Design and Simulation of an Innovative 2-axes MOEMS Sun Detector for SpaceApplications

It has been tried to design a micro sun sensor by means ofMEMS technology in this article. Sun sensors are one ofthe most common components used in AttitudeDetermination and Control Subsystem (ADCS). Thissubsystem controls the spacecraft’s attitude and orients itin the desired direction. As one of the most importantaspects of space systems is cost effectiveness, MEMSspecial characteristics enable us to have a low cost systemin addition to reduced weight. These capabilities havemade MEMS as an interesting and advancing technologyfor future space missions. Sun is a great source of energy,big, and everywhere in space, so, due to thesecharacteristics it can be detected easily. So, the sensormeasures the attitude of the spacecraft using this source ofenergy in the body frame. Novel design of sun sensor inthis paper is based on two angles measurement andspecific slit, while this sun sensor can perform 2-Ddetection with the aid of one chip. The working principleof the sensor is difference of currents generated in p-njunctions provided in the structure of the MEMS detector.This difference originates from different areas of detectorsprojected to sun in different angles after passing throughthe slit.The 2 axes MEMS sun detector has been designed andsimulated with the field of view 70deg capable ofmeasuring angles in two directions.

Design and Simulation of an Innovative 2-axes MOEMS Sun Detector for SpaceApplications Keywords:

sun , detector , sensor , MEMS , attitude