Trw Limited

Ashley Powers Danial

Martin E Beck

Arthur P Balz, Jr

A position sensor determines relative changes in position of a first member and a second member. A first conductor is movable with one of the members and a second conductor is energized in response to a first electrical signal coupled to the first conductor across a gap. The coupling induces a current in the first conductor having a current value which varies in response to relative changes in the position of the first and second members. A power supply furnishes a predetermined supply voltage and a pulse generator generates output pulses at a predetermined repetition rate. A resonant circuit has a center resonant frequency within a range of resonant frequencies that include the repetition rate of the pulse generator. The resonant circuit generates the first signal with a voltage greater than the supply voltage so that the induced current value is sufficiently large to facilitate further processing.

Capacitive sensor excitation techniques

A fine pointing assembly for steering a light beam in an optical inter-satellite communications system is disclosed. The fine pointing assembly (,) includes a mirror (,) connected to an assembly housing (,) by an outer gimbal (,), an inner gimbal (,) and a set of linear motors (,and,). The inner gimbal (,) is connected to the assembly housing (,) by flexure pivots (,and,) and the outer gimbal (,) is connected to the inner gimbal (,) by flexure pivots (,and,). A capacitive position sensor (,and,) and signal conditioning circuitry (,) located within the assembly housing (,) sense the position of the mirror (,) and provide feedback used in the control of the linear motors. The position sensor, linear motors and signal conditioning circuitry may include redundant elements. An exemplary embodiment of a fine pointing assembly (,) for pointing a representative 1.5 inch diameter mirror is described that displaces no more than 8 cubic inches.

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Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Ashley Powers Danial