Patents by Inventor George B. Semeniuk

George B. Semeniuk 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: 6340138
    Abstract: A Stationkeeping Mode for a spacecraft having a gimballed momentum wheel for attitude control in which the stationkeeping is divided into short duration open-loop stationkeeping maneuvers to correct orbital errors, and interlaced with closed-loop momentum management operations to manage momentum stored in the momentum wheel. The sequence of open-loop pulses are spaced to deadbeat a given dominant flexible motion of the spacecraft. Between and during the thruster pulses, the gimbaled momentum wheel is maintained in the closed-loop feedback control using gyro sensor or other inertial reference measurements. Limitations on the range of the momentum storage device and its torque capability are minimized by combining the maneuver thruster pulses with pulses from other thrusters, or by reducing the fire time of one of the maneuver thrusters, to minimize momentum buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Barsky, Thomas M. Tanner, Loren I. Slafer, Paul D. Williams, George B. Semeniuk, Joseph M. Allard