Patents by Inventor Donald A. Stratton

Donald A. Stratton 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: 9500483
    Abstract: An integrated surrogate positioning system and method is disclosed for converting a received positioning signal to a desired output based on existing infrastructure of a host receiver. The system and method comprises a signal processing system for receiving and downconverting to digital, radio frequency positioning signals from a variety of constellations. A radio frequency signal generator receives the positioning solution and determines output positioning signal parameters based on the requirements of the host receiver. The signal generator produces an output baseband positioning signal based on the received positioning solution and the output positioning signal parameters and transmits the positioning signal to the host receive through existing infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Stockmaster, Donald A. Stratton
  • Patent number: 8487812
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for aligning a beamforming system relative to a platform, said beamforming system being positioned on-board the platform. The method described in the present disclosure extends beyond currently available techniques by providing an adaptive beamsteering function which is available during installation of the beamforming system. This adaptive beamsteering function may determine the orientation error of the beamforming system by adaptively searching for correlated behavior of multiple satellite signals, seeking an orientation where a Correlated Power Function (CPF) is maximized. This orientation, relative to the input aiding system (ex. —INS) may provide a set of correction factors which enable the sensor (ex. —beamforming system) to utilize the input aiding system in an arbitrary orientation (ex. —as long as that arbitrary orientation is suitable for GPS reception).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Stratton
  • Patent number: 7697919
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system to mitigate emulator spoofer signals. In an embodiment of the invention, the system of the present invention may be a navigational receiver which may acquire authentic signals in the presence of spoofer signals whereby the authentic navigational signals may be processed to determine a correct position of the receiver. The receiver of the present invention may execute a mitigation method of the present invention whereby characteristics of pairs of signals of received signals may be determined. The mitigation method may also include selection of an authentic signal based upon the characteristics of signal pairs. Characteristics of signal pairs may include relative amplitude, phase and frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Stratton, Karl W. Ulmer
  • Patent number: 6606545
    Abstract: A global landing system (GLS) for retrofitting an aircraft having ILS systems, as well as autopilot or flight control computers. The GLS using horizontal and vertical guidance control points (GCPs) which are co-extensive with glideslope and localizer antenna locations, and correction lever arms representing the separation of such GCPs with on-board GPS antennas. A method of measuring such lever arm with an additional GPS receiver is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl L. McCall, Donald A. Stratton
  • Patent number: 5781151
    Abstract: A system for flight inspection of radio navigation aids is disclosed in which a interferometric trajectory reconstruction technique (ITR) is employed. The ITR system combines data from a ground-based reference unit at a fixed location with data from a mobile unit on the aircraft. Single-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers in the units provide a sequence of measurement data for each navigation satellite in view. Additional data is collected from the aircraft's radio altimeter when the aircraft passes over the threshold of the runway. The aircraft's trajectory is determined at the end of the time interval under analysis, after all measurements have been received. ITR employs a unique procedure to establish the exact distance from the aircraft to each of several GNSS satellites using both pseudo-range and carrier signal information. The aircraft's position is determined from these distances using a least-squares adjustment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Donald A. Stratton