Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert E. Malm
  • Patent number: 6397146
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for compensating for acceleration in a GPS-inertial navigation system. A translated satellite signal is a satellite signal translated in the GPS receiver to an intermediate-frequency band by a sequence of M mixing operations, M being an integer greater than or equal to one. The m'th mixing operation consists of mixing the satellite signal with an m'th mixing signal having a frequency fm where fm can be approximated by a function Fm of one or more components A1, A2, and A3 of the acceleration and one or more parameters Pm1, Pm2, . . . , PmN(m) that are independent of acceleration. The method consists of (a) obtaining values for one or more components of acceleration, (b) obtaining values for one or more parameters, (c)determining the value of one or more functions Fm, and (d) utilizing the data obtained in steps (a), (b), and (c) in compensating for the effects of acceleration in a GPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles P. Bruner
  • Patent number: 6317215
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for generating a pseudorandom sequence of bits. The method comprises the steps of (1) selecting a “0” or a “1” as the next bit of the modified pseudorandom bit sequence if one or more criteria are satisfied, the criteria being based on the measured properties of a plurality of prior bits of the modified pseudorandom bit sequence; otherwise: (2) selecting the next bit of an initial pseudorandom bit sequence as the next bit of the modified pseudorandom bit sequence, the next bit of the initial pseudorandom bit sequence being a function of one or more prior bits of the initial pseudorandom bit sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Mark, Daniel A. Tazartes, David I. Tazartes, Daniel P. Wiener
  • Patent number: 6313872
    Abstract: The security system for homes and small offices provides snapshots of potential trespassers for viewing on conventional television receivers. The system consists of at least one scene capture unit, a scene recovery unit, and communication links between the scene capture units and the scene recovery unit. A scene capture unit consists of a motion detector, a conventional television camera, and circuitry which converts the camera signal into a sequence of integers that is stored in semiconductor memory and then communicated to the scene recovery unit. The scene recovery unit generates from the sequence of integers communicated by the scene capture unit a signal which, when fed into a conventional television receiver, causes the scene recorded by the camera to be displayed on one portion of the television screen and the time of occurrence to be displayed on another portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Arthur N. Borg
  • Patent number: 6307631
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for generating a primary pseudorandom bit sequence consisting of a plurality of contiguous P subsequences. Each P subsequence consists of a start sequence of predetermined length followed by a sequence of trailing bits. The method comprises three steps. The first step consists of deriving a feedback bit from each generating sequence in a P subsequence in accordance with a specified rule where a generating sequence is any sequence of contiguous bits in the P subsequence having the same length as the start sequence. The bit that follows a generating sequence is called the trailing bit for that generating sequence. The second step of the method consists of determining a sequence of one or more modifier bits to be used in modifying the P subsequence. The third step of the method consists of modifying the P subsequence utilizing the one or more modifier bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, John G. Mark, David I. Tazartes
  • Patent number: 6307506
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for (1) enhancing the transmission of information in a particular direction or (2) enhancing the reception of information from a particular direction by an array of transducers, a transducer being any device for transforming radiated power into electrical power and vice versa. A transducer signal is associated with each transducer in an array, the plurality of transducer signals being the vehicle for transmitting or receiving information. Each transducer signal is the sum of a first product and a second product. The first product is the product of a first signal and a cosine function of an argument. The second product is the product of a second signal and a sine function of the same argument. An argument is the sum of a phase and a product of an angular frequency and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Acorn Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alvin M. Despain
  • Patent number: 6301571
    Abstract: The invention is a method for interacting with a test subject with respect to knowledge or functionality characterized by a plurality of states in one or more domains. A domain is a set of facts, a set of values, or a combination of a set of facts and a set of values. The set of facts for a knowledge domain is any set of facts. The set of facts for a functionality domain is a set of facts relating to the functionality of a test subject. A state is denoted as a fact state, a value state, or a combination state, a fact state being characterized by a subset of facts, a value state being characterized by a subset of values, and a combination state being characterized by a combination of a subset of facts and a subset of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Curtis M. Tatsuoka
  • Patent number: 6298316
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining a failure in a subsystem that is part of a system, the system being characterized in terms of a state vector comprising a plurality of state variables. The state vector is updated at times (jK+k)T&Dgr;t using one or more Kalman filter processes, j taking on integer values, K being a predetermined integer, k taking on integer values between 1 and K for each value of j, T being a predetermined integer, and &Dgr;t being a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Diesel
  • Patent number: 6285954
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for obtaining an accurate value x1c of a variable x1 based on an estimate x1e that is a function of K variables x1, x2, . . . , xk, . . . , xK. The method comprises the steps of (a) obtaining a plurality of estimates x1e, x2e, . . . , xke, . . . , xKe of the variables x1, x2, . . . , xk, . . . , xK over a method-execution time period, the values of the variables x1, x2, . . . , xk, . . . , xK changing or being changed during the method-execution time period; (b) obtaining from an external source the actual values x1a of x1 during the method-execution time period; (c) defining a compensation model &dgr;x1 that is a function of one or more of the estimates x1e, x2e, . . . , xke, . . . xKe of the variables x1, x2, . . . , xk, . . . , xK, the compensation model being further defined by I unknown constants a1, a2, . . . , ai, . . . , aI; (d) applying an operator G to the values of x1e−x1a and &dgr;x1; (e) determining the values of a1, a2, . . . , ai, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Mark, Daniel A. Tazartes
  • Patent number: 6268922
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining the fringe number for a fiber-optic gyro. The fiber-optic gyro comprises a light source feeding an interferometer which in turn feeds a detector. The detector output signal is a function of the fringe number and a plurality of controllable parameters. The method comprises the steps of (1) determining the values of the controllable parameters and (2) extracting the fringe number from the detector output signal utilizing the values of the controllable parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, Howell J. Tipton
  • Patent number: 6260033
    Abstract: The invention is a method for remediation comprising steps (a) through (g). Step (a) consists of compiling a collection of one or more topics where a topic is a set of facts, a set of values, or a combination of a set of facts and a set of values that characterize knowledge and/or functionality. The set of facts that characterize knowledge is any set of facts. The set of facts that characterize functionality is a set of facts relating to the functionality of a test subject. Step (b) consists of compiling a collection of one or more treatments for each topic where a treatment comprises materials intended to teach a test subject. Step (c) consists of specifying a plurality of question blocks for each of the one or more treatments of step (b) where a question block consists of one or more questions. Response distributions are assigned to the questions in the question blocks. Step (d) consists of selecting one or more topics from those in the collection of step (a) for remediation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Curtis M. Tatsuoka
  • Patent number: 6249212
    Abstract: The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier. The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation by a reader, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The message waveforms can be transmitted either simultaneously, sequentially, or both ways. A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Avid Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Beigel, Robert E. Malm
  • Patent number: 6249745
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for gravity vector compensation in an inertial navigation system (INS). The INS obtains its position and determines a gravity-model vector at its position using a predetermined gravity model. The deflection of vertical (DOV), the error in the direction of the gravity-model vector, is expressed in terms of a North-South (N-S) DOV component and an East-West (E-W) DOV component. Matrices of N-S DOV and E-W DOV data are stored in memory in a plurality of files for a plurality of discrete points distributed over the surface of the earth at a plurality of altitudes. The elements of a matrix of N-S DOV data or E-W DOV data have a one-to-one correspondence with a two-dimensional array of discrete contiguous points at a specified altitude above the earth's surface. Adjacent elements in a matrix correspond to (1) adjacent points on a parallel of latitude or (2) adjacent points on a half-circle meridian, a half-circle meridian terminating at the two poles of the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Y. Hsu, Allan J. Brockstein
  • Patent number: 6237274
    Abstract: The fishing rod handle attachment is comprised of a handle, a handle extension for positioning the handle directly above the fishing rod, and an attaching device for rigidly attaching the handle attachment to the fishing rod. The handle is comprised of an elongated member and a support member. The elongated member is gripped by a user's hand while the user is fishing, the elongated member being transverse to the fishing rod, horizontally oriented, and positioned directly above the fishing rod when the fishing rod is being used for fishing. The support member is rigidly attached to the elongated member and provides the means for attaching the elongated member to the handle extension. In some embodiments of the invention, provision is made for adjusting the position of the elongated member relative to the attachment point of the handle attachment to the fishing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventors: Burton W. Head, L. Mervyn Long
  • Patent number: 6219616
