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:
May. 02, 1989
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1986
Robert C Savoca, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Barnes Engineering Company, Shelton, CT (US);
Abstract
Three axis attitude information is provided by a horizon sensor for a spin stabilized satellite having an optical system on the spinning member viewing normal to the spin axis with a linear array of detectors in its focal plane which scans a zone around the earth. The detectors are self scanned and sensitive to visible and UV light and respond to the sun illuminated crescent of the earth, moon, stars or other illuminated bodies. Accordingly, a linear array of detectors mounted on a rotating portion of the satellite views a line in space which scans a zone on the celestial sphere and from the position of two celestial objects within this zone such as the earth and the sun, and the known time, pitch, roll and yaw can be established. The system also has an automatic alignment feature in which the array can be accurately aligned with the spin axis and any misalignment can be determined from orbital data and corrections made in flight. With the wide 360.degree. scan it is not necessary to sense the earth to determine attitude and having knowledge of the time and ephemeris data the position of any two objects such as the sun and the moon, a star or a planet is sufficient.