Patents by Inventor James W. Rakeman

James W. Rakeman 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: 10371792
    Abstract: A system for providing remote target identification is provided that includes a radar system and an electro-optical detector. The radar system is configured to locate a remote target. The electro-optical detector is configured to detect an optical signal transmitted from the target when the target is located. The optical signal includes identifying data for the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Command and Control Solutions LLC
    Inventors: James W. Rakeman, David E. Stephens, Thomas W. Miller
  • Patent number: 9778199
    Abstract: Pressure variations within a solid propellant rocket motor produce like variations in the optical radiance of the motor exhaust plume. The periodicity of the variation is related to the length L of the rocket motor or speed of sound in the rocket motor combustion chamber to length ratio a/L. The optical radiance is collected and converted to electrical signals that are sampled at or above the Nyquist rate. An array of single-pixel photo detectors is well suited to provide amplitude data at high sample rates. The sampled data from the one or more detectors is assembled to form a high fidelity time sequence. A window of sampled data is processed to form a signal frequency spectrum. The mode structure in the frequency spectrum is related to the rocket motor length or speed of sound in the rocket motor chamber to length ratio. The rocket motor length or speed of sound to length ratio is used alone or in combination with other information to either classify or identify the rocket motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Command and Control Solutions LLC
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Patent number: 9709667
    Abstract: A synchronization time delay due to a time synchronization protocol between a first sensing system (e.g., a radar system) and a second sensing system (e.g., an optical sensing system) is evaluated. A timing validation system generates a signal and calculates the total time delay between generation of the test signal and receipt of a detection notification communication transmitted from the second sensing system to the timing validation system, via the first sensing system. for the second sensing system to communicate its detection to the timing validation system, via the first sensing system. The synchronization time delay is extracted from the total time delay by removing contributions to the total time delay from additional sources. The calculated synchronization time delay is compared to a threshold delay and, based upon the comparison, generates a result validating or invalidating the time synchronization protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Command and Control Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Herbel, James W. Rakeman
  • Patent number: 9612326
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating a weapon by fusing audio and radar data. An exemplary embodiment comprises detecting a weapon firing event with an audio sensor system, detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system, calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection, identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time, and communicating the location of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMMAND AND CONTROL SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Herbel, James W. Rakeman
  • Publication number: 20170082731
    Abstract: A synchronization time delay due to a time synchronization protocol between a first sensing system (e.g., a radar system) and a second sensing system (e.g., an optical sensing system) is evaluated. A timing validation system generates a signal and calculates the total time delay between generation of the test signal and receipt of a detection notification communication transmitted from the second sensing system to the timing validation system, via the first sensing system. for the second sensing system to communicate its detection to the timing validation system, via the first sensing system. The synchronization time delay is extracted from the total time delay by removing contributions to the total time delay from additional sources. The calculated synchronization time delay is compared to a threshold delay and, based upon the comparison, generates a result validating or invalidating the time synchronization protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Richard S. Herbel, James W. Rakeman
  • Publication number: 20170016977
    Abstract: A system for providing remote target identification is provided that includes a radar system and an electro-optical detector. The radar system is configured to locate a remote target. The electro-optical detector is configured to detect an optical signal transmitted from the target when the target is located. The optical signal includes identifying data for the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: James W. Rakeman, David E. Stephens, Thomas W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20170016986
    Abstract: A system for providing remote target identification is provided that includes a radar system and an electro-optical device. The radar system is configured to locate a remote target that has an optical identification (ID) system. The radar system is also configured to generate a target location when the target is located. The electro-optical device is configured to receive the target location from the radar system and to obtain optical data from the optical ID system based on the target location. The optical data includes an identity of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: James W. Rakeman, David E. Stephens, Thomas W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20160223662
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating a weapon by fusing audio and radar data. An exemplary embodiment comprises detecting a weapon firing event with an audio sensor system, detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system, calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection, identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time, and communicating the location of the weapon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Richard S. Herbel, James W. Rakeman
  • Patent number: 9234963
    Abstract: A method of locating a weapon includes detecting a weapon firing event with an optical sensor, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event. The method also includes detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system. The method also includes calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection. The method also includes identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time. The method also includes communicating the location of the weapon. A system that implements the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Thales-Raytheon Systems Company LLC
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Publication number: 20150323448
    Abstract: Pressure variations within a solid propellant rocket motor produce like variations in the optical radiance of the motor exhaust plume. The periodicity of the variation is related to the length L of the rocket motor or speed of sound in the rocket motor combustion chamber to length ratio a/L. The optical radiance is collected and converted to electrical signals that are sampled at or above the Nyquist rate. An array of single-pixel photo detectors is well suited to provide amplitude data at high sample rates. The sampled data from the one or more detectors is assembled to form a high fidelity time sequence. A window of sampled data is processed to form a signal frequency spectrum. The mode structure in the frequency spectrum is related to the rocket motor length or speed of sound in the rocket motor chamber to length ratio. The rocket motor length or speed of sound to length ratio is used alone or in combination with other information to either classify or identify the rocket motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Publication number: 20150192667
    Abstract: A method of locating a weapon includes detecting a weapon firing event with an optical sensor, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event. The method also includes detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system. The method also includes calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection. The method also includes identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time. The method also includes communicating the location of the weapon. A system that implements the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Publication number: 20140086454
    Abstract: Presently disclosed are concepts, systems, and techniques directed to augmenting a radar with a plurality of electro-optical (E/O) sensors. The E/O sensors operate in two or more IR bands and have variable range of sensitivities. The outputs from the E/O sensors are correlated to determine and confirm a launch or firing event of a missile, mortar, or similar projectile weapon. From this correlation, time and location of launch/firing may be determined and the radar system alerted to the new threat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Marc C. Bauer, Mark J. Lamb, James W. Rakeman