Patents Represented by Attorney James F. Kirk
  • Patent number: 6834234
    Abstract: A Land Surveyor System with Reprocessing is carried by a surveyor moving from a first known position at the start of a survey interval to a second known position at the end of the survey interval has an AINS (aided inertial navigation system) that provides a continuing sequence of time-indexed present position values. A Position Computing System uses a program that stores the sequence of time-indexed present position values in a memory. A reprocessing computer and program is activated at the second known position to access and process the continuing sequence of time-indexed present position values with a smoothing program to provide indexed and adjusted present position values for at least some of the time-indexed present position values. The system is packaged for transport and use by a surveyor. A switch permits the surveyor to signal that the unit is stationary as a reset for the AINS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation, Limited
    Inventors: Bruno Scherzinger, Blake Reid, Erik Lithopoulos
  • Patent number: 6594617
    Abstract: A pedometer navigator system has an Euler Angle Measuring Subsystem (EAMS) coupled to a body frame provides Euler angles of a fixed coordinate system with respect to a navigational coordinate system. Left and right sensors are mounted on a surveyor's feet. An SBPMS (short baseline position measuring subsystem) provides a left vector {right arrow over (&rgr;)}leftp and a right vector {right arrow over (&rgr;)}rightp characterizing the position of the sensors with respect to the SBPMS coordinate system origin. A computer means responds to the Euler angles and left and right vector and determines an interval during which the left or right foot is stationary, and providing a transition vector referenced to the earth fixed navigational coordinate system. A navigation algorithm adds each transition vector to the previous present position of the navigation reference system to obtain a next present position of the position measuring subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Applanix Corporation
    Inventor: Bruno M. Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 6479970
    Abstract: An un-interruptible power supply coupled to a dc input voltage node, having a mode control circuit to monitors the input voltage and to provide a mode selection signal to indicate that the input voltage is above a predetermined level. A high frequency transformer has a primary winding, an output winding and a charger winding. A battery is referenced to a third reference potential node. An input inverter transfers power from the dc input voltage to an output rectifier and to an adaptive converter to charge a battery. The output rectifier and filter provides the output dc voltage referenced to the second reference potential node. The adaptive converter referenced to the third reference potential transfer power from the battery to the transformer charger winding to provide the output dc voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Anantha B. Reddy
  • Patent number: 6330169
    Abstract: An output voltage regulation system allows independent output regulation of multi-output dc-dc switched-mode power converters. The channel resistance of MOSFET synchronous output rectifiers are controlled to obtain the voltage drop required to keep the respective output between predetermined limits concurrent with wide excursions in output load. A typical circuit has a transformer with an input winding coupled to a dc source. A transformer has at least a first and second output winding. A switched-mode regulator means samples a portion of the first output voltage and provides at least a first pulse-width modulated drive voltage having a first state and a second state to a first input semiconductor switch control terminal. The drive voltage first state turns the input semiconductor switch on and the drive voltage second state turns the input semiconductor switch off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Condor D.C. Power Supplies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Mullett, Thomas M. Ingman
  • Patent number: 6146025
    Abstract: An improved laser diode is taught. A laser diode chip with an optical port for outputing an optical signal is mounted on a substrate. The substrate has a perimeter that extends beyond the area of the laser diode chip. The lens face of an optical fiber is aligned to receive the optical signal from the optical port. The optical fiber is secured at a pad location on the substrate with a solder ball. A portion of the substrate is mounted on a TEC leaving an overhang portion unsupported by the TEC. The overhang portion of the substrate forms a ledge portion of the substrate. A thermal insulating slot and a stress relief slot are micromachined through the substrate forming an "L" shaped slot defining a cantilever fiber support segment of the substrate. The fiber is mounted on the end of the fiber support segment with a solder ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Henry C. Abbink, Arnold E. Goldman, Agop Cherbettchian, Raymond Scott Enochs
  • Patent number: 6131845
    Abstract: A fiber guide for spooling glass fiber from an automatic coil winding machine onto a spool. The guide has a body or pay guide assembly with a receiving aperture. Two similar sections are held together with a slight gap between them. Left and right parallel strands of music wire are tightly stretched through the gap across the receiving aperture of the arc and are anchored at each end. A spool with flanged edges receives the left and right parallel strands or guides and is maintained very close to the last layer or surface of fiber laid down. A guide pulley is carried by the guide for guiding glass fiber between the left and right parallel strands and onto the spool. The parallel strands are tensioned by anchoring each wire in a respective standoff. In one embodiment, each end of a music wire wraps around a standoff. The wires extend through the cross drilled holes permitting adjustment by turning the standoff. In an alternative embodiment, a tensioner is formed by a pivotal plate, relative to the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Francis Burlingame, John E. Fitzgerald, Thomas G. Council
  • Patent number: 6128424
