Patents Assigned to Space
  • Patent number: 10479512
    Abstract: A heating element for in-flight de-icing of aircraft is disclosed. The heating element includes a carbon fiber material that is designed to be arranged on a component of an aircraft. The carbon fiber material includes at least two electrical contacts for connecting to an electrical wiring system, and at least one insulation layer for electrical insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Dietrich Jonke, Helmut Piringer
  • Patent number: 10476595
    Abstract: Described herein is a ground based subsystem for inclusion in an optical gateway and for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite. The subsystem can include a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer configured to receive optical data signals from optical network(s) external to the ground based optical gateway, and configured to combine the optical data signals into a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal. The subsystem can also include an optical amplifier to amplify the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, and transmitter optics to receive the amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal and transmit an optical feeder uplink beam to the satellite in dependence thereon. In certain embodiments, the ground based optical gateway does not perform any modulation or demodulation of the optical data signals received from the optical network(s) external to the ground based optical gateway before they are provided to the WDM multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventor: William Hreha
  • Patent number: 10470590
    Abstract: A product display system comprising an upright structure, a first rectangular grid comprising a plurality of cross members, a first bracket coupled to the grid, and a second bracket coupled to the grid. The first bracket comprising, a first engagement structure configured to detachably couple to the grid, and a second engagement structure configured to detachably couple to the upright structure. The second bracket comprising a first engagement structure configured to detachably couple to the grid, and a second engagement structure configured to detachably couple to a second grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Retail Space Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Wills, Craig A. Fluegge, Eric Pollpeter
  • Patent number: 10471466
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides an active anti-ice coating, which is capable of releasing an anti-ice agent, which includes anti-ice agent reservoirs, which are embedded in a UV curable matrix material, for providing an effective anti-ice coating with an active anti-ice agent release over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Strobl, Dominik Raps, Khalid Zahouily, Gerard Riess
  • Patent number: 10475963
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lauermann, Wolfgang Koestler, Bianca Fuhrmann
  • Patent number: 10474970
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self consistent system for generation and adaptive implementation of overflying multi sensor measurements and derivation of actionable aggregants pertinent to determination of status and proactive management models of distributed resource. The system includes at least one set of calibrated overflying multisensor detectors arranged for detecting signals from electromagnetic radiation redirected by a plurality of underlying structures having a combination of features having variable scale lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sigma Space Commercial Holdings LLC
    Inventors: John James Degnan, III, Jacobo Marcos Sirota, Kathleen Marie Fitzsimmons, Christopher Treadwell Field, Miodrag Cekic
  • Patent number: 10471547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a component 1 by additive manufacturing. The method comprises providing a work surface 2 on which the component 1 is to be manufactured, and providing at least one deposition material 3 from which the component 1 is to be composed. The deposition material, typically in the form of wire, is advanced to a localized deposition area 4 where it is added to the component 1 being manufactured. The method further comprises focusing at least one light beam 5 of incoherent light emitted from at least one heating source 6 in the deposition area 4 so that the deposition material 3 is deposited for building up the component 1. At least one light focusing mirror 7 and/or lens 11 is used to focus the incoherent light in the deposition area 4. The invention further relates to the use of such a method in space, such as on a space station, on a space craft or on parabolic flights for testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: European Space Agency
    Inventors: David John Jarvis, Wayne Eric Voice
  • Publication number: 20190337643
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel GIRAUD
  • Publication number: 20190341721
    Abstract: A modular service interface is provided. The modular service interface includes separable first and second halves, one or more alignment features, a connector interface and one or more electropermanent magnet modules, connector interface configured to mate the first and second halves when activated and allow the first and second halves to be separated when inactivated. The modular service interface includes no mechanical actuators to retain the first half to the second half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Altius Space Machines Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Goff, Joshua Charles Nelson, Andreas Jochum
  • Patent number: 10464694
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes at least a first thruster support mechanism (TSM) and a second TSM, each TSM including a pointing arrangement, an elongated structural member and thruster for performing orbit raising north-south stationkeeping, east-west stationkeeping, and momentum management. A first pointing arrangement is articulable only by way of first and second revolute joints, the first revolute joint being rotatable about a first axis fixed with respect to the spacecraft. The second pointing arrangement is articulable only by way of third and fourth revolute joints, the third revolute joint being rotatable about a third axis fixed with respect to the spacecraft. The first axis and the third axis are asymmetrically arranged with respect to a spacecraft coordinate system origin such that the first and third axis are at acute angles to a spacecraft pitch axis and the acute angle of the first axis is less than that of the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Erik Schwarz, Jason J. Chiang, Xenophon H. Price, Darren R. Stratemeier, Eric V. Werner
  • Patent number: 10465281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high resolution additive manufacturing method, including: creating a rigid shell of a stable material on all surfaces except for a sprue of a three dimensional (3D) polymer part using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process which includes: depositing the stable material at a process temperature of 100° C. or less, and operating at, or near, atmospheric pressure; and removing the 3D polymer part by accessing the inside of the rigid shell through the sprue to allow dissolution of the 3D polymer part, thereby leaving a replicated rigid shell of the stable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Vincent T. Bly
