Patents Assigned to Grumman Corporation
  • Publication number: 20160370822
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a clock distribution system. The system includes a standing-wave resonator configured to receive and to resonate a sinusoidal clock signal. The standing-wave resonator includes at least one anti-node portion associated with a peak current amplitude of the sinusoidal clock signal. The system also includes at least one clock line interconnecting each of the at least one anti-node portion and an associated circuit. The at least one clock line can be configured to propagate the sinusoidal clock signal for timing functions associated with the associated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOSHUA A. STRONG, ANNA Y. HERR, QUENTIN P. HERR, STEVEN B. SHAUCK
  • Patent number: 8579502
    Abstract: A method for optimizing direct wafer bond line width for reduction of parasitic capacitance in a MEMS device by reducing the width of a bond line between a first and a second wafer, exposing the MEMS device to a water vapor for a predetermined time period and at a first temperature capable of evaporating water, cooling the MEMS device at a second temperature capable of freezing the water, and operating the MEMS device at a third temperature capable of freezing the water to determine if there is discontinuity during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Henry C. Abbink, Gabriel M. Kuhn, Howard Ge, Daryl Sakaida
  • Publication number: 20130177392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical system and method that modulates airflow in an aircraft inlet diffuser that is used in conjunction with an aircraft engine that integrates both a center turbine engine and a high Mach engine such as a constant volume combustor (CVC) arrangement or ramjet arrangement with intakes formed co-centrically about the turbine. The modulation system uses two articulating components, a movable air flow duct and an articulating cone. The air flow duct, in a first position, is in exclusive air flow communication with the circular intake face of the turbine in a first position to receive air from the intake diffuser. In this configuration the expandable cone is in a retracted position and does not redirect airflow and allows the aircraft to operates in low speed mode as only the turbo jet receives airflow. In a transition speed mode, the air flow duct is retracted to allow air flow to both the turbo jet and the CVC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130174974
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a thru-hole through a composite structure having a plurality of internal compartments. An insert ring is connected to the composite structure to create a protective layer around the periphery of a penetration formed within the composite structure. An adhesive is disposed between the composite structure and the insert ring to create a fluid-tight seal between the insert ring and the internal compartments. In this regard, the fluid-tight seal mitigates fluid flow between the internal compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8446883
    Abstract: A method and system for the networking of radio transceivers is disclosed. The system includes a source transceiver with a source address, and a destination transceiver with a destination address. A router gateway includes a first interface in communication with the source transceiver and a second interface in communication with the destination transceiver, and interconnections between the two are defined in a routing table. A network signaling system independent of the respective radio transmission and receipt systems enables communication between the source transceiver and the destination transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Curtin, Dale Edward Burton
  • Patent number: 8430001
    Abstract: A socket is disclosed for securing frangible collar fasteners to bolts, and collecting the separated nut portions of the fasteners to avoid introducing debris into the work area. The socket comprises the socket housing having a first end formed to receive and engage the frangible nut portions, and the second end to receive and engage a ratchet. At least one retention member is disposed within the socket housing, proximate the housing first end. The retention member is resiliently displaceable to allow each nut portion to enter into the socket housing during fastening, and to retain a plurality of nut portions within the socket housing after the nut portions have been separated from the frangible collar fasteners. Nut ejection apparatus is provided having a first portion disposed exterior to the socket housing and a second portion disposed interior to the socket housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8429893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical system and method that modulates airflow in an aircraft inlet diffuser that is used in conjunction with an aircraft engine that integrates both a center turbine engine and a high Mach engine such as a constant volume combustor (CVC) arrangement or ramjet arrangement with intakes formed co-centrically about the turbine. The modulation system uses two articulating components, a movable air flow duct and an articulating cone. The air flow duct, in a first position, is in exclusive air flow communication with the circular intake face of the turbine in a first position to receive air from the intake diffuser. In this configuration the expandable cone is in a retracted position and does not redirect airflow and allows the aircraft to operates in low speed mode as only the turbo jet receives airflow. In a transition speed mode, the air flow duct is retracted to allow air flow to both the turbo jet and the CVC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: George D Rupp, Trajaen J. Troia
  • Patent number: 8423976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a binary translator for directly translating binary instructions written for a legacy processor to executable binary instructions for a native processor. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention the binary translator is configured as a reconfigurable translator, which enables the binary translator to be used with different legacy processors and/or operating systems and native processors. The binary translators also optimize to take advantage of more efficient native processor instructions and allows portions of the legacy binary code to be disabled and/or new native instructions to be added to the application program without modification of the legacy binary code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Zwirner, Gregory P. Crocker, Joshua C. Kennel, Timothy R. Hoerig, William J. Cannon
  • Patent number: 8409395
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a thru-hole through a composite structure having a plurality of internal compartments. An insert ring is connected to the composite structure to create a protective layer around the periphery of a penetration formed within the composite structure. An adhesive is disposed between the composite structure and the insert ring to create a fluid-tight seal between the insert ring and the internal compartments. In this regard, the fluid-tight seal mitigates fluid flow between the internal compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond L. Schumacher, Jr., William B. Louder, Douglas E. Arnold
  • Patent number: 8292220
    Abstract: The invention is a flying wing aircraft having a forward fuselage; an aft fuselage segment; a propulsion segments adapted to mate to the fuselage segments; a pair of wing segments adapted to mate with the propulsion segments. The invention further includes a center section adapted to fit between the forward and aft fuselage sections; the center section adapted to receive multiple compartment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Wayne Westra, Roxanne Marie Sato, Douglas Ellwood Shultz, James Franklin Kerswell, Perry Bruce Petersen, Scott Walter Collins
  • Publication number: 20120032185
