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. 10, 1994
Filed:
Jan. 12, 1993
Applicant:
Inventor:
Robert C Savoca, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Assignee:
EDO Corporation, Barnes Engineering Division, Shelton, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
250347 ; 250342 ; 250353 ; 244171 ;
Abstract
At geosynchronous and other high altitudes a dual cone scanner has been a convenient way of determining both pitch and roll utilizing a single horizon sensor positioned on an orbiting spacecraft whose attitude is to be determined. However, for large roll angles, one of the scans may leave the earth or reference body defeating the purpose of the sensor. In accordance with the present invention, a third cone angle is scanned between the original two, thereby providing two good scans preserving the pitch and roll attitude information, even if one of the scans has rolled off of the reference body.