Patents by Inventor Kevin Meissner

Kevin Meissner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Restraint system for deployment of a feature on a satellite
    Patent number: 10815011
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is attached to a feature to be deployed on a satellite. The apparatus includes a first material having an impedance, a second material coupled to the first material configured to provide a current or voltage to the first material causing the first material to generate heat based on the impedance after a launch process of a launch vehicle carrying the satellite has completed, and a third material configured to change state at a transition temperature. A release mechanism is coupled to the third material and holds the feature in an undeployed position on the satellite. The heat generated by the second material causes the third material to change state when the transition temperature range is reached and the release mechanism is released from the third material when the third material is in the second state to deploy the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Planet Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jedd Perry, Narinder Kumar, Kelly Hering, Kevin Meissner, Bayard Gardineer, Benjamin Howard
  • Restraint System For Deployment Of A Feature On A Satellite
    Publication number: 20190210743
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is attached to a feature to be deployed on a satellite. The apparatus includes a first material having an impedance, a second material coupled to the first material configured to provide a current or voltage to the first material causing the first material to generate heat based on the impedance after a launch process of a launch vehicle carrying the satellite has completed, and a third material configured to change state at a transition temperature. A release mechanism is coupled to the third material and holds the feature in an undeployed position on the satellite. The heat generated by the second material causes the third material to change state when the transition temperature range is reached and the release mechanism is released from the third material when the third material is in the second state to deploy the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jedd Perry, Narinder Kumar, Kelly Hering, Kevin Meissner, Buddy Gardineer, Ben Howard