Patents by Inventor Marcel Billand

Marcel Billand 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: 5794891
    Abstract: The attitude of a satellite placed on a non-heliosynchronous earth orbit in a plane that is inclined relative to the equatorial plane of the earth is controlled for efficient use of solar panels and radiators. The satellite has a structure, solar panels apt to be rotated with respect to the structure rotation and two opposed radiators each fixed on one of two opposed faces of the satellite structure which are orthogonal to the rotation axis. One of the radiators has greater emissivity than the other. A yaw axis bound to the structure satellite and orthogonal to rotation axis is aimed towards the earth. The solar panels of the satellite are maintained in an optimum orientation relative to the sun by rotating them. At least during periods of each year when an angle .beta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Matra Marconi Space France
    Inventors: Bernard Polle, Marcel Billand, Benoit Hanin
  • Patent number: 4965587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna which is electronically reconfigurable in transmission. The antenna comprises an array (11) of elementary sources, an energy-focusing reflector (10), with the array (11) being situated in the focal zone of the reflector, and control and feed electronics, the electronics comprising an amplifier stage (22) constituted by amplifiers (24) and including at least one generalized coupler disposed at the outputs of the amplifiers (24), and beam-forming circuits (20, 21) each corresponding to a transmitted beam, with the amplitude and relative phase of the signals leaving said circuits being controlled by respective adjustable phase shifters and adjustable attenuators. The invention is particularly applicable to space telecommunications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: Alcatel Espace
    Inventors: Regis Lenormand, Marcel Billand, Pierre Fraise, Jean-Claude Goupil, Gerard Raguenet, Didier Rene