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:
Mar. 23, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard A Fowell, Culver City, CA (US);
Thomas M Tanner, Culver City, CA (US);
Assignee:
Hughes Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ; B64G / ; B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244169 ; 244170 ; 244171 ; 701 13 ;
Abstract
A method for simultaneously controlling satellite nutation, sun angle and attitude walk using a dual-slit sun sensor and thrusters. The sun angle and nutation angles are computed from sun sensor data, and the thrusters are fired when their use improves both sun angle and nutation. Precession around the sun line is controlled by constraining firing, in the simplest case, firing only when the angular momentum is precessed directly toward or away from the sun. Precession maneuvers are implemented by commanding a new sun angle and precession plane spin phase.