Patents by Inventor Walter D. Clark
Walter D. Clark 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: 8770685Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes physical data lines, a controller, and a fluid-ejection mechanism. The physical data lines communicatively connect the controller and the fluid-ejection mechanism. The controller is to assert a logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line to denote that a first data sub-packet of a new data packet of nozzle data for a predetermined sequence of fluid-ejection nozzles of the fluid-ejection mechanism is being transmitted over the physical data lines. The fluid-ejection mechanism is to listen for the controller to assert the logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line, to discern that the first data sub-packet of the new data packet is being transmitted over the physical data lines.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Matthew A. Shepherd, Walter D. Clark, Trudy Benjamin
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Publication number: 20110316917Abstract: A fluid-ejection device includes physical data lines, a controller, and a fluid-ejection mechanism. The physical data lines communicatively connect the controller and the fluid-ejection mechanism. The controller is to assert a logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line to denote that a first data sub-packet of a new data packet of nozzle data for a predetermined sequence of fluid-ejection nozzles of the fluid-ejection mechanism is being transmitted over the physical data lines. The fluid-ejection mechanism is to listen for the controller to assert the logical and virtual nozzle-fire-restart line, to discern that the first data sub-packet of the new data packet is being transmitted over the physical data lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2009Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Matthew A. Shepherd, Walter D. Clark, Trudy Benjamin
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Patent number: 7149356Abstract: The present invention includes a method for matching a stored template with an image of an object. This is a final stage identification device in the at least one candidate array is received from a prescreener and/or intermediate discriminator. The candidate array includes a respective plurality of direction values at least partially defining a respective contour of an object within a two-dimensional image containing a possible target. The candidate array is compared with at least one stored template array. The stored template array includes a respective plurality of direction values at least partially defining an outline of a predetermined object of interest. The template array may include a plurality of template segment arrays such that various portions of the overall template are compared one at a time with the entire candidate array. The match between candidate and stored template may be scored based upon how well the template segments correspond to the candidate.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Walter D. Clark, Richard R. Ramroth
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Patent number: 7146057Abstract: The present invention includes a method for analyzing an image to screen for target candidates wherein an edge-follower detects straight segments within a plurality of longer edges and detects also from the longer edges, contours that go around areas that are the right size. The invention also contemplates starting the edge-follower from seeds on the image and terminating the edge-following process if the edge meanders too much to ever become an acceptable contour. In accordance with another embodiment, the straight segments can be further screened by measuring the gradient direction and then noting the deviation from the mean of those direction values. The highly straight edges thus found, in confluence with each other, or near a correct size contour define likely candidates.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Walter D. Clark, Richard L. Hoffman
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Patent number: 7116823Abstract: The present invention includes a method for analyzing an image wherein elements defining a path within a two-dimensional image are received from a prescreener. A Sobel operator may be applied to the region around each of the elements of the chain to obtain a corresponding array of gradient directions. An angle correction may be applied to any of the gradient directions that goes beyond the highest value (in radian measure; the Pi ?Pi transition), to obtain an array of gradient directions free of any artificial jumps in value. The gradient direction array (Sobel chaincode) can have its bandwidth taken to determine a single number of straightness so as to identify extremely straight edges, (manmade objects) from less straight edges (natural objects). A similar process can be used to analyze contours for straight sections, which are also parallel. These two and other filters applied to the gradient array can be part of a feature suite, for feature space analysis.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Walter D. Clark, Omar Aboutalib, Liya Su
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Patent number: 7108230Abstract: An aircraft with swept back wings and spoilers inlaid into the top surface near the tips of the wings. The aircraft also includes an elevator formed in the center back portion of the aircraft, which is also aft of the spoilers. It is aft to allow an auxiliary control in the elevator signal to cancel the unwanted pitch up moment caused by the spoilers only going up and being aft of the center of gravity of the aircraft. Roll is achieved with these spoilers by the direct action of the lift dumping on one side or the other and by taking advantage of the transformation of yaw into roll by the sweep back of the wings.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Walter D. Clark
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Patent number: 7106103Abstract: In an implementation, a selectable integrated circuit interface includes selectable integrated circuit interface configurations that can each interface an integrated circuit. A selection circuit generates a selection signal to select an individual selectable integrated circuit interface configuration, and logic couples a clock signal and data to a selected integrated circuit interface configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Glenn Michael Smith, Paul D. Bliley, Bill Eaton, Walter D. Clark
