Patents Assigned to Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
  • Patent number: 7980758
    Abstract: The invention concerns an equipment for non-contact temperature measurement (1) of samples of materials (2) arranged in a vacuum chamber (12). A UV lamp (6) illuminates the samples (2) through a window (4), so as to subject them to a predetermined thermal cycle and to perform an environmental test, in particular for materials designed for space missions. An external pyrometer measures the temperature of the samples (2) through a window (6). It is associated with a scanning module (9) including a mobile mirror, with two axes of rotation and three orthogonal axes of translation, arranged on the optical path of the infrared radiation (Rir) so as to obtain a two-dimensional scanning of each sample (2) by means of a measuring spot focused on the surface of the samples. In a preferred embodiment, the samples are of slight thickness and locked pressed against a convex support. The whole assembly is monitored by an automatic data processing system with recorded program (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Christoph SempriMoschnig, Marc Van Eesbeek, Stan Heltzel
  • Patent number: 7688682
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic watch, notably for a space mission. It enables the setting, at any point in time, of a first date, start of the mission (t0) with relation to a local time scale (T1) or the Universal Time (GMT), and the determination of a first corresponding time scale (MET). It enables the setting, at any point in time, of a second date, start (t?0) of one of the mission's phases with relation to the first time scale (MET) or to the Universal Time (GMT), and the determination of a second corresponding time scale (PET). It comprises means of setting, recording, calculating and analogue and digital viewing. The digital viewing means displays a negative time value (?) when the start date is located in the future and a positive time value (+) when this date has elapsed. It comprises five audio alarms, a chronometer and a “Timer”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Clervoy
  • Patent number: 7410338
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arm exoskeleton comprising a moving system of joints placed in parallel with the joints of the human arm, the exoskeleton comprising a shoulder exoskeleton, an elbow exoskeleton, and a wrist exoskeleton. In all, the exoskeleton has sixteen joints providing sixteen degrees of freedom. A support worn on the torso of a human operator comprises a rigid front plate and a rigid back plate. The shoulder exoskeleton has its proximal end fixed to the front plate, whereby the front plate provides a fixed reference for all movements of the exoskeleton, and the wrist exoskeleton is fixed to a rigid glove worn on the hand of the operator. Active joints are controlled by flexible cable tendons bridging the exoskeleton, said tendons themselves being actuated by control units disposed on the rigid back plate. Inflatable cushions prevent the wrist exoskeleton and the shoulder exoskeleton from moving relative to the arm of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: André Schiele, Gianfranco Visentin
  • Publication number: 20080130418
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic watch, notably for a space mission. It enables the setting, at any point in time, of a first date, start of the mission (t0) with relation to a local time scale (T1) or the Universal Time (GMT), and the determination of a first corresponding time scale (MET). It enables the setting, at any point in time, of a second date, start (t?0) of one of the mission's phases with relation to the first time scale (MET) or to the Universal Time (GMT), and the determination of a second corresponding time scale (PET). It comprises means of setting, recording, calculating and analogue and digital viewing. The digital viewing means displays a negative time value (?) when the start date is located in the future and a positive time value (+) when this date has elapsed. It comprises five audio alarms, a chronometer and a “Timer”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ORGANISATION INTERGOUVERNEMENTALE DITE AGENCE SPATIALE EUROPEENNE
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Clervoy
  • Patent number: 7256730
    Abstract: The invention concerns a real-time navigation method for locating a rover using three-carrier radio signals of three different frequencies to determine the position of a user, transmitted by satellites. The method comprises a first step for determining “extra-wide lane” carrier phase ambiguity, a second step for estimating “wide-lane” phase ambiguity, and a third step for resolving the phase ambiguity of one of the frequencies. An additional step consists in the application of real-time ionospheric corrections during the third step, these ionospheric corrections being based on a continuously updated ionospheric model of said ionospheric layer calculated by a fixed ground reference station combined with geodetic data calculated by a so-called master fixed ground reference station. The invention also concerns a system for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Manuel Hernandez-Pajares, Jose Miguel Juan-Zornoza, Juame Sanz-Subirana, Alberto Garcia-Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6923090
    Abstract: According to the invention, a “Geneva” movement mechanism is used which is turned in one direction or the other by an electric motor. The mechanism comprises a “Maltese” cross turning about the axis of rotation of the rotor and supporting an annular piece. The Maltese cross is mechanically coupled to a ball screw lying on said axis of rotation so as to transform the turning notion into motion that includes a linear component, thereby enabling the annular piece to be moved at will towards and away from the rotor so as to make it possible to obtain contact and then blocking in a self-blocking manner against a fixed wall, or on the contrary so as to release the rotor by moving the annular piece in translation in the opposite direction. The invention is applicable to an inertia wheel for controlling the attitude of a satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Daniel Blonski, René Seiler
  • Publication number: 20030223844
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arm exoskeleton comprising a moving system of joints placed in parallel with the joints of the human arm, the exoskeleton comprising a shoulder exoskeleton, an elbow exoskeleton, and a wrist exoskeleton. In all, the exoskeleton has sixteen joints providing sixteen degrees of freedom. A support worn on the torso of a human operator comprises a rigid front plate and a rigid back plate. The shoulder exoskeleton has its proximal end fixed to the front plate, whereby the front plate provides a fixed reference for all movements of the exoskeleton, and the wrist exoskeleton is fixed to a rigid glove worn on the hand of the operator. Active joints are controlled by flexible cable tendons bridging the exoskeleton, said tendons themselves being actuated by control units disposed on the rigid back plate. Inflatable cushions prevent the wrist exoskeleton and the shoulder exoskeleton from moving relative to the arm of the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Andre Schiele, Gianfranco Visentin
  • Publication number: 20030183035
    Abstract: According to the invention, a “Geneva” movement mechanism is used which is turned in one direction or the other by an electric motor. The mechanism comprises a “Maltese” cross turning about the axis of rotation of the rotor and supporting an annular piece. The Maltese cross is mechanically coupled to a ball screw lying on said axis of rotation so as to transform the turning notion into motion that includes a linear component, thereby enabling the annular piece to be moved at will towards and away from the rotor so as to make it possible to obtain contact and then blocking in a self-blocking manner against a fixed wall, or on the contrary so as to release the rotor by moving the annular piece in translation in the opposite direction. The invention is applicable to an inertia wheel for controlling the attitude of a satellite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Organisation Intergouvernementale Dite Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventors: Daniel Blonski, Rene Seiler