Patents Assigned to Space
  • Patent number: 10536378
    Abstract: Detection of the congestion on a link based on an exchange of messages between a sender and a receiver, one sender and several receivers or several senders and one receiver. This equipment is connected to the ends of a transmission channel. One of the items of equipment is designated as the master and the others slaves. These exchanges are aimed at enabling the master to calculate and compare the rate of the data send and the rate of the data received. A divergence in the rates calculated reveals a congestion on the link. All these exchanges are made in the application layer and therefore do not involve the underlying layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Claude Poletti, Marc Cartigny, Olivier Klotz
  • Patent number: 10532831
    Abstract: A method for acquiring images using a constellation of satellites in non-geosynchronous terrestrial orbit. The satellites include respective devices for inter-satellite communication. An aggregate of work plans intended for various satellites is formed. A ground station transmits the aggregate intended for one satellite. The satellite receiving the aggregate retransmits the aggregate intended for at least one other satellite from the ground station. Each satellite receiving the aggregate from another satellite re-transmits the aggregate intended for at least one other satellite. Each satellite recovers its work plan from the aggregate received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel Giraud
  • Publication number: 20200013927
    Abstract: A method for producing a light-emitting diode with a stacked structure, having a first region and a second region and a third region, wherein all three regions have a substrate and an n-doped lower cladding layer and an active layer generating electromagnetic radiation, wherein the active layer includes a quantum well structure, and a p-doped upper cladding layer, and the first region additionally has a tunnel diode formed on the upper cladding layer and composed of a p+ layer and an n+ layer, and an n-doped current distribution layer. The current distribution layer and the n-doped contact layer are covered with a conductive trace. At least the lower cladding layer, the active layer, the upper cladding layer, the tunnel diode, and the current distribution layer are monolithic in design. The second region has a contact hole with a bottom region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas LAUERMANN, Wolfgang KOESTLER, Bianca FUHRMANN
  • Patent number: 10531554
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magneto-optical trap (3D GMOT) configured to trap a cold-atom cloud is disclosed. The 3D GMOT includes a single input light beam having its direction along a first axis, an area along a second and third axis that are both normal to the first axis, and a substantially flat input light beam intensity profile extending across its area. The 3D GMOT may also include a circular, diffraction-grating surface positioned normal to the first axis and having closely adjacent grooves arranged concentrically around a gap formed in its center. The circular, diffraction-grating surface is configured to diffract first-order light beams that intersect within an intersection region that lies directly above the gap and suppresses reflections and diffractions of all other orders. The 3D GMOT may further include a quadrupole magnetic field with its magnitude being zero within the intersection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Eric Imhof
  • Patent number: 10527493
    Abstract: A spectrophotometric device is disclosed having a plurality of spectral measurement bands including a single telescope and a single spectrophotometer. The plurality of spectral bands is obtained by placing pupillary separating prisms at an entrance pupil of the telescope, and by using spectral band selection filters. Such a device has a lower weight, smaller dimensions, and a lower price. In particular, it may be integrated into a satellite, in particular for a mission to characterize flows of carbon compounds that are produced on the Earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventor: Frédéric Pasternak
  • Publication number: 20200003895
    Abstract: The invention concerns a monitoring method that comprises coupling in an integral manner at least one electromagnetic mirror of passive type with a given target to be monitored and monitoring the given target; wherein monitoring the given target includes: acquiring, via one or more synthetic aperture radar(s) installed on board one or more satellites and/or one or more aerial platforms, SAR images of a given area of the earth's surface where the given target is located; and determining, via a processing unit, a movement of the electromagnetic mirror on the basis of the acquired SAR images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Luca Soli, Diego Calabrese
  • Publication number: 20200006838
    Abstract: A deployable structure includes a plurality of interconnected elongated support members, deployed from a stowed state to an expanded state in which the support members are arranged in a ring. Each support member is provided with a connector (28) for longitudinal movement during deployment with respect to the support member. An actuating support member (27) has a drive member (50) for longitudinal movement with respect to the actuating support member, and an electromagnetic device arranged to drive the drive member in one direction with respect to the actuating support member. The drive member is connected to the connector by a lost motion connector, thus the connector is capable of moving in said one direction even if the drive member is not moved by the electromechanical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Oxford Space Systems Limited
    Inventors: Juan REVELES-WILSON, Vincent FRAUX, Martin HUMPHRIES
  • Patent number: 10522888
    Abstract: A microwave branching switch for selectively interconnecting terminals of a plurality of microwave transmission lines, involving microwave transmission lines with a terminal; a housing in which the terminals are arranged; a switching portion with a junction portion for selectively interconnecting terminals of the microwave transmission lines through selective interconnection. The switching portion is switchable between a first position and a second position; wherein the switching portion with the junction portion is dimensioned and positioned inside the housing in dependence of an arrangement of the microwave transmission lines such that the junction portion interconnects a first group of terminals when the switching portion is in the first position and interconnects a second group of terminals when the switching portion is in the second position. The first and second groups of terminals differ in at least one terminal and the first group of terminals involves at least three terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
    Inventors: Christoph Ernst, Petronilo Martin Iglesias, Uwe Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 10518912
    Abstract: A payload joint (10) for detachably attaching to each other two adjacent construction elements (2) in a spacecraft and/or launch vehicle, the payload joint (10) comprises two opposing clamps (11a, 11b) and two opposing flanges of the construction elements collaborating with angled surfaces of the clamps (11a, 11b). The payload joint comprises a bolt that connects the clamps (11a, 11b) and drives them towards each other when tightening the payload joint (10). The payload joint (10) further comprises a bolt cutter (101) arranged for cutting the bolt upon activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: RUAG SPACE AB
