Patents Assigned to AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
  • Patent number: 11962032
    Abstract: An assembly for supplying power to an aircraft is disclosed having at least one battery housed in a respective housing, each housing comprising a wall in which a through-opening is arranged, and an exhaust device including a discharge duct connecting each housing opening to a common discharge port, a valve mounted on each opening. Each valve includes a membrane arranged so as to seal the opening closed and having a surface of pressure application towards the inside of the housing and a surface of pressure application towards the outside of the housing. The surface of pressure application towards the outside of the housing is larger than the surface of pressure application towards the inside of the housing, so that the membrane bursts at a bursting pressure inside the housing that is lower than a bursting pressure reached outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Julien Bergery, Dimitry Loubere
  • Patent number: 11953579
    Abstract: A transmitter device of a bi-static or multi-static radar system is disclosed and implemented for aerial surveillance. The transmitter device is intended to be on board a satellite orbiting the Earth. Once in orbit, the transmitter device is configured to obtain information relating to a region of interest monitored by at least one receiver device of the radar system, and to transmit a signal in a radio beam illuminating at least one portion of the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Jeannin, Frédéric Voulouzan, Philippe Bertheux
  • Patent number: 11948267
    Abstract: The device includes a database (8) storing a digital cartography (MAP) of a terrain, an acquisition unit (4) configured to acquire a digital image (IMG) of the terrain, as well as a processing unit (2) configured to receive from the acquisition unit (4) the digital image (IMG) and determine a similarity between the digital cartography (MAP) and the digital image (IMG), so as to deduce a position (POS) of said machine from a result of said similarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space SAS, Airbus (SAS)
    Inventors: Loris Gliner, Romain Lefez, Guy Le Besnerais
  • Patent number: 11932423
    Abstract: Computer systems (100) for satellite image acquisition and mission-plan calculation devices (120) for satellite and also Earth observation satellites (110). Based on the observation that the uncertainty connected with meteorological conditions can lead to the development of mission plans, for satellites, with low effectiveness, the uncertainty is characterized and used to improve the preparation of mission plans for satellite. A model of the uncertainties is built upon observations and/or past meteorological forecasts. Next, at the time of planning, the model is used by presenting the observations and/or the current forecast as input to the model. In that way, the acquisition zones for which it is unlikely to get acceptable images on the preferred acquisition date may be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Benoît Series, Mathieu Picard, Jonathan Guerra
  • Patent number: 11928979
    Abstract: A device for avoiding a potential conflict detected in a predetermined trajectory prediction horizon between a first trajectory of a first ship or aircraft and a second trajectory of a second ship or aircraft is disclosed. Each trajectory includes a plurality of segments formed between multiple navigation points. The device includes a determination unit for determining at least one lateral peripheral envelope of the first trajectory, a division unit for dividing the lateral peripheral envelope into a plurality of juxtaposed sections arranged longitudinally the ones after the others and delimited by transition lines marking the change between sections, each transition line cutting, at a first point of intersection, a segment of the first trajectory and, at a second point of intersection, and an edge of the lateral peripheral envelope, a discretisation unit, and a computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Philippe Reinquin
  • Patent number: 11909416
    Abstract: A data encoding device suitable for encoding a plurality of LDPC codes is disclosed including an input interface and an output interface, and a first circuit for encoding quasi-cyclic LDPC code, connected at an input to the input interface and at an output to the input of a first multiplexer circuit, a second circuit for encoding quasi-cyclic LDPC code, connected at an input to the input interface and at an output to the input of the first multiplexer circuit, a third circuit for encoding quasi-cyclic LDPC code, connected at an input to the output of the first multiplexer circuit and at an output to the input of a second multiplexer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Benjamin Gadat, Lyonel Barthe
  • Patent number: 11902499
    Abstract: Simulation sighting binoculars include a camera, a screen, a pair of lenses which are arranged to face the screen, and electronic circuitry which is configured to: obtain a video frame from the camera; transmit, to a simulation platform, geolocation information and orientation information for the camera; receive simulation graphical elements and spatial positioning information for corresponding virtual objects; carry out a two-dimensional rendering of the virtual objects, in order to display them in a projection window E2; superimpose the two-dimensional rendering of the virtual objects in the projection window E2 and the video frame in a projection window E3; obtain a mixed-reality stereoscopic image using a pair of virtual cameras reproducing binocular vision which is adapted to the pair of lenses; and carry out, on the screen, a right-eye and left-eye display of the obtained mixed-reality stereoscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space SAS
    Inventors: Hervé Biran, Christophe Lartillot
  • Patent number: 11874432
    Abstract: A space optical instrument is disclosed including a primary mirror having an optical axis and including a first face, referred to as the front face, oriented towards an observed area, and a second face opposite to the first, referred to as the rear face, the optical instrument further including a thermal stabilization device for the primary mirror, comprising a thermally conductive wall extending around the optical axis (O) on the front face side of the primary mirror towards which this face is oriented. The thermal stabilization device further includes a temperature regulating device for the circumferential wall that is capable of using the measurement of an incident heat flux on the mirror, and adapting the temperature of the circumferential wall according to the measured incident heat flux, in order to keep the front face of the mirror at a constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Didier Charvet, Sébastien Le Foll
  • Patent number: 11873121
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the path of a satellite to limit a risk of collision with items of debris each having a date of closest pass with the satellite is disclosed including: propagating at least one orbit from the reference path of the satellite according to at least one manoeuvre to the farthest date of closest pass; determining a probability of collision for each item of debris according to the at least one orbit; determining at least one overall probability according to the set of probabilities determined; selecting the lowest overall probability from among the at least one overall probability obtained; determining a command for the satellite including the manoeuvre associated with the lowest overall probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Dorian Gegout, Frédéric Renaud
  • Patent number: 11858663
    Abstract: A method for producing a satellite to facilitate the inclusion of one or more reflector antennas on a surface of the satellite is disclosed. A reusable generic configuration is determined in advance separately from the satellite mission. The generic configuration generally features the following parameters for each reflector: diameter, focal distance, offset distance of the reflector in the deployed position, position of the deployment device, position of the radiofrequency source. The generic configuration is determined such that an antenna points by default towards the centre of the earth when its reflector is in a deployed position. A specific configuration step then consists of defining a limited number of specific parameters depending on the satellite mission. The specific configuration is rendered possible in particular by controlling the deployment device, i.e., by changing the direction in which the antenna points, once the reflector has been deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Jérôme Strzelecki, Yann Bappel
  • Patent number: 11848394
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module for a satellite solar generator, and a flexible satellite solar generator are disclosed including a module having a printed circuit board comprising a substrate made of an insulating material and conductive traces, at least two chains of photovoltaic cells mounted on the face of the substrate supporting the electrically conductive traces and which are connected to the traces such that the traces establish an electrical connection between the chains of cells, and a protective layer that is optically transparent within a range of wavelengths corresponding to the cells' range of photovoltaic conversion, the layer being attached to the printed circuit board so as to cover at least all of the photovoltaic cells and all of the electrically conductive traces of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Oumaima Mhibik, Dominique Vergnet
  • Patent number: 11847749
    Abstract: A system for preparing a mission from a digital mapping, includes a mission editor generating mission elements that can change over the course of several determined temporal phases, including on a network a mission server, a mapping server, a server for sharing at least one centre of the map and a plurality of augmented reality headsets, at least one of the augmented reality headsets, called master headset, being able to generate at least one command for modifying the centre, each headset being able to receive at least two sets of elevation and terrain tiles from the mapping server, the mission server interfacing with the headsets to share and update the mission elements and to change them over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: François Lebeaupin, Fabien Dumon, Nicolas Raggueneau, Olivier Frouin, Bertrand Oustriere, Guillaume Vauclin
  • Patent number: 11834202
    Abstract: A device for deploying and pointing an equipment item is disclosed including a mobile platform for receiving the equipment item, a carrier integrally secured to a wall of a spacecraft, and three identical linear actuators which connect the carrier to the mobile platform and are suitable for moving the platform in translation along one axis and for orienting the platform in rotation about two axes. Each linear actuator including a first portion connected to the platform by a universal joint, a second portion connected to the carrier by a pivot connection, a motor, and a screw/nut joint interconnecting the two portions, each universal joint being suitable for preventing the screw/nut joint from rotating about the axis, such that driving the motor causes a translational movement between the first and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Florent Tajan, Gilles Pupille
  • Patent number: 11822147
    Abstract: A system for fastening a mirror to a support is disclosed including intermediate structures, for example bipod structures. At least some of the intermediate structures are provided with torsion devices making it possible to at least partially compensate for optical aberrations of an instrument that includes the mirror. Each torsion device may comprise an elastic element and a variator. The variator is designed to control a deformation of the elastic element, resulting in a torque which is applied to the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Didier Castel, Frédéric Chaumeil, Lionel Carminati
  • Patent number: 11816812
    Abstract: A demosaicing method applied to an image having pixels each corresponding to an initial spectral band, to obtain a demosaiced image with several spectral bands having pixels each corresponding to the initial spectral band or to an interpolated spectral band. The method includes: on the basis of reference patches and for each reference patch: a determination of a set of patches similar to the reference patch, a determination of a covariance matrix for |the set of patches, and for each patch, a calculation of estimates of the interpolated spectral bands according to a block-based deconstruction of the covariance matrix, where the deconstruction into four blocks is according to phasing of each patch, and a determination of the interpolated spectral bands by an aggregation of estimates of the interpolated spectral bands, where the estimates of the interpolated spectral bands are aggregated for each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space SAS
    Inventor: Laurent Guillaume
  • Patent number: 11802766
    Abstract: A method (50) of acquiring images of a terrestrial region Z using a spacecraft (10) in non-geostationary orbit around the Earth (30), the spacecraft includes an observation instrument associated with a ground footprint of length L along the direction of travel, the method includes: a step (51) of observing a portion P1 of the terrestrial region Z, including a step of controlling the attitude of the spacecraft (10) during which the ground footprint is kept stationary during the entirety of the step of observing portion P1, and a step of acquiring an image of portion P1, a step (52) of modifying the pitch attitude of the spacecraft (10) so as to place the ground footprint over a portion P2 of the terrestrial region Z, and a step (53) of observing portion P2 of the terrestrial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Mehdi Ghezal, Emmanuel Giraud
  • Patent number: 11787568
    Abstract: A method for estimating collision between a satellite in orbit and at least one piece of space debris having a time of closest approach to the satellite is disclosed including: obtaining the reference orbit of the satellite; determining an ephemeris of state transition data representative of the trajectory of the reference orbit; communicating the reference orbit and the ephemeris of state transition data to the satellite. The method includes the steps on board the satellite of: determining the true orbital position of the satellite; propagating the true orbit; calculating a probability of collision between the satellite and the piece of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Dorian Gegout, Lara Hue
  • Patent number: 11784709
    Abstract: A method and a receiver device for detecting the start of a frame of a satellite communication signal. A shaping filtering is applied directly after sampling of the signal, before a frequency correction is applied. During a first phase, an approximate frequency error and a candidate first sample for the start of the frame are estimated by performing several correlations respectively associated with different frequency hypotheses. The samples obtained after sampling or after shaping filtering are buffered during the execution of the first phase. Then, during a second phase, a final candidate sample for the start of the frame is determined from the memorised samples, using the approximate frequency error and the candidate first sample estimated during the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Lyonel Barthe, Benjamin Gadat
  • Patent number: 11777600
    Abstract: A terminal (100) for optical communication by laser signals including a matrix image sensor used as a tracking and acquisition detector (2). The matrix image sensor is used simultaneously to check that a portion of the laser signals received by the terminal are injected into an optical fibre (1). A spectral filter element (22) is associated with the matrix image sensor to allow such a combination of functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Paul Berceau, Adrien Barbet
  • Patent number: 11697513
    Abstract: A method (50) for orbit control of a satellite (10) in Earth orbit and for desaturation of an angular momentum storage device of the satellite, the satellite (10) including an articulated arm (21) suitable for moving a propulsion unit (31) within a motion volume included in a half-space delimited by an orbital plane when the satellite is in a mission attitude, the method (50) including a single-arm control mode using only the propulsion unit (31) carried by the articulated arm (21), the single-arm control mode using a maneuvering plan including only thrust maneuvers to be executed when the satellite (10) is located within an angular range of at most 180° centered on a target node in the orbit of the satellite (10), including two thrust maneuvers to be performed respectively upstream and downstream of the target node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Philippe Laurens