Patents Assigned to Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
  • Patent number: 12027638
    Abstract: A photovoltaic assembly dual junction solar cell for space use including a solar cell stack including first and second subcells stacked on each other and each including an epitaxially grown light absorbing layer. The first subcell is adjacent to a solar cell stack front, light-receiving surface and the second subcell is adjacent to a solar cell stack rear surface. The first subcell light absorbing layer has a larger bandgap than the second subcell light absorbing layer. A light reflecting element positioned adjacent to a second subcell light absorbing layer rear side is configured to reflect photons having an energy smaller than the bandgap energy of the second subcell light absorbing layer and/or photons having an energy larger than the bandgap energy of the second subcell light absorbing layer and smaller than the bandgap energy of the first subcell light absorbing layer with a reflectivity of at least 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Claus Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 12020581
    Abstract: A method for operating an at least temporarily unmanned aircraft, wherein a flight is performed according to a prior flight plan in an airspace controlled by a control instance. A flight direction is determined during the flight via a control device influenced via a data connection by a control instance. The data connection is temporarily unavailable, and a hazardous or emergency situation requiring deviation from the flight plan, is identified by the control device based on first sensor data. An avoidance route is determined by the control device based on a second sensor data, the avoidance route including a avoidance manoeuvre avoiding the hazardous or emergency situation, the avoidance route is used in the meantime to fly towards a destination area with the least possible volume of air traffic; and the necessary avoidance manoeuvre(s) are performed based on the second data by the control device in an autonomous staggering procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Lohmiller, Jörg Meyer, Thomas Heuer
  • Patent number: 11987893
    Abstract: A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metal
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Uday B. Pal, Achim O. Seidel, Peter Quadbeck, Astrid Adrian
  • Patent number: 11990984
    Abstract: A communication system with increased throughput for providing communication between transceivers via a wireless communication channel through multiple, N, single input, single output, SISO, links provided for a corresponding number, N, of data sequences, wherein each transceiver includes a transmitter having spreading units each configured to spread in an operation mode of the communication system a data sequence with an associated predefined unique spreading code sequence to generate a spread data sequence multiplexed to an antenna unit of the respective transceiver configured to transmit the spread data sequences via the wireless communication channel to antenna units of other transceivers of the communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Damini Gera
  • Publication number: 20240150042
    Abstract: A space station includes a housing that defines an interior space. An inner chamber is located in the interior space and defines an inner cavity that is sealable from the remainder of the interior space. At least one bulkhead is arranged in the interior space to partition the interior space into at least two compartments that are hermetically sealable from one another. One compartment can be accessed from another compartment via the inner cavity of the inner chamber. The inner cavity is sealable against each compartment. Openings in an outer surface of the housing enable crew members to leave a damaged compartment through the opening. Thus, alternative routes exist to leave a damaged compartment, i.e., either through the inner cavity or through the opening in the outer surface of the housing. When one compartment is damaged, the adjacent compartments are still operative because they are sealed from the damaged compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Peter Hess, Dean Robert Mosseveld, Torsten Vogel, Günther Dorst
  • Patent number: 11972041
    Abstract: A display arrangement for presenting video information to a human operator in a vehicle senses vehicle movements and movements of a head mounted display unit. Based on vehicle movements and movements of the display unit, a virtual scenario with background video data and application video data are generated to a display arrangement. The background video data are modified so background video moves opposite to vehicle movements. The application video data are modified so application video moves according to vehicle movement. A perspective onto the application video can be modified based on relative movements of the display unit with respect to the vehicle. This may reduce conflicts between sensory impressions of the vestibular system and eyes of the operator because movements of the vehicle and movements of the display unit are considered when generating and modifying the background and application video data presented to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Leonhard Vogelmeier, Cesar Alvarez Diez
  • Patent number: 11969983
    Abstract: A structural component for an aircraft, spacecraft or rocket has a ply of fiber reinforced polymer, a first carbon nanotube mat; and a metallic layer, wherein the carbon nanotube mat and the metallic layer are arranged on the ply of fiber reinforced polymer to form a hybrid lightning strike protection layer. A component for manufacturing such a structural component, a method for manufacturing a component of this type, a method for manufacturing a structural component and an aircraft or spacecraft with such a structural component are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Karch, Blanka Lenczowski, Johannes Wolfrum, Yehoshua Yeshurun
