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:
Feb. 20, 1996
Filed:
May. 23, 1994
Applicant:
Inventors:
James B Blackmon, Brownsboro, AL (US);
Kenneth W Stone, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Assignee:
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B / ; B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
35613903 ; 2502061 ; 2502062 ; 348135 ; 3561415 ; 244171 ;
Abstract
The system includes a reflector assembly mounted on a first one of a pair of spacecraft. The reflector assembly includes a mirror around which are positioned a mirror and retroreflectors. A light source mounted on the second spacecraft illuminates the assembly the reflections from which are directed into a radiometer which is also mounted on the second spacecraft. The mirror has a known curvature, and the known curvature in conjunction with the retroreflectors allow calculation of the position and motion parameters of the first spacecraft relative to the second.