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for updating the attitude of a body by utilizing a plurality of gyros to measure as a function of time the angular rate vector or the integrated angular rate vector for the body. The method comprises the steps of (1) obtaining measured values of the angular rate vector at a plurality of readout intervals, (2) obtaining a smoothed value of each of one or more smoothed representations of the angular rate vector at the end of each of a plurality of smoothing intervals, and (3) obtaining the updated attitude of the body at the end of an update interval by utilizing the attitude at the beginning of the update interval and the smoothed values of the smoothed representations of the angular rate vector obtained during the update interval. A smoothed representation is a weighted sum of the measured values obtained during a smoothing interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yury A. Litmanovich, John G. Mark, Daniel A. Tazartes
  • Patent number: 6208937
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for generating navigation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Huddle
  • Patent number: 6183385
    Abstract: The invention is a variable-ratio transmission comprising a base having an axis of rotation to which an object can be attached and a plurality of pulley assemblies slideably attached to the base along radials. Each pulley assembly comprises one or more pulleys, a pulley shaft, and a pulley transport. The pulleys of a pulley assembly are rotatably attached to the pulley shaft and are rotatable in only one direction about the pulley shaft. The pulley shaft is attached to the pulley transport. The pulley transport is slideably attached to the base along a radial. The pulley assemblies are so arranged that the plurality of pulleys can engage at least one encircling belt or chain. An actuating system applies radial forces to the plurality of pulley transports for the purpose of maintaining the pulley assemblies in fixed radial positions or moving the pulley assemblies to other radial positions. The actuating system is controlled by an external entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Frank Vincent Bakulich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6175807
    Abstract: The invention is a method continuing over a plurality of time periods for compensating for the output error in each of one or more navigation instruments in a system comprising a plurality of navigation instruments after the system is introduced into its operating environment. The practice of the method begins with determining the values of one or more of a set of coordinates that specify the position, velocity, and orientation of the system in space together with the error in a compensated output for each of the one or more navigation instruments. The method continues with determining a compensation model for each of the one or more navigation instruments. A compensation model specifies for a current time period an adjustment in amplitude of the output of a navigation instrument as a function of time and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Buchler, Larry R. Moeller, Shaw-Wen Fann, Daniel A. Tazartes, John G. Mark
  • Patent number: 6158282
    Abstract: The invention is a vibratory rotation sensor comprising a housing, a resonator attached to the housing, first and second sets of electrodes, and a signal processor. One set of electrodes are attached to the housing and the other set of electrodes are attached to the resonator, the first set opposing the second set. Each set consists of one or more electrodes. The signal processor has one or more input ports capacitively connected to one or more of the first set of electrodes, the signal processor extracting from the signals appearing at the one or more input ports one or more double-frequency sinusoids having frequencies of twice the frequency of oscillation of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Matthews, Guy T. Varty, Paul C. Nguyen, David D. Lynch
  • Patent number: 6138202
    Abstract: The object space manager circuit is a device used in computer memory systems for determining the address of the first word of an object, given the address of any other word in the same object. It consists of a first-object-word encoding circuit, a memory circuit, and a first-object-word decoding circuit. The encoding circuit utilizes a hierarchical coding system to generate codes that relate the address of a first object word to any other object word. This particular coding system results in codes that are the same for particular ranges of object word addresses. The codes are stored in the memory circuit which permits the entry of a code at each address of a specified range of memory addresses to be accomplished simultaneously. The decoding circuit utilizes an input object-word address to retrieve the associated codes from the memory and then translates these codes into the address of the first object word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelvin D. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 6135772
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for embedding an implant of a special design in bone tissue in a way that encourages bone tissue growth in and around the implant thereby achieving greater attachment security over longer periods of time. The user employs a bone-fragment collecting drill to form the bone-tissue hole and deliver the resulting bone fragments to a collecting region. The user crumbles the bone fragments by placing them in the lower of two mating spoon-shaped jaws of a pliers-like device and repeatedly opening and closing the jaws until the bone fragments are crumbled. The surface of the implant is equipped with screw threads, one or more embedded helical channels, and through-holes to permit bone growth into the implant. The installation of the implant consists of partially filling the bone-tissue hole with bone crumbs, packing the helical channels and through-holes with bone crumbs, and screwing the implant into the bone-tissue hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Shedrick D. Jones