US5020876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Standard remote manipulator system docking target augmentation for automated docking
Assignee: GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION THE, Administrator of
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Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: 1991-06-04
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Expires: 2010-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A docking target is provided for use in automated docking of a first vehicle on which the target is located. The target comprising a pair of laterally extending arm portions lying in substantially the same plane and a central post extending outwardly from the plane of the arm portions. At least three reflectors are located on the target, two of the reflectors being located at the outboard ends of the arm portions and another reflector being located at the end of the central post. In an important embodiment, the reflectors comprise individual pieces of retroreflective tape. The reflectors, when viewed from the front of the target, are aligned along the longitudinal center line of the target, and can take a number of different shapes including circular or square.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard T. Howard
- 👤 Richard W. Dabney
- 👤 Thomas C. Bryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:25
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/122; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/64; B64G1/646; B64G1/6462
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A docking target for use in automated docking of a first vehicle to a vehicle on which the target is located, said target comprising a pair of laterally extending arm portions lying in substantially the same plane and a central post extending outwardly from the plane of said arm portions, and at least three reflectors located on said target, two of said reflectors being located at the outboard ends of said arm portions and another reflector being located at the end of said central post.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A docking target for use in automated docking of a first vehicle to a vehicle on which the target is located, said target comprising a pair of laterally extending arm portions lying in substantially the same plane and a central post extending outwardly from the plane of said arm portions, and at least three reflectors located on said target, two of said reflectors being located at the outboard ends of said arm portions and another reflector being located at the end of said central post.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflectors, when viewed from the front of the target, are aligned along the longitudinal center line of the target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflectors comprise individual pieces of retroreflective tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pieces of retroreflective tape are circular in shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pieces of retroreflective tape are rectangular in shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pieces of retroreflective tape are square in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflectors comprise corner cube reflectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said reflectors is of different size than at least one other reflector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein said target includes a central circular portion further including oppositely laterally extending portions, said reflectors located at the outboard ends of said arm portions being disposed outwardly of said laterally extending portions, and said central post being located at the center of said circular portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A docking target as claimed in claim 1, wherein narrow wavelength filters are placed over the reflectors to improve the signal-to-noise ratios of reflections from the target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a standard remote manipulator system docking target comprising laterally extending arm portions and a central post extending outwardly from the plane of said arm portions from the center of the target, the improvement comprising at least three individual reflective areas provided on said target for enabling use of said target by an automated docking system, two of said reflective areas being located at the outboard ends of said arm portions and the third reflective area being located at the free end of said central post.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a standard remote manipulator system docking target comprising laterally extending arm portions and a central post extending outwardly from the plane of said arm portions from the center of the target, the improvement comprising at least three individual reflective areas provided on said target for enabling use of said target by an automated docking system, two of said reflective areas being located at the outboard ends of said arm portions and the third reflective area being located at the free end of said central post.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A target as claimed in claim 11, wherein said reflective areas, as viewed from the front of the target, are in alignment along the longitudinal center line of said target.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A target as claimed in claim 12, wherein said areas comprise pieces of retroreflective tape affixed to said target.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A target as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pieces of tape are circular in shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A target as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of said pieces of tape is different in size from the other pieces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A target as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pieces of tape are rectangular in shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A target as claimed in claim 16, wherein said pieces of tape are square in shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A target as claimed in claim 11, wherein said reflective areas comprise corner cube reflectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A target as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of said reflectors is of different size than at least one other reflector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A target as claimed in claim 11, wherein narrow wavelength filters are placed over the reflective areas to improve the signal-to-noise ratios of reflections from the target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-03 | 1994-12-03 | 1995-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-03 | 1998-12-03 | 1999-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-03 | 2002-12-03 | 2003-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |