Patents Assigned to L-3 Communications
  • Publication number: 20180167541
    Abstract: A fusion night vision system has a plurality of hinged joints that allow an operator to adjust the distance between the left eye piece and the right eyepiece while allowing a row of pixels from a display to be maintained viewable through the right eye piece parallel with an imaginary line formed by an optical axis of the left eye piece with an optical axis of the right eye piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation-Insight Technology Division
    Inventors: Matthew Reed, Joseph W. Robbins, IV
  • Patent number: 9983247
    Abstract: The presence of a hidden signal can be detected efficiently using frequency domain multiplication. A detector system can be employed to search for a hidden signal across a wide spectrum in real time. The detector system can divide multiple antenna inputs into a series of blocks and then convert these blocks to the frequency domain possibly in a parallel fashion. Corresponding blocks from each input can then be conjugate multiplied, and the results of this conjugate multiplication can then be averaged over time. If a signal is hidden in the inputs, this averaging will reduce the noise floor thereby revealing the presence of the hidden signal at a particular frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Samuel C Kingston, Radivoje Zarubica, Ryan W Hinton, Joshua D Gunn, Thomas R Giallorenzi
  • Patent number: 9980697
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide corrections for fluctuations in dose or energy of radiation sources including x-ray radiation sources. The corrections can be applied to improve the quality of transmission radiography data or other radiation imagery or to facilitate feedback control of a radiation source to improve stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security & Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Denis Dujmic
  • Publication number: 20180108509
    Abstract: Image intensifiers may include a photocathode that emits photoelectrons in proportion to the rate photons impact the photocathode. The photoelectrons are multiplied using a microchannel plate that includes a plurality of microchannels. Photoelectrons are scattered by the microchannel plate when the photoelectrons strike the surface of the microchannel plate rather than enter one of the microchannels. Electron scatter within an image intensifier results in a halo or bloom around bright or luminous objects. Halo or bloom may be minimized by reducing the electron scatter within the image intensifier. Deposition of an anti-scattering layer on the surface of the microchannel plate within the image intensifier can absorb photoelectrons that fail to enter a microchannel and may thus reduce the incidence of halo or bloom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation-Insight Technology Division
    Inventor: Stephen Styonavich
  • Patent number: 9939252
    Abstract: A target location device has a video camera, a range finder, a self location module and an inertial measurement unit. The device provides a video display including video output of the camera and an object marker such as a cross-hair overlayed on the video output for aiming the camera on a reference point or on a target in the video output. The range finder determines a distance from the device to the target. The self location module identifies the geographic location of the device. The inertial measurement unit includes at least one gyro for providing outputs corresponding to the location of the reference point and the target. Video stabilization may be use to allow accurate placement of the object marker on the target or reference point. Automatic range finder firing and gyroscope error compensation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dale Jancic, Christopher Rakowski, Donald Spencer, Steven Earnest Morin
  • Patent number: 9941567
    Abstract: An electronic assembly and device are provided. The electronic assembly includes a first circuit board, with PCB pads located adjacent to an edge of the circuit board, and a corresponding plurality of contacts, each contact soldered to one of the PCB pads. Each contact has a first portion, soldered to the PCB pad, and a second portion that extends past the edge of the circuit board and forms a leaf spring. The leaf spring compresses when placed in contact with a PCB pad of a second circuit board, where the PCB pad is substantially coplanar with a surface of the second circuit board. A restoring force of the second portion maintains contact between the second portion and the PCB pad of the second circuit board. The contact forms an electrical connection between the PCB pad of the first circuit board and the PCB pad of the second circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Brent A. Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 9939321
    Abstract: A hyperspectral optical element for monolithic detectors is provided. In one embodiment, for example a hyperspectral optical element includes a faceplate layer adapted to be mounted on top of a monolithic detector. The faceplate layer comprises a reflective inner surface. A notched layer includes a plurality of notched surfaces and is mounted to the faceplate layer. The notched surfaces oppose the reflective inner surface of the faceplate and define a plurality of variable depth cavities between the reflective inner surface of the faceplate layer and the plurality of notched surfaces of the notched layer. The faceplate layer and the notched layer are substantially transparent to a received signal and the plurality of variable depth cavities provides resonant cavities for one or more wavelengths of the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Bartosewcz, Tristan Van Hoorebeke, Phillip Michael Henry, Anthony William Sarto
