Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm W. H. Meise
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Patent number: 5999407Abstract: A heat transfer arrangement for one or more heat-generating components (18a) on a printed-circuit board (16) includes a heat transfer plate (316) defining an aperture (416) registered with the components. A "vertically" movable heatsink adapter (410) is adjusted to juxtapose its "lower" surface with the "upper" surface of the components to be heat-sunk. A heat-transfer pad (318) may be used between the heatsink adapter (410) and the component (18a). In various embodiments, the heatsink adapter takes the form of circular (410) or rectangular (410R) plugs, a draw-tube (808) arrangement, or a bellows (1010).Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Stephan John Meschter, Gary Miller, Mark Richard Burdick, Joseph Edward Kane
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Patent number: 5990750Abstract: An RF amplifier includes a FET output stage and a driver. The FET is subject to long-term degradation in multiple-carrier use if its average gate current often exceeds a predetermined value. The random superposition of signal peaks of the multicarrier signal may cause such peaks to occur. The driver stage is selected to provide a range of four dB or less between the single-signal 1 dB compression point and the hard compression point, as measured by driver input signal level. This prevents application of excessive input signal to the output stage in a multicarrier situation, and prevents degradation of the FETs of the output stage. In one embodiment, a predistortion equalizer or linearizer is placed before the driver stage, to tend to linearize the characteristic of the driver and output stage combination at signal levels below those at which the driver is limited.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Allen Katz
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Patent number: 5984237Abstract: A three-axis stabilized spacecraft is subject to a velocity change in a desired direction by a thruster. Unavoidable alignment errors cause a body torque, which tends to slew the body away from the attitude which orients the thrust axis in the direction. The attitude control system eventually corrects the attitude, but the thrust during the attitude transient results in an error in the direction of the velocity change. This error in the direction accumulates during the attitude transient. When the attitude transient passes, no further pointing error occurs. A control system, operating without an accelerometer, determines the total error accumulated during the attitude transient, and processes the error signal to generate a supplemental torque demand signal, which is added to the torque demand signal produced by the attitude control system, to cause an oppositely-directed attitude transient to thereby cancel the original velocity change direction error.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1997Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: Neil Evan Goodzeit
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Patent number: 5971247Abstract: Stir friction welding is accomplished by applying force to plunge a nonconsumable, rotating welding post into the region to be welded. The rotation creates friction which at least partially melts the material to be welded, as the welding post penetrates. The force is continued, causing the post to continue to penetrate. A set of rollers associated with the welding head eventually reaches the surface of the workpiece when the welding post reaches the proper depth, and prevents further penetration of the welding post. In one embodiment of the invention, the rollers have crowned surfaces, and the force is applied by a hydraulic cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: William Ramon Gentry
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Patent number: 5970820Abstract: A self-contained automatic balancing device or system for use with machines in which a load mass (such as a flywheel or bobbin) is attached to and rotates with a rotating shaft or rotor, and in which the automatic balancing device uses a set of tubes and linkages set in series-connected arrangement for containment of balancing masses within the tubes. The balancing apparatus is situated in mechanical series between the shaft and the rotated mass so that it comprises a hub, is operated into balance by the rotation of the shaft and hub themselves, without need for pneumatic, electric or other energy inputs.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: Damon Carlton Smith
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Patent number: 5974315Abstract: A satellite (S/C) cellular commsystem includes user terminals (UT) for transmitting to, & receiving signals from the S/C, and includes gateways for transmitting to the S/C. The gateways receive and distribute signals from the S/C. Each gateway identifies itself to a UT by use of a location area identity signal, including codes representing (a) the gateway residence country, (b) the system with which the gateway is associated, and (c) the antenna beam on which service is provided. A network controller (NC 18) transmits location area identity codes, representing (a) the identity of the S/C communication system, (b) the satellite carrying the control signal, and (c) the particular antenna beam on which the control signal is transmitted. The UTs store the location area identity signals, and further include a comparator for comparing the identity signals received from the NCC with the stored identity signals. If they are the same, no update is required. If they are different, the UT requests access from the NCC.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Van Wakeman Hudson