    Abstract: An improved HEMT formed from a GaN material system is disclosed which has reduced gate leakage current and eliminates the problem of current constrictions resulting from deposition of the gate metal over the step discontinuities formed over the gate mesa. One or more GaN based materials are layered and etched to form a gate mesa with step discontinuities defining source and drain regions. In order to reduce the leakage current, the step discontinuities are back-filled with an insulating material, such as silicon nitride (SiN), forming a flat surface relative to the source and drain regions, to enable to the gate metal to lay flat. By back-filling the source and drain regions with an insulating material, leakage currents between the gate and source and the gate and drain are greatly reduced. In addition, current constrictions resulting from the deposition of the gate metal over a step discontinuity are virtually eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Rajinder Randy Sandhu, Michael Edward Barsky, Michael Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: 7982239
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a integrated semiconductor device includes a first Vertical Junction Field Effect Transistor (VJFET) having a source, and a gate disposed on each side of the first VJFET source, and a second VJFET transistor having a source, and a gate disposed on each side of the second VJFET source. At least one gate of the first VJFET is separated from at least one gate of the second VJFET by a channel. The integrated semiconductor device also includes a Junction Barrier Schottky (JBS) diode positioned between the first and second VJFETs. The JBS diode comprises a metal contact that forms a rectifying contact to the channel and a non-rectifying contact to at least one gate of the first and second VJFETs, and the metal contact is an anode of the JBS diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Ty R. McNutt, Eric J. Stewart, Rowland C. Clarke, Ranbir Singh, Stephen Van Campen, Marc E. Sherwin
  • Publication number: 20110170109
    Abstract: A gyroscope having photonic crystals for sensing rotation uses the Sagnac effect to determine angular motion. The gyroscope comprises a photonic crystal capable of guiding counter-propagating light beams in a closed path. A light source, coupling, and detection apparatus permits detection of phase changes between the counter-propagating beams, thereby permitting measurement of angular rotation. The photonic crystal comprises a periodic structure of pillars and voids which creates a photonic bandgap waveguide within which light waves in the proper wavelength range propagate with low loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, Kenneth D. Marino
  • Publication number: 20110164137
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing; a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing; an attitude detector for detecting an orientation of the housing; and a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image data and an orientation signal to a station disposed remotely from the scene. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Allen Schwartz, Kenneth Lee Morris
  • Publication number: 20110151923
    Abstract: A receiver includes a plurality of antennas; a plurality of front end circuits producing digital signals in response to signals received on the antennas; a beamforming unit weighting and summing the digital signals to produce a first signal; a first stage including a first plurality of modems producing first bit streams in response to components of the first signal, a first plurality of signal reconstruction units producing first signal replicas in response to the first bit streams, and a first active cancellation unit weighting the first signal replicas and subtracting the weighted first signal replicas from the first signal to produce a second signal; and a second stage including a second plurality of modems producing second bit streams in response to components of the second signal, a second plurality of signal reconstruction units producing second signal replicas in response to the second bit streams, and a second active cancellation unit weighting the second signal replicas and subtracting the weighted s
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: David K. Mesecher
  • Publication number: 20110106459
    Abstract: A method of detecting cracks in an object includes: capturing a first image of a pattern of marks in a region of interest on a surface of the object; constructing a finite element model of the region of interest having nodes corresponding to the marks in the pattern; subjecting the object to a first mechanical load to produce strains in the object; capturing a second image of the pattern; computing strains in the object based on relative changes in locations of the marks in the first and second images; modifying the finite element model to produce a crack versus surface strain map; capturing a third image of the pattern; and comparing the locations of marks in the third image to the crack versus surface strain map to identify a crack in the object. An apparatus that performs the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Christ, JR., Jerrell A. Nardiello, John M. Papazian, Daniel R. Fridline
  • Patent number: 7917460
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a decision network from text. An information extraction component extracts a quantum of evidence and an associated confidence value from a given text segment. An evidence classifier associates each quantum of evidence with one of a plurality of hypotheses. A fusion engine builds a decision network from the plurality of hypotheses, an associated base structure, the extracted quanta of evidence, and the confidence values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick James Talbot, Dennis Regan Ellis
  • Patent number: 7904892
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying and displaying dependencies. One aspect of the invention comprises a system having a dependency parser that parses components of a system with dependencies and generates a plurality of component dependency pairs associated with the components, and a component dependency graph generator that generates a dependency directed graph from the plurality of dependency pairs. The system further includes a component levels and cycles analyzer that traverses the dependency directed graph to identify dependencies, strong components and component dependency levels associated with the dependency directed graph, and a graphical user interface that provides a tree view illustrating a dependency tree of the identified dependencies over the identified component dependency levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Babb, II, Michael H. Parry, Jason S. Byassee, Ted L. Meyers, David R. Mooney
  • Patent number: 7875941
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a miniature electromechanical system (MEMS) device includes the steps of forming a moving member on a first substrate such that a first sacrificial layer is disposed between the moving member and the substrate, encapsulating the moving member, including the first sacrificial layer, with a second sacrificial layer, coating the encapsulating second sacrificial layer with a first film formed of a material that establishes an hermetic seal with the substrate, and removing the first and second sacrificial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Carl B. Freidhoff
  • Publication number: 20110010140
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving a plurality of values of an input variable representative of a physical characteristic of a component or system, using a physics model to produce an estimate of an output for each of the input values, mapping the output estimates to the input values to produce an output probability density or cumulative distribution function for the physical characteristic at a future time, and outputting the probability density or cumulative distribution function. An apparatus that implements the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: David H. Hoitsma, Stephen J. Engel