  • Patent number: 9935347
    Abstract: An electronic circuit assembly comprising: i) a circuit card assembly (CCA) having circuits integrated on a circuit surface; ii) a housing having an upper surface and a lower surface disposed on the CCA circuit surface, the housing comprising a via extending from the lower surface to the upper surface; and iii) a waveguide assembly disposed in the via. The waveguide assembly comprises: a) a first waveguide having a first dielectric value, a contact end of the first waveguide configured to make contact with the CCA circuit surface; b) a second waveguide having a second dielectric value, wherein the first dielectric value is greater than the second dielectric value; and c) a carrier for holding the first waveguide in contact with the second waveguide. The electronic circuit assembly further comprises: iv) a wave washer disposed in the via on a support surface of the carrier; and v) a third waveguide having a third dielectric value that is less than the second dielectric value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew J. Spitzner
  • Patent number: 9929470
    Abstract: An antenna assembly for use in a tile architecture antenna system. The antenna assembly comprises: i) a first substrate layer having a first surface; ii) a first antenna disposed in an X-Y plane on the first surface of the first substrate layer; iii) a second substrate layer having a first surface, the second substrate layer displaced in the Z-direction with respect to the X-Y plane on the first surface of the first substrate layer; and iv) a first tuning balun disposed on the first surface of the second substrate layer and coupled to the first antenna by means of a first feed via. The antenna assembly further comprises a first transmission line disposed on the first surface of the second substrate layer. The first transmission line is coupled to the first antenna by means of a second feed via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Maurio Batista Grando, George Zohn Hutcheson
  • Publication number: 20180076345
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to infrared detector devices incorporating a tunneling structure. In one embodiment, an infrared detector device includes a first contact layer, an absorber layer adjacent to the first contact layer, and a tunneling structure including a barrier layer adjacent to the absorber layer and a second contact layer adjacent to the barrier layer. The barrier layer has a tailored valence band offset such that a valence band offset of the barrier layer at the interface between the absorber layer and the barrier layer is substantially aligned with the valence band offset of the absorber layer, and the valence band offset of the barrier layer at the interface between the barrier layer and the second contact layer is above a conduction band offset of the second contact layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yajun Wei
  • Publication number: 20180075790
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant LCD display system comprises an LCD panel and a first driver coupled to the LCD panel and including a first gate driver and a first source driver, the first driver including a first transient voltage suppressor. A second driver is also coupled to the LCD panel and includes a second gate driver and a second source driver, the second driver including a second transient voltage suppressor. One of the first and second drivers is operable to be active while the other is inactive, and vice versa, and the first and second drivers are isolated from one another. The first and second transient voltage suppressors are operable to prevent a back biasing voltage from leaking back through the inactive driver and thus the transient voltage suppressors are operative to prevent a back biasing voltage from shunting through the non-active driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael G. ABERNATHY
  • Patent number: 9915727
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for transmitting a first set of stepped-frequency CW signals having first signal parameters, where the first signal parameters includes a first bandwidth and a first step size between signal frequencies. Detecting reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Identifying an indication of a potential target in a frequency range of the reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals from the detected reflections of the first set of transmitted CW signals. Determining second signal parameters for a second set of stepped-frequency CW signals in response to identifying the indication of the potential target. The second signal parameters include a second bandwidth and a second step size between signal frequencies, and where the second signal parameters focus on the frequency range in which the indication of the potential target is identified. Transmitting the second set of CW signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor V. Reznack, Herbert Duvoisin, III, Joe R. Jordan, III
  • Publication number: 20180069140