  • Patent number: 11959180
    Abstract: An anticorrosion coating and an article coated with an anticorrosion coating, especially for use in an aircraft, and a method of producing a coated article and a vehicle, especially an aircraft, including an anticorrosion coating or at least one such coated article. An anticorrosion coating includes an aluminum alloy having 0.03-0.5% by weight of tin. A coated article produced at least partly from a material and having at least partly been coated with the anticorrosion coating including an aluminum alloy having 0.03-0.5% by weight of tin. A method of producing the anticorrosion coating is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Blawert, Florian Gehrig, Tillmann Doerr, Bettina Kröger-Kallies, Oliver Rohr, Mikhail Zheludkevich, Maria del Rosario Silva Campos, Michael Störmer
  • Patent number: 11952130
    Abstract: A structural component for an aircraft including at least one heatable component section having a layer structure including an inner base structure, at least one heating layer having carbon allotropes embedded in a matrix material, at least one first group of consecutive layers including at least one anode layer, at least one first insulating layer, and at least one cathode layer having an electroactive coating. The first group of layers are arranged between the inner base structure and the at least one heating layer, and at least one protective layer is arranged outside the heating layer. The first group of layers constitute a structural battery. The at least one anode layer and the at least one cathode layer are electrically connectable with the heating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Linde, Elmar Bonaccurso
  • Patent number: 11947030
    Abstract: A radar system for providing position information to a mobile unit is provided. The radar system comprises a receiving interface. The receiving interface is adapted to receive radio frequency, RF, signals. The radar system further comprises a processing unit. The processing unit is adapted to process the received RF signals. The processing unit is adapted to determine an occupation of a predetermined time-frequency space by the received RF signals. The radar system further comprises a transmitting interface which adapted to transmit information on an intention of the radar system to occupy a specific portion of the predetermined time-frequency space. The radar system further comprises a plurality of beacon units. The beacon units are adapted to provide position information of the radar system on the specific portion in the predetermined time-frequency space, when it is determined that the specific portion of the predetermined time-frequency space is not occupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Russel Que, Klaus Kittmann, Michael Von Voithenberg
  • Patent number: 11946999
    Abstract: A radar system for determining a distance to another radar system includes a transceiver. The transceiver transmits a first Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave, FMCW, radar signal. The first FMCW radar signal includes a first sweep profile. The transceiver is receives a second FMCW radar signal. The second FMCW radar signal includes a second sweep profile which differs from the first sweep profile. The radar system further includes a mixer which generates a beat signal based on the first and second FMCW radar signals. The radar system further comprises a deskewing unit which deskews the beat signal by matching the sweep profiles of the first and second FMCW radar signals. Further a method for determining a distance between radar systems, a system for determining a distance between first and second radar systems and a method for determining a distance between first and second radar systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Russel Que, Klaus Kittmann, Michael Von Voithenberg
  • Patent number: 11945604
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a control computer, load determining unit, first central inertial measurement device and a second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit is coupled to the first inertial measurement device and the second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit can receive instantaneous first accelerations detected by the first inertial measurement device and instantaneous second accelerations detected by the at least one second inertial measurement device and from this to determine instantaneous loads acting on the aircraft and to store them in a memory unit and/or to transmit them to an external unit. The load determining unit can determine expected maneuver accelerations. The load determining unit can subtract the expected maneuver accelerations from detected first accelerations and second accelerations and determine externally induced dynamic accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Cyrille Vidy, Christoph Meisner, Christian Stolz, Holger Hickethier
  • Patent number: 11933852
    Abstract: A battery and an electrical battery monitoring device are disclosed having a first group of sensing switches connected in series on a first monitoring circuit, the sensing switches, a second group of electrical sensing switches connected in series on a second monitoring circuit, an input unit to provide an input to the first and second monitoring circuits, a monitoring unit to receive an output from the first and second monitoring circuits, wherein the monitoring unit receives at least two outputs from two measuring points of the first monitoring circuit, the two measuring points being separated by at least one sensing switch. The location of a defective battery cell may be early detected and precisely located by the monitoring of the battery cells in rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Weinreiter, Kristian Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11932395
