Patents by Inventor Thomas Michael King

Thomas Michael King 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: 11994858
    Abstract: Performance anomalies in complex systems can be difficult to identify and diagnose. In an example, CPU-usage associated with one or more of the systems can be determined. An anomalous event can be determined based on the determined CPU-usage. In some examples, based at least in part on determining the event, the system may be controlled in a safe state and/or reconfigured to obviate the anomalous event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edward Somers, Thomas Michael Flanagan, Andrew Lewis King, Arpan Silas Rajan
  • Patent number: 8842717
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver that is configured to rapidly acquire GPS signals in space applications and a method for rapidly acquiring GPS signals in space applications is disclosed. In an embodiment, the GPS receiver includes, but is not limited to, a GPS signal acquisition component. The GPS signal acquisition component is adapted to acquire a GPS signal by receiving data from the GPS signal and processing the data to detect the GPS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Publication number: 20120250733
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver that is configured to rapidly acquire GPS signals in space applications and a method for rapidly acquiring GPS signals in space applications is disclosed. In an embodiment, the GPS receiver includes, but is not limited to, a GPS signal acquisition component comprising a time domain correlation module. The GPS signal acquisition component is adapted to acquire a GPS signal by receiving data from the GPS signal and processing the data to detect the GPS signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL DYNAMICS ADVANCED INFORMATION SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 7250904
    Abstract: A method in a mobile satellite positioning system receiver operating in cold-start mode, including searching for and detecting (310) a first satellite in a constellation of orbiting satellites, searching (320) for a second satellite based on detection probability information for non-detected satellites, the detection probability information obtained using information about one of satellites not detected or the first satellite detected. In one embodiment, the detection probability information is based on a measure of range between the non-detected satellites and the first satellite detected, and in another embodiment the detection probability information is based on a measure of angle between the non-detected satellites and the first satellite detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, Alan Chang, Troy L. Strother
  • Patent number: 7062240
    Abstract: A multiple channel receiver (200) includes a communications receiver synthesizer (204) and at least one numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) (406) that produce local oscillator signals that are derived from a common reference oscillator (202). A DSP (212) and CPU (214) perform automatic frequency control (AFC) by adjustment of the reference oscillator (202) based upon a signal received by a receive channel using the local oscillator signal produced by the communications receiver synthesizer (204). The CPU (214) also provides a synchronous indication of adjustments to the reference oscillator (202) to control circuitry for the at least one NCO (406) so that the configuration of the NCO (406) can be altered so as to maintain a substantially constant frequency output during the adjustment of the reference oscillator (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Wiggins Ballantyne, Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 6965754
    Abstract: A method in a location enabled mobile wireless receiver having an oscillator, including determining a change in cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator (250), based on a difference (230) between a cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator and a reference cellular network based frequency error (210) of the oscillator, determining a first frequency error of the oscillator by summing (250) a reference satellite positioning system receiver based oscillator frequency error (220) with the change in cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 6944540
    Abstract: Method in a Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, including determining pseudorange (PNR) measurements for at least four satellites (210), determining a coarse time (220) corresponding to the pseudorange measurement, determining an offset time (240) between a periodic GPS event of one of the four satellites and the coarse time, determining a time correction delta (250) based upon the period of the Periodic GPS event, the offset time and the coarse time if an error of the coarse time is less than ½ the period of the periodic GPS event, and determining corrected time (260) based upon the coarse time and the time correction delta if the error of the coarse time is less than ½ the period of the periodic GPS event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, George Jeffrey Geier, Rodney Patrick Landers, Michael Joseph Slade, Paul DeClerck
  • Patent number: 6934322
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for data message bit synchronization of a spread spectrum signal having a repeating sequence of pseudorandom code bits modulated with data message bits having a data bit time that is an integer number of a repeat time of the pseudorandom code bits. In one embodiment, an adjusted bit sync offset time is determined for each of a plurality of signals for which bit sync offset time is not known based on a corresponding clock error corrected propagation time for each signal, based on a known bit synch offset time and based on a clock error corrected propagation time of the signal for which bit synch offset time is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, George Jeffrey Geier, Troy L. Strother
