Method for powering a spacecraft with extended-life battery operation
First Claim
1. A method for powering a spacecraft, comprising the steps ofproviding a spacecraft having power-consuming components therein;
- providing in the spacecraft at least two independently controllable electrical storage batteries operably connected to the power-consuming components of the spacecraft, each battery being operable in a higher-temperature range and inactivated in a lower-temperature range, including a first battery and a second battery;
first operating both the first battery and the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a first period of time;
thereaftersecond operating the first battery in the higher-temperature range during a second period of time, the second battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the second period of time;
thereafterthird operating both the first battery and the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a third period of time; and
thereafterfourth operating the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a fourth period of time, the first battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the fourth period of time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spacecraft, such as a satellite in geosynchronous orbit, is powered using at least two independently controllable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, operably connected to the power-consuming components of the spacecraft. Each battery is operable in a higher-temperature range and inactivated in a lower-temperature range. The first battery and the second battery are operated in the higher-temperature range during a first period of time. The first battery is thereafter operated in the higher-temperature range during a second period of time, with the second battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the second period of time. The first battery and the second battery are thereafter operated in the higher-temperature range during a third period of time. The second battery is thereafter operated in the higher-temperature range during a fourth period of time, with the first battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the fourth period of time. The operable battery or batteries may be operated through a partial charging/discharging cycle. This alternating operation prolongs the lifetimes of the batteries.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for powering a spacecraft, comprising the steps of
providing a spacecraft having power-consuming components therein; -
providing in the spacecraft at least two independently controllable electrical storage batteries operably connected to the power-consuming components of the spacecraft, each battery being operable in a higher-temperature range and inactivated in a lower-temperature range, including a first battery and a second battery; first operating both the first battery and the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a first period of time;
thereaftersecond operating the first battery in the higher-temperature range during a second period of time, the second battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the second period of time;
thereafterthird operating both the first battery and the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a third period of time; and
thereafterfourth operating the second battery in the higher-temperature range during a fourth period of time, the first battery being non-operational and in the lower-temperature range during the fourth period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for powering a spacecraft, comprising the steps of
providing a spacecraft having at least two independently controllable electrical storage batteries operably connected to power-consuming components of the spacecraft, each battery being controllably activatable and controllably deactivatable, including a first battery and a second battery; -
first operating both the first battery and the second battery during a first period of time with both batteries in an activated state;
thereaftersecond operating the first battery during a second period of time in the activated state, the second battery being in a deactivated state during the second period of time;
thereafterthird operating both the first battery and the second battery during a third period of time with both batteries in the activated state; and
thereafterfourth operating the second battery during a fourth period of time in the activated state, the first battery being in the deactivated state during the fourth period of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification