Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-05-08
Barefoot, Galen L. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227495
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to autonomous docking or station keeping systems for space vehicles.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,075 discloses an automated docking system wherein Global Sensing receivers on the target and the chase vehicle synchronize lights on the target and a video imaging device on the chase vehicle such that these lights and the video imaging device operate in synchronism with each other to guide the chase vehicle to the target. A disadvantage of this system is that it requires more equipment (Global Position Sensing receivers on both the target and the chase vehicle).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,345 discloses an autonomous docking system which uses laser diodes mounted on a chase vehicle for directing light toward reflectors mounted on a target vehicle for docking the chase vehicle with the target vehicle. The disadvantage of this system is that the reflected light is much dimmer that an active light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A synchronized target subsystem for use in an automated docking or station keeping system for docking a chase vehicle with a target vehicle wherein the chase vehicle is provided with a video camera for feeding digitized frames to an image processing unit which controls a timing circuit. The timing circuit turns on the video camera to digitize a background frame with the lights on the target vehicle off and at the same time turns on a transmitter on the chase vehicle to operate at a predetermined modulation or power level. A power generating antenna on the target vehicle receives the transmitted signal from the transmitter and, upon receiving an actuating signal from the transmitter, actuates lights on the target vehicle so that these lights appear in the foreground frame. The actuating signal from the transmitter may be a different modulation of the transmitted signal or a more powerful transmission. The image processing unit subtracts the background frame from the foreground frame and provides a docking signal or station keeping signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3535543 (1970-10-01), Dailey
patent: 4295740 (1981-10-01), Sturges, Jr.
patent: 5109345 (1992-04-01), Dabney et al.
patent: 5291195 (1994-03-01), Gross
patent: 5734736 (1998-03-01), Palmer et al.
Book Michael L.
Bryan Thomas C.
Howard Richard T.
Barefoot Galen L.
Broad, Jr. Robert L.
McGroary James J.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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