Patents by Inventor Michael David LAWTON

Michael David LAWTON 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).

  • Deployable spacecraft body
    Patent number: 11518548
    Abstract: A spacecraft is disclosed, comprising a deployable spacecraft body (110) comprising a plurality of sub-systems (321-324) for controlling operations of the spacecraft, and a plurality of panels (101, 102) and a plurality of hinges (112-115) each connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of panels, the hinges being arranged to permit the plurality of panels to be folded into a stowed configuration and unfolded into a deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of sub-systems are fixed to and supported by one or more of the plurality of panels. By forming the body of the spacecraft from a deployable structure, the overall size of the spacecraft can be significantly reduced in the stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Oxford Space Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael David Lawton, Zhong You, Deborah Fellows
  • Deployable Spacecraft Body
    Publication number: 20210061496
    Abstract: A spacecraft is disclosed, comprising a deployable spacecraft body (110) comprising a plurality of sub-systems (321-324) for controlling operations of the spacecraft, and a plurality of panels (101, 102) and a plurality of hinges (112-115) each connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of panels, the hinges being arranged to permit the plurality of panels to be folded into a stowed configuration and unfolded into a deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of sub-systems are fixed to and supported by one or more of the plurality of panels. By forming the body of the spacecraft from a deployable structure, the overall size of the spacecraft can be significantly reduced in the stowed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Oxford Space Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael David LAWTON, Zhong YOU, Deborah FELLOWS