Patents Assigned to BAE Systems plc
  • Publication number: 20190260472
    Abstract: A free space optical communication system receiver (500) comprising: a central optical sensor (600); and a plurality of further optical sensors (601-604) disposed around a peripheral edge of the central optical sensor (600). The free space optical communication system receiver (500) may be coupled to means for moving the free space optical communication system receiver (500) relative to an incoming optical signal (510). A controller (508) may be configured to, using measurements of the incident optical signal (510) by the plurality of further optical sensors (601-604), control the means so as to move the free space optical communication system receiver (500) relative to the incident optical signal (510).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: LESLIE CHARLES LAYCOCK, ANDREW JAMES WILLIAMS, MICHAEL STEWART GRIFFITH
  • Publication number: 20190253142
    Abstract: Apparatus for and method of transmitting an optical signal by a Free Space Optical, FSO, communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, by an optical signal transmitter (104), an optical signal (700) into at least part of a volume of an optical medium (302); and controlling, by a controller, the optical signal transmitter (104), to scan the at least part of the volume (302) using the optical signal (700) in a sequence of non-overlapping loops (704, 708). The sequence of non-overlapping loops (704, 708) may be a sequence of non-overlapping, concentric circular loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: MICHAEL STEWART GRIFFITH, ANDREW JAMES WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 10378920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying an image to an aircraft pilot (20). The method comprises: displaying, by a display (24), to the pilot (20), an image comprising guidance symbology (34) for use by the pilot (20) when landing the aircraft (2), the position of the guidance symbology (34) on the display (24) being dependent upon an output of an INS of the aircraft (2); providing, to a processor (26), an indication that the INS output is incorrect; determining, by the processor (26), a further value for the INS output and a specification of further guidance symbology (40); and displaying, by the display (24), to the pilot (20), an image comprising the further guidance symbology (40). The position on the display (24) of the further guidance symbology (40) relative to that of the guidance symbology (34) is dependent upon the difference between the further value and the incorrect INS output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Steven James Hodge
  • Patent number: 10378601
    Abstract: A coupling comprising a brake plate (70); a first friction pad (64) operable to be selectively biased against the brake plate (70). In a first mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a first force. In a second mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a second force. The second force is substantially greater than the first force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Martyn Ingleton
  • Publication number: 20190243220
    Abstract: There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising:—a retractable support member; the retractable support member comprising an upper section and lower section, wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections are constructed from at least one deformable material, wherein upper and lower sections are arranged to form a substantially rigid cavity throughout their length, and are retained by a retaining means, wherein said retractable support member comprises a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a spooled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the retractable support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the exten
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Robin Julian Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20190244571
    Abstract: A method for controlling a digital display device (105), such as a digital micro-mirror device, and a digital display apparatus (101, 106) are provided in which, in order to meet the latency requirements of the display, each frame of received image symbology data is divided into several subframes. A tag is assigned to an incoming drawing command, the tag having an initial value equal to the number of subframes in a frame. The drawing command is rendered on the first subframe and the tag is decremented by one. The drawing command is rendered again on subsequent subframes and the tag value is decremented by one each time the drawing is rendered. When the tag value reaches zero, the drawing command is discarded. Thus, a line may be rendered with lower latency compared with known systems which refresh on a frame-by-frame basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: MATTHEW FRANK OFFREDI, LUKE SEVERINO OFFREDI
  • Publication number: 20190243359
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle (100), the vehicle (100) having an autonomous mode of operation, the system comprising: one or more sensors (102) configured to measure one or more parameters associated with an operator (110) controlling the vehicle (100) to perform a first operation; and one or more processors (106) configured to: determine that measurements taken by the one or more sensors (102) fulfil one or more predetermined criteria; responsive to determining that the measurements taken by the one or more sensors (102) fulfil the one or more predetermined criteria, determine a second operation for performance by the vehicle (100); and control the vehicle (100) in the autonomous mode such that the vehicle (100) performs the second operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: GARY MARTIN CROSS, MARK ROBERT GOODALL
