Patents Represented by Attorney Robert K. Tendler
  • Patent number: 6933888
    Abstract: A system is provided for rapidly ascertaining the position of a pulse train emitter such as a radar using multiple collectors without requiring more than one platform to measure the same pulse. Thus time-of-arrival measurements at a number of collecting platforms are performed, with the positions of the platforms being accurately ascertainable using GPS data, and with time synchronization between the spaced-apart collectors performed by utilizing atomic clocks. In the multi-ship case, geolocation can be performed on ten milliseconds of data as opposed to 30 seconds of data for measurements involving a single platform. The subject system is preferable to conventional time-difference-of-arrival geolocation systems because those systems require that each of the collecting platforms measure the same pulse from the emitter, which severely constrains the flight paths of the collectors, limits the amount of usable data, and increases the system's sensitivity requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Schiffmiller, Henry Adler, Melvin Carroll
  • Patent number: 6911859
    Abstract: A conversionless direct detection system for detecting signals having a very large dynamic range, with a virtually unlimited bandwidth utilizes a successive detection approach having successive log amplifier gain stages, with each gain stage involving simultaneous use of an RF transistor to perform both limiting and logging functions. FET transistors are used to extend the operating range beyond 200 GHz, with the self-bias in combination with a drain resistor limiting voltage and current swings. A log video output is tapped off the source resistor and is coupled to a buffering stage, with the outputs of the buffering stage summed to accommodate very large dynamic range swings of the input voltage, with successive stages saturating at different points to operate at different and contiguous regions, thus to provide the wide dynamic range. The limited RF signal is tapped off the drain resistor, with the stages connected in series to provide the limited RF output as the output of the last stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Komiak
  • Patent number: 6898218
    Abstract: A higher intensity eye safe laser is provided for long range target designation or illumination as well as long range eye safe communications by providing a single beam line combination of an optical parametric oscillator and optical parametric amplifier which are used to double the output of the optical parametric oscillator while limiting beam spread to less than 1.2 milliradians assuming a 20 mm clear aperture. The OPO/OPA combination requires no conditioning, isolation or synchronization optics and provides a factor of two improvements in beam quality as compared to an equivalent optical parametric oscillator, with the subject system providing a compact robust configuration. The high conversion is provided by the use of a simple optical parametric oscillator seeding an optical parametric amplifier without double passing the pump pulse in the optical parametric oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John C. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6856288
    Abstract: A meander line loaded antenna is provided with a ferrite donut surrounding a portion of the meander line so as to effectively lower the operating range of the meander line loaded antenna by as much as 30%. At the lower frequencies the ferrite material introduces a minimal loss of 2 to 3 dB, whereas at the higher frequency range very little current passes through the meander line thus eliminating any effect of the ferrite on antenna performance. The utilization of the ferrite surrounding a meander line element permits the use of the miniaturized antenna and size for size reduces the low frequency cut off of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Frank M. Caimi
  • Patent number: 6836320
    Abstract: In a dual mode target designation system involving the use of a passive IR detector for developing rough target locations and a ladar or laser range finder for refining target position, a closed loop system is provided for correcting the boresight error of the laser so that it matches that of the IR detector. In one embodiment this is accomplished by first selecting a target detected by the IR detector, executing a laser scan in which the laser beam is moved in a reach pattern until a return from the selected target is detected, developing an error vector between the reported laser target position and the reported IR detector target position and repositioning the line of sight of the laser using the error vector to minimize the co-boresighting error. The result is that the boresight correction resulting from illuminating the first target reduces laser scan time for each subsequent target to permit rapid and accurate target position acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: AE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Deflumere, Hamilton Stewart
  • Patent number: 6833815
    Abstract: A wideband meander line loaded antenna is configured to be flush mounted to a conductive surface serving as a ground plane by embedding the meander line components within a conductive cavity surrounded at its top edge by the ground plane. The antenna thus looks out of a cavity recessed in the surface. By permitting flush mounting the meander line antenna, not only can the antenna dimensions be minimized due to the use of the meander line loaded antenna configuration, but in aircraft applications no part of the antenna exists above the skin of the aircraft, thereby to minimize turbulent flow. Moreover, when adapted to wireless handsets or laptop computers, the depth or thickness of the unit need not be increased when providing a wideband antenna, thus to minimize the overall dimensions of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Apostolos
  • Patent number: 6828947
