Abstract: At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by an interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto. A data processor determines at least one air data product responsive thereto.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 29, 2007
Publication date:
May 22, 2008
Applicant:
MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Inventors:
Paul Byron Hays, Michael Thomas Dehring, Jane Camile Pavlich, Peter Tchoryk, Charles J. Richey, Anthony Beckman Hays, Gregory Joseph Wassick, Greg Alan Ritter
Abstract: At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by an interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto. In various aspects: a plurality of transversely separated light collectors collected the scattered light; at least two telescopes are associated with a common second beam of light; or the telescope is coupled to a gamble mount that provides for positioning a region of overlap of the second beam of light with the field of view of the telescope.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 29, 2007
Publication date:
May 22, 2008
Applicant:
MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Inventors:
Paul Byron Hays, Michael Thomas Dehring, Jane Camile Pavlich, Peter Tchoryk, Charles J. Richey, Anthony Beckman Hays, Gregory Joseph Wassick, Greg Alan Ritter
Abstract: A first beam of light from a laser is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and at least one second beam of light, the latter of which is directed into an atmosphere. Light from the at least one second beam of light scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal. The at least one light signal and the reference beam ae simultaneously processed by a common interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector and processed by a data processor to determine at least one associated air data product.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 27, 2006
Publication date:
November 23, 2006
Applicant:
MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Inventors:
Paul HAYS, Michael DEHRING, Jane PAVLICH, Peter TCHORYK, JR., Charles RICHEY, Anthony HAYS, Gregory WASSICK, Greg RITTER
Abstract: A first beam of light from a laser is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and at least one second beam of light, the latter of which is directed from an optical head into an atmosphere. Light from the at least one second beam of light scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by a corresponding at least one telescope of the optical head as at least one light signal. The at least one light signal and the reference beam are simultaneously processed by different portions of a Fabry-Pérot interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector and processed by a data processor to determine at least one associated air data product.
Abstract: This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap.” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset. The soft-docking cable may be replaced with a rigid, semi-rigid or jointed post that is used to bring a capture mechanism into engagement with its corresponding receptacle or receiving structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 23, 2003
Date of Patent:
September 12, 2006
Assignee:
Michigan Aerospace Corporation
Inventors:
Pete Tchoryk, Jane Pavlich, Greg Wassick, Anthony B. Hays, Greg Ritter
Abstract: An autonomous vehicle docking system restrains six degrees of freedom through the use of a plurality of latches having differing bearing surface geometry which each constrain a generally spherical post end, and with a soft-dock cable system to initiate the capture sequence and provide for positive disengagement by a capture vehicle.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 18, 2005
Publication date:
December 1, 2005
Applicant:
MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Inventors:
Greg Ritter, Anthony Hays, Peter Tchoryk, Jane Pavlich, Gregory Wassick
Abstract: This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap.” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2002
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2004
Assignee:
Michigan Aerospace Corporation
Inventors:
Pete Tchoryk, Jane Pavlich, Greg Ritter, Anthony B. Hays