The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 2023
Filed:
Sep. 15, 2020
The George Washington University, Washington, DC (US);
Keir Daniels, New York, NY (US);
Zachary Switzer, Washington, DC (US);
Dimitris Kiaoulias, Washington, DC (US);
Michael Keidar, Baltimore, MD (US);
The George Washington University, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A matrix thruster that may be used to reposition and/or stabilize a CubeSAT satellite. The matrix thruster includes a conductive plate with an opening, a plurality of wires within the opening, a power supply electrically connected to the conductive plate or each of the plurality of wires via an inductor, and an electrical switch. The electrical switch creates a current change that creates an electric potential spike across the inductor. The electric potential spike across the inductor initiates an arc discharge between one of the wires and the conductive plate, which forms plasma that ejects cathode particles from the matrix thruster. Using multiple wires (e.g., four titanium wires) extends the lifetime of the thruster, as each wire restores an inter-electrode film needed for the other wires to continue generating plasma.