Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Trw Limited

Todd L Mendenhall

Allen J Bronowicki

Michael L Narigon

Raymund A Manning

A scan acquisition technique for acquiring terminals () that does not rely on precise alignment between a sensor () and a transmitter () associated with the terminals (). The terminals () separate uncertainty regions () into a plurality of sections (). Scan beams () include encoded information of what section () the scan beam () is currently scanning. Each terminal () will eventually receive the scan beam () of the other terminal (). When it does, it will encode its scan beam () with both the outgoing code and the return code for that section (), so that when it's scan beam () is received by the other terminal (), that terminal () will know what scan section () the other terminal () is located.

Scanned acquisition using pre-track data

A spherical motor () that includes an outer field sphere () and an inner armature sphere () rotatable therein. Field magnetic elements () are disposed on the field sphere () and sensor/actuator magnetic elements () are disposed on the armature sphere (). The field magnetic elements () include two coils () providing regularly varying magnetic fields in two axes. The sensor/actuator magnetic elements () include coils () providing magnetic fields in three axes. Each sensor magnetic element () senses its localized magnetic field variations and generates a torque relative thereto. Over one complete field variation of the field magnetic elements (), each sensor magnetic element () can produce torque about all three axes.

Spherical motor using oscillatory magnetic fields

A communication system employing an optical beam suitable for transmission of data between a first terminal and a second terminal . The apparatus transmits beam from terminal with two different scan patterns, a rosette pattern or for the central part of the scan, and a spiral pattern for the remainder of the scan.

Satellite communication optical beam acquisition techniques using a plurality of scan patterns

A communication system employing an optical beam suitable for transmission of data between a first terminal and a second terminal . The apparatus aligns beam from terminal with a beam receptor located in terminal within a first uncertainty region TU which enables tracking of data with beam . Optics enables receipt of beam and transmission of the beam along a path . A positioning mechanism points the optics to the location of the terminal within a second uncertainty region TU. An acquisition sensor receives at least a portion of beam and locates the terminal within a third uncertainty region, such as the region represented by detector quadrant AQ , which is larger than region TU but smaller than region RU . A controller responsive to locating of terminal causes positioning mechanism to move at least a portion of optics to successively adjust the position of the beam path relative to acquisition sensor . As a result, the size of the third uncertainty region TU to facilitate the commencement of tracking of beam

Satellite optical communication beam acquisition techniques

A structure includes a foundation member and multiple piezoelectric actuator/sensor elements disposed transversely about the structure. The elements are bound to the face of the foundation member to permit force transmission between the elements and the foundation member. The elements include restriction plies orientated oppositely for alternating transverse elements. The elements have a preferred direction of motion and when two adjacent elements are oppositely poled, this relates to a torsional motion between the elements and the foundation member. When four elements are spaced about a cylindrical foundation member and selectively poled, axial, bending and torsional motion between the elements and foundation member is effected.

Activated structure

A deformation sensing device, and related method, for measuring overall deformation of a structural member subject to deformation by an actuator. The device includes a first sensor located in a region of influence of the actuator and a second sensor located outside but near to the region of influence of the actuator. The device takes a weighted average of output signals from the two sensors, using weighting factors that, in one embodiment, are applied either electronically and are selected either as proportional to the lengths of the member regions under the influence of the actuator and not under the influence of the actuator, or are selected to provide a desired transfer function between input to the actuator and output from the sensing device. In other embodiments, weighting of the output signals is obtained by using different surface areas for the sensors or by appropriately positioning two shear-mode sensors in relation to the region of influence of the actuator.

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Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, United States of America

Todd L Mendenhall