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to infrared detector devices incorporating a tunneling structure. In one embodiment, an infrared detector device includes a first contact layer, an absorber layer adjacent to the first contact layer, and a tunneling structure including a barrier layer adjacent to the absorber layer and a second contact layer adjacent to the barrier layer. The barrier layer has a tailored valence band offset such that a valence band offset of the barrier layer at the interface between the absorber layer and the barrier layer is substantially aligned with the valence band offset of the absorber layer, and the valence band offset of the barrier layer at the interface between the barrier layer and the second contact layer is above a conduction band offset of the second contact layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yajun Wei
  • Publication number: 20180053994
    Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for distortions in RF beams caused by a radome. The apparatus comprises: i) a plurality of metal patches arranged in rows and columns; ii) a first plurality of varactors coupling adjoining ones of a first plurality of metal patches in a first row of metal patches; and iii) a first reference voltage source configured to apply a first reference voltage to the first plurality of metal patches in the first row. The apparatus further comprises: iv) a second plurality of varactors coupling adjoining ones of a second plurality of metal patches in a first column of metal patches; and v) a second reference voltage source configured to apply a second reference voltage to the second plurality of metal patches in the first column. The first and second reference voltage sources adjust the phase delays of RF beams passing through each metal patch in the rows and columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Maurio Batista GRANDO, George Zohn HUTCHESON
  • Publication number: 20180052333
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing an obscurant and imaging a target are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of imaging a target includes characterizing at least one obscurant present in an environment, and determining, based on the at least one characterized obscurant, one or more of the following: one or more wavelengths corresponding to the at least one obscurant, a polarization state corresponding to the at least one obscurant, and a sensor exposure time corresponding to the at least one obscurant. The method further includes adjusting one or more parameters of an imagining system based at least in part on a characterization of the at least one obscurant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: HARISH P. HIRIYANNAIAH, NANSHENG TANG
  • Patent number: 9899787
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods that may be employed to install or remove a threaded connector by allowing a cable or tubing segment attached to the threaded connector to pass through an open pass-through area that is defined to extend through the tool so as to allow the threaded connector to be tightened and/or loosened relative to the fitting by turning the connector a full revolution or more while the cable or tubing is attached to the connector and extending through the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Richard Baumler
  • Patent number: 9887307
    Abstract: Diode barrier infrared detector devices and superlattice barrier structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a diode barrier infrared detector device includes a first contact layer, an absorber layer adjacent to the first contact layer, and a barrier layer adjacent to the absorber layer, and a second contact layer adjacent to the barrier layer. The barrier layer includes a diode structure formed by a p-n junction formed within the barrier layer. The barrier layer may be such that there is substantially no barrier to minority carrier holes. In another embodiment, a diode barrier infrared detector device includes a first contact layer, an absorber layer adjacent to the first contact layer, a barrier layer adjacent to the absorber layer, and a diode structure adjacent to the barrier layer. The diode structure includes a second contact layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yajun Wei
  • Patent number: 9866246
    Abstract: A digital transmitter channel optimization device can be employed within or in conjunction with a transmitter to perform a number of techniques in the digital domain to account for distortion introduced in the transmitter. The optimization device can be configured to perform such techniques on an arbitrary signal to thereby allow the optimization device to be used with virtually any transmitter. The optimization device may be particularly beneficial in wideband systems where accounting for distortion can be difficult to accomplish using existing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: June Y Sun, William K McIntire
  • Publication number: 20180003814
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Duvoisin, III, Juan Antonio Torres-Rosario, Christopher Gary Sentelle, Douglas O. Carlson, Glen A. Holman, Marquette Trishaun
  • Patent number: 9824295
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing an obscurant and imaging a target are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of imaging a target includes characterizing at least one obscurant present in an environment, and determining, based on the at least one characterized obscurant, one or more of the following: one or more wavelengths corresponding to the at least one obscurant, a polarization state corresponding to the at least one obscurant, and a sensor exposure time corresponding to the at least one obscurant. The method further includes adjusting one or more parameters of an imagining system based at least in part on a characterization of the at least one obscurant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CINCINNATI ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harish P. Hiriyannaiah, Nansheng Tang