observation device of this example is an observation device mounted on an artificial satellite, and FIG.
As shown in the figure, an atmosphere observer 1 as an atmosphere observation means,
It comprises a CCD camera 2 as imaging means, a multiplexer 3 as multiplexing means, and a satellite interface circuit 4.

The atmosphere observer 1 includes a scanning mechanism system 11 and a front optical system 12 as a scanning optical system, and an atmosphere sensor 13.
And an atmosphere sensor signal processing unit 1 as a photoelectric conversion processing system
4 is provided. The scanning mechanism system 11 includes a scanning mirror,
This is for scanning the ground surface by rotating the scanning mirror in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the artificial satellite according to a command from a scanning drive control system (not shown). That is, the scanning mechanism system 11 has an objective surface scanning function of guiding the light L1 from the ground surface to the front optical system 12 as observation light L2. Thus, two-dimensional observation can be performed by scanning the object plane of the scanning mechanism system 11 and moving the artificial satellite.
The front optical system 12 has a function of receiving the observation light L2 from the scanning mechanism system 11, narrowing the light beam, and outputting only the infrared light L3 in the target observation wavelength band to the atmosphere sensor 13. Have.

The atmosphere sensor 13 detects the incoming infrared light L
2, the interferometer 131, the movable mirror driving unit 132, the detector optical system 133, and the photoelectric conversion unit 13 as shown in FIG.
4 and a refrigerator 135. Interferometer 131
Is a Michelson interferometer that causes interference with the infrared light L3. That is, the infrared light L3 from the front optical system 12
Is separated into reflected light L4 and transmitted light L5 by a beam splitter of the interferometer 131, and the reflected light L4 is reflected by a fixed mirror, transmitted through the beam splitter, and condensed on the detector optical system 133. . On the other hand, the transmitted light L5 is
After being reflected by the movable mirror 31, the light is reflected by the beam splitter and condensed on the detector optical system 133. As a result, an optical path difference occurs between the reflected light L4 and the transmitted light L5 emitted from the interferometer 131, and an interference curve corresponding to the optical path difference is generated. The movable mirror is driven and controlled by a movable mirror driving unit 132.

The light L6 condensed on the detector optical system 133
Are incident on the photoelectric conversion unit 134 and are photoelectrically converted. The photoelectric conversion unit 134 is HgCdTe or the like as an infrared detector, and performs Fourier transform on an interference curve of the light L6 from the detector optical system 133 to obtain an infrared light L3.
And a function of converting the electric signal into an electric signal S1 indicating the spectrum and power of the electric signal and outputting the electric signal to the atmospheric sensor signal processing unit 14. The refrigerator 135 is a mechanical refrigerator of a Stirling type, and cools the photoelectric conversion unit 134 to an extremely low temperature of, for example, 80 ° K, and maintains the performance of the photoelectric conversion unit 134.

The atmosphere sensor signal processing unit 14 has a function of amplifying, shaping and digitizing the electric signal S1 from the photoelectric conversion unit 134 and outputting the digital signal to the multiplexer 3 as atmospheric observation data D1. I have. Note that the calibration unit 136 is for correcting the detection accuracy of the scanning mechanism system 11, and has a calibration function for both the reference black body and the outer space.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, the CCD camera 2
A push-bloom scanning camera that obtains an image by electronic scanning and movement of an artificial satellite.
It comprises a CCD / signal processing unit 22 as a photoelectric conversion processing system. The condensing optical system 21 corresponds to a lens portion, condenses light L1 from the ground surface, and forms an image on the CCD / signal processing unit 22. CCD / signal processing unit 22
Has a photoelectric conversion unit 221 and a signal processing unit 222 as shown in FIG.

The photoelectric conversion unit 221 is a linear CCD having about 2,000 pixels,
This element has a surface resolution of about 0 m, and has a function of electronically scanning light L1 from the ground surface which has been focused and imaged, converts the light L1 into an electric signal S2, and outputs the electric signal S2 to the signal processing unit 222. ing. The signal processing unit 222 amplifies, waveform-shapes, and digitizes the electric signal S2 input from the photoelectric conversion unit 221, and uses the digital signal as ground surface visual data D2.
It has a function of outputting to the multiplexer 3.

The electronic scanning width of the CCD camera 2 and the scanning width of the atmospheric observation device 1 for scanning the object plane are set to be substantially the same, and the viewing direction is also set to be the same. . Therefore, although the parallax exists, the atmosphere observer 1 and the CCD camera 2 see almost the same direction. Then, the on-board processing time per observation scene is adjusted by the CCD / signal processing unit 22 and the atmospheric sensor signal processing unit 14, and the atmospheric observation data D1 and the ground surface visual data D2 are output to the multiplexer 3. I have.

