Patents Assigned to Space
  • Patent number: 11375387
    Abstract: A method for federating at least two communication networks for mobile terminals by establishing a dedicated link between the two networks and then configuring one of the networks to use elements of the other network, in particular the user database and the communication policy manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Franck Scholler, Jean-François Perez, Jean-Marc Montenot, Wannes Vossen
  • Patent number: 11374689
    Abstract: An industrial control system includes an encryption device, a decryption device and a mission-critical communication link connecting the encryption device to the decryption device. The encryption device is configured to send encrypted messages to the decryption device over the mission-critical communication link. The system includes a failure monitor configured to monitor for a failure of the encryption device or the decryption device, and, in the event of failure, to continue the sending of the messages to the decryption device but without encrypting the messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space Limited
    Inventors: Ray James, Keith Travis, Stephen Williams, Kevin Jones
  • Patent number: 11372099
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a localization method for locating a target that is coupled with a locator transponder associated with a permanent identification code permanently assigned to said locator transponder; the localization method comprising: upon reception of a user request for locating the target, transmitting, by a paging system or by a radar-based system, a spread spectrum paging signal carrying the permanent identification code and a temporary identification code temporarily assigned to the locator transponder, wherein said temporary identification code is shorter than said permanent identification code; receiving, by the locator transponder, the spread spectrum paging signal and extracting, by said locator transponder, the temporary identification code carried by said spread spectrum paging signal received; transmitting, by the radar-based system, radar signals towards one or more areas of earth's surface or sky, and receiving, by said radar-based system, echo signals from said one or more area
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Domenico Giancristofaro, Giacinto Losquadro, Roberto Venturini, Diego Calabrese
  • Patent number: 11374140
    Abstract: A monolithic metamorphic multi-junction solar cell comprising a first III-V subcell and a second III-V subcell and a third III-V subcell and a fourth Ge subcell, wherein the subcells are stacked on top of each other in the indicated order, and the first subcell forms the topmost subcell, and a metamorphic buffer is formed between the third subcell and the fourth subcell and all subcells each have an n-doped emitter layer and a p-doped base layer, and the emitter layer of the second subcell is greater than the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Meusel, Alexander Berg, Philipp Schroth, Susanne Schreier
  • Publication number: 20220198494
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for providing cost efficient probable accommodation facilities in each of one or more area clusters. The method includes a first step to receive a first set of data associated with a plurality of organizations at a cluster identification system. The method includes another step to fetch a second set of data associated with a plurality of competitors. The method includes yet another step to obtain a set of rules associated with a plurality of parameters. The method includes yet another step to perform analysis of the first set of data, the second set of data, and the set of rules in real-time to identify the one or more area clusters in the geographical region based on the analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data with facilitation of the set of rules in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Dtwelve Spaces Private Limited
    Inventors: Eshaan GUPTA, Anindya DUTTA, Sandeep DALMIA
  • Publication number: 20220194636
    Abstract: A passively damped mechanical system is disclosed, for example for use in aerospace applications where vibration can adversely affect navigational and operational instruments. In one example, the passively damped mechanical system includes an end fitting of a strut used to connect a structural element to a payload. The end fitting may include outer and inner cylindrical hubs, with a space between the outer and inner cylindrical hub at least partially filled with a viscoelastic material. In a further example, the passively damped mechanical system includes legs used to connect a structural element to a bracket configured to support a payload. Each leg may include a hollow interior having a lattice structure to add strength and a viscoelastic material to provide passive damping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: MAXAR SPACE LLC
    Inventors: Michael Freestone, Brian M. Cayton, John Rappolt, Shane Abraham Seiwerts, Daniel Fluitt, Kevin Ziemann
  • Patent number: 11367935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microwave circular polarizer including: a first outer conductor; a second outer conductor connected to the first outer conductor forming a first step discontinuity therewith; and a third outer conductor connected to the second outer conductor forming a second step discontinuity therewith. An inner conductor is provided which extends inside and is spaced apart from the first, second and third outer conductors. The first and second outer conductors are axially asymmetric with respect to the inner conductor, and the third outer conductor is axially symmetric with respect to the inner conductor. The microwave circular polarizer includes first and second rectangular waveguide ports in signal communication with an internal cavity through, respectively, a first rectangular aperture and a second rectangular aperture formed through the first outer conductor. The microwave circular polarizer further includes a first septum and a second septum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Rodolfo Ravanelli, Paolo Campana
