Trw Limited

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Dan R Johnson

Mark A Carroll

Daniel R Sherman

Timothy R Stone

Brent T Toland

Robert T Bupp

Dewey Hobson Lane

Michael R Stark

J Blake Sathoff

Paul A Franson

William M Hughes

An optical inter-satellite link (OISL) gimbalthat is particularly suited for directing an optical beam in an optical inter-satellite communications system is disclosed. The OISL gimbalincludes an azimuth drive housing, a generally cylindrical azimuth shaftrotatably connected to the azimuth drive housingand an optical payloador beam-steering mirrorrotatably connected to the azimuth shaft. The azimuth shafthas a clear aperture through which one or more optical beams may be directed to and from a stationary optical payload. A capacitive azimuth position sensordetects the rotational position of the azimuth shaftand a direct drive azimuth motordrives rotation of the azimuth shaft. The OISL gimbalpreferably provides two-axis rotation of the optical payloador beam-steering mirrorthrough approximately +/&#x2212;180 degrees of inboard (azimuth) travel and +/&#x2212;30 degrees of line-of-sight outboard (elevation) travel. Rotation of the optical payloador beam-steering mirrorabout the elevation axis may be driven by a direct-drive elevation motor. Also, a capacitive elevation position sensormay be provided for detecting the rotational position of the optical payload or beam-steering mirror about the elevation axis.

Optical inter-satellite link (OISL) gimbal

An elongated electro-optical cable ( ) is presented, which includes a plurality of elongated electrical conductors ( ), a plurality of fiber optic elements ( ), and an elongated insulating film casing enveloping the plurality of electrical conductors ( ) and the plurality of fiber optic elements ( ). The fiber optic elements ( ), electrical conductors ( ), and the elongated insulating film casing are arranged to form a generally flat cable ( ). The cable may be arranged such that the electrical conductors ( ) are shielded, for example, with a silver epoxy. An outer jacket ( ) may be placed around the electrical conductors ( ), fiber optic elements ( ), and insulating film casing, which jacket ( ) may be made from a tetrafluoroethylene polymer fiber. The electrical conductors ( ) may be made from oxygen free copper and the insulating film casing may be made from a polyimide polymer. A method for making an elongated electro-optical cable ( ) is also presented, which includes insulating a sheet of a plurality of shielded elongated electrical conductors, affixing a sheet of a plurality of fiber optic elements to the laminated insulated electrical conductors, and then insulating the fiber optic elements.

Low-torque electro-optical laminated cable and cablewrap

The present invention provides a capacitive resolver (,). The capacitive resolver (,) includes a charge plate (,), a sensing plate (,), and an interrupter plate (,) positioned between the charge plate (,) and the sensing plate (,). The front surface of the sensing plate (,) has a sinusoidal pattern (,). The back surface of the sensing plate (,) includes charge detectors (,), charge collectors (,), and rectifiers (,). The capacitive resolver (,) also includes a signal generator (,) which is electrically connected to the charge plate (,) and a signal analyzer which is electrically connected to the sensing plate (,). The capacitive resolver (,) may additionally include a non-conductive support (,).

Capacitive resolver

A gimbal drive module comprising an elbow (,) formed of composite material and having two legs. On one leg, elbow (,) includes an azimuth drive module (,). On the other leg, elbow (,) includes an elevation drive module (,). Azimuth drive module (,) and elevation drive module (,) include motors which when energized enable displacement of the respective legs in order to control the azimuth and elevation of elbow (,) to enable pointing of a structure, such as an antenna (,), as may be located on a second elbow outboard end (,).

Large aperture precision gimbal drive module

A beam waveguide type dual reflector (3, 4) type antenna, referred to as a Cassegrain antenna, is constructed with a beam waveguide (5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15), having three axes of rotation (X1, Y1, & Z1), the first (X1) and second axes (Y1) of rotation being perpendicular to each other and the second (Y1) and third (Z1) axes of rotation being perpendicular to each other and with the spacing between the first (X1) and third (Z1) axes being constant to achieve a greater field of view, while retaining the capability of handling simultaneously cross polarized microwave signals. Actuator singularities, defining forbidden regions, singularity associated with rotation about the first and second axes are avoided by switching to rotation about the first and third axes as the singularity is approached by the antenna, permitting the antenna to move through that singularity region.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Dan R Johnson