Patents Assigned to Space
  • Patent number: 12276771
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for determining characteristics of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), and more particularly to a method and system for real time mapping of corresponding ionospheric perturbations, where in the case where the amplitude of each wave represents a height change, then the output field is truly a three dimensional representation of the height perturbations of an iso-ionic contour caused by the TIDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Crowley, Adam Reynolds
  • Patent number: 12275206
    Abstract: To achieve a composite material part with a fully load adapted 3D fiber reinforcement with low costs for tools and process, a method is provided for manufacturing a part made of composite material with a continuous fiber reinforcement. The method comprises the steps of providing a body with tubular cavities and having at least one first portion made from a first polymer material and at least one second portion made from a second polymer material, introducing resin and continuous fibers into the tubular cavities, and removing at least a part of the second polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Fundació Eurecat
    Inventors: Christian Metzner, Wolfgang Machunze, Marc Crescenti
  • Patent number: 12275537
    Abstract: A structural part for lightning strike protection, preferably of an aircraft includes a first structure element, wherein the first structure element includes a conducting material and is adapted to conduct electric currents into a grounded conducting airframe structure, and a second structure element, wherein the second structure element includes an outer layer with a first surface, wherein the outer layer includes a composite, preferably carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, CFRP or glass-fibre reinforced plastic GFRP. The structural part further includes a first elongated, preferably wedge-shaped, electrical conductor, with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first elongated electrical conductor is connected to the first structure element and extends through the second structure element to the first surface, so that the second end of the first elongated electrical conductor serves as a lightning receptor without impairing the radar cross section of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Karch, Kay Dittrich, Matthias Bleckmann, Thomas Schuster
  • Publication number: 20250118453
    Abstract: For trapping atoms, an x-axis wire carries an x-axis current I0cos ?t, wherein I0 is current amplitude, ? is a trap field frequency, and t is time. A y-axis wire carries a y-axis current I0sin ?t, the y-axis wire intersecting the x-axis wire at a cross center. A ?-field coil generates a transverse magnetic bias field ? rotating about the cross center and perpendicular to a z axis. A ?-field coil generates a longitudinal magnetic bias field ? rotating about the cross center and perpendicular to the z axis. The x-axis wire, the y-axis wire, the transverse magnetic bias field ?, and the longitudinal magnetic bias field ? form a time-averaged trap along the z axis near the cross center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicants: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory, University of Virginia UVA Licensing and Ventures
    Inventors: Charles SACKETT, James STICKNEY
  • Patent number: 12269618
    Abstract: For model predictive control for a spacecraft formation, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method calculates an outer polytope boundary and an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft. The method maneuvers the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary using model predictive control (MPC) to minimize fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, John Akagi, Greg Droge
  • Patent number: 12272761
    Abstract: A process for the production of a layer structure of a nitride semiconductor component on a silicon surface, comprising: provision of a substrate having a silicon surface; deposition of an aluminium-containing nitride nucleation layer on the silicon surface of the substrate; optional: deposition of an aluminium-containing nitride buffer layer on the nitride nucleation layer; deposition of a masking layer on the nitride nucleation layer or, if present, on the first nitride buffer layer; deposition of a gallium-containing first nitride semiconductor layer on the masking layer, wherein the masking layer is deposited in such a way that, in the deposition step of the first nitride semiconductor layer, initially separate crystallites grow that coalesce above a coalescence layer thickness and occupy an average surface area of at least 0.16 ?m2 in a layer plane of the coalesced nitride semiconductor layer that is perpendicular to the growth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Dadgar, Alois Krost
  • Patent number: 12270215
    Abstract: A reentry transitional housing system for providing access to housing and social services and methods for making and utilizing the same. The reentry transitional housing system can include at least one refuge room for providing living quarters to a recently-released individual. In selected embodiments, each refuge room can be equipped with one or more furniture components, such as a bed, a desk, and storage space. A folding panel and a sliding door can be flat-packed inside the refuge room and can be assembled to create a unique enclosure. Advantageously, a plurality of the refuge rooms can be deployed in a clustered configuration within a predetermined space with each refuge room being adapted to meet customized personal preferences of the individual. In addition to providing living quarters, the reentry transitional housing system optionally can provide a workforce development opportunity in both digital and physical fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Designing Justice + Designing Spaces