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Patent number: 5974314Abstract: A satellite (S/C) cellular commsystem includes user terminals (UT) for transmitting to, & receiving signals from the S/C, and includes gateways for transmitting to the S/C. The gateways receive and distribute signals from the S/C. Each gateway identifies itself to a UT with which it communicates by use of a unique location area identity signal, including codes representing (a) the gateway residence country, (b) the system with which the gateway is associated, and (c) the antenna beam on which service is provided. A network controller (NC 18) transmits location area identity codes, representing (a) the identity of the S/C communication system, to distinguish it from other S/C communication systems which may serve the same region, (b) the satellite carrying the control signal, and (c) the particular antenna beam on which the control signal is transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: Van Wakeman Hudson
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Patent number: 5965899Abstract: A semiconductor device for detecting radiation includes a plurality of quantum well layers, each of which has bound ground and excited states, interleaved with a plurality of superlattice barrier layers, each of which has a miniband of energy states. By selection of the thicknesses and compositions of the layers, the excited states of the quantum wells have energies that are approximately equal to energies of states in the minibands. Thus, the excited states and minibands form a band of energy states that is substantially continuous across the pluralities of layers. Carriers are excited from the quantum wells' ground states to the excited states by photon absorption and are swept into and through the minibands by an externally applied electric field. The carriers are collected as photocurrent. The excited states may be selectively positioned in the minibands to tailor the properties of the devices, which can have both n-type and p-type dopants.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1994Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: John W. Little, Jr.
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Patent number: 5950752Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a traction motor driven by a traction battery, and a supplemental or secondary electrical source for charging the traction battery. In order to warm the passenger compartment during cold weather, heat is applied from the traction motor and the secondary source. Under some conditions, there may be insufficient heat to adequately warm the passenger compartment. The traction motor efficiency is lowered, so that more heat is generated, to aid in supplying the deficiency. In an embodiment in which the traction motor is an ac motor, the efficiency is lowered by applying a direct current to the motor. In an embodiment in which the ac motor is an induction motor, the efficiency is lowered by increasing the average slip frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: Arthur Paull Lyons
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Patent number: 5949580Abstract: A two-way light amplitude divider includes a light rotator (18) with first (18.sub.1), second (18.sub.2) and third (18.sub.3) ports. The second port is coupled to a port of a controllable Fabry-Perot etalon (22). The etalon can take on a state in which a particular .lambda. of light is passed, and others are reflected. Light at .lambda..sub.1 applied to the first port (18.sub.1) of the rotator (18) passes through the etalon (22) to a port (22.sub.2) when the etalon (22) is in its first state, and the light is reflected by the etalon (22) in its second state, and flows to the third port (18.sub.3) of the rotator (18). Thus, the arrangement (10) acts as a single-pole, double throw switch, depending upon the state of the etalon. The arrangement can be cascaded in a manner which operates as a multiplexer (700) or demultiplexer (600).Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Mark Christopher Chiappetta, Harvey Lawrence Wagner
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Patent number: 5949210Abstract: A controller (400) for a variable-speed induction motor (498) includes field-oriented control (410, 476), which in a feedback (402) arrangement senses motor parameters to form field and torque error signals. The field error signals are processed by a first limited-state PI processor (490a), which individually limits the magnitude of the proportional component of the field voltage to no greater than the bus voltage. The field error signals are also processed by a state-limited integrator (426a) which limits the integral component of the field voltage to the difference between the proportional component and the bus voltage. A first summer (432a) sums the proportional and integral components to make the field voltage command. The torque error signals are processed by a further limited-state PI processor (490b) which individually limits the proportional component of the torque voltage to a value not greater than the available bus voltage, after the first PI processor has been given preference.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Slobodan Gataric, Arthur Paull Lyons
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Patent number: 5945897Abstract: Interconnections are made through a planar circuit by a monolithic short-circuited transmission path which extends from a circuit portion of the planar circuit to the opposite side. The opposite side is ground sufficiently to remove the short-circuiting plate, thereby separating the previously monolithic conductors, and exposing ends of the separated conductors of the transmission path. Connection is made between the exposed conductors of the transmission path and the registered contacts of a second planar circuit by means of electrically conductive, compliant fuzz buttons. The transmission path may be a coaxial path useful for RF.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Brian Alan Pluymers, Richard Joseph Teti
