Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Kenneth W. Float
  • Patent number: 7337671
    Abstract: Disclosed are moveable microstructures comprising in-plane capacitive microaccelerometers, with submicro-gravity resolution (<200 ng/?Hz) and very high sensitivity (>17 pF/g). The microstructures are fabricated in thick (>100 ?m) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates or silicon substrates using a two-mask fully-dry release process that provides large seismic mass (>10 milli-g), reduced capacitive gaps, and reduced in-plane stiffness. Fabricated devices may be interfaced to a high resolution switched-capacitor CMOS IC that eliminates the need for area-consuming reference capacitors. The measured sensitivity is 83 mV/mg (17 pF/g) and the output noise floor is ?91 dBm/Hz at 10 Hz (corresponding to an acceleration resolution of 170 ng/?Hz). The IC consumes 6 mW power and measures 0.65 mm2 core area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Babak Vakili Amini, Reza Abdolvand
  • Patent number: 7260329
    Abstract: Optical apparatus that uses optically-actuated optical switches in conjunction with an optical codeword addressing scheme to provide for time division multiplexing and demultiplexing of high data rate optical data. Optical codewords traveling simultaneously with the data on a separate wavelength, in conjunction with the optical switches, enable all-optical multiplexing and demultiplexing. The present invention can also switch packets of data while keeping the data entirely in the optical domain, and no optical to electrical conversions are necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Fall, Ralph Spickermann, Daniel A. Tauber
  • Patent number: 7220954
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods that provide for a coherent quantum state transfer of information from a two-level atomic system (matter) to a single photon (light). Entanglement between a single photon (signal) and a two-component atomic ensemble of cold Rubidium atoms is used to project a quantum memory element (the atomic ensemble) onto any desired state by measuring the signal in a suitable basis. The atomic qubit is read out by stimulating directional emission of a single photon (idler) from the (entangled) collective state of the ensemble. Faithful atomic memory preparation and readout are verified by observed correlations between the signal and idler photons. These results are an important component of distributed quantum networking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander M. Kuzmich, Dzmitry N. Matsukevich
  • Patent number: 7219132
    Abstract: Dynamic resource allocation that provides differentiated services over a broadband communication network. The system comprises a gateway that interfaces to an Internet service provider or corporate network, a local area network edge device, a satellite that provides a communication link between the gateway and the local area network edge device, and one or more personal computers coupled by way of a network to the local area network edge device. The dynamic resource allocation system supports differentiated services with different levels of priority and comprises an Internet protocol network that includes a classifier for identifying specific types of messages, and a dynamic assignment/multiple access (DAMA) communication protocol for transmitting data over the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral
    Inventors: William Hreha, Sastri Kota
  • Patent number: 7176770
    Abstract: Disclosed are high frequency, vertical silicon bulk acoustic resonators. Resonator structures having a relatively large transduction areas fabricated using a HARPSS fabrication process provide for high frequency capacitive resonators with significantly low impedance values. Impedance values as low as a few kilo-Ohms to sub-kilo-Ohm and quality factors in the range of 20,000 to 90,000 in the VHF range have been achieved for a first thickness mode of fabricated vertical silicon bulk acoustic resonators. Resonant frequencies as high as 983 MHz have been demonstrated for higher third thickness modes of the vertical silicon bulk acoustic resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Siavash Pourkamali, Gavin Kar-Fai Ho
  • Patent number: 7170463
    Abstract: Broadband omnidirectional, vertically polarized communications antenna systems are disclosed. The antenna systems comprises a plurality of center-fed stacked dipole radiating elements disposed along a central axis, a coaxial feed line coupled between each of the stacked radiating elements. In certain embodiments, a two-wire balun is coupled to a feed point of each radiating element and a shunt inductor and capacitor are coupled to each radiating element. Other embodiments do not require the use of the balun. Certain embodiments use a printed-circuit dipole having a flat shape. Other embodiments use a metal dipole having a cylindrical shape. The array antenna systems may be stacked vertically in separate bays each with its independent RF port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Antenna Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Seavey
  • Patent number: 7133740
    Abstract: Automated closet systems and related methods that use digital imagery, RFID/barcode identification of garment hangers, and computer-controlled conveyors, to provide for image-based garment storage and retrieval. Digital garment photographs are stored in a database. Hangers have a unique RFID/barcode tag and hold garments. The RFID/barcode tag of each hanger is correlated to a garment photograph to which the hanger is assigned. A storage closet has a storage conveyer on which hangers are disposed. A pickup and loading station has a conveyer coupled to the storage conveyer that is used to transfer hangers to and from the storage conveyer. A control unit, such as a wireless touchscreen, is used during storage to initiate photographing, scanning, and transfer of garments to the storage closet. During retrieval, a user searches through digital images displayed on the control unit to find a stored garment for retrieval. Selection of a particular garment identifies a particular RFID/barcode tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Inventors: Joel Stenson, Engle Hendricks
