1882 results about "Astrophysics" patented technology

Method and system for obtaining information about objects in the environment outside of and around a vehicle and preventing collisions involving the vehicle includes directing a laser beam from the vehicle into the environment, receiving from an object in the path of the laser beam a reflection of the laser beam at a location on the vehicle, and analyzing the received laser beam reflections to obtain information about the object from which the laser beam is being reflected. Analysis of the laser beam reflections preferably entails range gating the received laser beam reflections to limit analysis of the received laser beam reflections to only those received from an object within a defined (distance) range such that objects at distances within the range are isolated from surrounding objects.

Method and system for obtaining information about objects in the environment outside of and around a vehicle and preventing collisions involving the vehicle includes directing a laser beam from the vehicle into the environment, receiving from an object in the path of the laser beam a reflection of the laser beam at a location on the vehicle, and analyzing the received laser beam reflections to obtain information about the object from which the laser beam is being reflected. Analysis of the laser beam reflections preferably entails range gating the received laser beam reflections to limit analysis of the received laser beam reflections to only those received from an object within a defined (distance) range such that objects at distances within the range are isolated from surrounding objects.

A method for developing a map of objects in a region surrounding a location is disclosed. The method includes interrogating the region along a detection axis with a series of optical pulses and detecting reflections of the optical pulses that originate at objects located along the detection axis. A multi-dimensional map of the region is developed by scanning the detection axis about the location in at least one dimension. The reflections are detected via a single-photon detector that is armed using a sub-gating scheme such that the single-photon detector selectively detects photons of reflections that originate only within each of a plurality of zones that collectively define the detection field. In some embodiments, the optical pulses have a wavelength within the range of 1350 nm to 1390 nm, which is a spectral range having a relatively high eye-safety threshold and a relatively low solar background.

A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a reflective component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light.

The present invention provides for an improved scanning process having microwave arrays comprised of microwave transmitters in radiographic alignment with microwave receivers. The microwave array emits controllably directed microwave radiation toward an object under inspection. The object under inspection absorbs radiation in a manner dependent upon its metal content. The microwave radiation absorption can be used to generate a measurement of metal content. The measurement, in turn, can be used to calculate at least a portion of the volume and shape of the object under inspection. The measurement can be compared to a plurality of predefined threats. The microwave screening system can be used in combination with other screening technologies, such as NQR-based screening, X-ray transmission based screening, X-ray scattered based screening, or Computed Tomography based screening.

A radiation monitoring system for detecting levels of radiation emitted from moving objects traveling at a wide range of speeds, including the high speeds normally encountered with vehicles traveling on highways, interstates, thoroughfares, railroads and conveyors. At least two and preferably three ionizing radiation detectors are employed, spaced apart in series along the direction of travel of the moving object or vehicle. The object or vehicle is monitored for radioactivity and the results are transmitted and processed at a central location. The individual results from each detector for a particular object or vehicle are summed and averaged over the number of detectors used thereby clearly distinguishing the fluctuating background radiation detected at each detector from the consistent high levels of radiation detected from those moving objects or vehicles measured emitting radiation. The results are cooperatively linked by an identification system such as a web cam or other photographic device which obtains visual identification of the objects and vehicles emitting the abnormally high levels of radiation detected.

An imaging system for medical and other applications in which the internal structures of an overall object must be seen without invading or damaging the object. The system works by transmitting electromagnetic waves of single or a multiplicity of frequencies through the object (for example the human body) and measuring the absorption and scattering of these waves by the various structures and inhomogeneities of the object, using scanning sub-wavelength resolution detectors.

There is an increasingly intense need to harness solar energy due to an ever growing shortage of conventional energy sources, The instant invention is concerned with method and apparatus for solar concentrator micro-mirrors on solar power satellites and the moon to focus and reflect large quantities of solar energy. Method and apparatus are taught for directly reflecting solar energy to the Earth; reflecting solar energy to a microwave converter in space which transmits microwave energy to the Earth; and reflecting solar energy to a laser radiation converter which beams laser radiation to the Earth. The concentrated energy received at the Earth may be converted directly to electricity or indirectly by thermo-mechanical means. The advantages and disadvantages of the different means of sending such concentrated energy to the Earth are discussed. A particularly important objective of this invention is the focussing of sunlight for solar power conversion and production. The instant invention can contribute to the goal of achieving environmentally clean solar energy on a large enough scale to be competitive with conventional energy sources.