    Abstract: A nested cavity embedded loop mode antenna is provided with an ultra wide band response by nesting individual embedded cavity meander line loaded antenna modules, with the meander lines coupled to a ground plane plate either capacitively or directly so as to provide as much as a 27:1 ratio of high frequency to low frequency cutoff. The nested meander line structure is exceptionally compact and eliminates the problem of a null in the antenna radiation pattern perpendicular to the face of the antenna, thus to provide a loop type antenna pattern at all frequencics across which the antenna is to be operated. The use of the nested meander line configuration provides a flush mount for the antenna having a footprint associated with the larger of the meander line cavities and thus the lowest frequency of operation, the nesting precluding the necessity of providing separate side-by-side meander line loaded antennas which would increase the real estate required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: AE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Intergation Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Steven A. Hedges
  • Patent number: 6806837
    Abstract: A system for calibrating airborne direction finding antenna arrays eliminates the problem of trying to maintain a constant depression angle when flying an airplane directly over a calibration antenna to collect deep depression angle data. The deep depression angle data necessary for calibration is provided by data from a scale model of the aircraft having a direction-finding array which simulates the actual direction-finding array on the aircraft. In order to collect deep depression angle data, the model is pivoted through 360° while maintaining a controlled depression angle. Thus, it is unnecessary for calibration to actually fly a plane to attempt to obtain deep depression angle measurements. In the subject system, only a single depression set of data is required from the aircraft. Thus, with the exception of baseline shallow depression angle data from this plane, the calibration data comes strictly from the scale model, which is much more easily obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Norman E. Saucier, Norman D. Paul
  • Patent number: 6801550
    Abstract: A modified V-groove structure in a double clad laser system permits multiple emitter side pumping of a fiber laser. In one embodiment, a stack of at least five emitters have individual outputs coupled into the inner cladding, with as many sources as desired coupled to the fiber to raise the cumulative pumping power to in excess of 2-KW, thus to achieve a 1-KW fiber laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Snell, Scott D. Setzler
  • Patent number: 6779796
    Abstract: A decoy deployment and retrieval system includes an extensible boom and corresponding cradle or saddle for use in the retrieval of the towed decoy such that, upon retrieval, the extensible boom with its decoy captured in the cradle is retracted into a chamber so that the decoy can be deployed over and over again. In one embodiment, the decoy is both towed by, and controlled over, a fiber optic line in which a load cell is used to detect tension on the line to prevent damage, and a fiber optic rotary joint is utilized along with high voltage slip rings to permit electrical and optical coupling without backlash, fouling or damage to the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Carlson, James J. Jordan, John Russotti
  • Patent number: 6778820
    Abstract: A wireless phone is provided with a GPS receiver and a system which is utilized to report the local position of the wireless phone either prior or during to the time of a telephone placed wager, in which the geographic coordinates of the phone are transmitted to the sports bet for verification that the wager is being placed within the geographic limits of the wagering authority. In one embodiment spoofing of the system is prevented by having the wireless phone report the time since last fix such that an individual within the wagering authority's jurisdiction cannot remove himself from the jurisdiction with the location having been remembered, with the wager taking entity processing as valid only those geographic coordinates having a time since last fix of, for instance, ten minutes. Anything over this pre-determined limit is determined to be an invalid wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tendler Cellular, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Tendler
  • Patent number: 6771224
    Abstract: Body-worn antennas operate in combination with a direction finding processor to be able to detect the presence of electromagnetic radiation involved in communication as well as the direction of the source of the electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, a number of wide bandwidth antennas, 2 MHz to 40 GHz, are incorporated into a body-worn vest or garment such that an individual wearing the vest is being provided with a wearable system for indicating the direction of the source of incoming signals. If the orientation and geographic location of the individual are known via the use of a compass and/or by GPS receiver, the source of the radiation can be pinpointed by triangulation with inputs from other body-worn units. For omni-directional detection, pairs of antennas are provided with feed points or spigots which are fed in phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Apostolos
  • Patent number: 6767211
    Abstract: A system provides training by automatically transmitting learning activities or tasks to an individual during the day. In one embodiment, this is done over the Internet by transmitting as a series of limited content mini-lessons to an individual's computer, wireless phone, or personal digital assistant so that the individual learns faster and more completely by being prompted to perform simple learning tasks throughout the workday. Each lesson or guided practice range in duration from 15 seconds to approximately 5 minutes or less, depending on content requirement. In one embodiment, mini-lessons and follow-up activities are designed to be integrated into the learner's daily experiences without requiring the learner to significantly deflect attention from his or her normal responsibilities or activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: Carolyn W. Hall, Charles A. Shields
  • Patent number: 6750940