  • Publication number: 20040214538
    Abstract: A multiple channel receiver (200) includes a communications receiver synthesizer (204) and at least one numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) (406) that produce local oscillator signals that are derived from a common reference oscillator (202). A DSP (212) and CPU (214) perform automatic frequency control (AFC) by adjustment of the reference oscillator (202) based upon a signal received by a receive channel using the local oscillator signal produced by the communications receiver synthesizer (204). The CPU (214) also provides a synchronous indication of adjustments to the reference oscillator (202) to control circuitry for the at least one NCO (406) so that the configuration of the NCO (406) can be altered so as to maintain a substantially constant frequency output during the adjustment of the reference oscillator (202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Wiggins Ballantyne, Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 6775319
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for code phase searching spread spectrum signals having a repeating sequence of bits. The signals are searched virtually in parallel by segmenting with a divider (314) received signals by sequentially, partially correlating signal segments with a corresponding replica signal segments for a predetermined number of phase delays during a time interval not greater than that required to form the next signal segment. Multiplexors (322) and (330) provide Doppler and replica signal segments data from Doppler signal and replica signal generators (318) and (320) to corresponding multipliers (326) and (332), respectively, for multiplication with corresponding signal segments in a segment register (316). The partial correlation results for each phase delay and at each Doppler frequency are stored in corresponding memory locations in a coherent accumulation RAM (334). The signals may be searched over one or more phase delays and at one or more Doppler frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, Denise C. Riemer, Robert B. Harbour, Andrew P. Hoover
  • Patent number: 6642886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a GPS receiver (FIG. 4) is provided according to the invention. The apparatus includes a first switch (402), the first switch (402) receiving a digital GPS data, a first memory (409), a second memory (410) in parallel with the first memory, with the first memory and the second memory selectable by the first switch (402) for filling with the digital GPS data, and a second switch (416) selectable between the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) in order to extract the digital GPS data therefrom, wherein DSP signal processing (140) extracts digital GPS data from the first memory (409) while the second memory (410) is being filled and extracts digital GPS data from the second memory (410) while the first memory is being filled, and wherein the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) allow the digital GPS data to be processed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Publication number: 20030187575
    Abstract: Method in a Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, including determining pseudorange (PNR) measurements for at least four satellites (210), determining a coarse time (220) corresponding to the pseudorange measurement, determining an offset time (240) between a periodic GPS event of one of the four satellites and the coarse time, determining a time correction delta (250) based upon the period of the Periodic GPS event, the offset time and the coarse time if an error of the coarse time is less than ½ the period of the periodic GPS event, and determining corrected time (260) based upon the coarse time and the time correction delta if the error of the coarse time is less than ½ the period of the periodic GPS event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, George Jeffrey Geier, Rodney Patrick Landers, Michael Joseph Slade, Paul DeClerck
  • Publication number: 20030147457
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for data message bit synchronization of a spread spectrum signal having a repeating sequence of pseudorandom code bits modulated with data message bits having a data bit time that is an integer number of a repeat time of the pseudorandom code bits. In one embodiment, an adjusted bit sync offset time is determined for each of a plurality of signals for which bit sync offset time is not known based on a corresponding clock error corrected propagation time for each signal, based on a known bit synch offset time and based on a clock error corrected propagation time of the signal for which bit synch offset time is known.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, George Jeffrey Geier, Troy L. Strother
  • Patent number: 6583758
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a GPS receiver (FIG. 4) is provided according to the invention. The apparatus includes a first switch (402), the first switch (402) receiving a digital GPS data, a first memory (409), a second memory (410) in parallel with the first memory, with the first memory and the second memory selectable by the first switch (402) for filling with the digital GPS data, and a second switch (416) selectable between the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) in order to extract the digital GPS data therefrom, wherein DSP signal processing (140) extracts digital GPS data from the first memory (409) while the second memory (410) is being filled and extracts digital GPS data from the second memory (410) while the first memory is being filled, and wherein the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) allow the digital GPS data to be processed in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Publication number: 20030081660
