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. 17, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 01, 1999
George Thomas Kroncke, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus determines attitude of a satellite (,) or other communications device traveling in a determinable path. The method comprises determining orientation data describing directions of one or more narrow-beam RF or laser communications channels (,and,FIG.,) and using the orientation data and known position of the satellite to determine the attitude of the satellite. The apparatus comprises one or more directional transmitters and receivers (,and,FIG.,) coupled to controller (,), where controller (,) accepts orientation controller data from the one or more directional transmitters and receivers and determines the satellite's attitude based on the orientation controller data and the known positions of the transmitters and receivers.