Patents by Inventor Derek Mead

Derek Mead 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).

  • Patent number: 8680911
    Abstract: A clamp-point active circuit is provided. The clamp-point active circuit includes a rate amplifier configured to receive an output from a device transitioning between at least two levels. The clamp-point active circuit has at least one switching device configured to receive an output from the rate amplifier. The at least one switching device is in at least one respective feedback loop of the rate amplifier. A switching of the at least one switching device causes the rate amplifier to amplify with high linearity in a desired operating range and to clamp outputs received from the transitioning device that are outside the desired operating range to a fixed level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bingel, Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Deanne Tran Vo, Craig G. Ross, Derek Mead
  • Patent number: 8592746
    Abstract: Systems and methods for driving an optical modulator are provided. In one embodiment, a modulation drive circuit comprises: a balanced impedance network having a first and a second output generated from a first input, and a third and a fourth output generated from a second input, wherein the first and second outputs are balanced with one another, and the third and fourth outputs are balanced with one another; a first differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the first output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the third output of the distribution network; and a second differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the fourth output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the second output of the distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven G. Armstrong, Derek Mead
  • Patent number: 8542364
    Abstract: A fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, an optical coupler in optical communication with the light source, with the optical coupler configured to receive an optical signal from the light source, an optical modulator in optical communication with the optical coupler, and a fiber optic coil in optical communication with the optical modulator. A demodulator is configured to receive an optical signal from the optical coupler and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. A loop closure electronics module is configured to receive the electrical signal from the demodulator. A bias modulator is responsive to an output from the loop closure electronics module and is configured to output a modulation signal to the optical modulator. A first crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the demodulator, and a second crosstalk filter network is operatively coupled to the bias modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W Keith, Derek Mead, Douglas E. Smith, Norman Gerard Tarleton
  • Publication number: 20120229811
    Abstract: A clamp-point active circuit is provided. The clamp-point active circuit includes a rate amplifier configured to receive an output from a device transitioning between at least two levels. The clamp-point active circuit has at least one switching device configured to receive an output from the rate amplifier. The at least one switching device is in at least one respective feedback loop of the rate amplifier. A switching of the at least one switching device causes the rate amplifier to amplify with high linearity in a desired operating range and to clamp outputs received from the transitioning device that are outside the desired operating range to a fixed level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bingel, Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Deanne Tran Vo, Craig G. Ross, Derek Mead
  • Patent number: 8213018
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a fiber-optic gyroscope comprises: a light source current servo coupled to a light source that transmits light through an optic path, wherein the light source current servo controls intensity of light through the optic path via a light source current drive that supplies current to power the light source; and an intensity control signal processor coupled to the optic path via a photo detector, wherein the intensity control signal processor outputs an intensity control signal to the light source current servo, wherein the intensity control signal is a function of intensity of light as received at the photo detector; wherein the light source current servo compares the intensity control signal against a stable analog voltage reference to adjust the light source current drive and drive optical power at the photo detector towards a constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Derek Mead
  • Publication number: 20120141062
    Abstract: Systems and methods for driving an optical modulator are provided. In one embodiment, a modulation drive circuit comprises: a balanced impedance network having a first and a second output generated from a first input, and a third and a fourth output generated from a second input, wherein the first and second outputs are balanced with one another, and the third and fourth outputs are balanced with one another; a first differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the first output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the first differential amplifier couples to the third output of the distribution network; and a second differential amplifier, wherein an inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the fourth output of the distribution network and a non-inverting input of the second differential amplifier couples to the second output of the distribution network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven G. Armstrong, Derek Mead
  • Publication number: 20120113432
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a fiber-optic gyroscope comprises: a light source current servo coupled to a light source that transmits light through an optic path, wherein the light source current servo controls intensity of light through the optic path via a light source current drive that supplies current to power the light source; and an intensity control signal processor coupled to the optic path via a photo detector, wherein the intensity control signal processor outputs an intensity control signal to the light source current servo, wherein the intensity control signal is a function of intensity of light as received at the photo detector; wherein the light source current servo compares the intensity control signal against a stable analog voltage reference to adjust the light source current drive and drive optical power at the photo detector towards a constant level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Derek Mead
  • Patent number: 8149417
    Abstract: A synchronous fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, an optical coupler in optical communication with the light source, an optical modulator in optical communication with the coupler, and a fiber optic coil in optical communication with the modulator. A detector is configured to receive an optical signal from the coupler and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. A loop closure signal processor has a first input configured to receive the electrical signal from the detector. A phase lock loop has an output operatively connected to a second input of the processor. A direct digital synthesizer is operatively coupled to an input of the phase lock loop, with the synthesizer configured to generate a low-frequency signal that is transmitted to the phase lock loop. The phase lock loop converts the low-frequency signal to a high-frequency signal that is transmitted to the second input of the processor, and the phase lock loop provides signal modulation that is synchronous with signal demodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Gerard Tarleton, Stephan Enzone, David A. Doheny, Derek Mead
  • Publication number: 20110181887
    Abstract: A synchronous fiber optic gyroscope includes a light source, an optical coupler in optical communication with the light source, an optical modulator in optical communication with the coupler, and a fiber optic coil in optical communication with the modulator. A detector is configured to receive an optical signal from the coupler and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal. A loop closure signal processor has a first input configured to receive the electrical signal from the detector. A phase lock loop has an output operatively connected to a second input of the processor. A direct digital synthesizer is operatively coupled to an input of the phase lock loop, with the synthesizer configured to generate a low-frequency signal that is transmitted to the phase lock loop. The phase lock loop converts the low-frequency signal to a high-frequency signal that is transmitted to the second input of the processor, and the phase lock loop provides signal modulation that is synchronous with signal demodulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Norman Gerard Tarleton, Stephan Enzone, David A. Doheny, Derek Mead
  • Publication number: 20100092126
    Abstract: A method of constructing a fiber-optic gyroscope includes optically coupling first and second optical fibers to an optical path of an interferometer having an outer surface, coupling at least a portion of the first and second fibers to the outer surface, and optically coupling the first and second fibers to an optical path of an integrated optics chip (IOC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Andrew W. Kaliszek, Derek Mead, Brian P. Timmons, Stanislaw Kopacz
  • Patent number: 7684659
    Abstract: A method of constructing a fiber-optic gyroscope includes optically coupling first and second optical fibers to an optical path of an interferometer having an outer surface, coupling at least a portion of the first and second fibers to the outer surface, and optically coupling the first and second fibers to an optical path of an integrated optics chip (IOC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Kaliszek, Derek Mead, Brian P. Timmons, Stanislaw Kopacz