Abstract: A deployment system for solar panels has the panels spring loaded to deploy, but held folded against a satellite framework by trigger bars engaging slots or notches in hinge bodies holding the solar panels. An actuator moves the trigger bars to disengage from the hinge bodies to release the panels to deploy.

Abstract: A deployment system for solar panels has the panels spring loaded to deploy, but held folded against a satellite framework by trigger bars engaging slots or notches in hinge bodies holding the solar panels. An actuator moves the trigger bars to disengage from the hinge bodies to release the panels to deploy.

Abstract: A deployment system for solar panels has the panels spring loaded to deploy, but held folded against a satellite framework, held folded by trigger bars engaging slots or notches in hinge bodies holding the solar panels. A remotely-operable linear actuator moves the trigger bars to disengage the trigger bars to release the panels to deploy.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. The system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotatably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotatably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

Abstract: A deployment system for solar panels has the panels spring loaded to deploy, but held folded against a satellite framework, held folded by trigger bars engaging slots or notches in hinge bodies holding the solar panels. A remotely-operable linear actuator moves the trigger bars to disengage the trigger bars to release the panels to deploy.

Abstract: A solar panel array includes a number of elongate printed circuit boards (PCBs), each PCB supporting a number of individual solar cells linearly mounted thereon and electrically connected in series to form a solar panel, and a number of hinge assemblies, each hinge assembly including two or more hinge bodies, two backing plates, one spring, and one hinge pin, the hinge assemblies mounted between adjacent solar panels using conventional hardware in a manner connecting them together such that they may be folded over one another in a fanfold arrangement or deployed out to one hundred and eighty degrees.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. In some embodiments, the system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

Abstract: A battery integration module or pack includes a first positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at one end of the battery formation, a second positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at the opposite end of the battery formation, the first and second plates aligned together over the formation of batteries to form a battery holder frame, a first printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the first positioning plate, and a second printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the second positioning plate. The first and or second printed circuit boards include conductive contact surfaces accessible to the battery terminals of the multiple single batteries in formation wherein contact between the contact surfaces of the printed circuit boards and the battery terminals is mitigated by intermediate conductive components.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. The system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotatably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotatably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

Abstract: A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. In some embodiments, the system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

Abstract: A battery integration module or pack includes a first positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at one end of the battery formation, a second positioning plate for positioning the multiple single batteries in formation for integration at the opposite end of the battery formation, the first and second plates aligned together over the formation of batteries to form a battery holder frame, a first printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the first positioning plate, and a second printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to the outside surface of the second positioning plate. The first and or second printed circuit boards include conductive contact surfaces accessible to the battery terminals of the multiple single batteries in formation wherein contact between the contact surfaces of the printed circuit boards and the battery terminals is mitigated by intermediate conductive components.

Abstract: A solar panel array includes a number of elongate printed circuit boards (PCBs), each PCB supporting a number of individual solar cells linearly mounted thereon and electrically connected in series to form a solar panel, and a number of hinge assemblies, each hinge assembly including two or more hinge bodies, two backing plates, one spring, and one hinge pin, the hinge assemblies mounted between adjacent solar panels using conventional hardware in a manner connecting them together such that they may be folded over one another in a fanfold arrangement or deployed out to one hundred and eighty degrees.

Abstract: A method for establishing a communication path between connectors on opposite sides of a PCB mounted to a vacuum chamber with an O-ring seal includes the steps (a) providing a plurality of vias through the PCB in the form of a connector pin pattern within the O-ring seal area to enable surface mounting of the type connector to the vacuum side of the PCB, (b) providing a plurality of vias through the PCB in the form of a pin pattern compatible to the pin pattern of step (a) outside of the O-ring seal area to enable plug in of the type connector to the pin pattern on the non-vacuum side of the PCB, and (c) on the non-vacuum side of the PCB, providing a conductive trace leading from each of the exposed vias of step (a) across the face of the PCB to each of the exposed vias of step (b).

Abstract: A real-time operating system (RTOS) for use with minimal-memory controllers has a kernel for managing task execution, including context switching, a plurality of defined tasks, individual ones of the tasks having subroutines callable in nested levels for accomplishing tasks. In the RTOS context switching is constrained to occur only at task level, and cannot occur at any lower sub-routine level. This system can operate with a single call . . . return stack, saving memory requirement. The single stack can be implemented as either a general-purpose stack or as a hardware call . . . return stack. In other embodiments novel methods are taught for generating return addresses, and for using timing functions in a RTOS.

Abstract: A real-time operating system (RTOS) for use with minimal-memory controllers has a kernel for managing task execution, including context switching, a plurality of defined tasks, individual ones of the tasks having subroutines callable in nested levels for accomplishing tasks. In the RTOS context switching is constrained to occur only at task level, and cannot occur at any lower sub-routine level. This system can operate with a single call . . . return stack, saving memory requirement. The single stack can be implemented as either a general-purpose stack or as a hardware call . . . return stack. In other embodiments novel methods are taught for generating return addresses, and for using timing functions in a RTOS.

Abstract: A real-time operating system (RTOS) for use with minimal-memory controllers has a kernel for managing task execution, including context switching, a plurality of defined tasks, individual ones of the tasks having subroutines callable in nested levels for accomplishing tasks. In the RTOS context switching is constrained to occur only at task level, and cannot occur at any lower sub-routine level. This system can operate with a single call . . . return stack, saving memory requirement. The single stack can be implemented as either a general-purpose stack or as a hardware call . . . return stack. In other embodiments novel methods are taught for generating return addresses, and for using timing functions in a RTOS.

Abstract: A real-time operating system (RTOS) for use with minimal-memory controllers has a kernel for managing task execution, including context switching, a plurality of defined tasks, individual ones of the tasks having subroutines callable in nested levels for accomplishing tasks. In the RTOS context switching is constrained to occur only at task level, and cannot occur at any lower sub-routine level. This system can operate with a single call . . . return stack, saving memory requirement. The single stack can be implemented as either a general-purpose stack or as a hardware call . . . return stack. In other embodiments novel methods are taught for generating return addresses, and for using timing functions in a RTOS.