Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Trw Limited

Daniel R Sherman

Dan R Johnson

Mark A Carroll

Timothy R Stone

Matthew J Pirih

Edward Lukas

Kurt Shaffer

Paul A Franson

Jonathan H Dang

Brandon Quon

A microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) and its control system is disclosed and claimed. The MET control system uses a dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) in series with a GaN MMIC-based Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) to generate microwave energy, transfer it to a thrust chamber, and heat a propellant that exits a nozzle, providing thrust. The control system uses feedback to provide autonomous control of the MET. A wide variety of propellants may be used, including, for example, hydrazine, ammonia, and water.

Control system for a microwave electrothermal thruster

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

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Gardena, CA, United States of America

Daniel R Sherman