  • Patent number: 10374597
    Abstract: A circuit state sensing device (100) includes a transformer (102) having a primary coil (104A) and a secondary coil (104B). In use, the secondary coil is connected to a target circuit (106) for which a state is to be sensed. The device further includes a measuring arrangement (112, 122) configured to take a measurement relating to impedance at the primary coil, and a processing arrangement (122) configured to process the impedance measurement to determine a state of the target circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: David Christopher D'Oyly-Watkins
  • Patent number: 10370063
    Abstract: A system (102) is configured to monitor energy usage of a surface maritime vessel (100). The system comprises a device (102A) configured to receive characteristic data representing at least one operating characteristic of the vessel, and a device (102A) configured to receive model data representing at least one energy usage model for the vessel. The system further includes a device (102A) configured to process the characteristic data and the model data to generate an output representing a comparison between the characteristic data and the model data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Adrian Gary Skidmore
  • Patent number: 10373587
    Abstract: A method for controlling a digital display device of a head or helmet-mounted display system and a head or helmet-mounted digital display system implementing the method are provided with the aim of controlling the display device in such a way as to reduce the effect of dynamic false contouring on the quality of a displayed image. According to the method, received image data defining brightness levels according to a scheme of light pulse modulation based upon binary-weighted pulse durations are converted into a data defining a sequence of pulses of binary and non-binary weighted duration in which the highest value weighting represents a pulse of a duration less than half the total duration of illumination required during an image refresh period to achieve a pixel at the highest brightness level. In a further embodiment, the weighting of highest value represents a pulse of duration less than one quarter of the duration required for highest pixel brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Matthew Frank Offredi, Luke Severino Offredi, Ross McCullie
  • Publication number: 20190234453
    Abstract: The following invention relates to smart material couplings, particularly to shape memory alloy suspension systems to mitigate against shock or blast. There is provided A land vehicle comprising: —an armoured v shaped hull; at least one wheel set with a hub, and at least one suspension device comprising a shape memory material operably connecting the hull to the wheel set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: MARCUS JASON POTTER, APRIL LOUISE WILES
  • Patent number: 10368289
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating a connectivity map in respect of a communications system of a moving platform, said communications system comprising at least one platform application and being configured to effect wireless data communication between said platform and another node by means of one of a plurality of supported communications links in accordance with a communications plan, wherein said apparatus is configured to: —identify (700) a message or set of messages required to be transmitted from or received by said moving platform; —generate a connectivity map comprising a plurality of connectivity metrics by, for each of a plurality of different specified attitudes or orientations derived from one or more predicted trajectories of said moving platform: —identifying available transmitters for wireless transmission of said message or set of messages and/or identify available receivers for wireless reception of said message or set of messages; —for each identified transmitter, determining (702) a transmitter metr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Peter Noble Hudson, Rania Hamdi Eissa, Roderick Buchanan
  • Patent number: 10364046
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing part of an airframe for attachment to a system. The method comprises: providing an initial structure; providing a reference structure; positioning the initial structure with respect to the reference structure such that its position/orientation relative to the reference structure is the same as the position/orientation relative to the system that it would have if the part of the airframe was attached to the system; specifying an inner mold line; applying, to an outer surface of the initial structure, material; and machining the material such that the position/orientation of the outer surface of the material with respect to the reference structure is the same as the position/orientation with respect to the system that the inner mold line would have if the part of the airframe was attached to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Steven Neil Sanderson
  • Patent number: 10368061