    Inventors: Õrjan Arulf, Magnus Thenander
  • Patent number: 10518909
    Abstract: A spacecraft including a main body structure and at least a first deployable element is reconfigured from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the first deployable element is mechanically attached with the spacecraft main body structure by way of a second arrangement. Reconfiguring the spacecraft includes detaching the first deployable element from the first arrangement, moving the first deployable element with respect to the spacecraft main body structure; and attaching the first deployable element to the second arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Edward Helmer, John Douglas Lymer
  • Patent number: 10518875
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided, which comprises a support structure and at least four lift rotors. Each of the lift rotors is attached to the support structure and comprises at least one propeller. The lift rotors are constituted such that a rotational plane, in which the at least one propeller of the lift rotor rotates, is tilted with respect to a plane formed by the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Judas, Clemens Gerlach, Thomas Krauss, Berthold Karrais
  • Patent number: 10520406
    Abstract: A tensile specimen, in particular a fiber-composite-material tensile specimen, includes a test portion which comprises a fiber material and a tensile stress direction which is predetermined for a material test, and a force-introduction portion, wherein the fiber material in the force-introduction portion extends at least in part along a face which is oriented obliquely to the tensile stress direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Starke, Harald Kraft, Martin Holzapfel, Marcel Brodbeck
  • Patent number: 10515804
    Abstract: Use of a single alloy conductor to form simultaneous ohmic contacts (SOC) to n- and p-type 4H—SiC. The single alloy conductor also is an effective diffusion barrier against gold (AU) and oxygen (O2) at high temperatures (e.g., up to 800° C.). The innovation may also provide an effective interconnecting metallization in a multi-level metallization device scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Robert S. Okojie
  • Patent number: 10514318
    Abstract: A method of aeroservoelastic coupling suppression, and particularly, the field of real time adaptive cancellation of elastic modes in discrete-time signals which measure the dynamics of a flexible structure. The flexible structure comprises a structure with elastic variable characteristics, and more particularly, a structure with non-linear aerodynamics. A method is disclosed for adaptively cancelling, in real time, N elastic modes in discrete-time signals which measure the dynamics of the flexible structure. Also disclosed is a computer program implemented on a computing device, a system and an aircraft implementing the mentioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAU
    Inventors: Francisco José Asensio Nieto, Rodney Rodriguez Robles, Alberto Sanz De Blas
  • Patent number: 10513352
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring a satellite from an initial orbit into a mission orbit. The method includes anchoring to the satellite of an external unit having a tank containing a reserve of propellants. The system includes an autonomous spacecraft having an electric propulsion module and a small internal reserve of propellants, located in a parking orbit close to the initial orbit. The spacecraft with the external unit attached to the satellite is docketed in an initial orbit, to produce a fluidic connection of the propellant tank of the external unit to the propulsion module of the spacecraft. The external unit and satellite is transferred into the mission orbit by the electric propulsion module of the spacecraft supplied with propellants directly from the external unit, thereby releasing the satellite into the mission orbit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Dominique Poncet, Cyril Tourneur, René Cheynet De Beaupre
  • Publication number: 20190386847
    Abstract: A network interface of a network user having at least one physical interface for connecting the network interface to a network interface of a different network user, at least one data selector, which is connected to the physical interface and which is suitable for receiving data from the physical interface and sending data to the physical interface, and at least one data switch, which is connected to the data selector and which is suitable for receiving data from the data selector and sending data to the data selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Pruecklmeier, Thomas Pistner, Stefan Schneele
  • Publication number: 20190383923
    Abstract: A method for searching a search area, with a missile and with a missile formation is described Based on the method, in each case at least one radar is arranged in at least two missiles, wherein the method includes: splitting the search area into at least two search subareas, searching the at least two search subareas by the respective radar of the at least two missiles, wherein the at least two missiles carry out the searching cooperatively, wherein the search subareas are chosen such that a total search time is minimal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Fotios Katsilieris, Bernhard Krach
  • Patent number: 10511377
    Abstract: A solid state power amplifier uses a Doherty power amplifier that can be implemented as a monolithic microwave integrated circuit. By adjusting the DC bias of the amplifying stages in each branch of the Doherty amplifier, the output power, linearity, and DC power can be adjusted to provide a specified output, where the specification for the output can include the maintaining of desired DC power and linearity. The Doherty power amplifier can be used in a satellite payload or other application utilizing solid state power amplifiers, while providing the proper amount of RF output power and DC power. A single amplifier can have its bias levels adjusted for different output levels, helping to minimize the number of designs that are required for a given satellite payload, reducing the variety of parts in a satellite payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Tabatabaei, Jim Sowers, Ghislain Turgeon
  • Patent number: 10507934
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an aircraft is provided that includes thermo-acoustic engines that remove and capture waste heat from the aircraft engines, heat pumps powered by the acoustic waves generated from the waste heat that remove and capture electrical component waste heat from electrical components in the aircraft, and hollow tubes disposed in the aircraft configured to propagate mechanical energy to locations throughout the aircraft and to transfer the electrical component waste heat back to the aircraft engines to reduce overall aircraft mass and improve propulsive efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Rodger W. Dyson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10509054
    Abstract: A contactless radio frequency (RF) probe. The RF probe includes a dielectric substrate, at least one waveguide comprising an electric field configured to increase the coupling between the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide, and an air gap separating the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide to prevent thermal loading, thermal expansion, and material deformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Jordan, Rainee N. Simons