Patents by Inventor Moonish R. Patel

Moonish R. Patel 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: 8113468
    Abstract: A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Moonish R. Patel, Neil E. Goodzeit
  • Publication number: 20110248120
    Abstract: A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Moonish R. PATEL, Neil E. GOODZEIT
  • Patent number: 7988097
    Abstract: A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft during an orbit transfer. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies during the orbit transfer results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Moonish R. Patel, Neil E. Goodzeit
  • Publication number: 20100090065
    Abstract: A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft during an orbit transfer. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies during the orbit transfer results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Moonish R. PATEL, Neil E. Goodzeit
  • Patent number: 7654490
    Abstract: A system for providing attitude control with respect to a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a reaction wheel control module configured to control a number of reaction wheel assemblies associated with the spacecraft in order to control attitude, and a maneuver control module configured to use a number of gimbaled Hall Current thrusters (HCTs) to control the total momentum associated with the spacecraft during an orbit transfer. The total momentum includes the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies and the angular momentum of the spacecraft. Using the gimbaled HCTs to control the momentum associated with the reaction wheel assemblies during the orbit transfer results in minimal HCT gimbal stepping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Moonish R. Patel, Neil E. Goodzeit
  • Patent number: 7464898
    Abstract: A system for providing precision thrust and sun tracking attitude control is provided. The system determines a proximity region and alternately engages either an ideal operational mode or a predictive operational mode based on whether a thrust trajectory vector is in the proximity region in order to provide attitude control. The proximity region is determined based on an angle between the thrust trajectory vector and a sun vector. For example, the angle is about 20-30 degrees. The system engages the predictive operational mode when the thrust trajectory vector enters the proximity region. When in the predictive operational mode, the system periodically re-calculates the thrust trajectory vector and determines where the thrust trajectory vector will exit the proximity region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Neil E. Goodzeit, Moonish R. Patel, Santosh Ratan