Automatic space sextant
Patent 4082462 Issued on April 4, 1978. Estimated Expiration Date: 
April 4, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
April 4, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 2758377 3001289 3293980 3448272 System for registering position of element Patent #: 3953132 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 660590 filed on 02/23/1976US Classes:356/139.01, Star/Sun/Satellite position indication with photodetection33/268, Celestial250/203.6Airborne target, or spaceborne target other than the sun (e.g., star or missile)ExaminersPrimary: Buczinski, S. C.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG01B 011/26AbstractA navigational system for spacecraft utilizes two telescopes gimbaled on a common axis to measure the scalar angle between a star and the lunar limb. The common axis is the axis of rotation of a momentum wheel that carries a light source on it for the generation of timing pulses. This source enhances signal strength by addition of the source generated ray to that received by each telescope. The entire collimated light source is carried by the wheel and the beam is divided equally between telescopes. The collimated rays are imaged by the telescope assembly and this image sweeps across sensor assemblies to generate discrete timing pulses. The trackers employ closed-loop servo systems to center on respective targets and utilize torque motors to drive the trackers relative to the measurement head case. | |
