Honeywell International Inc.

Douglas Edward Smith

Derek Mead

Steven J Sanders

Joshua Matthew Stiles

Mostafa Sayed

Don Crippen

Thomas Jeffrey Bingel

Norman Gerard Tarleton

Paul W Schwerman

Gregory W Keith

Deanne Tran Vo

Bruce W Rogers

John C Garcia

Callen Gordon

Leigh Pelton

Craig G Ross

Steven G Armstrong

A vehicle, a satellite control system, and a method for controlling the same are provided. The satellite control system, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a control moment gyroscope having a gimbal, at least one gimbal angle sensor configured to determine an angle of the gimbal, each gimbal angle sensor having an output circuit configured to output the determined angle, a signal conditioner circuit having substantially identical circuit topology as the output circuit, and a common mode error compensation circuit electrically coupled to the signal conditioner, the common mode error compensation circuit configured to determine common mode error in the gimbal angle sensor based upon a voltage output from the signal conditioner circuit and to output a signal to compensate for the common mode error.

Satellite control system

An acquisition circuit for a vehicle or other system is provided. The system, for example, may include, but is not limited to a control moment gyroscope, and a fully differential ground isolated acquisition circuit communicatively connected to the control moment gyroscope and configured to acquire a differential data signal on the control moment gyroscope and output the differential data signal to at least one output node. The acquisition circuit may include, but is not limited to a ground reference correction circuit configured to recenter the differential data signal on at least one output node, and at least one ultra-high impedance output circuit coupled between the ground reference correction circuit and the input differential circuit.

Ultra low noise data acquisition circuit

A high precision clipping regulator circuit includes a first protection diode, a second protection diode, a first offset clamp voltage regulator, and a second offset clamp voltage regulator. The first protection diode is configured to conduct when a voltage potential exceeds a first protection voltage magnitude, and is operable to exhibit variations in the first protection voltage magnitude. The second protection diode is configured to conduct when a voltage potential exceeds a second protection voltage magnitude, and is operable to exhibit variations in the second protection voltage magnitude. The first reference and second voltage regulator circuits are configured to determine when the first and second protection voltages vary and, in response thereto, to vary the first and second variable offset clamp voltages so that a difference in voltage across the protection diodes remains substantially constant.

High precision clipping regulator circuit

A clamp-point active circuit is provided. The clamp-point active circuit includes a rate amplifier configured to receive an output from a device transitioning between at least two levels. The clamp-point active circuit has at least one switching device configured to receive an output from the rate amplifier. The at least one switching device is in at least one respective feedback loop of the rate amplifier. A switching of the at least one switching device causes the rate amplifier to amplify with high linearity in a desired operating range and to clamp outputs received from the transitioning device that are outside the desired operating range to a fixed level.

High-linearity signal-processing amplifier

Systems and methods for driving an optical modulator are provided. In one embodiment, a modulation drive circuit comprises: a balanced impedance network having a first and a second output generated from a first input, and a third and a fourth output generated from a second input, wherein the first and second outputs are balanced with one another, and the third and fourth outputs are balanced with one another; a first differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the first output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the third output of the distribution network; and a second differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the fourth output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the second output of the distribution network.

Systems and methods for driving an optical modulator

A fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, an optical coupler in optical communication with the light source, with the optical coupler configured to receive an optical signal from the light source, an optical modulator in optical communication with the optical coupler, and a fiber optic coil in optical communication with the optical modulator. A demodulator is configured to receive an optical signal from the optical coupler and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. A loop closure electronics module is configured to receive the electrical signal from the demodulator. A bias modulator is responsive to an output from the loop closure electronics module and is configured to output a modulation signal to the optical modulator. A first crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the demodulator, and a second crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the bias modulator.

System to reduce gyroscopic errors with limited power supply quality in a fiber optic gyroscope

Systems and methods for fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a fiber-optic gyroscope comprises: a light source current servo coupled to a light source that transmits light through an optic path, wherein the light source current servo controls intensity of light through the optic path via a light source current drive that supplies current to power the light source; and an intensity control signal processor coupled to the optic path via a photo detector, wherein the intensity control signal processor outputs an intensity control signal to the light source current servo, wherein the intensity control signal is a function of intensity of light as received at the photo detector; wherein the light source current servo compares the intensity control signal against a stable analog voltage reference to adjust the light source current drive and drive optical power at the photo detector towards a constant level.

Constant optical power sensor using a light source current servo combined with digital demodulation intensity suppression for radiation and vibration insensitivity in a fiber optic gyroscope

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Douglas Edward Smith