    Abstract: A method for position calculation of an antenna is provided. The method comprises calculating ranges between the antenna and the at least three transponders. The calculation includes range measurements between an antenna and at least three transponders. Respective positions of the at least three transponders are known. The method further comprises providing a first coordinate of three coordinates. The three coordinates indicate a position of the antenna. The method further comprises calculating second and third coordinates of the three coordinates based on the calculated ranges between the antenna and the at least three transponders. The method further comprises predicting ranges between the antenna and the at least three transponders based on the provided first coordinate and the calculated two coordinates. The method further comprises performing an optimization process based on the calculated ranges and the predicted ranges to infer an optimized position of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Wendel, Patric Nolle
  • Patent number: 11915476
    Abstract: An onboard cloud detection system comprising: a camera (1000) configured to acquire images of the Earth at predetermined acquisition intervals; and a data processing unit (2000) comprising: a cloud detection unit (2210) configured to use artificial intelligence, AI, algorithms to detect clouds; a packet utilization standard, PUS, application layer (2230) configured to issue telemetry and/or telecommands corresponding to a predetermined parameter of the output of the cloud detection unit (2210); and an interface configured to distribute the telemetry and/or telecommands to an external hardware and/or an external software terminal (3000, 4000).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Filippo Ales, Michael Fritz, Alisa Krstova
  • Patent number: 11876265
    Abstract: In order to improve usability of hybrid or fully electric aircraft, a fuel cell having improved efficiency and increased volume/weight specific energy density is provided. The fuel cell has a self-supporting membrane structure that is formed as a triply periodic level surface, which separates a first cavity supplied with gaseous fuel from a second cavity supplied with gaseous oxidizer in a gas-sealed manner while connecting the cavities in an ion-conductive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Kristian Zimmermann, Stephan Friedl, Christian Metzner
  • Patent number: 11845538
    Abstract: A system and a method for evaluating performance of a porous skin of an aircraft including the porous skin, and a boundary layer control system. The performance evaluation system includes a first sensor providing data related to the performance of the porous skin. The performance evaluation system is further configured to clean the porous skin based on the performance of the porous skin determined using the data received from the first sensor in order to ensure that the porous skin operates at its maximum capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Herrles, Nikolai Striffler, Norbert Karpen, Elmar Bonaccurso, Jürgen Wehr, Susanne Holtemeyer, Silke Grünke, Nicole Jordan, Franz Xaver Hallweger
  • Patent number: 11811107
    Abstract: A cooling system containing a two-phase refrigerant that comprises a condenser, an evaporator and a conveying device. The evaporator is integrated in a heat source or thermally coupled thereto. Gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator is expanded in an expander, converted into mechanical energy and used to drive a generator for generation of electricity. Furthermore, an aircraft comprising a cooling system, wherein an electrical drive is supplied with electricity from a fuel cell, cooled using the cooling system, and the generator of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Piesker, Winfried Lohmiller
  • Patent number: 11780180
    Abstract: A fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber composite component. The method includes supplying a reinforcement fiber band to a laying head, laying and compacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band on a laying surface at an average compaction pressure by a compaction roller, and detecting a local compaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band by pressure sensors on the compaction roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Airbus Operations, S.L.
    Inventors: Katharina Schlegel, Alois Friedberger, David Lopez-Bravo
  • Patent number: 11772338
    Abstract: A composite component system includes a base component with a first component fiber ply and a second component fiber ply and a repair insert with a first repair fiber ply and a second repair fiber ply. The base component is connected to the repair insert by an adhesive joint. The first component fiber ply has an interface surface connected to the interface surface of the first repair fiber ply by the adhesive joint. The second component fiber ply has an interface surface connected to the interface surface of the second repair fiber ply by the adhesive joint. The first component fiber ply has a fiber orientation corresponding substantially to a fiber orientation of the first repair fiber ply. The interface surface of the first repair fiber ply completely overlaps the interface surface of the first component fiber ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Meisner, Thomas Körwien, Anton Maier