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:
Oct. 17, 1995
Filed:
Feb. 14, 1994
Rhys Adsit, Milpitas, CA (US);
Tung Liu, Union City, CA (US);
Fred N Chan, Atherton, CA (US);
Charles J Weyandt, Jr, Yardley, PA (US);
Scott Tilley, Belmont, CA (US);
Michel Bayloca, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Space Systems/Loral, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Position control methods are described for satellites and spacecraft for controlling transition from thruster control to momentum wheel control in a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. Transition from a high-bandwidth, high-torque thruster-controlled stationkeeping (SK) mode to a low bandwidth, low torque momentum wheel On-Orbit Mode is carried out. Usually a unique threshold entry method to automatically initiate the transition mode at the point with the most favorable dynamics. Also, the disclosed method eliminates the use of nutation in conjunction with a deadbeat thruster sequence to correct the spacecraft attitude to improve pointing performance and significantly shorten the time spent in the transition mode.