Retractable device, of the light shield type, for an optical instrument such as a space telescope
US6199988A · kind A · utility
11Cited by
8References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/1057
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A retractable device (20), of a light shield type, is mounted on an optical instrument (10), such as a space telescope. The device comprises rods (22, 24) articulated about the optical instrument (10), within planes containing its axis (12), and a flexible and opaque covering (26), carried by these rods (22, 24). Motor units such as torsion springs integrated into the articulation devices (28, 30) of the rods allow the device (20) to be changed from a retracted configuration into an active configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.