The invention relates to the mammography devices based on registration of a reduced-angle coherently scattered radiation when an object is rayed by a penetrating radiation. Registration of the radiation coherently scattered by an object allows to produce an image of an object in the form of distribution of its structural characteristics. The device comprises a system for forming a directed on a tested object, narrow small-divergence beams, or a beam, having the same characteristics, and a system for extracting the radiation that is coherently scattered in small angles by an object. The invention proposes versions of a device that also provide for registration of the radiation passed through an object to make allowance for its thickness so that to obviate the necessity to compress the breast. The device allows to carry out relative movements of an object and system of irradiation-registration, as well as irradiate an object at different angles and by a number of radiation sources simultaneously. The possibility to register the coherently scattered radiation in ultra-small angles within the range of several angular seconds to 0.5 degree, and also the possibility to form the primary radiation beam having a sharp boundary are provided as well.

A solar cell structure and a method for fabricating the solar cell structure is provided, where the cell structure includes a plurality of solar cells, wherein each of the solar cells is separated from each adjacent solar cell via at least one of a tunnel junction or a resonant tunneling structure interface, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells is at least partially constructed from a semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor material has an energy band gap that harnesses photons having energies in a predetermined energy range which is responsive to its energy gap, and wherein each of the plurality of solar cells includes at least one of a p-n junction, an n-p junction, or a Schottky interface, and wherein each of the plurality of solar cells is configured to harness energies in a different solar spectral energy range than the other of the plurality of solar cells.

Ultraviolet radiation is used to disinfect air (105) in a flow tube (110), where the flow tube (110) includes total internal reflecting features (120) on a portion of its external surface and said ultraviolet radiation propagates through a portion of the flow tube via total internal reflection.

The invention discloses a star sensor calibrator and a method for calibrating a high-precision star sensor. The star sensor calibrator has the structure that a two-dimensional adjustable plane mirror is arranged on the optical path between a single-star simulator and a star sensor to be calibrated; the position forming an included angle of 90+ / -15 degrees with the two-dimensional adjustable plane mirror is provided with a laser device of a laser angle measuring device; the position 50-200 cm away from the center of the two-dimensional adjustable plane mirror is provided with a high-precision two-dimensional guide rail which can vertically and horizontally move on an optical hover platform; a laser detector of the laser angle measuring device is installed on the high-precision two-dimensional guide rail; after being reflected by the two-dimensional adjustable plane mirror, the laser emitted by the laser device is incident into the laser detector; and a data processing computer is respectively communicated with the star sensor to be calibrated and the laser detector. The invention does not need to rotate the star sensor, increases the tangential distortion and the deflection angle of the installation error, and can meet the requirements for very-high-precision (sub-arcsec) star sensors. The invention has the advantages of simple method and small amount of calculation.

The present invention relates to antenna architectures and methods on re-configurable multi-element antennas via feed re-positioning for various optimized radiation contours, including beam forming (or shaping) and / or null steering on contoured beams, spot beams, and orthogonal beams. The feed re-positioning techniques can also be used in radiation pattern optimization processing during antennas designing phases for fixed beams. The techniques are applicable for satellite communications. For satellite antennas, the beam shaping capability via element repositioning can be utilized for (1) optimized geometries on satellite antennas for given desired coverage areas, (2) re-optimizing radiation contours for reconfigurable antenna on board satellites in operation, (3) additional flexibility for satellite antennas using ground based beam forming (GBBF). As to satellite ground terminals, the same techniques are applicable for both fixed and mobile satellite terminals featuring either single beam or multiple beams. For fixed terminals, are applicable for terrestrial based communications; such as retrofitting existing antennas eliminating interference radiations coming from fixed or slow varying directions.

