Spacecraft bus regulation using solar panel position
US5394075A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S323/906
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft power bus regulation method and apparatus for a spacecraft. The spacecraft has solar arrays (10) and a battery (30) coupled to the spacecraft power bus (32) to drive electrical loads (34). A bus voltage limiter (38) controls the flow of current from the solar arrays while a bidirectional battery controller (36) controls power flow into and out of the battery. A processor (46) monitors current flow and battery condition using sensors (40, 42, 44, 48) and controls the bus voltage limiter accordingly. Auxiliary control is provided by the solar array drive (24) which controls the orientation of the solar arrays with respect to the sun.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.