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:
Jun. 03, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2005
Salvatore Alfano, Monument, CO (US);
Salvatore Alfano, Monument, CO (US);
Analytical Graphics, Inc., Exton, PA (US);
Abstract
Maximum conjunction probability calculations are refined by addressing rectangular object shapes, even though their orientation may not be known. Object dimensions and relative miss distance, coupled with the aspect ratio of the projected combined covariance, are used to determine the size and orientation of the covariance as well as the object orientation that produces the maximum probability. In treating the objects as rectangles instead of spheres, the probability calculation becomes more realistic by accounting for object shape. In the absence of object attitude information, a footprint is created that completely defines the region where the two objects might touch. This footprint can then be rotated to determine the orientation that produces the largest probability, making it the most conservative estimate for the given conjunction conditions. Sufficiency of the positional data is accessed to meaningfully support the calculations by using the associated standard deviation to demarcate a probability dilution region.