  • Publication number: 20220187445
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for performing SAR acquisitions, which comprises performing, in a time division fashion, SAR acquisitions of areas of a swath of earth's surface by means of a SAR system carried by an air or space platform; wherein performing SAR acquisitions in a time division fashion includes contemporaneously acquiring, in each pulse repetition interval, a plurality of areas of the swath that are separated in azimuth; and wherein the areas acquired in T successive pulse repetition intervals form an azimuth-continuous portion of said swath, T being an integer greater than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventor: Diego Calabrese
  • Patent number: 11357175
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an agile spectrum LED lighting fixture with a control. In one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes, wherein each set of the plurality of sets of light emitting diodes includes one or more light emitting diodes. The light emitting device further includes a control device for controlling a light intensity of each set of light emitting diodes of the plurality of sets of light emitting diodes. Each set of the plurality of sets is controlled by a driver, such that there are a plurality of drivers, at least one for each set of the plurality of sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ASTRO SPACE, LLC
    Inventor: William F. Probasco
  • Patent number: 11362742
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus included in a communications system includes a transmit section including a first baseband section and a first radio frequency (RF) section, wherein the transmit section is configured to receive a calibration signal, the first RF section is configured to generate a RF calibration signal based on the calibration signal, and wherein the calibration signal comprises an orthogonal code based signal; and a receive section configured to receive the RF calibration signal over-the-air, wherein the receive section includes a second RF section and a calibration section, wherein the second RF section is configured to generate a received calibration signal based on the RF calibration signal, and wherein the calibration section is configured to determine one or more of gain, baseband delay, or RF delay compensation values, based on the inputs, to calibrate the transmit section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: David Francois Jacquet, Masoud Kahrizi, Robert Baummer, Jr., Jean-Noel Rozec, Fabrice Jean André Belvèze, Paul Lee Pearson, Francois Lucien Emile Icher, Marc Gens, Pascal Triaire
  • Patent number: 11358375
    Abstract: A multilayer particle shield for a spacecraft includes an inboard exterior layer configured to be disposed proximal to the spacecraft, an outboard exterior layer configured to be disposed distal from the spacecraft and at least one interior layer disposed between the inboard exterior layer and the outboard exterior layer, wherein the interior layer includes a semi-rigid, porous, compressible spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Watkins
  • Patent number: 11358704
    Abstract: An end rib assembly for a high-lift device of an aircraft to reduce the noise caused by the transition between the wing and a high-lift device as well as the noise caused by the lateral side edge of the end rib assembly. An end rib assembly includes a noise-reducing portion configured to reduce noise caused by an airflow around the end rib assembly, and a guiding portion configured for guiding the end rib assembly along a pre-determined path when the high-lift device is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the guiding portion is formed such that an airflow impinging on the guiding portion is partly guided towards the noise-reducing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Machunze, Heiko Fietzek
  • Publication number: 20220181510
    Abstract: A solar cell stack includes a first semiconductor solar cell having a p-n junction made of a first material with a first lattice constant, a second semiconductor solar cell having a p-n junction made of a second material with a second lattice constant, and the first lattice constant being at least 0.008 ? smaller than the second lattice constant, and a metamorphic buffer. The metamorphic buffer is formed between the first semiconductor solar cell and the second semiconductor solar cell. The metamorphic buffer includes a series of at least five layers. The lattice constant increases in the series in the direction of the semiconductor solar cell. The lattice constants of the layers of the metamorphic buffer are larger than the first lattice constant. Two layers of the buffer having a doping and the difference in the dopant concentration between the two layers being greater than 4E17 cm?3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel FUHRMANN, Wolfgang GUTER
  • Publication number: 20220181789
    Abstract: Antenna apparatus and spacecraft to be deployed in a more compactly stored state are disclosed. In an example of the disclosed technology, a spacecraft includes: a main-reflection unit configured to reflect and emit a radio wave outside, a sub-reflection unit configured to face the main-reflection unit, a radiator arranged to face the sub-reflection unit and configured to radiate the radio wave in a direction of the sub-reflection unit, a main body configured to be able to accommodate at least one part of the sub-reflection unit therein, and a delivery device connected to the sub-reflection unit and configured to deliver the sub-reflection unit, at least one part of which is accommodated in the main body, to a position where the sub-reflection unit is able to reflect the radio wave radiated from the radiator to the main-reflection unit and cause the main-reflection unit to radiate the radio wave outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc.
