Patents Assigned to AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
  • Patent number: 10684329
    Abstract: A method for estimating the ageing of a battery powering an electrical system. A set of data about the voltage and current across the battery terminals, in response to the current perturbations provoked during the normal operation of the battery by the changes of consumption rate of the electrical system are stored. The impedance of the battery, within a predetermined frequency interval, from the voltage and current data is determined. The age of the battery as a function of the impedance is estimated by comparing the impedance with a previously stored model of evolution of this impedance with ageing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNES
    Inventors: Laurent Gajewski, Pierre-Louis Taberna, Patrice Simon
  • Patent number: 10676218
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spacecraft including a casing having a face, a radiator borne by the face, and a thermal insulation device borne by the radiator. The thermal insulation device includes: —a first screen device able to cover a first zone of the radiator, the first screen device including a thermally insulating and flexible sheet, and at least two springs capable of producing a constant reaction force, the springs being preformed in such a way as to wind up on themselves at rest and being fixed to the insulating sheet, the springs each having an end fixed to the radiator and a free end; and—a traction device able to pull on the free end of the springs to make the sheet cover the first zone and to release the free end in order to expose the first zone to space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Bernard Deltour, Sylvain Leconte, Christophe Berend
  • Patent number: 10677533
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchange device for effecting a heat exchange between a heat transfer fluid of a first network of capillary heat pipes and a heat transfer fluid of a second network of capillary heat pipes. The heat exchange device includes a solid block provided with a first channel and a second channel which are independent of one another, the first channel having at least one opening intended to be connected to a capillary heat pipe of the first network, the second channel having at least one opening intended to be connected to a capillary heat pipe of the second network, the first channel having a portion which lies near a portion of the second channel such that the heat transfer fluid of the first network is able to exchange heat with the heat transfer fluid of the second network via the heat exchanging portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Christian Flemin, Typhaine Coquard, Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 10673527
    Abstract: Disclosed is a satellite telecommunications system including at least one satellite in terrestrial orbit, referred to as optical gateway satellite, having a payload, the payload including a communication module, referred to as user module, capable of exchanging data with at least one terrestrial user terminal, and further including a communication module, referred to as gateway module, capable of exchanging data in the form of optical signals with at least one terrestrial optical gateway station. Also disclosed is a method for controlling such a satellite telecommunications system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Bernard Laurent
  • Patent number: 10630093
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the architecture of the power supply of a load, includes the following steps: determination of a mission profile (16) sizing according to the power required by the load over time; definition of the sources of energy storage for hybridization; association of a characteristic behavior model with each source of energy storage; determination of the couples of sources of energy storage that can generate the mission profile with a minimum mass; and determination, from the potential couples of sources of energy storage, of the couple with the weakest mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: AIRBUS GROUP SAS, AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Benoit Fleury, Gregor Massiot, Pierre-Bertrand Lancelevee, Julien Labbe
  • Patent number: 10619627
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of an electric propulsion system. The electric propulsion system includes a discharge channel, an anode, a cathode, an injection system and a magnetic circuit. The injection system injects propellant gas into the discharge channel and the magnetic circuit has at least one magnetic winding to generate a magnetic field in the discharge channel. The temperature at a reference thermal point of the electric propulsion system is determined. The electric propulsion system is heated by the Joule effect by applying a current to the magnetic circuit when the determined temperature is below a minimum temperature predetermined during a stop phase of the electric propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Matias Wartelski, Xavier Sembély
  • Patent number: 10565715
    Abstract: A method for estimating the motion of a carrier with respect to an environment in relation to which the carrier is moving. The carrier bearing a navigation sensor and a vision sensor producing images of the environment. In the images acquired by the vision sensor, the characteristic elements of the images representing characteristic elements of the environment are identified. At least one condensed measurement is calculated as a function of characteristic elements of at least two images acquired at different instants. The motion of the carrier by a navigation filter is estimated, as a function of navigation measurements carried out and as a function of the condensed measurement. The condensed measurement is calculated as a function furthermore of a priori estimation of the motion, as provided by the navigation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Bernard Polle
