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:
Jun. 14, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1992
Applicant:
Inventors:
James A Billing-Ross, Glendale, AZ (US);
Douglas B Pledger, Medford, WI (US);
Teresa A Fritz, Eagan, MN (US);
Assignee:
Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01C / ; G01J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
7317 / ; 244-316 ; 2502061 ; 250372 ; 364459 ;
Abstract
A three axis attitude orientation system for a spacecraft in orbit which employs a single UV sensor. The single sensor provides roll and pitch information by locating the centroid of the earth and using this as a reference point. The system determines yaw by tracking the position of stars which appear in the field of view around the earth. three axis attitude is determined through ultraviolet imaging of the earth's limb and adjacent stars. A non-conventional wide angle optics assembly and intensified CCD array are utilized for this purpose.