Patents by Inventor Bob Dennis Stratman

Bob Dennis Stratman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5906339
    Abstract: In a satellite (20), two-axis solar panel drives (56, 58) allow two degrees of rotational freedom of movement for solar panels (22, 24). Regulation of electrical current loops (46, 48) within the solar panels (22, 24) generates a magnetic field. When the solar panels (22, 24) are tilted about an overturning axis (28), the magnetic field provides a component of a control torque about a pitch axis (30). An on-board processor (52) commands the panel drives (56, 58) and a magnetic torque actuator (60) to instantaneously and simultaneously damp disturbance torques about a windmill axis (26), an overturning axis (28), and a pitch axis (30). The processor (52) allows disturbance torque to be corrected continuously rather than periodically over the course of an orbit. Counter-disturbance torques (90) are applied (88) in synchronism with a satellite nutation frequency (76) but out of phase with the nutation so that nutation is damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Sibnath Basuthakur, Rodrigo Ibanez-Meier, Bob Dennis Stratman