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Patent number: 6877832Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for instruction architecture. One embodiment includes a first integrated circuit (IC). The first IC includes at least two instruction stacks and an arbiter coupled to the at least two instruction stacks. A second IC is provided. The first and the second ICs are coupled using a serial interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Glenn M. Smith, Walter D. Clark, William S. Eaton
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Publication number: 20040245379Abstract: An aircraft with swept back wings and spoilers inlaid into the top surface near the tips of the wings. The aircraft also includes an elevator formed in the center back portion of the aircraft, which is also aft of the spoilers. It is aft to allow an auxiliary control in the elevator signal to cancel the unwanted pitch up moment caused by the spoilers only going up and being aft of the center of gravity of the aircraft. Roll is achieved with these spoilers by the direct action of the lift dumping on one side or the other and by taking advantage of the transformation of yaw into roll by the sweep back of the wings.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2003Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Walter D. Clark
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Patent number: 6793171Abstract: A method for flying an aircraft includes flying the aircraft at a first approximately level position and changing the flight of the aircraft from the first approximately level position to a climbing position. The method includes changing the flight of the aircraft from the climbing position to a second approximately level position to achieve a weightless state during the change to the second approximately level position and rolling the aircraft during the weightless state using one or more rolling control surfaces of the aircraft to establish a bank for a turn without creating adverse yaw. The aircraft does not include a deflectable spoiler, fin or rudder to counter adverse yaw. The rolling control surfaces of the aircraft may comprise elevons of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Walter D. Clark
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Publication number: 20040179048Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for instruction architecture. One embodiment includes a first integrated circuit (IC). The first IC includes at least two instruction stacks and an arbiter coupled to the at least two instruction stacks. A second IC is provided. The first and the second ICs are coupled using a serial interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Glenn M. Smith, Walter D. Clark, William S. Eaton
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Publication number: 20040071346Abstract: The present invention includes a method for matching a stored template with an image of an object. This is a final stage identification device in the at least one candidate array is received from a prescreener and/or intermediate discriminator. The candidate array includes a respective plurality of direction values at least partially defining a respective contour of an object within a two-dimensional image containing a possible target. The candidate array is compared with at least one stored template array. The stored template array includes a respective plurality of direction values at least partially defining an outline of a predetermined object of interest. The template array may include a plurality of template segment arrays such that various portions of the overall template are compared one at a time with the entire candidate array. The match between candidate and stored template may be scored based upon how well the template segments correspond to the candidate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Walter D. Clark, Richard R. Ramroth
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Publication number: 20040008890Abstract: The present invention includes a method for analyzing an image to screen for target candidates wherein an edge-follower detects straight segments within a plurality of longer edges and detects also from the longer edges, contours that go around areas that are the right size. The invention also contemplates starting the edge-follower from seeds on the image and terminating the edge-following process if the edge meanders too much to ever become an acceptable contour. In accordance with another embodiment, the straight segments can be further screened by measuring the gradient direction and then noting the deviation from the mean of those direction values. The highly straight edges thus found, in confluence with each other, or near a correct size contour define likely candidates.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Walter D. Clark, Richard L. Hoffman
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Patent number: 6641086Abstract: A system for controlling an aircraft includes an airframe, a first airfoil, and a second airfoil. At least a portion of the first airfoil and the second airfoil are controllably deflectable so that, during a roll maneuver, the first airfoil generates increased lift and a consequent increased drag, and the second airfoil generates negative lift and a consequent increased drag, the increased lift and the decreased lift generating a roll moment, and the increased drag of the second airfoil producing a yaw moment that counteracts the yaw moment produced by the increased drag of the first airfoil such that no substantial change in aircraft yaw moment occurs. The drag on the down-going wing may counteract the drag on the up-going wing by having a reduced area providing the down-going force so that it has to deflect to the point that it is producing not only less, but actually negative lift.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Walter D. Clark
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Publication number: 20030034421Abstract: A system for controlling an aircraft includes an airframe, a first airfoil, and a second airfoil. At least a portion of the first airfoil and the second airfoil are controllably deflectable so that, during a roll maneuver, the first airfoil generates increased lift and a consequent increased drag, and the second airfoil generates negative lift and a consequent increased drag, the increased lift and the decreased lift generating a roll moment, and the increased drag of the second airfoil producing a yaw moment that counteracts the yaw moment produced by the increased drag of the first airfoil such that no substantial change in aircraft yaw moment occurs. The drag on the down-going wing may counteract the drag on the up-going wing by having a reduced area providing the down-going force so that it has to deflect to the point that it is producing not only less, but actually negative lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2001Publication date: February 20, 2003Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventor: Walter D. Clark