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).
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Patent number: 8680911Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bingel, Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Deanne Tran Vo, Craig G. Ross, Derek Mead
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Patent number: 8592746Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven G. Armstrong, Derek Mead
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Patent number: 8542364Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Gregory W Keith, Derek Mead, Douglas E. Smith, Norman Gerard Tarleton
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Publication number: 20120229811Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bingel, Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Deanne Tran Vo, Craig G. Ross, Derek Mead
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Patent number: 8213018Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Derek Mead
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Publication number: 20120141062Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven G. Armstrong, Derek Mead
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Publication number: 20120113432Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Douglas E. Smith, Steven J. Sanders, Derek Mead
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Patent number: 8149417Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 27, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Norman Gerard Tarleton, Stephan Enzone, David A. Doheny, Derek Mead
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Publication number: 20110181887Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Norman Gerard Tarleton, Stephan Enzone, David A. Doheny, Derek Mead
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Publication number: 20100092126Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Andrew W. Kaliszek, Derek Mead, Brian P. Timmons, Stanislaw Kopacz
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Patent number: 7684659Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Andrew W. Kaliszek, Derek Mead, Brian P. Timmons, Stanislaw Kopacz