  • Patent number: 10467804
    Abstract: A spatial indexing system receives a sequence of images 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: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Open Space Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ben Fleischman, Philip DeCamp, Jeevan Kalanithi, Thomas Friel Allen
  • Patent number: 10464269
    Abstract: A laying die, for picking up and laying of substrates, comprising an elastically deformable substrate receiving structure providing an engagement surface for releasable receiving of substrates, an attaching element comprising a gas channel for providing positively or negatively pressurized gas for picking up and blowing off the substrates, and a carrier body made from elastically deformable material and sandwiched between the substrate receiving structure and the attaching element which is arranged to distribute the positively or negatively pressurized gas over the carrier body. The carrier body comprises breakthroughs to transfer the pressurized gas from the attaching element to the substrate receiving structure that comprises an elastically deformable distribution plate to distribute the positively or negatively pressurized gas over the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Maxime Coquel, Öztzan Akif
  • Patent number: 10469568
    Abstract: There is provided a method of predictive prefetching and transmitting from a server to a client device at least one partial visibility event packet and/or deferred visibility event packet including renderable graphics information occluded from a first viewcell and not occluded from a second viewcell, including otherwise renderable graphics information in a client view frustum not previously transmitted to the client device; determining an estimated maximal client view frustum; calculating a subset comprising renderable graphics information that is included in the estimated maximal client view frustum; determining whether the calculated subset has previously been transmitted to the client device by comparing the calculated subset to the stored renderable graphics information previously transmitted, and transmitting the at least one partial visibility event packet and/or deferred visibility event packet to the client device if said packet has not been previously transmitted to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: PRIMAL SPACE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Barry Lynn Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20190335464
    Abstract: A wireless communication system includes frequency reuse between terminals in common coverage regions using a multiple satellite architecture with spatial diversity. Different terminals may be associated with different ones of the satellites such that a common frequency can be reused by the different terminals. A gateway may communicate with a first satellite using a feeder beam having an overlapping geographic coverage region with a user beam used for communication between a set of user terminals and a second satellite. Spatial diversity is provided between the satellites, and the feeder beam and the user beam operate at common frequencies within the overlapping coverage region. In this manner, the bandwidth of both satellites at the common coverage region is used to increase the available capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventor: Kirby Chung
  • Patent number: 10462655
    Abstract: In a method for generating a digital key in a first communication device and in a second communication device, the first communication device transmits a first electromagnetic signal to the second communication device, which extracts the digital key from the received first electromagnetic signal. The second communication device transmits a second electromagnetic signal to the first communication device, which likewise extracts the digital key from the received second electromagnetic signal. A direct signal component, transmitted on a direct signal path between the first communication device and the second communication device, of the first electromagnetic signal and of the second electromagnetic signal is attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Jirka Klaue, Christoph Heller, Martin Kubisch, Sebastian Stemmer
  • Patent number: 10462103
    Abstract: A gateway having an architecture authorizing a bidirectional communication between applications located in different domains and presenting a high assurance level of protection. The gateway uses a virtualization platform and comprises a set of functional blocs configured to authorize secure bidirectional flow of data along two different paths between first and second domains, said set of functional blocs being decomposed into a plurality of elementarily evaluable components each one of which having a specified function and being adapted to communicate with other predefined elementarily evaluable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Bertrand Leconte, Cristina Simache, Michael Paulitsch, Kevin Mueller
  • Patent number: 10457000
    Abstract: A flow aid for an infusion structure for infiltrating fiber material with resin to produce a fiber composite component includes a resin-impermeable upper layer and a lower layer which are joined together in a peripheral region of the flow aid and provide a flow space between the two layers. The lower layer provides an outlet for discharging resin out of the flow aid into an interior of the infusion structure. The flow aid includes an inlet for feeding the resin into the flow space, thereby facilitating uniform distribution of the resin over all of the fiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Filsinger, Michael Steinhilber
  • Patent number: 10460714
    Abstract: Broadband acoustic absorbers may be capable providing good absorption performance between 0 and 3,000 Hz, and particularly below 1,000 Hz. Reeds may be incorporated in a single layer, multiple layers, or bundles. Such broadband acoustic absorbers may be applied for acoustic absorption in aircraft, spacecraft, residential and commercial buildings, vehicles, industrial environments, wind tunnels, or any other suitable environment or application where noise reduction is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Lisa Danielle Koch, Michael G. Jones, Peter J. Bonacuse, Christopher J. Miller, J. Chris Johnston, Maria A. Kuczmarski
  • Patent number: 10461409
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes an antenna reflector coupled with an antenna pointing mechanism (APM), a beam forming network including variable amplitude and phase (VAP) adjusting arrangements, a tracking feed that receives a beacon signal by way of the reflector, and an autotrack receiver that measures pointing errors of the reflector from the received beacon signal and outputs corresponding pointing errors to the APM controller and to a VAP element controller. The antenna reflector is illuminated by radiating feed elements configured as a phased array that produces, in a far field of the reflector, a set of user beams. The APM controller causes the APM to adjust the reflector pointing, at a frequency less than f1, to reduce the measured pointing errors. The VAP element controller adjusts pointing of the user beams by adjusting beam forming coefficients of the VAP adjusting arrangements at a second frequency greater than f1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas G. Burr