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US 11,693,148 B1Granted
Active pointing and tracking system
AssigneeUnited States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
InventorsGuangning Yang, Jeffrey Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite includes a fast tracking mirror (“mirror”) placed at or near center of mass (CoM) of the satellite along a line of sight between the CoMs of two satellites. The satellite also includes a detector at a distance away from the mirror. The mirror is adjusted to maintain the distance between the mirror and the detector, when a location of the detector changes due to pitch and yaw of the satellite.
Claims11
A satellite, comprising:
- a fast tracking mirror (“mirror”) placed at or near a center of mass (CoM) of a satellite and centered on a line of sight (LOS) between CoMs of two satellites;
- and
- a detector at a distance away from the mirror, wherein
- placement of the mirror allows for the distance from the mirror at the COM to the detector to remain constant under pitch and yaw of the satellite, and
- the mirror is tilted to compensate for the pitch and yaw of the satellite, thereby directing an incoming laser beam to the detector, when a location of the detector changes due to pitch and yaw of the satellite around its CoM.
2 more elements
A satellite, comprising:
- a fast tracking mirror (“mirror”) placed at or near a center of mass (CoM) of a satellite and centered on a line of sight (LOS) between CoMs of two satellites;
- and
- a detector at a distance away from the mirror, wherein
- placement of the mirror allows for the distance from the mirror at the COM to the detector to remain constant under pitch and yaw of the satellite, and
- the mirror is tilted to compensate for the pitch and yaw of the satellite, thereby directing an incoming laser beam to the detector, when a location of the detector changes due to pitch and yaw of the satellite around its CoM, and
- the mirror directs a transmit laser beam to another satellite, such that the transmit laser beam and a received laser beam are counter propagated along a LOS back to the other satellite.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.