Patents by Inventor Robert E. Yates

Robert E. Yates 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: 5559650
    Abstract: A storage device including a housing defining a controlled environment. A storage medium is mounted in the housing, with a liquid lubricant contained in the housing and disposed on the surface of the storage medium. A spindle motor is provided in the housing for rotating the storage medium. At least one read/write head is mounted on an actuator assembly, the assembly for positioning the read/write head with respect to the storage medium. Control electronics are coupled to the actuator, read write head, and spindle motor, for interacting with the actuator, head, and motor to read data from and write data to the storage medium. The device housing has a length of about four inches, a height of about five-tenths inch, and a width of about two and three-quarters inches. A wick is provided to recirculate and dispose the liquid bearing on the surface of the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventors: William Repphun, Walter Wong, Robert E. Yates, Gregg Johnson, Terence West
  • Patent number: 4383662
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of anti-armor missile trajectory shaping for optimum rhead penetration of armor by a guided missile. The guidance system utilizes a terminal homing guidance unit in conjunction with a programmed control signal through the missile's autopilot to cause the missile to cruise at low altitudes and then dive onto the armor target. The terminal dive angle can be selected dependent upon the target's armor characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert E. Alongi, Robert E. Yates, John P. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4277038
    Abstract: In a missile system, a simple way to guide a missile in a predetermined tectory from launch to the impacting with a target for optimum warhead penetration of armor by a guided missile. Initially, the missile is guided in yaw by proportional navigation. Subsequently it is guided in pitch first by a pitch programmer until the missile reaches a predetermined gimbal angle between a line of sight of a seeker of the missile and a centerline of the missile, then in pitch by a pseudo-time-optimal closed loop controller to direct the missile pitch attitude at a predetermined rate toward a target until said missile reaches another predetermined gimbal angle, and finally by proportional navigation in pitch of the missile to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert E. Yates, John P. Leonard, Robert E. Alongi, Wilfredo V. Albanes, Charles M. Bishop
  • Patent number: 4198015
    Abstract: A missile system in which a missile is guided in a predetermined trajectory rom launch or shortly thereafter in yaw by proportional navigation and in pitch first by a pitch programmer until said missile reaches a predetermined angle between a line of sight of a seeker of the missile and a centerline of the missile, then in pitch by a time optimal controller to direct the missile at a predetermined angle toward a target and finally by proportional navigation in pitch of the missile to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert E. Yates, John P. Leonard, Robert E. Alongi
  • Patent number: 4033525
    Abstract: A feedback PDM encoder and method is presented which permits utilization of neumatic pulse duration modulation (PDM) actuators with potentiometer position pickoffs in a digital autopilot loop. The actuator is directly driven by a signal derived in the digital autopilot which is in the pulse duration modulation (PDM) format. This signal is derived within the autopilot digital computer using conventional digital techniques. Analog feedback from the potentiometer which indicates angular excursion of the actuator is formatted into a PDM format. This method yields all signals necessary to operate the actuator in a closed loop missile control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John P. Leonard, Robert E. Yates