  • Patent number: 7123141
    Abstract: Electronic monitoring systems and methods that permit full-time tracking and management of, and communication with, monitored clients that carry a client tracking unit and wear a transmitter, by a monitoring individual that carries a wireless portable monitoring device. A central monitoring station having a central database is ported to a plurality of processor interfaces, including RF, GPS, and integrated voice, for example. The central database is wirelessly linked to the portable monitoring device, which is programmed to remotely track and manage clients by way of the respective interfaces. A monitoring unit is coupled to (or includes) a dock that docks the client tracking unit. The client tracking unit has a GPS receiver that receives position signals from satellites orbiting the Earth to permit tracking of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Robert A. Contestabile
  • Patent number: 7090353
    Abstract: Improved digital projection systems and methods are disclosed. Exemplary systems and methods embody a digital data source and a white light source. Light output of the white light source is coupled to a two-position digital micro-mirror device that separates black and colored pixels. The reflected color pixels output of the two-position digital micro-mirror device are coupled to a diffraction micro-lens array that diffracts the colored pixels to produce partial spectrum color bands. The diffracted partial spectrum color bands output of the diffraction micro-lens array is coupled to a three-position digital micro-mirror device that produces hue of each pixel. Micro-mirrors of the two- and three-position digital micro-mirror devices are controlled by the digital output of the digital data source. The output of the three-position digital micro-mirror device is coupled to projection optics that combines the partial spectrum color bands and projects an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventor: Fred M. Bay
  • Patent number: 7089276
    Abstract: A modular Galois-field subfield-power integrated inverter-multiplier circuit that may be used to perform Galois-field division over GF(245). The integrated inverter-multiplier circuit combines subfield-power and parallel multiplication and inversion operations performed therein. The circuit is modular, has a relatively low gate count, and is easily pipelined because it does not use random logic. The circuit implements mathematical calculations known as “Galois-field arithmetic” that are required for a variety of digital signaling and processing applications such as Reed-Solomon and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hochquenghem (BCH) error-correction coding systems. Galois-field division is particularly difficult, typically requiring either a great deal of time or highly complex circuits, or both. The circuit uses a unique combination of subfield and power inversion techniques to carry out multiplicative inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Miller, Richard W. Koralek
  • Patent number: 7085500
    Abstract: A transmitter comprising a programmable optical vector modulator and method for coherent optical signal communication. The transmitter includes a transmitter laser whose output is coupled by way of an optical fiber to an amplitude modulator. The output of the amplitude modulator is coupled by way of a length of optical fiber to a phase modulator. The phase modulator generates a modulated light output from the transmitter. Amplitude modulation is achieved by inputting data and a data clock signal to amplitude symbol mapping logic whose outputs are selectively weighted, summed, amplified and input to the amplitude modulator to amplitude modulate the output of the transmitter laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventor: Ralph Spickermann
  • Patent number: 7076065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting privacy in transmitting an analog information signal. The present invention combines the information signal with an analog random signal generated by a chaotic circuit and transmits the signal. The received signal is synchronized using a receiving chaotic circuit. The received signal is demodulated using a synchronized replica of the analog random signal. The information signal is recovered since the product of the random signals generated in the transmitter and in the receiver, is unity. Techniques used in the present invention for generating chaos, synchronization, and signal recovery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Sherman, Chamroenu Kchao, Billy Pettijohn
  • Patent number: 7064786
    Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) circuit employing substrate electrical bounce compensation circuitry that is particularly useful in a cinematography digital image capture cameras. An exemplary CCD circuit comprises a CCD array having a substrate that is coupled to an output node. The output of the CCD array (substrate) is coupled to a gate input of a reset field effect transistor (FET). The output node is coupled to a source input of the reset FET. The output of the CCD array is coupled to the substrate bounce compensation circuit which provides a video pedestal reference signal for the reset FET. The substrate bounce compensation circuit includes a capacitor that capacitively coupled the output of the CCD array to the drain of the reset FET, and a resistor that resistively couples the drain of the reset FET to a reset drain bias capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: William A. Hill, Troy Pellizzer, Gary Nunes
