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. 23, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2000
Ordie Dean Butterfield, Sumner, WA (US);
Robert W. Turner, Federal Way, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A two axis gimbal is provided comprising a support structure, a spherical bearing mounted to the support structure and defining a channel therethrough, and a shaft extending through the channel. The gimbal may also include a reflector connected to the shaft. A drive mechanism, such as a spherical motor, is mounted to the support structure and is adapted to rotate the shaft in two orthogonal axes, i.e., pitch and roll. Power and signal cables are connected to the drive mechanism. The gimbal of the present invention may also include pairs of sensors and sensor triggers for monitoring the position of the shaft and the reflector relative to the pitch and roll axes. The design of the two axis gimbal of the present invention permits the cables to remain stationary during operation of the gimbal.