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Patent number: 5942713Abstract: A multiple missile launcher has a plurality of canister holding chambers. Each canister includes a standard connector for connection by a standard cable to a missile launch sequencer. Each canister is loaded with four missiles. The cable has more than enough signal paths to couple launch and safe signals to a single missile, but not sufficient to independently control four missiles. A missile selection signal generator generates selection signals which are sent over a selected one of four separate signal paths of the cable to directly (without intervening active elements) actuate a relay associated with the selected one of the missiles. The four relays are part of a multiplexer which couples the signal set for launch and safe to the selected one of the missiles.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1998Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventor: Leszek Stanislaw Basak
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Patent number: 5941328Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Arthur Paull Lyons, Timothy Michael Grewe
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Patent number: 5933516Abstract: A base pair of minutia is selected in the latent fingerprint under consideration and each tenprint or reference fingerprint. For each selected base pair, those sets of minutia pairs are selected which satisfy apriori constraints including angle, distance and ridge counts, to generate a first set of minutia which support the fingerprint correspondence. A second set of the supporting minutia pairs is generated from the first set, which doesn't contain pairs which are inconsistent with the base pair/bias angle. A third set is established using "dynamic programming" to determine the largest topologically self-consistent subset of the second set. The minutia pairings are counted in the third set, to thereby establish a merit of the base pair. For each of the minutia of the latent fingerprint, a correspondence group is generated, of a predetermined number of minutia of the tenprint which have the greatest merit.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Peter Henry Tu, Richard Ian Hartley
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Patent number: 5929595Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Arthur Paull Lyons, Timothy Michael Grewe
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Patent number: 5927654Abstract: A spacecraft carries a deployable active antenna array panel(s) and a deployable solar array panel(s). In the stowed condition, the antenna array panel(s) is sandwiched between a side of the body of the spacecraft and the solar array panel(s). This stowed state prevents the antenna panels from becoming too cold by radiation, or too hot by insolation, in an intermediate orbit. The outermost solar panel preferably has its active surface facing outward, so that it can generate electricity in the intermediate orbit.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: James Paul Foley, Bronson Murray
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Patent number: 5925584Abstract: Multiphase ceramic composites containing single phase silicon aluminum oxynitride and boron nitride wherein the boron nitride is one phase in the composite and the single phase silicon aluminum oxynitride is the matrix phase in the composite. The boron nitride phase is uniformly distributed in the form of discrete particles throughout the single phase silicon aluminum oxynitride matrix. A window transparent to electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined frequency spectrum is made by forming a homogeneous, finely-divided mixture of boron nitride and single phase silicon aluminum oxynitride matrix-forming compound and compacting the homogeneous, finely-divided mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure for a sufficient time to form the composite. In a preferred embodiment, about 75% by weight homogeneous, finely-divided mixture of single phase silicon aluminum oxynitride matrix-forming compound and the balance boron nitride is densified at a temperature of 1,760.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1988Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Gerald C. Dodds, Richard A. Tanzilli
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Patent number: 5923234Abstract: A hermetically sealed housing (10) includes a dielectric end portion (118) which provides a transmission-line feedthrough between a printed-circuit such as HDI and exterior connections. A first transmission line (1) on the PC board (30) transitions to a 3-via transmission line (4), which transitions to a third coplanar, microstrip, or stripline transmission line (3). The third transmission line (3) transitions to a second 3-via transmission line (5), which ends at a coplanar transmission line (2) which is outside the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Eric Louis Holzman, Stephen Charles Miller, Richard Joseph Teti, Bradley David Dufour
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Patent number: 5910722Abstract: An electric vehicle is controlled to conform its operation to that of a conventional internal-combustion-engine powered vehicle. In some embodiments, the charging of the batteries by the auxiliary source of electricity and from dynamic braking is ramped in magnitude when the batteries lie in a state of charge between partial charge and full charge, with the magnitude of the charging being related to the relative state of charge of the battery. The deficiency between traction motor demand and the energy available from the auxiliary electrical source is provided from the batteries in an amount which depends upon the state of the batteries, so that the full amount of the deficiency is provided when the batteries are near full charge, and little or no energy is provided by the batteries when they are near a discharged condition. At charge states of the batteries between near-full-charge and near-full-discharge, the batteries supply an amount of energy which depends monotonically upon the charge state.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1998Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.Inventors: Arthur Paull Lyons, Timothy Michael Grewe