Patents Represented by Attorney William H. MacAllister
  • Patent number: 4074264
    Abstract: A time sampling adaptive clutter processor that samples on a scan to scan basis rather than on an area basis and in response to signals received from the object being interrogated develops a mean level value and a standard deviation value. The mean value and the standard deviation value may be provided by recursive type filters operating with scan to scan memories. The mean level value is then combined with the standard deviation value to provide a threshold that provides improved clutter detection especially with a condition in which a clutter variation from scan to scan is less than the clutter variation between areas in any one scan. The system may also include a valid target control to eliminate the detrimental effects on the threshold that may be caused by targets being tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 4050085
    Abstract: A system to automatically regulate input light and television camera tube gain to maximize scene viewing continuity while protecting against overloads. An electro-optical input assembly, an image intensifier, SEC vidicon and video pre-amplifier produce required video signals. The signals are fed along a common path comprising a keyed clamp and field gating circuit, parallelly connected peak and average detectors, detector output weighting, amplifying and attenuator circuits. The path branches to a control function stage and a high voltage power supply to form a fast vidicon accelerating voltage adjusting loop. The path also branches to iris threshold and dead zone stages, to cause an iris motor to control the iris position in accordance with ambient durational and transient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1969
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Paul R. Prince, Bernard J. Skehan, Jay M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4047117
    Abstract: An improved laser illuminator for target designation, such as for a target-seeking missile or object in flight or from a tracking target station, that simultaneously provides output pulses of high peak power at a low pulse repetition rate to meet the maximum range requirements of the designation or tracking system and provides output pulses of low peak power at a high pulse repetition rate to provide the high tracking error signal information rates needed at close ranges. The illuminator operates either for active or semi-active guidance of a missile to a target or for tracking an object or target from any suitable station in either an active or semi-active mode. In one arrangement in accordance with the invention, a laser oscillator is controlled in series with an amplifier arrangement to selectively provide the high power and the low power pulses which are transmitted as a common pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Tuchyner, Robert C. Benson
  • Patent number: 4044352
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved signal processor that is insensitive to the type of clutter that is encountered by utilizing multiple parallel range sample intervals which vary in length from minimum to maximum so that the optimum sample size is provided for clutter or different range extents. By utilizing the correct range sample interval for the clutter, the detection threshold is accurately set as a result of an improved sample mean. The detection system includes a plurality of mean level processors operating in parallel in response to signal samples varying from minimum to maximum length in range and a selection circuit that selects the largest amplitude value of the clutter signal for use as the mean value in a signal comparator. When the mean value is the same for two or more sample sizes, one arrangement in accordance with the invention utilizes the larger sample size as the mean value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Richard D. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 4044281
    Abstract: A high voltage glow discharge power source providing a plurality of glow discharges by gas ignition within at least one elongated electrically insulating member having a central bore along the axis of elongation of the member. Electrodes are positioned along the outer surface along the length of the member to which current sources and sinks are connected in alternation. A DC power supply provides the energy for the current sources and sinks. End plates covering the bore are transparent to optical frequencies. Glow discharges occur within the bore so that when a laser generator beam is diverted into the bore through the end plates, the gas in the bore being ignited to provide the glow, discharges and effects a power gain in the laser signal at the other end of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4044247
    Abstract: This disclosure shows a technique used for obtaining high-resolution imagery at infra-red and optical wavelengths in the presence of atmospheric turbulence. The technique uses multi-channel signal processing. Squaring circuits are utilized to obtain the squared functions of the sum and difference frequencies, structured so as to avoid atmospheric turbulent effects upon received signals. This technique is suited for imaging of objects located above the turbulent boundary layer near the earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Wilbur P. Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4009564
    Abstract: Electronic watch module is constructed of a spacer block, a substrate on the spacer block carrying electronic components thereon, and a cover over some of the electronic components. Basic rate control of the electronic watches is provided by a crystal which is mounted in a can. An opening in the spacer block receives the crystal can, and deflectable fingers on the spacer block restrain the crystal can in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Rudolf F. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 4003640
    Abstract: Electro-hydraulic driver has an electro-mechanical actuator which controls the hydraulic fluid flow control orifice. The hydraulic fluid orifice is an annulus which is connected to a cylinder having minimum volume which is supplied from a hydraulic source through a flow restriction. The piston acts against a spring so that with electrical actuation, piston motion is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Siegfried Hansen
  • Patent number: 4002950
    Abstract: The ac transmission system is protected by circuit breaker apparatus capable of responding to fault current levels exceeding a predetermined critical fault level, but less than the maximum fault current. The fault current levels exceeding the critical level are detected by comparison of actual line current to a simulation of the critical level of fault current for one of a plurality of phases 01, 02, 03. Reference signals in quadrature with the three line voltages are continuously fed to differential amplifiers having both inputs connected in parallel until a potential fault is detected when one input is disconnected and clamped at the potential it had at the time of disconnect. The resulting output of the differential amplifiers accurately simulates the time-varying current of a system fault. The simulated signals are compared to actual line current to determine in less than one cycle if a fault is occurring and to order the appropriate breaker action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Arthur F. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 4002926
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high speed divide-by-N circuit which uses both a synchronous down-counter and a ripple down-counter to obtain the advantages of each. The advantage of a ripple counter is that count propagation time is not critical, and the advantage of a synchronous counter is that its state can be decoded quickly. Therefore, by combining the two different types of counters, keeping the gate delays per clock cycle as low as possible, using look-ahead techniques, and giving more time-consuming operations more time to occur, a high speed divide-by-N circuit is obtained. Said circuit is intended for integration on a single chip, particularly using CMOS design and processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Norman E. Moyer
