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:
Sep. 27, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 30, 2008
Walter Fichter, Constance, DE;
Fabio Montemurro, Matera, IT;
Tobias Ziegler, Constance, DE;
Astrium GmbH, Munich, DE;
Abstract
In a process for discharging a test mass that is free-floating in a surrounding electrode casing on board a satellite, the electrode casing is enclosed by a vacuum tank, and has one or more first electrodes for the application of electrostatic forces and/or moments to the test mass. In addition, the electrode casing also has one or more second electrodes for modulating alternating voltages (particularly, high frequency voltages) for measuring purposes onto the test mass as well as one or more light-emitting elements, which irradiate the test mass, the electrode casing and/or the electrodes particularly with ultraviolet light for generating a photoelectric effect. Automatically and iteratively, a test mass charge of the test mass is determined. A control operation for eliminating the determined test mass charge is carried out until the test mass charge has reached a defined target value.