Patents by Inventor Chris D. Alber

Chris D. Alber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus using slant-path water delay estimates to correct global positioning satellite survey error
    Patent number: 6067852
    Abstract: An atmospheric water vapor sensing system uses Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to determine the refractivity and Slant-path Water Vapor Delay (SWD) between an Earth-based GPS receiver and a plurality of satellite-based GPS transmitters. The system provides improved precision in position calculation measurements by eliminating the refractivity effects of water vapor. No other system inputs are required apart from conventional GPS satellite signals and conventional satellite orbit data to implement the method. SWD arises from the refractivity in the integrated atmospheric water vapor in a column of atmosphere at an acute angular line-of-sight path between the Earth-based GPS receiver and any one of the plurality of satellite-based GPS transmitters. The system is especially useful in monitoring the Earth's crustal deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
    Inventors: Chris D. Alber, Randolph H. Ware, Christian Rocken, Fredrick S. Solheim