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, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1995
Applicant:
Inventor:
Neil Diedrickson, Stratford, CT (US);
Assignee:
Servo Corporation of America, Hicksville, NY (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
250349 ; 250342 ; 244171 ;
Abstract
The earth horizon sensor apparatus uses first and second linear sensor arrays of sensor elements, the first and second linear sensor arrays being staggered with respect to each other. The sensor elements are preferably pyroelectric elements for detecting the presence or absence of infrared radiation from the Earth and Space. A microprocessor is used to determine which of the sensor elements subtends the diffuse horizon gradient and the constant zero radiance of Space. The attitude of the spacecraft is thereby calculated.