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. 11, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Mohammad M. Mojarradi, La Canada, CA (US);
James Polk, Pasadena, CA (US);
Colleen Marrese, Pasadena, CA (US);
Juergen Mueller, Pasadena, CA (US);
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 5/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F03H 5/00 ;
Abstract
A micro-colloid thruster system may be fabricated using micro electromechanical system (MEMS) fabrication techniques. A beam of charged droplets may be extracted from an emitter tip in an emitter array by an extractor electrode and accelerated by an accelerator electrode to produce thrust. The micro-colloid thruster system may be used as the main propulsion system for microspacecraft and for precision maneuvers in larger spacecraft.