Patents by Inventor Don Dichmann

Don Dichmann 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).

  • Method and apparatus for determination of spacecraft drag
    Patent number: 6011913
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modeling the exposure of spacecraft-mounted solar power panels to the sun over a given time interval, such as an orbit period, and a method and apparatus for modeling the drag of spacecraft over a given time interval, such as an orbit period. The result of the exposure modeling can be used to determine varying availability of electrical power for operations to be performed by the spacecraft and on-board apparatus. The results of the drag over time are used to predict orbit decay and fuel requirements for orbit maintenance and station-keeping. The invention uses a graphically based satellite systems analysis program to approximate exposure and drag data through visual projection of the relevant spacecraft elements on a computer display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Analytical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Claffey, Paul Graziani, James Tucholski, Don Dichmann
  • Method and apparatus for determining exposure of spacecraft-mounted solar panels to sun and determination of spacecraft drag
    Patent number: 5864489
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modeling the exposure of spacecraft-mounted solar power panels to the sun over a given time interval, such as an orbit period, and a method and apparatus for modeling the drag of spacecraft over a given time interval, such as an orbit period. The result of the exposure modeling can be used to determine varying availability of electrical power for operations to be performed by the spacecraft and on-board apparatus. The results of the drag over time are used to predict orbit decay and fuel requirements for orbit maintenance and station-keeping. The invention uses a graphically based satellite systems analysis program to approximate exposure and drag data through visual projection of the relevant spacecraft elements on a computer display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Analytical Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Claffey, Paul Graziani, James Tucholski, Don Dichmann