Ultraviolet radiation is used to disinfect air (105) in a flow tube (110), where the flow tube (110) includes total internal reflecting features (120) on a portion of its external surface and said ultraviolet radiation propagates through a portion of the flow tube via total internal reflection.

A mass spectrometer and a method of mass spectrometry are disclosed wherein periodic background noise is effectively filtered out from the mass spectral data. An overall mass window is superimposed upon the mass spectral data. The overall mass window preferably comprises 21 nominal mass windows each preferably having a width of 1.0005 amu. Each nominal mass window preferably comprises 20 channels. An intensity distribution relating to all the first channels of the 21 nominal mass windows is determined. An intensity quantile is determined from the intensity distribution. The intensity quantile is taken to represent the background intensity in the first channel of the central nominal mass window. This process is repeated for the other channels so that the background intensity across the whole of the central nominal mass window is estimated and then subtracted from the raw mass spectral data comprising the central nominal mass window. The overall mass window is then preferably advanced approximately 1 amu and the process is repeated multiple times.

The invention relates to a method for rapidly monitoring deformation and controlling a measured deformation value within instrument precision by the aid of a ground-based three-dimensional laser scanner serving as a measuring instrument through instruction fixing technology. The method includes the steps: (1) fixing the three-dimensional laser scanner onto an observation pillar, setting a fixed point reference target and attaching a reflector onto an observation object; (2) rapidly scanning the observation object by the aid of the three-dimensional laser scanner; (3) searching a reflection center of the reference target; (4) registering scan files in different time series according to the reflection center of the reference target; (5) finding a coordinate of a reflector center of the observation object after registering; and (6) comparing the change of the coordinate in the different time series. The method is applicable to rapidly monitoring deformation of slope failure at a deformation stage, slope excavation and various deformation bodies.

An automated method causes a terrestrial solar cell array to track the sun. The solar cell system includes motors that adjust a position of the array along different respective axes with respect to the sun, wherein a first motor adjusts the inclination angle of the array relative to the surface of the earth and a second motor rotates the array about an axis substantially perpendicular to that surface. The method includes (a) using a software algorithm to predict a position of the sun at a future time; (b) using a computer model to determine respective positions for the motors corresponding to the solar cell array being substantially aligned with the sun at the future time; and (c) activating and operating the motors at respective particular speeds so that at the future time the solar cell array is substantially aligned with the sun. The future time may correspond to any time during operation. An initial future time may correspond to a start up time after sunrise at which point the solar cell is to begin tracking the sun.

A radar detection process includes computing a derivative of an FFT output signal to detect an object within a specified detection zone. In one embodiment, a zero crossing in the second derivative of the FFT output signal indicates the presence of an object. The range of the object is determined as a function of the frequency at which the zero crossing occurs. Also described is a detection table containing indicators of the presence or absence of an object within a respective radar beam and processing cycle. At least two such indicators are combined in order to detect the presence of an object within the detection zone.

A satellite system for observing space objects includes two or more satellites positioned in an Earth orbit and configured to observe objects in various orbits including those viewed (i) against the Earth's background; (ii) against a sunlit Earth background; and (iii) against a space background. An electromagnetic sensor may be provided on at least one of the satellites that is responsive to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength that discriminates against substantial reflection of electromagnetic radiation from the Earth's atmosphere to observe the space object. A method of observing a space object using a satellite system is also disclosed.

The present invention is a Solar Concentrator composed of a generally V shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. Said Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V shaped trough and parallel to its' central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.

A solar generator panel comprising a plane array of strings of photovoltaic cells disposed side by side. According to the invention, the cells have cropped corners suitable for generating free spaces in the interstices between the cropped corners. It is then possible to place openings in those spaces for passing cables and / or for receiving damper blocks. The invention is particularly applicable to solar panels for satellites.

