US4923303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring device for location and attitude determination of an object
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1989-01-17
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2009-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A measuring device for the location and attitude determination of an object, for example, of a space craft for the purpose of docking. At the object several light sources are located, each intensity-modulated with a different code frequency. Optics of the measuring device reproduce the object on a position-sensitive detector. On the basis of its output signals, the image coordinates of the light sources are computed by way of an evaluating device using a frequency multiplexing process.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhold Lutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/16; G01S5/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A measuring device for the location and attitude determination of an object, comprising a plurality of light sources disposed on the object, optical means for reproducing the object with the light sources on a position-sensitive detector, the position-sensitive detector comprising two electrode pairs which define a coordinate system on the detector surface and generating partial electric currents, each of the plurality of light sources being intensity-modulated with a different code frequency, and evaluating means for computing simultaneously the image coordinates of the light sources from the partial electric currents of the position-sensitive detector using a frequency multiplexing process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A measuring device for the location and attitude determination of an object, comprising a plurality of light sources disposed on the object, optical means for reproducing the object with the light sources on a position-sensitive detector, the position-sensitive detector comprising two electrode pairs which define a coordinate system on the detector surface and generating partial electric currents, each of the plurality of light sources being intensity-modulated with a different code frequency, and evaluating means for computing simultaneously the image coordinates of the light sources from the partial electric currents of the position-sensitive detector using a frequency multiplexing process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The measuring device recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluating means comprises on an input side a summing means for forming the sum and the difference of the partial electric currents of each of the two electrode pairs and a plurality of frequency-selective filters connected in parallel to each other downstream from the summing means, each frequency-selective filter being adjusted to another one of the code frequencies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The measuring device recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of computing units coupled to the frequency-selective filters for computing the image coordinates of the light sources from the selected sum and difference signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |