Maxwell Technologies, Inc.

Maxwell Laboratories, Inc.

Ira Katz

James Randall Cooper

A charging control device for use with a spacecraft solar array employs a field emitter array including a cathode and an anode; a first resistor coupled between the cathode of the field emitter array and a solar array common; and a second resistor coupled between the anode of the field emitter array and a solar array positive.

Spacecraft solar array charging control device

A high voltage bushing for use in a plasma environment. The bushing is adapted for mounting through a wall of a pressure vessel or the like and includes an elongate insulator having a central bore receiving an electrical conductor. The insulator has a lower portion extending through an opening in the wall and an upper portion extending away from the wall. Mounting hardware is included for retaining the lower portion in the opening. A terminal is held adjacent the free end of the insulator upper portion with the terminal connected to the conductor. The bushing further includes a number of resistive rings positioned about the upper portion of the insulator and a number of annular metallic fins also positioned about the upper portion of the insulator. One of the fins is disposed between each pair of adjacent rings, and the fins extend outwardly beyond the rings. The resistive rings provide voltage grading along the length of the bushing and the presence of the fins reduces the distance between conductive components between the terminal and the wall to limit avalanche growth of electrons.

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Escondido, CA, United States of America

Ira Katz