Greg Ritter, Age 69Detroit, MI

6742745, Jun 1, 2004

Nov 1, 2002

10/286192

Pete Tchoryk - Ann Arbor MI
Jane Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI
Greg Ritter - Hamburg MI
Anthony B. Hays - Howell MI

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

B64G 164

244161, 294 8228

This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i. e. , requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded âtrap. â Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset.

7104505, Sep 12, 2006

Apr 23, 2003

10/421492

Pete Tchoryk - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jane Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Greg Wassick - Petersburg MI, US
Anthony B. Hays - Howell MI, US
Greg Ritter - Hamburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

B64G 1/64

244161, 244115

This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i. e. , requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap. ” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset. The soft-docking cable may be replaced with a rigid, semi-rigid or jointed post that is used to bring a capture mechanism into engagement with its corresponding receptacle or receiving structure. The magnetic end effector may also be implemented as an electro-magnet, which requires power to maintain the holding force, or a permanent magnet, which captures a target without power.

7495774, Feb 24, 2009

Jul 27, 2006

11/460603

Paul Byron Hays - Ann Arbor MI, US
Michael Thomas Dehring - Westminster CO, US
Jane Camile Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Peter Tchoryk, Jr. - Ann Arbor MI, US
Charles J. Richey - Ypsilanti MI, US
Anthony Beckman Hays - Jackson MI, US
Gregory Joseph Wassick - Petersburg MI, US
Greg Alan Ritter - Hamburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

G01B 9/02
G01P 3/36

356519, 356 285

A first beam of light from a laser is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and at least one second beam of light, the latter of which is directed into an atmosphere. Light from the at least one second beam of light scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal. The at least one light signal and the reference beam are simultaneously processed by a common interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector and processed by a data processor to determine at least one associated air data product.

7518736, Apr 14, 2009

Oct 29, 2007

11/927196

Paul Byron Hays - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jane Camile Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Greg Alan Ritter - Hamburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

G01B 9/02
G01P 3/36

356519, 356 285

At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by an interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto. In various aspects: a data processor gates the signal to provide a range-responsive measurement; the light signal is multiplexed; a circle-to-line interferometer optic transforms an at least partially circular fringe pattern to a substantially linear fringe pattern; or a CCD detector provides for recording a range-resolved image by successively transferring charges from one adjacent row of photosites to another.

7522291, Apr 21, 2009

Oct 29, 2007

11/927243

Paul Byron Hays - Ann Arbor MI, US
Charles J. Richey - Ypsilanti MI, US
Anthony Beckman Hays - Jackson MI, US
Greg Alan Ritter - Hamburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

G01B 9/02
G01P 3/36

356519, 356 285

At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by a Fabry-Pérot etalon, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto.

7828249, Nov 9, 2010

Mar 23, 2009

12/409456

Greg Alan Ritter - Hamburg MI, US
Anthony Beckman Hays - Jackson MI, US
Peter Tchoryk, Jr. - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jane Camile Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Gregory Joseph Wassick - Petersburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

B64G 1/64

2441724, 245951

First and second releasably connectable portions of a docking system are moved together. A relatively central concave element of the second portion of the docking system contacts a corresponding relatively central mating convex element of the first portion of the docking system. A plurality of relatively distal coupling elements rigidly connected to one of the first and second portions of the docking system are inserted into a corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets of the other of the first and second portions of the docking system. The plurality of relatively distal coupling elements are captured with a corresponding plurality of relatively distal latch mechanisms associated with the plurality of relatively distal sockets responsive to inserting the plurality of relatively distal coupling elements into the corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets.

7857261, Dec 28, 2010

Sep 12, 2006

11/531261

Peter Tchoryk, Jr. - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jane Camile Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Anthony Beckman Hays - Jackson MI, US
Gregory Joseph Wassick - Petersburg MI, US
Greg Ritter - Hamburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

B64G 1/64
B63B 21/62
B60D 1/01

2441724, 114249, 280514, 403361

An automatically aligned docking system, comprises a multi-point kinematic rigidization system that provides precise, repeatable rotational alignment at the spacecraft-docking interface without over-constraining the interface.

7861974, Jan 4, 2011

Mar 18, 2009

12/406955

Anthony Beckman Hays - Jackson MI, US
Greg Alan Ritter - Hamburg MI, US
Peter Tchoryk, Jr. - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jane Camile Pavlich - Ann Arbor MI, US
Gregory Joseph Wassick - Petersburg MI, US

Michigan Aerospace Corporation - Ann Arbor MI

B64G 1/64

2441724, 2441725

A convex forward surface of a forward-biased probe head of a first portion of a docking system engages a central concave conical surface of a second portion of the docking system. A first linear actuator moves a flexible docking cable assembly relative to a support structure through bores therein and through the probe head. An aftward retraction of the docking cable assembly causes a linearly-actuated cam element thereof to rotate a rotary cam follower pivoted from the support structure, which engages an aft edge portion of the probe head, forcing the probe head forward. A plurality of distal coupling elements operatively coupled to the support structure around a central axis thereof engage with and become releasably captured by a corresponding socket and associated capture mechanism of a mating second portion of the docking system, and rigidized when the probe head is forced against the central concave conical surface.