Patents by Inventor Mark R. FitzGerald

Mark R. FitzGerald 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: 5571018
    Abstract: An arrangement for simulating indirect fire in military combat training exercises in which each individual exercise participant is not required to be equipped with an individual position-locating device. The arrangement uses a technique of grouping (20, 30) the players (1-7,11-17) and equipping only one member of the group with a position-locating device (43). The position of the single player equipped with the position-locating device is used to determine if the group is located within the area affected by simulated indirect fire. Once the group has been determined to be within the affected area, individual players within the group assess their own casualties based on weapon-target pairing and random chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. FitzGerald
  • Patent number: 5556281
    Abstract: A method and apparatus controls the display of information for troops and vehicles in a simulated battlefield. Rounds of munition are fired into the simulated battlefield and the effects of such munitions are displayed on the troops and vehicles display devices. These display devices include character displays for troops and display screen for vehicles. The text character display may include such information as damage assessment, weapon type, miss distance and miss direction. A screen display may be used for a vehicle display. The screen display depicts similar information as for the text character display, but in a graphical representation via icons representing various battlefield effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. FitzGerald, Craig T. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5518401
    Abstract: Non-pyrotechnic cues are used with an area weapons effects system. These cues include sound devices, flashing lights and smoke deposition devices. A processor detects the required type of display from an input message and displays an appropriate sound to correspond to the type of weapon used. In addition, visual displays are coordinated with the audio display to provide simulated explosions with appropriate sounds ("bangs") and lights ("flashing lights") and smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. FitzGerald, Bruce E. Geren, Edward P. Katarski
  • Patent number: 5454720
    Abstract: A method for providing detection of timing anomalies and eliminating falsely detected positions in a hyperbolic positioning system for a simulated battlefield system. The method selects a large number of transmitters for calculation of position of an object or person on the battle field. In addition, transmitters are selected which have a high dilution of precision factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. FitzGerald, Craig T. Griffin, Glen E. Sater
  • Patent number: 5420594
    Abstract: A multi-mode position location method detects the location of movable detection devices which are attached to movable carriers in a simulated battlefield. The multi-mode position location method employs three modes of position location of the detection devices. The first mode is a Global Positioning System (GPS) differentially corrected position of the detection device. The second mode is a multilateration determined position of the detection device. The third mode is an autonomously determined GPS position of the detection device. The autonomously determined position is determined without any differential GPS corrections. The most accurately determined position of the detection device may be used for area weapons effects simulation and carrier tracking by transmitting the carrier's position to a master control station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. FitzGerald, Craig T. Griffin, Glen E. Sater
  • Patent number: 5382958
    Abstract: A time transfer position location method and arrangement. A mission control station initiates a number of relays placed throughout a simulated battlefield. Each of the relays then obtains position and time information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite. Each relay repeatedly transmits position information (timing pulse) in a particular time slot over the playing field. In addition, fire mission information which includes type of munition deployed and its range and affects is also transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. FitzGerald