An incoherent correlator system for star pattern recognition and tracking was described by Kouris et al. in SPIE Vol. 4734, as part of the 2002 OPR XIII Conference Session. The experimental demonstration described utilized small but discrete bulk mirrors as the specialised matched filtering elements. The replacement of the discrete bulk mirrors by a matrix of MEMS mirrors is desirable, especially in space applications, due to the light weight, compact size, low power consumption and precise patterning of MEMS structures. We describe here the relation of MEMS mirror parameters to star tracker performance. Two approaches to fabricate a two dimensional array of large area, high tilt angle and fast switching MEMS mirrors with orthogonal tilt axes are discussed, as required in the star tracker application. A preliminary design and test results of the MEMS array are presented.

Date Published: 28 March 2005
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 5816, Optical Pattern Recognition XVI, (28 March 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.607978

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5816:
Optical Pattern Recognition XVI
David P. Casasent; Tien-Hsin Chao, Editor(s)