Patents by Inventor Mark A. Cvetnic
Mark A. Cvetnic 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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Publication number: 20220026180Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Patent number: 10982935Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Publication number: 20190301839Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Patent number: 10295312Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.Inventors: David Sharpin, James Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Publication number: 20160178331Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Patent number: 9170070Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Publication number: 20140138474Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: David Sharpin, Jim Kolanek, Mark A. Cvetnic, Mike Hutchings, James Tennison, Kent Carl Nelson, Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Behshad Baseghi
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Patent number: 7614348Abstract: Weapons, weapon components and related methods are provided. In one embodiment a weapon component includes one or more discrete fragments embedded in a reactive material matrix. The weapon component may be used as a warhead that includes an explosive charge. In one embodiment the weapon component is configured such that, upon explosive launch, the reactive material matrix fractures to define one or more reactive material matrix fragments. The weapon component may be configured such that the discrete fragments are propelled at a first velocity over a defined distance while the reactive material matrix fragments are propelled at a second velocity over the defined distance, the second velocity being less than the first velocity. The weapon component may be used, for example, in a countermeasure weapon used to defeat a target weapon. Other embodiments of weapon components, weapons and related methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Richard M. Truitt, Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Paul C. Braithwaite, Michael T. Rose, Mark A. Cvetnic
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Publication number: 20090211484Abstract: Weapons, weapon components and related methods are provided. In one embodiment a weapon component includes one or more discrete fragments embedded in a reactive material matrix. The weapon component may be used as a warhead that includes an explosive charge. In one embodiment the weapon component is configured such that, upon explosive launch, the reactive material matrix fractures to define one or more reactive material matrix fragments. The weapon component may be configured such that the discrete fragments are propelled at a first velocity over a defined distance while the reactive material matrix fragments are propelled at a second velocity over the defined distance, the second velocity being less than the first velocity. The weapon component may be used, for example, in a countermeasure weapon used to defeat a target weapon. Other embodiments of weapon components, weapons and related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: Richard M. Truitt, Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Paul C. Braithwaite, Michael T. Rose, Mark A. Cvetnic