Patents by Inventor Kevin Eugene Weed

Kevin Eugene Weed 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).

  • Multiple function spacecraft sunshade systems and methods
    Patent number: 11926442
    Abstract: A spacecraft sunshade is provided. The sunshade includes a surface that is maintained in a sun facing orientation. Adjustments to a position of the sunshade are made in a plane that is transverse to a line of sight to the sun, in order to block sunlight from being directly incident on an instrument associated with the spacecraft. The sunshade can include photovoltaic elements on the sun-facing surface of the sunshade. In addition, the sunshade can be formed from an opaque material, and further from a material that absorbs heat from the sun and reradiate that heat to the instrument. The sunshade can perform stray light blocking, electrical power generation, and radiational heating functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Erika Thorson Bannon, Kevin Eugene Weed, John Scott Knight
  • MULTIPLE FUNCTION SPACECRAFT SUNSHADE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20220324591
    Abstract: A spacecraft sunshade is provided. The sunshade includes a surface that is maintained in a sun facing orientation. Adjustments to a position of the sunshade are made in a plane that is transverse to a line of sight to the sun, in order to block sunlight from being directly incident on an instrument associated with the spacecraft. The sunshade can include photovoltaic elements on the sun-facing surface of the sunshade. In addition, the sunshade can be formed from an opaque material, and further from a material that absorbs heat from the sun and reradiate that heat to the instrument. The sunshade can perform stray light blocking, electrical power generation, and radiational heating functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Erika Thorson Bannon, Kevin Eugene Weed, John Scott Knight