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:
Jul. 12, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1999
Hermann Diehl, München, DE;
Willi Platz, München, DE;
Helmut Zinner, Haar, DE;
Evelyne Gottzein, Höhenkirchen, DE;
Hermann Diehl, München, DE;
Willi Platz, München, DE;
Helmut Zinner, Haar, DE;
Evelyne Gottzein, Höhenkirchen, DE;
Astrium GmbH, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A combined earth-star sensor system () for three-axis attitude determination of satellites in space comprises separate apertures with different directions of observation and common image pickup devices () for the earth sensor and the star sensor. A common optical arrangement () for earth observation and start observation, and a deflection mirror () for derivation of the laterally entering light from the earth, to the common optical arrangement () may be provided. In one focal plane there is a focal plane sensor with an array of image pickup devices () with the integration time being controllable. An evaluation unit determines the orbit and the attitude of the space vehicle from the attitude and movement of the stars and of the rim of the earth in the focal plane.