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for code phase searching spread spectrum signals having a repeating sequence of bits. The signals are searched virtually in parallel by segmenting with a divider (314) received signals by sequentially, partially correlating signal segments with a corresponding replica signal segments for a predetermined number of phase delays during a time interval not greater than that required to form the next signal segment. Multiplexors (322) and (330) provide Doppler and replica signal segments data from Doppler signal and replica signal generators (318) and (320) to corresponding multipliers (326) and (332), respectively, for multiplication with corresponding signal segments in a segment register (316). The partial correlation results for each phase delay and at each Doppler frequency are stored in corresponding memory locations in a coherent accumulation RAM (334). The signals may be searched over one or more phase delays and at one or more Doppler frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, Denise C. Riemer, Robert B. Harbour, Andrew P. Hoover
  • Publication number: 20030068977
    Abstract: A method in a location enabled mobile wireless receiver having an oscillator, including determining a change in cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator (250), based on a difference (230) between a cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator and a reference cellular network based frequency error (210) of the oscillator, determining a first frequency error of the oscillator by summing (250) a reference satellite positioning system receiver based oscillator frequency error (220) with the change in cellular network based frequency error of the oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 6535801
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a satellite in a near geosynchronous orbit includes receiving at least one main lobe signal from an antenna on a first GPS satellite. A GPS signal, including GPS time and Doppler, is received from a pseudolite positioned on the Earth and an approximate position of each of a plurality of second GPS satellites is determined from an onboard almanac. Side lobe signals and accompanying noise are received from antennas on the plurality of second GPS satellites. The GPS signal and known sequential data bits are used for sorting or integrating the side lobe signals from the accompanying noise and the position of the satellite in a near geosynchronous orbit is determined using the one or more main lobe signals and the sorted side lobe signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George Jeffrey Geier, Roger Charles Hart, Thomas Michael King
  • Patent number: 6532251
    Abstract: Methods and architectures for data message bit synchronization of a spread spectrum signal having a repeating sequence of pseudorandom code bits modulated with data message bits having a data bit time that is an integer number of a repeat time of the pseudorandom code bits. In one embodiment, an adjusted bit sync offset time is determined for each of a plurality of signals for which bit sync offset time is not known based on a corresponding clock error corrected propagation time for each signal, based on a known bit synch offset time and based on a clock error corrected propagation time of the signal for which bit synch offset time is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael King, George Jeffrey Geier, Troy L. Strother
  • Publication number: 20020113733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a GPS receiver (FIG. 4) is provided according to the invention. The apparatus includes a first switch (402), the first switch (402) receiving a digital GPS data, a first memory (409), a second memory (410) in parallel with the first memory, with the first memory and the second memory selectable by the first switch (402) for filling with the digital GPS data, and a second switch (416) selectable between the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) in order to extract the digital GPS data therefrom, wherein DSP signal processing (140) extracts digital GPS data from the first memory (409) while the second memory (410) is being filled and extracts digital GPS data from the second memory (410) while the first memory is being filled, and wherein the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) allow the digital GPS data to be processed in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King
  • Publication number: 20020113732
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a GPS receiver (FIG. 4) is provided according to the invention. The apparatus includes a first switch (402), the first switch (402) receiving a digital GPS data, a first memory (409), a second memory (410) in parallel with the first memory, with the first memory and the second memory selectable by the first switch (402) for filling with the digital GPS data, and a second switch (416) selectable between the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) in order to extract the digital GPS data therefrom, wherein DSP signal processing (140) extracts digital GPS data from the first memory (409) while the second memory (410) is being filled and extracts digital GPS data from the second memory (410) while the first memory is being filled, and wherein the first memory (409) and the second memory (410) allow the digital GPS data to be processed in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Michael King