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  Compact-depth spiral telescope and method of making and using the sameThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060066965. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a compact-depth spiral telescope and a method of making and using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a telescope having a reduced depth compared to conventional telescope designs of comparable performance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Telescopes have been used for hundreds of years to magnify the images of distant objects. In 1672, Sir Isaac Newton developed what was believed to be the first reflective telescope. This type of telescope has become known as a Newtonian telescope. One specific type of a Newtonian telescope is a Gregorian telescope. Gregorian telescopes may be used in applications where upright images are required and in applications that cannot tolerate strong optical aberration. Traditional Gregorian telescopes have a primary mirror and a secondary mirror, where the distance between the primary mirror and the secondary mirror is greater than the focal length of the primary mirror. Other types of telescopes may include, for example, those employing refractive, reflective or catadioptic systems. [0003] One problem of such systems is encountered when large optical telescopes are deployed, for example, extra-terrestrially. A limiting factor in telescope design is the launch-vehicle capacity. Such large telescopes quickly meet the payload capacities of launch-vehicles. One solution to this problem was the use of sparse aperture telescopes. Alternatively, or in conjunction with a sparse aperture telescope, telescope arrays have also been used. These telescopes have just recently been realized and may be able to reduce the weight and size of the system below that for a fully-filled aperture system. Sparse aperture telescopes may be able to increase the effective diameter of an optical system while reducing the overall weight and stowable size of the system. Generally speaking, a sparse aperture system synthesizes the light received from a number of smaller apertures, known as sub-apertures that are phased to form a common image field. This configuration enables the increase of the effective aperture size, while avoiding the difficulties associated with manufacturing and transporting a large monolithic mirror. [0004] An additional solution to the problems associated with large telescope designs is to segment the primary mirror of the telescope. Segmenting the primary mirror of the telescope permits telescopes with larger aperture dimensions. Sparse apertures can be used to maximize resolving power given a mass constraint. However, for such systems, a significant fraction of the mass budget is typically devoted to the superstructure necessary to achieve the required levels of stability and rigidity. This is due to the axial extent of the system, or "depth". This depth is usually much larger than the aperture extent. A reduction in the depth of a sparse aperture system may be achieved by employing an array of telescopes, but the optics required to optically combine the telescopes to image at a single image plane is very complex and may result in field-of-regard and throughput limitations. [0005] What is needed is a telescope with a reduced depth to permit higher-powered telescopes to be carried by traditional launch-vehicles. Additionally, what is needed is a telescope that has a length measured in an axial direction that is substantially reduced as compared with traditional telescopes, while being configured with the same aperture size. Also, what is needed is a telescope that does not require complex optical systems for the combination of outputs from a number of telescopic systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Thus, the present invention seeks to address at least some of the foregoing problems identified in prior art telescopic systems. Thus, the present invention may be configured such that the length of the telescope measured along an axial axis is substantially reduced as compared with traditional telescopic systems. Furthermore, the superstructure of an optical system, such as, for example, a telescope or a beam expander, may be substantially reduced when compared to traditional optical systems. [0007] The invention according to a first aspect may include an optical system. The optical system may have an axial axis. This optical system may have a number of primary mirror segments. A number of reflectors may be arranged about the axial axis. The primary mirror segments may be configured to reflect a number of principal rays along a first set of chords to corresponding reflectors. These reflectors may be configured to reflect the corresponding principal rays along a second set of chords. Both the first set of chords and the second set of chords may have an angle of in excess of 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the axial axis. The invention according to a first aspect may also include a second set of reflectors. The second set of reflectors may be configured to direct the light to an image plane. [0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the telescope may be configured to reduce the depth of the optical system. This depth reduction may be along the axial axis of the optical system. The optical system may be configured to form an image of the source in the image plane. Furthermore, the reflectors may be mirror segments arranged around the axial axis of the optical system. These mirror segments may be secondary mirror segments in the optical system. The optical system may be configured to receive light at a first end of the optical system and the second set of reflectors may be disposed at the second end of the optical system. Depending on the overall system configuration and particularly, the orientation of the second set of mirrors, the image plane may be located substantially at the second end of the system. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the image plane may be located at a plane beyond the second end of the system. Alternatively, the image plane may be arranged at the first end of the system. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the system may include a substantially circular input aperture, which may be defined by a substantially elliptical reflector. According to another aspect of the invention, the reflectors may be fold mirrors. According to another embodiment of the invention, the input aperture may include a first mirror and a second mirror. Additionally, the first mirror may be configured to have a cross section that has a parabolic component. The optical system may be configured to function, for example, as a telescope or a beam expander. [0009] A method according to a second aspect of the present invention may include, for example, receiving light from a source. This source may be, for example, a distant source of light such as a star or other celestial body. The method according to a second aspect of the present invention may also include reflecting a principal ray associated with the received light along a number of chords. These chords may have an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the axial axis. The method according to the second aspect of the present invention may also include directing the light received from the source to an image plane. [0010] The method according to a second aspect of the present invention may also include receiving the light using a plurality of reflectors disposed about the axial axis of an optical system. This optical system may have a first end and a second end. The first end may be disposed closer to the source than the second end. Additionally, the step of reflecting may be performed by a reflector. This reflector may be located proximate to the second end, for example. [0011] A method of making a compact-depth telescope may include, for example, segmenting a primary reflector. Additionally, the method of making a compact-depth telescope may include determining a reflector pitch. The reflector pitch may be determined such that the first set of chords and the second set of chords have an angle in excess of 45 degrees with respect to the direction of the axial axis so as to reflect the light a number of times from an associated set of reflectors located within an interior volume of the compact-depth telescope. Furthermore, the method may include, for example, segmenting a second reflector. [0012] The method of making a compact-depth telescope according to another aspect of the present invention may include, for example, disposing a number of mirrors within an interior volume of the compact-depth telescope. Additionally, the step of segmenting the primary reflector may include segmenting a primary reflector such that the primary reflector includes a number of elliptically-spaced reflector sections. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a compact-depth telescope may include disposing the mirrors within the volume of the compact-depth telescope, where the mirrors are fold mirrors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, in a non-limiting fashion, the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the Figures, wherein: [0014] FIG. 1 shows an example of how light received from a source "spirals" through an optical system according to one aspect of the present invention; [0015] FIGS. 2A and 2B show examples of reflector geometry according to an aspect of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3 shows an example of a compact optical system according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 shows another example of a compact optical system according to another embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 5 shows yet another example of a compact optical system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIGS. 6A-6D show various reflector configurations and chord spans according to various embodiments of the present invention; and [0020] FIG. 7 shows an optical system having three segments according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 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