Scanning scene-based wavefront sensor having a linear image sensor array

Abstract

A new scene-based wavefront sensor is useful in a device as, for example, a telescope or camera that provides information of aberrations (e.g., out-of-focus condition) directly from light received from a scene in object space being scanned by movement of either the wavefront sensor or elements in the scene. The wavefront sensor includes an imaging system defining a predetermined pupil, a light opaque material having a surface and defining a probe hole (pinhole) therethrough, a linear image sensor array, a relay lens, and a pupil sensor array including a plurality of light sensors. The probe hole and image sensor array are disposed at a focal plane of the imaging system while the pupil sensor array is disposed at a focal plane of the pupil of the imaging system. As the wavefront sensor is moved to scan a predetermined scene in a direction normal to the orientation of the image sensor array, output signals of light intensity versus time detected by each of the sensors of the image and pupil sensor arrays are transmitted to a controller. The controller uses such output signals for determining if, for example, aberrations exist in the scanned scene and for generating control signals to a user device for correcting for such aberrations.