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an electromagnetic radiation source communicably coupled to a control system and a three dimensional (3D) image projector for outputting a plurality of image signals representative of a subject, the control system being configured to cause electromagnetic radiation to be applied to a plurality of sets of selected three-dimensional portions of a gaseous volume so as to heat and/or ionize the gas within selected portions, wherein each set of selected three-dimensional portions of gaseous volume intersects a path of a respective one of image signals, and wherein selected portions of each of set are spatially located together in a substantially unbroken three-dimensional configuration and selectable orientated and configured to simulate an electromagnetic radiation path modifying element for directing a respective image signals incident thereon to a selected location within a viewing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Nicholas Giacomo Robert Colosimo
  • Patent number: 10358215
    Abstract: An aircraft (2) comprising a launch tube (14) extending along at least part of a length of a wing of the aircraft (2), and through which an item (24) may be launched from the aircraft (2). The launch tube (14) comprises an opening (22) at a distal end of the wing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Andrew Charles White
  • Patent number: 10359338
    Abstract: There is provided apparatus and a method for assessing the integrity of a bonded joint and a bonded joint assembly. The assembly has a bonded joint monitored for bond integrity and comprises first (1) and second (2) components each defining a bonding surface (3,4); the joint (5) is formed between the bonding surfaces (3,4) and the first component (1) defines a passage (15) therethrough from the bonding surface to an exterior of the component. The joint (5) includes an optical fiber (11) extending along the joint (5) between the bonding surfaces, through the passage (15) and emerging from the passage (15) to the exterior of the component. The method of constructing the assembly includes the steps of passing the optical fiber (11) through the passage (15) and adhering the optical fiber (11) to the bonding surface (3) of the first component (1), thus bringing the two bonding surfaces (3,4) together and forming the bond (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Ian James Read
  • Patent number: 10356940
    Abstract: An air-cooled antenna comprising one or more separate antenna arrays (4) and a plurality of separate respective radio transmitter and/or receiver modules (3) each adapted for generating and/or receiving radio-frequency (RF) transmissions for an antenna array associated therewith. An antenna housing (2) contains the transmitter and/or receiver modules and has a ventilation inlet (8) for receiving air into the housing to an exhaust outlet (9) for outputting the air from the housing. A ventilation driver (6) drives an air flow rate through the housing from the ventilation inlet to the exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Adrian Thomas Rowe
  • Patent number: 10353377
    Abstract: A method of generating a topographic map of a region of a body for the manufacture of a body fitting article to be fitted to the region of the body. The method allows for the resultant topographical map of the body feature to be coupled to an anatomical and functional datum on the body. The method involves use of a contact probe which is configured to generate positional data which defines the surface it is drawn across. The method comprises the steps of urging a contact probe towards the outer surface of the body such that the contact probe is touching the outer surface of the body or separated from the outer surface of the body only by a barrier layer which is flattened against the outer surface of the body by the probe. The contact probe is drawn over the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located such that the contact probe generates 3D positional data of the surface of the outer surface of the body in the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Martyn Ingleton, Jordan Henry Walker Jenkins, Tom Hon Pan Yip, Raife Edwin Thompson Norman
  • Publication number: 20190212116
    Abstract: The invention relates to A nose cone assembly for a munition, comprising a transducer array operably linked to a transmission assembly, wherein the transducer array is operably connected to a transducer housing, said transducer housing comprising a first and second surface, wherein said transmission assembly is reversibly operably connected to the second surface of said transducer housing, said transmission assembly comprising a control board and a plurality of electronic circuit boards, wherein at least one electronic circuit board is a transceiver circuit board, said electronic circuit boards being reversibly connected to the control board and being arranged along their longest dimension, at an axis substantially perpendicular to the control board and further arranged such that the electronic circuit boards extend radially inwardly to a substantially rotational centre of the control board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: GARY ROY MOORE, PAUL BICKNELL
  • Publication number: 20190215613
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an electroacoustic transducer, comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a piezoelectric material at least partially sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a flexible electrical connector in electrical connection with the first or second electrode at discrete points around a periphery of that electrode, the discrete points being distributed about a substantial portion of that periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: LIONEL WILLIAM JOHN KENT