  • Patent number: 3996735
    Abstract: Electronic watch module comprises spacer block which has openings therein for batteries, crystal can, etc. and has locating pins thereon. The watch electronic substrate is located on the pins and carries most of the watch electronics including chips, printed circuitry and LED displays on the front. A cover is located on the pins, extends over many of the electronic components and resiliently engages in the watch case. The spacer block, substrate with its electronics and cover comprise the watch module which is resiliently mounted in the watch case by the resilient engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Rudolf F. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 3996421
    Abstract: A raster display system is disclosed which utilizes a "sliding window" effect for enhancing the contrast of an image by adjusting the video gain and brightness within the window. The television display may have a raster having 512 lines and 512 elements per line. The display system utilizing digital circuitry calculates the average brightness of a "window" having a predetermined number of elements per display line and several parallel display lines, such as, for example, eight lines and eight elements per line. Thus, an eight-by-eight window is presented. The average brightness of the window is subtracted from the brightness of a centrally located element which results in the relative brightness of the element. This relative brightness signal is multiplied by a gain factor and the product is applied to an output circuit for controlling the bias of a central element of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Pruznick, David J. Ketcham, Roger W. Lowe, Eugene W. Opittek
  • Patent number: 3994105
    Abstract: The shelter is constructed of composite, multilayer panels comprising an exterior skin aluminum sheet layer, a polymer composition foam layer, a divider skin aluminum sheet layer, an aluminum honeycomb layer, and an interior skin aluminum sheet layer. The five layers are bonded together to form the panel. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the polymer composition foam layer has a scored surface to increase adhesive area and to increase the length of the shear failure line. In another aspect of the invention, the panels are closed out at at least two edges thereof with an extruded polymer-fiberglass closeout bar which is positioned between the inner and outer panel skins at the edge thereof and bonded thereto. These closeout bars are configured for rigid attachment between adjacent panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1973
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: John W. Jamison, Roy E. Denner, Robert R. Black, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3994566
    Abstract: There is disclosed a synchronous traveling wave electro-optic modulator for ultra-wideband infrared laser communications systems which provides optical waveguiding of the laser beam through an interaction distance which is large relative to the diffraction limit of the laser beam and which affords essentially perfect radio frequency and optical velocity synchronism at a relatively high electrical impedance level by appropriate choice of the design parameters of the device. The device comprises an array of very slender rectangular rods of electro-optic material such as cadmium telluride laid end to end in juxtaposition to form a light pipe for an infrared laser beam. The length to cross-section ratio of the light pipe is many times greater than that which is determined by the diffraction limit and consequently the voltage and power required to achieve a given depth of modulation is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: James F. Lotspeich, Richard L. Abrams
  • Patent number: 3992629
    Abstract: Broad, intermediate, and narrow field of view infrared telescopes, broad and narrow field of view visual telescopes, and a narrow field of view laser telescope, together with apparatus for boresighting said telescopes, all of the narrow field of view telescopes having a common objective lens with means for separating the optical pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1973
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Arthur S. Chapman
  • Patent number: 3991554
    Abstract: Watch module comprises electronic substrate carrying electronic logic devices, connections and display. Spacer is clamped against the substrate for holding the batteries and making connection therewith. Openings in spacer contain contacts in the form of conductive resilient material such as metal powder synthetic rubber which contacts electronics on the substrate and is contactable for control of the electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Bela Somogyi
  • Patent number: 3989947
    Abstract: Broad, intermediate, and narrow field of view infrared telescopes, broad and narrow field of view visual telescopes, and a narrow field of view laser telescope, together with apparatus for boresighting said telescopes, all of the narrow field of view telescopes having a common objective lens with means for separating the optical pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1971
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Arthur S. Chapman
  • Patent number: 3990020
    Abstract: A DC linear power amplifier is disclosed having a first amplifier referenced to +14VDC, for receiving a control signal. The first amplifier in turn controls a first power stage connected to a load through a first sensing resistor. The first resistor provides a differential voltage to a second amplifier forming a current control loop with the first amplifier. A third amplifier controls a second power stage connected to the load through a second sensing resistor, so that the first and second power stages each dissipate equal power. The resistors each provide differential signals to a comparator which provides a first output signal if the current through each resistor is the same. If the differential signals are different, resulting from the load shorting to ground, the comparator provides a second output signal which turns the entire power amplifier essentially off. The entire power amplifier returns to normal when the short is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Edwin C. Porter, III
  • Patent number: 3984973
    Abstract: A digital watch system with a dual display demultiplexer, a liquid crystal display for use in daylight or bright light and a light emitting diode display for use in dim light. The digital watch system includes a crystal oscillator with frequency division which controls a set of counters, each counter carrying coded horological data. Selected counter data is multiplexed into a seven segment decoder which is then demultiplexed into memories, one for each of the segments in each of the liquid crystal display digits. These memories then control segment drivers for the liquid crystal digital displays. In parallel with the liquid crystal demultipliexer, the seven segment decoder outputs operate segment and digit drivers which drive light emitting diodes as a second display for the digital watch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Ernest C. Ho
  • Patent number: 3985270
    Abstract: Epoxy application apparatus is provided to repetitively mechanically dispense the proper quantity and shape of epoxy on the substrate for the repetitive attachment of a small part such as a semiconductor die.Rotating epoxy pot has its surface refreshed, levelled and height controlled by a doctor or squeegee blade so that a transfer tool can pick up epoxy from the fresh surface behind the squeegee blade and place it on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: James T. Larkin