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, 2016
Filed:
Jun. 04, 2012
David W. Vos, Delaplane, VA (US);
Vladislav Gavrilets, Fairfax, VA (US);
Damien B. Jourdan, Falls Church, VA (US);
Ben T. Ludington, Gainesville, VA (US);
Allen D. Wu, Fairfax, VA (US);
Keith M. Allen, Centreville, VA (US);
David W. Vos, Delaplane, VA (US);
Vladislav Gavrilets, Fairfax, VA (US);
Damien B. Jourdan, Falls Church, VA (US);
Ben T. Ludington, Gainesville, VA (US);
Allen D. Wu, Fairfax, VA (US);
Keith M. Allen, Centreville, VA (US);
ROCKWELL COLLINS CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Warrenton, VA (US);
Abstract
A system for determining the orientation of a fixture relative to the Earth includes at least one sensor configured to detect a celestial body and provide signals indicative of a plurality of positions of a detected celestial body relative to the sensor over a period of time. The system further includes a processor configured to receive information relating to a time and date associated with the period of time during which the celestial body is detected, and information relating to an expected relationship between the detected celestial body and the Earth at the time and date. The processor is further configured to determine the orientation of the fixture relative to the Earth based on signals from the at least one sensor, and the information relating to the time and date and the expected relationship between the detected celestial body and the Earth at the time and date.