    Abstract: An Integrated Optics Chip with improved performance when exposed to rapidly changing temperature is disclosed. The optic chip or integrated optic chip or MIOC has a top surface, a +Z face and -Z face. The chip is formed from a crystal having a high electro-optic coefficient such as Lithium Niobate. For the purpose of orienting the components to the optic chip to be described, the +Z crystal axis extends outward from the +Z face. An input waveguide formed in the top surface of the chip and orthogonal to the +Z axis receives an optical signal from an input port, passes the signal via a waveguide network, to an output waveguide coupling the waveguide network to an output port. Metalization is applied to the top face of the optic chip to form at least a first and a second rail. The first and second rails are positioned to very closely straddle a portion of the input waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Lorrie L. Gampp, Gregory A. Zimmerman, Christine E. Geosling, John P. Rahn
  • Patent number: 6069804
    Abstract: A multi-output, multi-directional power converter has an input bi-directional switch and at least a first output bi-directional switch, a coupled inductor having an input winding and at least one output winding. The coupled inductor input winding is connected in series with the input voltage source and an input bi-directional switch. Each coupled inductor output winding is connected in series with a corresponding output voltage source such as a capacitor and its respective output bi-directional switch. A clock circuit provides a first and second control signal. Each control signal has a first and second state. The second control signal has a state that is the complement of the first control signal. The first control signal is connected to the input bi-directional switch control terminal and the second control signal is connected to each respective output bi-directional switch control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Condor D.C. Power Supplies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Ingman, John W. Beecroft, Charles E. Mullett
  • Patent number: 6044184
    Abstract: An integrated optics chip with improved performance when exposed to changing temperature is disclosed. The optic chip or integrated optics chip or MIOC has a top surface, a +Z face and -Z face. The integrated optics chip is formed from a crystal substrate having a high electro-optic coefficient such as Lithium Niobate. For the purpose of orienting the components to the optic chip to be described, the +Z crystal axis extends outward from the +Z face, the Z axis being the axis across which a pyroelectric effect is exhibited. The top surface is orthogonal to the Z axis. An input waveguide on the top surface receives an optical signal from an input port, passes the signal via a waveguide network, to an output waveguide coupling the waveguide network to an output port. A portion of the +Z and -Z faces are coated at least partially with a conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Shafer, Henry C. Abbink, John P. Rahn, Christine E. Geosling, Gregory A. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5947406
    Abstract: A fiber guide for spooling glass fiber from an automatic coil winding machine onto a spool. The guide has a pay guide assembly with a receiving aperture. Two similar sections are held together with a slight gap between them. Left and right parallel strands of music wire are tightly stretched through the gap across the receiving aperture of the arc and are anchored at each end. A spool receives the left and right parallel strands or guides and is maintained very close to the last layer or surface of fiber laid down. A guide pulley is carried by the guide for guiding glass fiber between the left and right parallel strands and onto the spool. The parallel strands are tensioned by anchoring each wire in a respective standoff. In one embodiment, each end of a music wire wraps around a standoff. The wires extend through the cross drilled holes permitting adjustment by turning the standoff. In an alternative embodiment, a tensioner is formed by a pivotal plate, relative to the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Francis Burlingame
  • Patent number: 5786895
    Abstract: Based upon the equation, BIAS.sub.G .alpha. (I.sub.DE -I.sub.COIL).multidot.(V.sub.DE -V.sub.OFF), where BIAS.sub.G is the bias of a multi-oscillator ring-laser gyroscope (14) as induced by gain medium dispersion effects, I.sub.DE is the proper operating coil current, I.sub.COIL is the actual coil current, V.sub.DE is the proper path length control operating voltage and V.sub.OFF is the actual offset voltage, V.sub.DE is matched by path length control offset voltage and/or I.sub.DE is matched by proper coil current, to produce a zero induced BIAS.sub.G. Matching, through dispersion equalization (DE), is effected by use of clockwise (C) and anticlockwise (A) (or counterclockwise) beams traversing paths with a frame (12). The beams are directed to photodetectors (52, 54) and power meters (56, 58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Mitchell, Tae Whan Hahn
  • Patent number: 5761225
    Abstract: A power boosted source of broadband optical power comprising a broadband light source, optical fiber amplifier and a relative intensity noise reduction system. The optical fiber amplifier amplifies the power level of the optical input signal to provide a power boosted source of broadband optical power out of an output port. A coupler samples a portion of the broadband optical power out of the output port as a sample portion signal. A detector and transimpedance amplifier detect the optical signal and provide a buffered signal having an instantaneous amplitude that faithfully characterizes the intensity of the sample portion signal. A bandpass amplifier amplifies the buffered signal and provides an output control signal to a light source responsive to a composite bias and control current for providing an output optical signal. The output optical signal is coupled to the input of the optical fiber amplifier to be the optical input signal to the optical fiber amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard C. Fidric, Ronald James Michal, James Ross Steele, Eric Lee Goldner, Ralph A. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5710848