  • Patent number: 10554291
    Abstract: A method for detecting useful signals in an overall signal. Each useful signal may be affected with a frequency drift. In the detection phase, frequency spectra for detecting the overall signal for multiple detection time windows are calculated and useful signals according to the detection frequency spectra are detected. In the estimation phase, for each useful signal detected: the frequency of the overall signal for multiple frequency drift values is reset. In the estimation phase, for each useful signal detected, a frequency spectrum is calculated for the estimation of the overall signal for each frequency drift value over an estimation time window having the useful signal detected and of a duration higher than the detection time window. In the estimation phase, for each useful signal detected, the frequency drift is estimated affecting the useful signal detected according to the estimation frequency spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Benjamin Gadat, Lyonel Barthe, Thibault Maisonnat, Arnaud Collin
  • Patent number: 10536378
    Abstract: Detection of the congestion on a link based on an exchange of messages between a sender and a receiver, one sender and several receivers or several senders and one receiver. This equipment is connected to the ends of a transmission channel. One of the items of equipment is designated as the master and the others slaves. These exchanges are aimed at enabling the master to calculate and compare the rate of the data send and the rate of the data received. A divergence in the rates calculated reveals a congestion on the link. All these exchanges are made in the application layer and therefore do not involve the underlying layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Claude Poletti, Marc Cartigny, Olivier Klotz
  • Patent number: 10527493
    Abstract: A spectrophotometric device is disclosed having a plurality of spectral measurement bands including a single telescope and a single spectrophotometer. The plurality of spectral bands is obtained by placing pupillary separating prisms at an entrance pupil of the telescope, and by using spectral band selection filters. Such a device has a lower weight, smaller dimensions, and a lower price. In particular, it may be integrated into a satellite, in particular for a mission to characterize flows of carbon compounds that are produced on the Earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Frédéric Pasternak
  • Patent number: 10513352
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring a satellite from an initial orbit into a mission orbit. The method includes anchoring to the satellite of an external unit having a tank containing a reserve of propellants. The system includes an autonomous spacecraft having an electric propulsion module and a small internal reserve of propellants, located in a parking orbit close to the initial orbit. The spacecraft with the external unit attached to the satellite is docketed in an initial orbit, to produce a fluidic connection of the propellant tank of the external unit to the propulsion module of the spacecraft. The external unit and satellite is transferred into the mission orbit by the electric propulsion module of the spacecraft supplied with propellants directly from the external unit, thereby releasing the satellite into the mission orbit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Dominique Poncet, Cyril Tourneur, René Cheynet De Beaupre
  • Patent number: 10511639
    Abstract: A structure for integrating mobile services, includes a top structure and a bottom structure, the top structure including: a device suitable for selecting, according to selection criteria, a service domain so as to determine whether a requested application, such as voice applications, SDS applications, or IP data applications, belongs to the domain of legacy services or IP service; a device capable of managing the various requests; and a device capable of providing APIs for the voice, SDS, and IP applications, the bottom structure including: a unit for IP routing towards the wireless network, ensuring the IP routing of data to the suitable IP networks, configured so as to take into account the configuration of the network, the user profile, and the provision of QoS and security; and a unit for managing users, in particular in terms of user registration, deregistration, mobility and security, such as the use of the SSO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Pison, Olivier Paterour
  • Patent number: 10491561
    Abstract: In order to offer domain name resolution services vis-à-vis resources of various security domains of a communication network, an item of equipment, on reception of a domain name resolution request coming from a client device, performs: authentication operations checking whether the client device that sent the request was previously registered; authorisation operations checking whether the client device actually has right of access to the resources of said domain name; and domain name resolution operations by means of a cache storing associations of IP addresses and domain names. The cache is populated by means of the results of domain name resolutions performed by external name servers to which said equipment resort to via respective secure tunnels, independently of said security domains, when the cache does not include data allowing to effect the domain name resolution required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Montenot, Franck Scholler, Frederic Bonfanti
  • Patent number: 10450093