    Inventors: Shunsuke ONISHI, Tetsuo YASAKA, Kazuo KUNO, Masahiko UETSUHARA, Yohei KOGA, Shinji ITO, Yonosuke ICHIKI, Kazuo KISO, Mutsuhito TOBO
  • Publication number: 20220181788
    Abstract: Antenna apparatus and spacecraft to be deployed in a more easily stored state are disclosed. In an example of the disclosed technology, and antenna apparatus includes: a main-reflection unit including a plurality of ribs formed to be deployable in a stored state in which the ribs are folded and a sheet body provided between a plurality of the ribs and configured to be capable of reflecting a radio wave radiated from a radiator and emitting the radio wave outside, and a restriction member configured to restrict deployment of the plurality of ribs in the stored state, and release the restriction by operation of a restriction release member different from the main-reflection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc.
    Inventors: Shunsuke ONISHI, Tetsuo YASAKA, Kazuo KUNO, Masahiko UETSUHARA, Yohei KOGA, Shinji ITO, Yonosuke ICHIKI, Kazuo KISO, Mutsuhito TOBO
  • Patent number: 11352151
    Abstract: A system for transferring a fluid from a first spacecraft to a second spacecraft. The first spacecraft includes a fluid transfer system comprising: a pressurant supply system, a first fluid tank to store a fluid to be transferred, one or more transfer feedlines to provide fluidic connection between the first fluid tank and the second spacecraft, a connector for connecting the first spacecraft to the second spacecraft, an accumulator tank comprising a first portion connected to the pressurant supply system, a second portion configured in fluidic communication with the one or more transfer feedlines, and a flexible separator to separate the first portion and the second portion. The pressurant supply system supplies pressurant gas to the first fluid tank for pressurising the first fluid tank and to supply pressurant gas to the first portion of the accumulator tank for pressurising the first portion of the accumulator tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE LIMITED
    Inventors: Juliet Gregory, James Sadler, William Bentall
  • Patent number: 11353524
    Abstract: A system for measuring magnetic field gradients comprising a multi-bay support structure with a series of raised contact shoulders separated from each other by voids. An optical fiber is spaced along the length of the multi-cell support structure and traverses all the raised contact points and voids. The optical fiber has a plurality of Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) spaced lengthwise, each FBG suspended in a void. In addition, a plurality of ferromagnetic members are strung onto the optical fiber, each suspended in a void. Magnetic field gradients act on the ferromagnetic member to create localized tension in the optical fiber. The FBG's refractive indices are monitored, tension is calculated therefrom, and the tension is correlated to the magnetic field gradient. This greatly simplifies mechanical, optical, electronic and computational complexity and is bay suited for any FOSS array for measuring magnetic fields using many dense measurement points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: U.S.A, as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Scott Michael Strutner, Anthony Barra, Gregory Paul Carman, William Lance Richards, Francisco Peña
  • Patent number: 11352150
    Abstract: A spacecraft structure for transporting propellant to be consumed by a thruster includes storing the propellant in the spacecraft in a solid state during at least a portion of a take-off procedure and supplying the propellant to the thruster in a liquid or vaporous state when the spacecraft is in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MOMENTUS SPACE LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Parman, Joel Sercel, Mikhail Kokorich, James Small, Nicholas Simon, Nathan Orr, Samuel Avery, Scott Stanley
  • Patent number: 11352136
    Abstract: A payload module of a stratospheric drone including a casing (10), and payload equipment contained in the casing (10), wherein the casing includes a support structure (12) and a cover (15), the support structure being suitable for attachment to the drone at the front end thereof, relative to the direction of movement of the drone, and for extending forward from said front end, and in that the cover (15) and the payload equipment are supported by the support structure (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space SAS
    Inventors: Pierre-Luc Georgy, Pere Roca
  • Patent number: D954997
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: YOUR CRAWL SPACE, INC.
    Inventor: Henry Bennie Marshall, III