    Inventors: Deanna Van Buren, Shelley Roberts, Oretola Thomas
  • Patent number: 12269572
    Abstract: A connector for a structurally integrated line system of a vehicle, having a first end portion, a second end portion and a connecting piece extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion has at least one contact face for arrangement on a structurally integrated line, wherein at least one of the at least one contact face has a cutout which is surrounded by a closed border, wherein the second end portion has a flange connection for connection to a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Wald, Sebastian Peters, Michael Rappitsch
  • Patent number: 12273209
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a power delivery system includes a first current limiter and a second current limiter in parallel with each other, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage is provided to each of the first current limiter and the second current limiter; a first transformer electrically coupled to the first current limiter; a second transformer electrically coupled to the second current limiter; first differential signal traces electrically coupled to the first transformer; and second differential signal traces electrically coupled to the second transformer, wherein the DC voltage is transmitted from the first transformer to the first differential signal traces simultaneous with the DC voltage being transmitted to the second differential signal traces by the second transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Joshua S. Salazar, Anno Van den Akker, Robert Ruark, Yong Ren, Bhaskar S. Vadathavoor, Krisztian Bakos
  • Patent number: 12269617
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first 3D printer head configured to form a spiral structure around a hub and a second 3D printer head configured to form a boom extending between the second 3D printer head and the hub. The apparatus further includes one or more actuators coupled to the first 3D printer head and the second 3D printer head to control a distance between the first 3D printer head and the second 3D printer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Maxar Space LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Kilborn Church
  • Publication number: 20250108938
    Abstract: In many embodiments of the invention, a space-based data center includes orbital server modules configured to be deployed in space, each module including a communication subsystem for module-to-module communications to form a data center, tiles arranged in a planar array, where each tile has a layered structure including solar cells forming a layer across a first surface, thermal radiator panels forming a layer across a second surface, electronic components distributed laterally in a layer between the layer of solar cells and the layer of thermal radiator panels, where each electronic component receives power locally from solar cells and rejects heat to the thermal radiator panel beneath it, where a first subset of tiles are compute tiles in which the electronic components include one or more computing processors and memory, and where a second subset of tiles are support tiles in which the electronics components include network switches and energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Sophia Space, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Brophy, Leon Alkalai, Sergio Pellegrino, Jonathan Sauder, Timothy P. McElrath, Douglas J. Sheldon, Don J. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20250111696
    Abstract: An expression recognition method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: acquiring a to-be-recognized image; obtaining an image feature map of the to-be-recognized image according to the to-be-recognized image; determining global feature information and local feature information according to the image feature map; and determining an expression type of the to-be-recognized image according to the global feature information and the local feature information. Since the global feature information of the to-be-recognized image reflects overall information of a face and the local feature information of the to-be-recognized image reflects detail information of each region on the face, more image detail information of a facial expression can be recovered by means of an effective combination of the local feature information and the global feature information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: SHENZHEN XUMI YUNTU SPACE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhao JIANG, Zeyuan HUANG, Xiaoting QI
  • Patent number: 12266873
    Abstract: A quick-locking piston-type floating power supply connector includes a housing assembly, a contact assembly, and a base assembly, wherein the housing assembly is sleeved on an outer wall of one end of the base assembly, one end of the contact assembly is fixed in the base assembly, the other end of the contact assembly extends from the base assembly, the other end of the contact assembly extends outwards to be partially embedded into a cover plate assembly, a floating contact member of a piston-type structure is vertically arranged at the terminal of the other end of the contact assembly, the floating contact member is mounted in the cover plate assembly, a mounting opening of the floating contact member extends outwards to the cover plate assembly, and the floating contact member is used for meeting the electrical assembly requirements of PCBs with different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignees: GUIZHOU SPACE APPLIANCE CO., LTD, SHANGHAI⋅AEROSPACE⋅SCIENCE & INDUSTRY⋅APPLIANCE⋅CO. LTD, SUZHOU HUAZHAN SPACE APPLIANCE CO.
