Patents by Inventor William L. Burkett, Jr.

William L. Burkett, Jr. 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).

  • Lost-in-space stellar attitude acquisition using multiple star trackers
    Patent number: 6512979
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for determining the attitude of a spacecraft having at least one star sensor. The method comprises the steps of selecting a first reference star sensor from among the star sensors; designating two stars observed by the first reference star sensor as a primary star pair; identifying a candidate star pair corresponding to the primary star pair, wherein the candidate star pair is selected from a star catalog having a plurality of entries; estimating an inertial orientation of the first star sensor at least in part from the identified candidate star pair; and determining the spacecraft attitude from the estimated inertial orientation of a reference star sensor selected from a group comprising the first star sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David D. Needelman, Yeong-Wei A. Wu, Rongsheng Li, William L. Burkett, Jr.
  • Lost-in-space stellar attitude acquisition using multiple star trackers
    Patent number: 6470270
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for determining the attitude of a spacecraft having at least one star sensor. The method comprises the steps of selecting a first reference star sensor from among the star sensors; designating two stars observed by the first reference star sensor as a primary star pair; identifying a candidate star pair corresponding to the primary star pair, wherein the candidate star pair is selected from a star catalog having a plurality of entries; estimating an inertial orientation of the first star sensor at least in part from the identified candidate star pair; and determining the spacecraft attitude from the estimated inertial orientation of a reference star sensor selected from a group comprising the first star sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David D. Needelman, Yeong-Wei A. Wu, Rongsheng Li, William L. Burkett, Jr.
  • Payload deployment from launch vehicle using canted springs for imparting angular and linear velocities
    Patent number: 4506852
    Abstract: An apparatus for launching a payload, such as a spacecraft or satellite, from a launch vehicle in which a single instrumentality is employed to simultaneously impart angular momentum about the center of mass of the payload and linear momentum in a direction along the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Gerald J. Adams, William L. Burkett, Jr., John V. Smolik