Patents by Inventor Michael R. Franceschini
Michael R. Franceschini 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: 10908275Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
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Publication number: 20200241127Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Michael R. FRANCESCHINI, Kelly P. MULDOON, Steven L. TIMM
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Patent number: 10725170Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
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Patent number: 10693580Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 10299266Abstract: A wireless device network comprises: an unsynchronized wireless device in a time division multiple access based system; and a cognitive master in communication with the device, wherein the master processor is configured to: determine a number of time slots required for the master to transmit a message to and receive a response from the device, each time slot is a portion of a radio frequency spectrum over a frame period; when the number of time slots required are consecutively available, broadcast an announcement message indicating start of discovery of the unsynchronized device; wherein the device processor is configured to: generate a response message including a device ID; and broadcast the response message to the master; wherein the master processor is configured to: generate a correction factor based on at least one of a master transmit time and a master received time; and broadcast the correction factor to the device.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Publication number: 20190097746Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 10177868Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Publication number: 20180270811Abstract: A wireless device network comprises: an unsynchronized wireless device in a time division multiple access based system; and a cognitive master in communication with the device, wherein the master processor is configured to: determine a number of time slots required for the master to transmit a message to and receive a response from the device, each time slot is a portion of a radio frequency spectrum over a frame period; when the number of time slots required are consecutively available, broadcast an announcement message indicating start of discovery of the unsynchronized device; wherein the device processor is configured to: generate a response message including a device ID; and broadcast the response message to the master; wherein the master processor is configured to: generate a correction factor based on at least one of a master transmit time and a master received time; and broadcast the correction factor to the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2017Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 9867180Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device network comprises: a plurality of device nodes using TDMA, the plurality of device nodes configured to transmit during a future TDMA frame of communication on channels having timeslots; and a timeslot allocation function comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to: receive signal characterization data characterizing a radio altimeter signal; using the signal characterization data, predict a frequency of the radio altimeter signal during the future TDMA frame of communication; identify conflicting timeslots for respective channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channels during conflicting timeslots; and transmit a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to the plurality of device nodes, the TDMA timeslot allocation including non-conflicting timeslots where the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with thType: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
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Patent number: 9864043Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed of using a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar unit for data communication by receiving a signal with a phase encoded data channel, and processing the signal with the phase encoded data channel to simultaneously determine data and timing information.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, John B. Mckitterick
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Patent number: 9791550Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed synchronizing clocks of FMCW radar units by transmitting a first signal of a first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the first signal varying over a first frequency range around a first baseband frequency, receiving a second signal at the first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the second signal varying over a second frequency range around a second baseband frequency, determining values of a plurality of parameters including a first timing offset of the first FMCW radar unit based on a digital difference signal between the first and second signals, receiving a second timing offset of a second FMCW radar unit, determining a clock offset based on the first and second timing offsets, and synchronizing a clock of the first FMCW radar unit with a clock of the second FMCW radar unit based on the clock offset.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: John B. Mckitterick, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 9755796Abstract: An avionics system comprises a plurality of avionics components; at least one OFDM transmitter coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to transmit a wireless OFDM signal comprising a plurality of sub-bands; at least one OFDM receiver coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to receive the wireless OFDM signal transmitted by the OFDM transmitter; and a radio altimeter configured to transmit a signal tone that sweeps a frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter at a predefined rate and periodicity. The at least one OFDM transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless OFDM signal in the frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter and to sequentially turn off respective subsets of the plurality of sub-bands in synchronization with the predefined rate and periodicity of the signal tone frequency sweep.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Jamal Haque, Michael R. Franceschini
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Publication number: 20170181146Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device network comprises: a plurality of device nodes using TDMA, the plurality of device nodes configured to transmit during a future TDMA frame of communication on channels having timeslots; and a timeslot allocation function comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to: receive signal characterization data characterizing a radio altimeter signal; using the signal characterization data, predict a frequency of the radio altimeter signal during the future TDMA frame of communication; identify conflicting timeslots for respective channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channels during conflicting timeslots; and transmit a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to the plurality of device nodes, the TDMA timeslot allocation including non-conflicting timeslots where the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with thType: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
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Publication number: 20170180072Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Publication number: 20170176588Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
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Publication number: 20160277161Abstract: An avionics system comprises a plurality of avionics components; at least one OFDM transmitter coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to transmit a wireless OFDM signal comprising a plurality of sub-bands; at least one OFDM receiver coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to receive the wireless OFDM signal transmitted by the OFDM transmitter; and a radio altimeter configured to transmit a signal tone that sweeps a frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter at a predefined rate and periodicity. The at least one OFDM transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless OFDM signal in the frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter and to sequentially turn off respective subsets of the plurality of sub-bands in synchronization with the predefined rate and periodicity of the signal tone frequency sweep.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Jamal Haque, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 9408250Abstract: A wireless communication system comprises one or more control units operable to transmit control signals, a plurality of actuators responsive to the control signals, and a plurality of sensors operable to transmit sensor data used by the one or more control units in generating the control signals. Each of the sensors, actuators, and one or more control units are located at a fixed position in the system relative to one another. Each of the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of actuators are coupled to at least one of the one or more control units via a plurality of wireless paths. Each of the plurality of sensors are operable to transmit the sensor data in an assigned time slot to at least one of the one or more control units over a plurality of wireless channels in each of the plurality of wireless paths.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Yunjung Yi, Vicraj T. Thomas, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
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Patent number: 9350504Abstract: Using bearer channels for wireless nodes includes initiating communication among the wireless nodes that include a node and one or more neighbor nodes. An adaptive channel operable to communicate messages between the node and the neighbor nodes is established. One or more bearer channels are selected. The one or more neighbor nodes are notified of the one or more selected bearer channels using the adaptive channel. The node and the neighbor nodes communicate over the bearer channels.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Scott Y. Seidel, Michael R. Franceschini
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Publication number: 20160047892Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed of using a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar unit for data communication by receiving a signal with a phase encoded data channel, and processing the signal with the phase encoded data channel to simultaneously determine data and timing information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, John B. Mckitterick
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Publication number: 20160025844Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed synchronizing clocks of FMCW radar units by transmitting a first signal of a first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the first signal varying over a first frequency range around a first baseband frequency, receiving a second signal at the first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the second signal varying over a second frequency range around a second baseband frequency, determining values of a plurality of parameters including a first timing offset of the first FMCW radar unit based on a digital difference signal between the first and second signals, receiving a second timing offset of a second FMCW radar unit, determining a clock offset based on the first and second timing offsets, and synchronizing a clock of the first FMCW radar unit with a clock of the second FMCW radar unit based on the clock offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: John B. Mckitterick, Michael R. Franceschini