The multiplexer 3 formats and multiplexes the input atmospheric observation data D1 and ground surface visual data D2 as observation data and outputs the data to the satellite interface circuit 4, whereby the observation data is transmitted to the satellite interface circuit 4. Is transmitted from the satellite data bus 5.

Next, an embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described. If volcanic activity occurs on the surface of the earth, the atmosphere observation device 1 and CCD camera
The line of sight of the camera 2 is set. And these atmospheric observations
Scanning device 1 and CCD camera 2 at almost the same scanning width
Observe surface activity.

That is, in the atmospheric observation device 1, the light L1 from the ground surface enters the scanning mechanism system 11 by the scanning of the object plane by the scanning mechanism system 11, and the observation light L2 enters the front optical system 12. Is done. Then, in the front optical system 12,
Only the infrared light L3 in the target observation wavelength band is emitted to the atmosphere sensor 13, and the interferometer 1 of the atmosphere sensor 13
31, an electric signal S indicating the spectrum and power of the infrared light L3 by the detector optical system 133 and the photoelectric conversion unit 134.
The electric signal is converted to 1 and output to the atmospheric sensor signal processing unit 14. The electric signal S1 is transmitted to the atmosphere sensor signal processing unit 14
, The electric signal S1 is amplified, shaped and digitized, and output to the multiplexer 3 as atmospheric observation data D1 indicating the composition of the atmosphere around the volcano.

On the other hand, in the CCD camera 2, the scanning mechanism 1
Scanning width almost the same as the scanning width in the object plane scanning by No. 1.
By electronic scanning by condensing optical system 21 consisting of the light L1 from the light condensing optical system 21 is converged and imaged on the photoelectric conversion unit 221 of the CCD / signal processor 22. The light L1 formed on the photoelectric conversion unit 221 is converted into an electric signal S2, output to the signal processing unit 222, and output to the signal processing unit 222.
Then, the input electric signal S2 is amplified, shaped, and digitized, and as ground surface visual data D2 indicating an image of a volcano,
Output to the multiplexer 3.

The atmospheric observation data D1 and the ground surface visual data D2 output to the multiplexer 3 in this manner are formatted by the multiplexer 3 as observation data.
It is multiplexed and transmitted from the satellite data bus 5 via the satellite interface circuit 4. In particular, if a landmark is set in advance, the activity of the volcano can be observed with high accuracy, and accurate observation data can be transmitted.

As described above, the observation by the artificial satellite of this embodiment is performed.
According to the measurement method , the ground surface perception data D2 indicating an image of volcanic activity and the like and the atmospheric observation data D1 indicating its atmospheric composition and the like can be obtained at the same time. Time and observation of the area will be possible.

In the above-described example of the on-board observation machine, the output light from the front optical system 12 is infrared light, a Michelson interferometer is used as the interferometer 131, and the photoelectric conversion unit 134 is used as an infrared detector. HgCdTe or the like was used, and a mechanical refrigerator of a Stirling system was used as the refrigerator 135. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0023]

As described above, the observation by the artificial satellite of the present invention is performed as described above.
According to the measurement method , atmospheric observation and ground surface vision can be
And multiplex and output these observation data.
Therefore, one small on-board observation machine can observe the same area at the same time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an on-board observation machine used in a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an atmospheric sensor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a CCD camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Atmosphere observer 2 CCD camera 3 Multiplexer 4 Satellite interface circuit 11 Scanning mechanism system 12 Pre-optical system 13 Atmospheric sensor 14 Atmospheric sensor signal processing unit 21 Condensing optical system 22 CCD / signal processing unit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An object surface is scanned on the surface of the ground, etc.
A scanning optical system that extracts light in the target wavelength band from
The spectrum of the light extracted by the scanning optical system
Outgoing air sensor and detected by this air sensor
Converts spectrums, etc. into digital electrical signals and outputs
Atmosphere observation means having a photoelectric conversion processing system
A condensing optical system that condenses light from the ground surface and forms an image
The image pickup means that electronically scans the image of the condensing optical system
Mounted on a star, the scanning width of the above-mentioned atmospheric observation means by scanning the object plane and the above-mentioned imaging
Set the electronic scanning width of the means to approximately the same, and
The line of sight of the atmosphere observation means and the imaging means should be in the same direction.
Observation is performed in the set state, and the data measured by the atmospheric observation means and the imaging
The surface visual data measured at the steps
Signal and multiplex and transmit.
Observation method by artificial satellite. 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said light extracted by said scanning optical system is
An interferometer that detects the spectrum of light from the interference line, etc.
The above spectrum detected by the interferometer
Air sensor equipped with a photoelectric conversion processing unit for converting into a signal
About 2000 pixels and about 50m
Linear CCD with a ground resolution of
A signal that converts scanning light from a CD into a digital electric signal
Using a photoelectric conversion processing system of the imaging means having a signal processing unit
An observation method using the artificial satellite according to claim 1.