  • Patent number: 7056757
    Abstract: Processing techniques are disclosed for batch fabrication of microstructures comprising an oxide mask on a substrate with submicron openings formed therein, and microstructures having deep-submicron, high aspect-ratio etched trenches, using conventional optical photolithography. Exemplary high aspect-ratio etched-trench microstructures that may be produced include single crystal resonators and sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Reza Abdolvand, Siavash P. Anaraki
  • Patent number: 7043985
    Abstract: A microstructure comprising an in-plane solid-mass electrically conductive tuning fork gyroscope and fabrication methods. The gyroscope is formed using substrate material having lower and upper layers sandwiching a sacrificial insulating layer. An exemplary gyroscope comprises a low-resistivity single-crystal silicon substrate having a lower support layer and an upper flexible support layer. Two opposed proof masses that are separated from the lower support layer lie in and are supported by the upper flexible support layer. Two drive electrodes are disposed adjacent to the proof masses and are insulatably supported by the lower support layer and are separated from the upper flexible support layer. Sense, balance and tuning electrodes are disposed adjacent to the proof masses and are insulatably supported by the lower support layer and are separated from the upper flexible support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Ayazi, Mohammad Faisal Zaman
  • Patent number: 7019882
    Abstract: A coherent optical link includes a laser master oscillator operative to generate an amplitude- and phase-stable narrow linewidth optical carrier, a first programmable read-only memory (PROM) having an input for receiving and encoding an M-ary data word, a first digital-to-analog (D/A) converter operative to obtain the amplitude-encoded M-ary data word and output a corresponding analog signal, a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator that obtains the analog signal and intensity-modulates the carrier based on the analog signal, an optical phase modulator having an input, and an optical waveguide that connects the Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator to the input of the optical phase modulator. The Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator and optical phase modulator may be formed into a single package. A modulation method includes modulating an intensity of an optical signal using a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator, and then modulating the phase of the intensity-modulated optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6963677
    Abstract: An all-optical, asynchronous binary storage cell implemented by optically induced total internal reflection cross-junction waveguide switches. The term “all-optical” refers to directing of optical data signals as a result of optical control signal inputs without the need for conversion between optical and electrical domains. The binary cell is a building block for a programmable all-optical random access memory (AORAM) device. The AORAM device enables circuits and networks that require optical buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: Ralph Spickermann, Steven R. Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6961431
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining privacy in transmission of a high bandwidth analog signal. A preferred system and method breaks an input signal into bands and then uses Walsh codes to overlay many signals on top of each other with a set of phase modulators to establish scrambling of the input signal. The scrambled signal is then transmitted. The received scrambled signal has the phase modulation removed and an inverse Walsh transform recovers the original bands. The recovered bands are added together to recover the original signal. The system and method use techniques that establish synchronization and phase coherency complete the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Wilson, Julius Lange, Andrew Brown
  • Patent number: 6944950
    Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing at least one load-bearing section of a tower assembly which apparatus includes two leg members, at least one brace member for connection to both of the leg members, and at least one connecting plate for attachment to a respective flange plate of the section of the tower assembly and for attachment to an end of one of the leg members, which flange plate is attached to or integral with the section of the tower assembly. The apparatus components form a reinforcing panel which is attachable to the load-bearing section of the tower assembly, so that the two leg members bear at least a portion of the section load when the panel is attached. The apparatus may include adjustable length leg members which enable the length of the panel to be adjusted and at least a portion of the section load to be transferred to the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Thomas B. Watson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6889238
    Abstract: Parallel adaptive filters and filtering methods that enable processing of an input signal in a circuit that has an clock speed many times slower than the input rate of the input signal that is processed. A polyphase decimator structure processes a data stream requiring a low pass filtered bandlimited (low-rate) output that is used for high-rate output structures. The filters and methods break an input data stream into parallel paths that efficiently produce a bandlimited (decimated, low-rate) filtered output. Each of the parallel paths is processed at a decimated rate to provide a filtered output signals corresponding to a filtered version of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Russell K. Johnson