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:
Oct. 18, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2003
Dan R. Johnson, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Mark A. Carroll, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Daniel R. Sherman, Gardena, CA (US);
Timothy R. Stone, Torrance, CA (US);
Dan R. Johnson, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Mark A. Carroll, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Daniel R. Sherman, Gardena, CA (US);
Timothy R. Stone, Torrance, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical inter-satellite link (OISL) gimbalthat is particularly suited for directing an optical beam in an optical inter-satellite communications system is disclosed. The OISL gimbalincludes an azimuth drive housing, a generally cylindrical azimuth shaftrotatably connected to the azimuth drive housingand an optical payloador beam-steering mirrorrotatably connected to the azimuth shaft. The azimuth shafthas a clear aperture through which one or more optical beams may be directed to and from a stationary optical payload. A capacitive azimuth position sensordetects the rotational position of the azimuth shaftand a direct drive azimuth motordrives rotation of the azimuth shaft. The OISL gimbalpreferably provides two-axis rotation of the optical payloador beam-steering mirrorthrough approximately +/−180 degrees of inboard (azimuth) travel and +/−30 degrees of line-of-sight outboard (elevation) travel. Rotation of the optical payloador beam-steering mirrorabout the elevation axis may be driven by a direct-drive elevation motor. Also, a capacitive elevation position sensormay be provided for detecting the rotational position of the optical payload or beam-steering mirror about the elevation axis.