Patents Assigned to Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
  • Patent number: 5177686
    Abstract: A method of determining position errors of a space vehicle, which has been rotated from a known starting position into a desired new position, by means of star acquisition and star identification, using a star sensor as well as a star catalogue. Information in the catalog concerning the known positions of, and distances between, a selected group of stars expected to fall within visual field of the star sensor when the space vehicle is in the desired new position, is compared with the same information for selected stars sensed by the star sensor, until a match is found. The position error of the space vehicle is then determined by reference to the deviation between the known and sensed positions of the stars within the selected group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Messerschmitt Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Boinghoff, Heinrich Herbst, Luitpold Kaffer
  • Patent number: 5175756
    Abstract: A device for detecting nitrogenous, phosphoric, chloric and/or oxygenous substances inside an object, particularly of explosives or addictive substances in pieces of luggage. A nuclear activating device stimulates the emission of positron radiation from nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorine and/or oxygen, and an activity measuring device records positron-electron annihilation radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Wolfgang Pongratz, Ingbert Bastian, Nikolaus Moritz, Werner Triftshauser, Gottfried Kogel, Peter Sperr
  • Patent number: 5166505
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for three-dimensional position control of the focal point of a high-energy laser beam by measuring its directional and focal point deviation. A portion of the energy of the laser beam is split off by means of a beam splitter extending over the whole cross-section of the laser beam and is focussed on a quadrant detector by means of an optical system which introduces an astigmatic aberration. The various patterns and pattern positions generated on the quadrant detector as a function of the defocussing and directional deviation are analyzed by means of an electronic system, and corresponding control signals are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Gorriz, Adolf Giesen, Stefan Borik
  • Patent number: 5166504
    Abstract: A sensor and adjusting element for controlling high-powered laser beams. A single structural member, which is integrated into the beam path of the laser, simultaneously permits the sensing and the correction of angle and focusing errors in the beam path of high-powered lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Protz, Michael Gorriz
  • Patent number: 5163319
    Abstract: A device for detecting the condition of the surface and adjacent edges of a road by means of electromagnetic radiation. A transmitter emits measuring beam pulses of electromagnetic radiation directed in a linear area of the road. Back scattered radiation from reflection of the measuring beam pulses by features of the road surface and adjacent areas are received and transformed into a time sequence signal. A signal processing and analysis unit analyzes the time sequence signal to identify features and surfaces of the road and their distance from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignees: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Hans Spies, Walter Weishaupt
  • Patent number: 5156604
    Abstract: An arthroscopic probe having an elongated shaft with a small probing hook, which can be used for diagnostic purposes and which, for therapeutic purposes, has a longitudinally displaceable optical fiber guided at the distal end of the probing hook so that it is curved by approximately 30.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hessel, Patricia Taige
  • Patent number: 5156559
    Abstract: A coupling device for two coaxial line systems which extend in planes disposed above one another. The coupling device comprises a pin, and a sleeve which is pushed over the pin in a no-contact manner, and between the interior conductors permits a high-frequency energy transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Sommer, Helmut Wolf, Herbert Rosseg, Hans Mareis
  • Patent number: 5153426
    Abstract: A radiation meter for radiation emerging from an optical fiber, comprising a hollow body having diffusely reflecting interior walls into which the end of the optical fiber can be introduced, and at least one detector arranged behind an opening of the hollow body. Between the end of the optical fiber and the opening for the detector, a diffusely reflecting body is arranged which, together with the interior wall of the hollow body, in the area of the opening for the detector, forms a gap with an adjustable gap thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Konrad, Mandred Eichenlaub
  • Patent number: 5150956
    Abstract: A Sagnac-type fiber-optic gyroscope having a light source, a fiber coil consisting of an optical fiber, and a receiver arrangement which are all connected with a directional coupler in such a manner that wide-band light of the light source is fed into the two ends of the fiber coil and passes through it in opposite directions, the light emerging from the ends of the fiber coil and forming an interference signal in the directional coupler which is detected. An auxiliary coil is also connected with the directional coupler into which light from the single light source is also coupled, the dimensions of the auxiliary coil and of the main coil with respect to their length and their diameter being such that a measuring range is obtained that is expanded by the auxiliary coil and in which, for the whole measuring range, unambiguous measuring values may be determined for the rate of rotation of the fiber-optic gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfhardt Buhler, Hans Poisel, Gert Trommer
  • Patent number: 5144311
    Abstract: An analog-digital converter having an analog integrator which integrates the difference between the analog input signal and a signal from, for example, a digital-analog converter controlled by a microprocessor, whereby a high resolution and a very high operating speed are rendered possible with a relatively low degree of complexity and minimal noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfhardt Buhler, Hans Poisel, Gert Trommer
  • Patent number: 5139605
    Abstract: A method for crystallizing substances, which are dissolved in a liquid at zero-gravity. In order to limit the extent of lattice defects occurring in the crystallized monocrystals as much as possible, it is provided, that the liquid during the crystallization is held as a quasi freely suspended liquid sphere and the substance in the liquid is crystallized using methods known per se. The liquid sphere is expediently held suspended within a space, which is limited from the outside by retaining elements. In a corresponding device, the retaining elements can be placed on the interior walls of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Littke, Erhard Schoen
  • Patent number: 5132910
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for aligning a space vehicle with respect to a reference object is disclosed. A measuring direction is obtained by determining the angular orientation direction of the space vehicle with respect to the reference object and subsequently the space vehicle is aligned by means of actuators such that the measuring direction corresponds to a reference direction on the space vehicle. The actuators are driven by control signals which are derived from the measuring direction to cause control torques on the space vehicle. The orientation of the space vehicle and reference object is determined only with respect to a single measuring direction along a main axis of a direction sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Arnold Scheit, Horst-Dieter Fischer
  • Patent number: 5132528
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the radiation power of a laser. Two partially transmitting mirrors are arranged in the main laser beam which, with respect to their orientation in space, are turned by 90.degree. with respect to one another and by which a portion of the radiation is coupled out, and the partial beam is directed to an electro optic transducer. The measuring arrangement is therefore independent of the polarization condition of the main laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Barton, Gerhard Ruf
  • Patent number: 5130533
    Abstract: A device for measuring the radiation returned from a material treated by means of an optical radiation source can be inserted onto and removed from the beam path of the optical radiation source. An optical deflecting device guides the radiation of the optical radiaton source out of its beam path and subsequently guides it back onto the original beam path. The optical deflecting device has at least one element which reflects the radiation of the optical beam source and transmits the returned radiation, and a detector for detecting the returned radiaton being arranged behind the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Ruf
  • Patent number: 5129018
    Abstract: The light mixing device for the uniform spectral and intensity-related distribution of light coming in from n.times.n optical fibers to n.times.n outgoing optical fibers. The incoming and the outgoing optical fibers are distributed into n groups of n each respectively, each group of optical fibers being optically connected with a first front face of a mixer lamina. The n mixer laminae of the incoming optical fibers are stacked and arranged to form a first stack, and the n mixer laminae of the outgoing optical fibers are stacked and arranged to form a second stack, in each case congruently and above one another in such a manner that the free second front faces of the mixer laminae of both stacks form one surface respectively. The surfaces of both stacks are directed against one another and arranged in a manner in which they are rotated by 90.degree. with respect to one another, and are subsequently optically connected with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Poisel, Martina Schreiber, Gert Trommer
  • Patent number: 5126507
    Abstract: For protecting electrical installations against electromagnetic interferences and especially against over-voltages as can for instance occur as a consequence of lightning strikes, electrical lines provided between individual electrical apparatus are laid in a flexible hollow tubular member having an electrically conducting surface and at least one separation or division in its longitudinal direction. The hollow member is also provided with an undulated profile. The hollow member can be designed either as divided tubular sections or as cable channels or ducts provided with a covering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Safa Kirma
  • Patent number: 5126606
    Abstract: Electric drive motor, especially for control and regulation purposes, with a pole and coil arrangement for generating a rotating or linearly advancing armature field, which contains pole-forming segments in a plurality of tracks, staggered over time in their excitation phases and geometrically in the direction of movement. The segments are individual segments or are associated with a plurality of coils (without overlapping). Closely stepped tripping. A preferred embodiment of a synchronous motor, such as a hysteresis motor, is described and represented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5122635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a CW-Nd:YAG Laser soldering system for SMD-components by means of which the soldering may be shortened by the simultaneous feeding of solder, multiple radiation, ER-absorber, flux or reaction gas, and an optimizing of the Z-adjustment of the laser spot or spots and the laser power per soldering point can be controlled. Embodiments are explained and are illustrated schematically in the figures of the drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Knodler, Werner Moller, Kai-Uwe Vayhinger
  • Patent number: 5121122
    Abstract: In a facade construction of high-rise structures, a corresponding layer construction is provided for suppressing reflections of incident electromagnetic waves, particularly of radar waves. For this purpose, an electrical resistance layer which has a surface resistance in the range of 300 to 1200 .OMEGA. is arranged at a distance from a reflecting surface. The distance between the reflecting surface and the electrical resistance layer is approximately 1/4 of the wavelength in the propagation direction of incident electromagnetic waves to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Frye
  • Patent number: 5119201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line camera for imaging object strips on photosensitive detector lines, having an objective producing a line image of an object strip, having a ray deflecting system situated at the site of the line image by which the line image is divided into adjacent image sections, in such a manner that paths of the rays pertaining to adjacent image sections are deflected into respective different directions in space. One optical relay system respectively is optically arranged behind each image section for the imaging of the respective image section on its own respective detector line. The total number of optical relay systems is divided into at least two groups, each group being assigned to a different direction in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Fritz Blechinger, Michael Hofmann