Patents Assigned to Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
  • Patent number: 4942291
    Abstract: A position-resolving sensor for detecting individual light flashes with a multiplicity of adjacent light-receiving elements and an evaluating circuit which determines the light-receiving element which is struck by a light flash. The sensor comprises light-receiving elements subdivided into a plurality of groups such that each light-receiving element is exclusively adjacent to light-receiving elements belonging to other groups. Each group of light-receiving elements is associated with a row of light detectors and at least one optical connecting element establishes a light-conducting connection between each individual light-receiving element and light detectors which are selected in accordance with a given code from the assigned row of light detectors. A high solid-angle resolution can be achieved with few light detectors. In addition, that order number of the light-receiving element is read out which has registered the light flash, directly in a digital code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Dietrich
  • Patent number: 4940312
    Abstract: The determination of the orientation parameters of a missile by means of a three-line scanner requires the generation of scanning traces which are oriented at a specific angle with respect to the direction of flight. In the present invention the scanning traces are produced with a two or four part scanning prism, whose reflecting surfaces are arranged at a specific angel .beta. with respect to the axis of rotation of the scanning prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Otto Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4938115
    Abstract: In an arrangement for combatting ground targets by a projectile launched m a flying weapons carrier, a launching device is located in the weapons carrier for directing the projectile in a downward and rearwardly inclined direction relative to the flight direction of the weapons carrier. An aiming system connected to control units adjusts the horizontal velocity of the weapons carrier to the same magnitude as the oppositely directed ejection velocity of the projectile. The projectile can be released in the nadir above the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Ignaz von Maydell
  • Patent number: 4932954
    Abstract: An apparatus for the fragmentation of a solid body surrounded by a fluid, in particular in a living being, by means of acoustic shock waves which are induced by the light of a laser. A reflector for acoustic waves focuses the shock waves onto the body. In the region of the reflector, an element is provided which consists of a material absorbing the laser light, and onto which the laser light is directed, so that the plasma state triggering the acoustic shock wave develops at the surface of the element. The apparatus thus has the advantage that even under unfavorable conditions acoustic shock waves can be generated with certainty at every laser pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Fritz Wondrazek, Gisela Diepold
  • Patent number: 4932325
    Abstract: A safety device for use in low-speed aerodynamic bodies. The pressure conditions at the outer contour of the flying equipment are used for obtaining an arming criterion of a fuse. A slide is movable from a safe to an armed position. In the safe position, slide pickup ports are within the internal contour of the body. In the armed position, the slide pickup ports are exposed to the air stream outside the external contour of the body for creating a pressure difference for arming the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Hutter
  • Patent number: 4927096
    Abstract: A rotor setting system in conjunction with an aerodynamic-body control. The setting system is characterized by a rotor which comprises a console, a rotary drive for the rotor, setting members for the control of the aerodynamic body, especially rudders or spoilers, as well as a control unit for the rotor, and further including a control unit on the sides of the aerodynamic body, wherein the two control units cooperate with each other for adjusting the setting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Kranz
  • Patent number: 4925130
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing the flight path of a missile is disclosed. The apparatus comprises the tip of the missile which is installed so as to be pivotable in the nose of the missile and at least one actuator to tilt the pivotable nose cone. One end of the actuator is coupled to the internal outer edge of the nose cone and the other end of the actuator is coupled internally within the main missile body. The outer wall of the forward part of the missile additionally contains at least one annular flexible element extending perpendicularly to the axis of the missile body which facilitates the tilting of the nose cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
    Inventor: Walter Kranz
  • Patent number: 4923303
    Abstract: A measuring device for the location and attitude determination of an object, for example, of a space craft for the purpose of docking. At the object several light sources are located, each intensity-modulated with a different code frequency. Optics of the measuring device reproduce the object on a position-sensitive detector. On the basis of its output signals, the image coordinates of the light sources are computed by way of an evaluating device using a frequency multiplexing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh
    Inventor: Reinhold Lutz
  • Patent number: 4914564
    Abstract: A control system having a main loop comprising a deadband section having iable thresholds. An adaptive network derives from a deviation signal, in one or more selected frequency ranges, by averaging, an adaptive signal which when injected into the deadband section allows its thresholds to be continuously or discretely adjusted in accordance with a desired function to increase the accuracy and reduce the corrective energy consumption of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Michael Surauer, Helmut Bittner
  • Patent number: 4903613