    Abstract: An optical switch is provided in which a cell comprised of photopolymer dispersed in a liquid crystal sandwiched between two transparent plates is first recorded with a grating utilizing two plane wave laser beams interacting at an angle. This grating is permanently established in the cell such that when the cell is illuminated the incoming beam is diffracted in accordance with the spatial frequency of the grating. When an electric signal is applied across the cell, the refractive index of the liquid crystal matches that of the photopolymer due to the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal and no diffraction occurs because the grating formed in the liquid crystal is temporarily erased or over written. The liquid crystal cell therefore becomes transparent with the application of the electrical signal. Switching occurs by whether or not the grating is present or not, which is in turn dependent upon whether or not there is an electrical signal applied across the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Bao Tong International Telecommunication Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Songlin Zhuang, Lingjuan Gu, Yinggang Qiu
  • Patent number: 6731247
    Abstract: A wideband meander line loaded antenna is provided with a capacitive feed to lower the reactance of the meander line antenna such that at lower frequencies the antenna reactance goes negative to cancel out the reactance of the meander line and distributed capacitance. The resultant lowering of the low frequency cut-off for the antenna permits the antenna to be used, for instance, in cellular phone applications in which not only are the cellular frequencies accommodated by the antenna, but also PCS and GPS frequencies as well. With the capacitive, feed the low frequency cut-off is lowered by as much as 30% over standard meander line loaded antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Apostolos
  • Patent number: 6726715
    Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis for use as an aortic or pulmonary replacement valve, or as a mitral or tricuspid valve includes leaflets that are reinforced through the use of oriented fiber components in a laminated composite, in which the leaflets of the valve are reinforced with fiber-reinforcing materials oriented along lines of stress in the material, thus to provide a long-lived valve that provides strength at points of maximal stress that have hitherto been foci for material failure. In a preferred embodiment involving a stentless valve, the reinforcing materials are optimized in terms of the density and orientation of the fibers in the composite materials, thus to extend the life of a stentless valve, with the valve requiring no anti-coagulants as is the case with mechanical valves and exhibiting no hemolysis in which red cells are damaged by the action of mechanical valves. Longevity exceeds thirty five years in most cases, making replacement of such a valve a remote possibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Childrens Medical Center Corporation
    Inventor: Fraser W. H. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 6723934
    Abstract: A system is provided for aiding left-handed individuals or individuals whose right hands are immobilized to be able to start a vehicle by turning an ignition key in which the key slot is movable or placeable to the left of the steering wheel at the driver's option to permit starting of the vehicle utilizing an individual's left hand only. In one embodiment a duplicate key slot is positioned to the left of the steering wheel on the dash of the car or, in a further embodiment, for key slots mounted to the steering column, the column is provided with a duplicate key slot to the left-hand side of the column. In another embodiment, a rotatable sleeve or collar is made part of the steering column, which when rotated rotates the key slot from an initial right-hand position to a left-hand position, thus to enable the starting of the vehicle only utilizing one's left hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Marybeth Enright
  • Patent number: 6690321
    Abstract: A system is provided for detecting the presence of two or more acoustic sources or targets such as vehicles that are traveling between an array of unattended passive ground sensors, in which the sensors each include a phased-array microphone and processing to determine the bearing to the acoustic target. The bearings from pairs of these sensors are subtracted one from the other to provide a bearing line difference “delta” which is the indicator of the presence of an acoustic target close to the line between the two sensors of the pair. A tripwire threshold indicating the presence of a target is set when the absolute value of this bearing line difference “delta” is greater than, for instance, 150°, with the “delta” being 180° when the target is on the line between the two sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Robert Blatt
  • Patent number: 6683555
    Abstract: A fast deployment and retrieval system permits the rapid deployment of a decoy in seconds in response to an incoming threat, thus eliminating the necessity of pre-deployment, with retrieval permitting reeling in and deployment of the decoy a number of times during a mission in response to threats, and a commensurate reduction in life cycle cost. Upon detection of an incoming threat by a warning receiver, a controller coupled to a transmission releases a brake that is utilized to control the speed of deployment, whereas upon retrieval, the transmission drives a motor for retrieval of the decoy. The system is thus reusable, fast reacting, and also minimizes range penalty considerations because the decoy is only deployed when needed. In one embodiment, the system accommodates both a towing cable and a fiber-optic signal cable in which apparatus for unwinding of the cables is mechanically ganged together so that the cables pay out at the same rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Carlson, James J. Jordan, John Russotti
  • Patent number: 6677883
    Abstract: An inexpensive, small, low-power consumption, wide-band, high resolution spectrum analyzer is provided as a listening device for throw-away applications such as surveillance that involve deployment of large numbers of battery-powered spectrum analyzer modules to detect a signal source such as two-way radio traffic. Power requirements are minimized by the utilization of only one chirp generator to elongate battery life while providing a high resolution result. In order to minimize power drain the spectrum analyzer includes a single compound-chirp Fourier Transform generator. The compound chirp generator is used in one embodiment with a surface acoustic wave, SAW, dispersive delay line in conjunction with a surface electromagnetic wave, SEW dispensive delay line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Apostolos