Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-07-03
Barefoot, Galen L. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254035
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 clocking 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 feeds signals to a control circuit. The control circuit turns on the video camera to digitize a background frame which will include the target vehicle. After the camera grabs the background frame the control circuit turns on a light, which is carried by the chase vehicle and aimed at the target vehicle, and signals the video camera to digitize a foreground frame. A light sensing circuit on the target vehicle receives the light from the chase vehicle and connects a power supply to lights on the target vehicle such that when the foreground frame is digitized the lights on the target vehicle will show in the foreground frame. The image processing unit subtracts the background frame from the foreground frame and provides a docking or station keeping signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3535543 (1970-10-01), Dailey
patent: 4249159 (1981-02-01), Stasko
patent: 4295740 (1981-10-01), Sturges, Jr.
patent: 4834531 (1989-05-01), Ward
patent: 5109345 (1992-04-01), Dabney et al.
patent: 5291195 (1994-03-01), Gross
patent: 5646500 (1997-07-01), Wilson
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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