    Abstract: An undercarriage with a wheel set capable of self-steering independent of the vehicle body is disclosed. The undercarriage contains, in combination with hollow profile wheels in the wheel sets and primary elastic springs in the longitudinal direction, two lever systems which are self-adjusting, independent of each other and are arranged on the longitudinal sides of an undercarriage. The lever systems forcibly couple the axle ends of the wheel sets on the same rail in the longitudinal direction of the undercarriage and are movable only in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Lang, Thilo von Madeyski
  • Patent number: 4901565
    Abstract: A strapdown measuring unit for measuring the angular velocities about the three axes of a flying body rotating relatively fast about its first axis is disclosed. The unit combines a Sagnac effect sensor for roll rate determination and two micro-mechanical acceleration sensors whose output, combined mathematically with the output of the Sagnac effect sensor, determines the angular velocity of the remaining two axes. The mathematical calculations are performed by a dedicated microprocessor which is integrated with the three sensors into a single small unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Seidel, Fritz Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4900122
    Abstract: A device for allowing the adjustment of the length of a fiber optic waveguide is disclosed. The device couples casings of different inner and outer diameters together, while allowing for the movement of the fiber optic waveguide within the casings. The device is useful for adapting the fiber optic guide to different instruments, such as endoscopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Frank, Thomas Hengst, Andreas Hahn
  • Patent number: 4898756
    Abstract: A hollow insert for a sandwich structure having at least one fixed head on a substantially hollow cylindrical shank with a bore through the shank, the head being eccentric relative to the shank, with a corresponding eccentricity of the opening of the bore of the shank in the head, the eccentricity securing the insert against rotation in the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Oefner
  • Patent number: 4898342
    Abstract: A missile with adjustable flight controls capable of altering the missile's flight path is disclosed. The missile comprises an electric generator and control electronics. The electric generator is used in this invention both to provide electrical power to the control electronics and to regulate the flight controls. A mechanical connection is created between the generators rotor and the flight controls. The generator is electrically coupled to the control electronics through an electrically variable load. The control electronics alters the load which varies the rotational speed of the generator. This in turn affects the flight controls and the flight path is altered accordingly. The invention is small and compact, allowing its use in small missiles such as mortar or artillery shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Kranz, Werner Schnabele
  • Patent number: 4898096
    Abstract: An improved shaft for a munition firing apparatus is disclosed. The shaft has a multiplicity of approximately curved firing channels and is supported in the firing apparatus in a low friction manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Ermert, Horst Hutter
  • Patent number: 4885781
    Abstract: A frequency-selective sound transducer comprised of a number of resonators with differing but sequential natural frequencies arranged in a first plane. A deformable membrane is arranged in a second plane, parallel to the first plane and in close proximity thereto. A small air gap thus exists between the first and second planes. Sound waves produce vibratory motion in the membrane, which motion is transmitted to the resonators by pressure waves generated by the membrane in the air between the membrane and resonators. The deflections of the resonators are converted into electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Seidel
  • Patent number: 4884771
    Abstract: This method serves for calibrating gyros forming part of the attitude control system of a satellite stabilized in three axes and which have an unknown drift. A two-axis sensor measuring the direction of a radiating reference object in the coordinate system x, y, z fixed with respect to the satellite is used. Two reference attitudes each different with respect to the reference object are commanded to the satellite in the course of two consecutive time intervals spaced from each other. The values measured by the sensor representing the respective actual direction of the reference object are recorded at the start and at the end of the time intervals. The respective time integrals of the gyro output signals are computed during the time intervals, which represent the gyro drift plus the respective instantaneous satellite deviation from the commanded reference attitude. Finally the gyro drift is determined from these time integrals and the values measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Arnold Scheit, Ernst Bruderle
  • Patent number: 4884568
    Abstract: A radiation coagulator with a radiation source which has a large infrared content and with a sleeve-shaped cap which is placed on the holding tube at the radiation exit end of the light conductor, and with which the area of the tissue to be coagulated is brought into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Hahn
  • Patent number: 4878725
    Abstract: For the circumferential irradiation of objects, especially of vessels, hollow organs and solid tissue, by optical radiation of high intensity which is conducted via a flexible optical fiber, the optical radiation is coupled into the optical fiber at a predetermined angle (.beta..sub.1,.beta..sub.2) to the surface normal of the end face of the optical fiber such that it leaves the distant end of the optical fiber in the form of a conical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hessel, Thomas Ischinger
  • Patent number: 4876448
    Abstract: An optical system for motion compensation of line scanners to improve the resolution in one or more spectral channels, the system having a motion of its own or being arranged on a moving observation platform. A multi-faced prism is provided which is associated with the optical system and rotates about its central axis at a settable rotational speed. The integration time for imaging a radiation source is increased due to the rotation of the prism in a direction opposite the track or flight direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Laucht, Jurgen F. Euskirchen