The invention provides a method and a device for estimating environmental electromagnetic radiation of a base station. The method for estimating environmental electromagnetic radiation of the base station comprises the steps: acquiring a first radiation quantity estimated value of a broadcast wave beam of the base station at a predicted point and a second radiation quantity estimated value of a business wave beam of the base station at the predicted point; and generating the environmental electromagnetic radiation of the base station according to the first radiation quantity estimated value and the second radiation quantity estimated value. On the premise of satisfying the precision of application requirement, the method and the device have the features of being simple and easy in use and convenient in promotion.

The invention discloses a method and device for cleaning space debris. According to the method, electromagnetic force is applied to the space debris running on an original orbit; the speed and / or direction of the space debris are / is changed under the action of the electromagnetic force; the space debris of which the speed is changed is changed to run on a new orbit under the action of gravity; at least the height of the perigee of the space debris on the new orbit is smaller than the height of the perigee of the space debris on the original orbit; the space debris running on the new orbit finally falls into the atmosphere of the earth under the action of atmosphere resistance. The device comprises a satellite bearing platform which is provided with an electric field device cleaning the space debris or a magnetic field device cleaning the space debris or a combination of the electric field device and the magnetic field device. The method and device for cleaning the space debris do not have high requirements for the accuracy of position detection of the space debris, micro space debris can be effectively cleaned, solar energy can be fully utilized for power generation, and self-carried energy is saved. The device for cleaning the space debris has the advantages of being simple in structure, low in manufacturing cost, and better in pulse action effect.

This detection method comprises: a step during which a receiver measures the quantity of light reflected by an object when the object is illuminated by an emitter for at least two different emitter—receiver pairs on the same side relative to the object, a step of calculating at least two characteristic values from the measured values, and a step of determining at least one position of the object by directly reading a table indexed by the two characteristic values, the content of said table being predetermined and set before said measurement step.

A method of, and system for, assaying for selected constituents in liquid mixtures confined by corresponding containing structures having relatively small electromagnetic absorption in at least one transmission wavelength range for transmissions of electromagnetic radiation therethrough, including in vivo assaying for a presence of selected constituents in bloodstreams in circulatory system passageways in mammalian bodies having relatively small electromagnetic radiation absorption in at least one transmission wavelength range for transmissions of electromagnetic radiation between such passageways and outer surfaces of corresponding bodily skin, based on, in the bloodstream example, introducing in a bloodstream a probe comprising a binding base capable of binding to at least one of the selected constituents and of also concurrently conjugating to two different fluorophores of which one has an emission spectra peak distribution in the transmission wavelength range that overlaps an absorption spectra peak distribution of that one remaining. Radiate at least some of the passageways from at least one location on the outer surfaces of the corresponding skin with electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths in the transmission wavelength range and also in an absorption spectra range of that fluorophore having an overlapping emission spectra peak distribution. Detect electromagnetic radiation at least at one location on the outer surfaces of the corresponding skin that has been transmitted from the evaluative radiated passageways of wavelengths in the transmission wavelength range and also in an emission spectra range of that fluorophore having an overlapping absorption spectra peak distribution wherein the emission spectra range differs from the overlapping emission spectra peak distribution.

A pre-fabricated article for a composite aircraft component includes a dielectric layer and a pre-fabricated metalized pattern on the dielectric layer. The metalized pattern is fabricated on the dielectric layer prior to integration with the composite aircraft component. The metalized pattern diverts EME current away from EME protection areas of the aircraft component.

A planetary transmission includes a first gear set including a first sun gear and at least one first planetary gear in meshing arrangement with the first sun gear, a second gear set including a second sun gear and at least one second planetary gear in meshing arrangement with the second sun gear, a casing surrounding the first gear set and the second gear set, a first thrust washer between the first sun gear and the second sun gear, a second thrust washer between the second sun gear and the casing, and a lubrication system. The lubrication system comprises a passageway extending through the casing and placing a hollow interior of the second sun gear in fluid communication with a mesh point between teeth of the second sun gear and teeth of the at least one second planetary gear, such that when oil is forced from the mesh point the oil travels through the passageway, into the hollow interior of the second sun gear, and into contact with the first and second thrust washers.