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:
Apr. 28, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1990
Bobby L Ulich, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kent Pflibsen, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kaman Aerospace Corporation, Bloomfield, CT (US);
Abstract
A segmented mirror control system comprises an array of structural elements (e.g. mirrors) which can be actively positioned to maintain an accurate pre-determined overall shape. The present invention is 'active' and so may be characterized as an Active Segmented Mirror Control 'ASMC'. The segments of a mirror or the reflecting panels, in for example, a radiotelescope, may be continually adjusted with ASMC to provide an accurate reflecting mirror of very large diameter even when disturbed by external forces. ASMC is a closed loop control system. That is, an array of sensors is first used to measure differential position errors. This data is then processed to determine position actuator commands. Finally, these commands are used to move the segments until the sensors are nulled and the desired shape is obtained.