    Abstract: A device for electrical connection intended to connect a super-insulating mattress to a structural panel of a spacecraft, said connection device comprising: a conducting sleeve having an axis extending in a first direction, said sleeve comprising a device for axial fastening of the insulating mattress and a support, a conductive pin suitable for being arranged in said sleeve, an elastic element carried by said support, said elastic element being suitable for exerting a force on the pin in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in order to press the pin against the sleeve. A method for assembling a female portion of a device for electrical connection to a super-insulating mattress, a super-insulating mattress and a spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Cesari, Jacques Cottier, Vincent Claudet
  • Patent number: 10442557
    Abstract: A satellite includes: at least one optical photography instrument including a main lens having an optical axis and the optical instrument having a field of view; at least one launcher interface system, intended for being removably secured to a satellite interface system of a launcher of the satellite; a linking device between the launcher interface and the optical instrument extending substantially parallel to the optical axis of the main lens between an upper end and a lower end; the launcher interface system is connected to the linking device by the lower end and the optical axis of the optical instrument is directed from the upper end towards the lower end of the linking device, the launcher interface system being outside the field of view of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Frédéric Faye, Eric Beaufume, Jacques Cottier
  • Patent number: 10407186
    Abstract: A method of controlling the attitude of a spacecraft in spinning around itself with a non-zero total angular momentum HTOT. The spacecraft includes a set of inertia flywheels configured to form an internal angular momentum HACT. The axis of the total angular momentum HTOT is aligned with a principal axis of inertia of the spacecraft, in the course of which the inertia flywheels are controlled to form an internal angular momentum HACT. The following expression, in which J is the inertia matrix of the spacecraft: Hact×J?1(Htot?J?1Htot) is negative if the principal axis of inertia targeted is the axis of maximum inertia of the spacecraft and is positive if the principal axis inertia targeted is the axis of minimum inertia of the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Cuilleron, Philippe Laurens, Valerio Moro
  • Patent number: 10400804
    Abstract: A device for the shock-absorbing attachment of two elements to be assembled, the attachment device including: an inner part that is tubular along an attachment axis; an outer part that is tubular along the attachment axis, and hollow, the inner part being accommodated in the outer part such that the outer surface of the inner part is facing the inner surface of the outer part; an elastomer layer between the outer part and the inner part, the elastomer layer, when seen in section in a longitudinal plane including the attachment axis, including: to either side of the attachment axis, at least three so-called longitudinal portions, and at least two so-called transverse portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Rene Jean Cheynet De Beaupre, Patrick Camarasa
  • Patent number: 10392133
    Abstract: A method for planning the acquisition of images of areas Z1, . . . , ZN of the Earth, by a spacecraft on a mission around the Earth. Each area Zi of the Earth being associated with a request Ri such that a visual accessibility time interval Ti corresponds to the area Zi. For each interval Ti, discrete acquisition opportunities for acquiring area Zi are determined such that a start date, a period of execution, a local kinematic constraint and a weight is associated with each of the discrete acquisition opportunities. The discrete acquisition opportunities for acquiring areas Zi are grouped into a set D. The discrete acquisition opportunities Di of the set D are categorized by ascending start date. The kinematic compatibility between the discrete acquisition opportunities of set D is assessed. An optimal sequence of discrete acquisition opportunities is determined having a maximum weight, and being kinematically compatible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Pierre Blanc-Pâques
  • Patent number: 10232959
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orbit of a satellite in earth orbit. The orbit of the satellite is controlled by commanding, according to a maneuver plan, a propulsion system having at least one thruster and a transporter to move the propulsion system. The maneuver plan includes at least two orbit-control maneuvers. The thrust powers of the propulsion system during the two orbit control maneuvers have respective thrust directions that are not parallel in an inertial frame of reference. Each thrust power is determined to simultaneously control the inclination and the position of the orbit of the satellite as well as to form a momentum that is suitable for unloading a device for storing angular momentum of the satellite in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thrust of the thrust power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Valerio Moro, Jean Fischer
  • Patent number: 10211946
    Abstract: A method for suppressing a spurious signal in a payload signal supplied by a receiving antenna of a payload of a satellite. The satellite also includes an array of measurement antennas supplying measurement signals. The measurement signals are combined with the payload signal. Reference weighting coefficients for weighting the measurement signals are determined as a function of the combined signals. A reference beam is formed by combining the measurement signals weighted based on the reference weighting coefficients. Anti jamming weighting coefficients for weighting the payload signal and the reference beam are determined. An anti jammed beam is formed by combining the payload signal and the reference beam weighed based on the corresponding anti jamming weighting coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Jacquey, Bernard Pezet, Xavier Deplancq