    Inventors: Hongji Wang, Xu Wang, Zuotao Zou, Qifeng Xu, Liangtao Zhu
  • Patent number: 12266166
    Abstract: A spatial indexing system receives a video that is a sequence of frames depicting an environment, such as a floor of a construction site, and performs a spatial indexing process to automatically identify the spatial locations at which each of the images were captured. The spatial indexing system also generates an immersive model of the environment and provides a visualization interface that allows a user to view each of the images at its corresponding location within the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Open Space Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ben Fleischman, Philip DeCamp, Jeevan James Kalanithi
  • Patent number: 12263961
    Abstract: An attitude control system for a satellite is presented that can determine on time values for attitude control thrusters without use of attitude rate sensors, such as those based on gyros. The attitude control systems uses the attitude values from a star tracker to determine both attitude adjustment values and attitude adjustment rate values directly from the star tracker values, where the processing is performed using quaternions. From the attitude adjustment values and attitude adjustment rate values, a set of thruster on time values are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Maxar Space LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Holmes
  • Patent number: 12266339
    Abstract: A method for correcting a synthesized speech set for hearing aid according to an aspect of the present invention includes the steps of outputting first synthesized speech for testing on the basis of first synthesized speech data for testing correlated with a first phoneme label in a synthesized speech set for testing, accepting a first answer selected by a user, outputting second synthesized speech for testing on the basis of second synthesized speech data for testing correlated with a second phoneme label in the synthesized speech set for testing, accepting a second answer selected by the user, and correlating first synthesized speech data for hearing aid with the second phoneme label instead of second synthesized speech data for hearing aid in a synthesized speech set for hearing aid, in a case in which the first answer matches the second phoneme label and also the second answer does not match the second phoneme label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: SPACE LIVE. Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ono
  • Patent number: 12266839
    Abstract: A radio frequency passband filter is provided comprising a network of half-wavelength planar resonators. At least one of the half-wavelength planar resonators includes a resistor shunted to ground to flatten response in the passband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: European Space Agency
    Inventors: Jiasheng Hong, Jia Ni, Petronilo Martin-Iglesias
  • Patent number: 12267143
    Abstract: A system for communicating radio-frequency (RF) signals includes a receiver subsystem that employs a phased antenna array, and signal spreading of the respective responses of the elements of the phased antenna array. The codes used for spreading are unique to each antenna element. The spread signals are combined and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) is applied to the combined spread signal. The signals to be spread may be grouped according to a signal characteristic such as signal polarization or whether the signal is an in-phase or quadrature signal. A respective signal combiner and a respective ADC may be used for each group. The communication system may include a transmission subsystem that employs signal de-spreading that is unique for each antennal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Northwood Space Corp.
    Inventor: Griffin Cleverly
  • Publication number: 20250100791
    Abstract: A container for storing and transporting regolith includes an upper portion having a top end that includes an inlet opening. An inlet valve is attached to the inlet opening and is configured for moving between a closed inlet position and an open inlet position. The container also has a lower portion continuous with the upper portion. The lower portion has sidewalls that taper inwards and terminate in a bottom end having an outlet opening. An outlet valve is attached to the outlet opening and is configured for moving between a closed outlet position and an open outlet position. The container further includes a robotic arm interface configured for being gripped by a robot. An inner surface of the container may include a non-stick coating so that the regolith does not adhere thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Astroport Space Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Ximenes, Hardev Singh
  • Patent number: D1069793
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2025
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignees: Dongguan Xinghui Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen Qixun Space Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yongsheng Wang, Haowei Yang