    Abstract: A tapered optical fiber component is provided that has an optical fiber with a cladded region. An optical core passes through the cladded region. The cladded region has a tapered extended first region drawn down in diameter to form an effective area region that has a predetermined effective area. The tapered extended first region is formed to adiabatically concentrate an optical signal for propagation through the effective area region of reduced diameter. The power density of the optical signal propagating through the effective area region is increased as an inverse function of the effective area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal
    Inventors: Patrick Dumais, Suzanne Lacroix, Francois Gonthier, Richard James Black, Jacques Bures
  • Patent number: 5529671
    Abstract: The invention uses an ion beam to polish a rotatable substrate from an oblique angle between the horizontal and the center line of the gun to the substrate to upgrade the quality of substrates. Alternatively, the substrates are left in the high vacuum chamber without breaking the vacuum for in-situ deposition of thin films thereby avoiding contamination, and to provide premium optics. A wobble stick arrangement is provided to align the ellipsometer reflected beam with the ellipsometer detector during operation without breaking the vacuum which, if broken, would admit contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Debley, John G. Larson
  • Patent number: 5519184
    Abstract: The reusable welded hermetic enclosure and method provides a laser weld between a cover and a chassis to form an enclosure or a laser weld between two parts to form a hermetic seal. In either event, one part has an open mouth with a sloped or tapered external section surrounding the mouth to receive the larger mouth of the other part. The mouth of the other part is sloped or tapered to conform to the sloped or tapered external section of the first part. The parts are pressed together for an interference fit to eliminate gaps and the laser weld connects the sloped or tapered sections. When the materials to be welded are of low silicon content aluminum, it is necessary to include a filler ring of an aluminum-silicon alloy containing a predetermined silicon content between the sloped or tapered sections. The cover and the chassis are reusable after opening. The filler ring is sacrificed during the removal of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Umlas
  • Patent number: 5505219
    Abstract: Fluid cleaning apparatus for precision parts, comprising in combination, a chamber, having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, for holding parts to be cleaned and a fluid tight recirculating flow system including the chamber. The fluid tight system directs supercritical carbon dioxide fluid flow across the parts being cleaned. A fluid recirculating cylinder has a first fluid port and a second fluid port connected in the flow system. A fluid piston is in the cylinder between said ports. A pneumatic cylinder has a further piston between a first pneumatic port and a second pneumatic port. A driving member is connected between the pistons for reciprocal movement caused by air from a source alternately introduced to the pneumatic ports to cause the fluid piston to pump fluid through the chamber and back to the recirculating cylinder. A shuttle valve is connected between the air source and the pneumatic ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Don D. Lansberry, Thomas G. Council
  • Patent number: 5495335
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apertureless ring laser gyroscope which achieves higher order transverse mode suppression without the use or need for a restrictive aperture that can be a source of unwanted scatter. Such mode suppression is achieved by operating the ring laser gyroscope in a higher pressure range (from 12 to 18 torr) than the range normally considered for ring laser gyroscope operation. Through the mechanism of pressure broadening and mode competition, the lower order TEM.sub.00 mode remains the only transverse mode present in the optical cavity of the ring laser gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Laurence G. Cote
  • Patent number: 5488622
    Abstract: At least one coil (32) is located on an exterior side face (30) of a frame (12) of a ring laser gyroscope (10) such that a significant component of the magnetic field generated by the coil is colinear with the plasma discharge of the gyroscope, and by which dispersion equalization of the gyroscope can be effected. The coil may be supported by a magnetically permeable annular bobbin (40), which is set about a mirror (26) on side face (30) and which may be partly set within grooves in the side face, to reduce the current necessary to effect dispersion equalization and to provide shielding of the mirror from the effects of tangential and transverse fields, and to increase the shielding effects for the mirror, both from Faraday rotator magnets (16) and from external magnetic fields. For those mirrors where no coils are present, the annular bobbins are used solely for their shielding properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5486916
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting when the birefringent axes of two polarization preserving fibers have their ends oriented into a position to locate the respective axes at 45 degrees. A fusion splicer and a heating controller for the fiber sensing coil are added to a reciprocal interferometer to produce a predetermined pattern of percent light intensity versus time in the returned light, when the axes are properly aligned for fusing. A computer may control the automatic making of depolarizers by this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Michal, James R. Steele, Mark E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5485273
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Ring Laser Gyroscope Enhanced Resolution System comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a sampling frequency modulation phase-locked loop (or "chirp") which is used in combination with the fast filter. Enhanced resolution is achieved by using the fast filter (preferably a moving average digital filter) to gather optically integrated rate data and accumulate this data. During the data gathering process, the accumulated data is sampled at a rate set by a frequency modulated ("chirper") phase-locked loop in order to remove undesirable data due to aliasing effects upon the digital filter. In this manner, an enhanced resolution of the gyroscope angular measurement is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Mark, Daniel A. Tazartes, Robert E. Ebner, Neal J. Dahlen, Nibir K. Datta