Patents Assigned to L-3 Communications
  • Publication number: 20170026126
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cancelling interference from a received signal in order to properly detect a signal of interest are disclosed. A combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be received. A copy or sample of the interference signal may be determined. The interference signal and the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be converted to the optical domain. The interference signal may be optically phase shifted by ?180 degrees, which may result in an optically inverted interference signal. The optically inverted interference signal may be variably optically attenuated and/or variably optically time delayed, for example based on a detected output power of an optical subsystem of the interference cancellation system. As a result, interference cancellation of the interference signal from the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be achieved, resulting in 50 dB or more of cancellation of the interference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Elias Bonaventure Kpodzo, Robert Holland, Yanhua Deng, Paul Prucnal, Andrew McCandless, Paul Dourbal
  • Publication number: 20170019997
    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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Brent A. BOUDREAUX
  • Patent number: 9548408
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yajun Wei
  • Patent number: 9515210
    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: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Yajun Wei
  • Patent number: 9515823
    Abstract: A system for performing encryption and/or decryption may include a parent cryptographic device. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to receive a first cryptographic key. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to determine one or more session keys based on the first cryptographic key and/or internally generated random data bits. The parent cryptographic device may be configured to insert the one or more session keys onto one or more child cryptographic devices that are operably connected to the parent cryptographic device. The one or more child cryptographic devices may be configured to receive the one or more session keys from the parent cryptographic device, and perform one or more of encryption or decryption of communications exchanged with another child cryptographic device of the one or more child cryptographic devices. The one or more child cryptographic devices may perform encryption/decryption after separation from the parent cryptographic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Norman Winslow, Frank A. Costantini
  • Patent number: 9507019
    Abstract: A method for acquiring and tracking an in-flight or airborne target using an antenna is provided. In the acquisition process, the antenna is rotated to collect RF power data. The location of peak RF power is determined and the antenna is pointed to that location. The antenna may then undergo a search pattern on either side of that location to detect a specified drop in RF power and a modem on which to lock. In the tracking process, an algorithm allows the antenna to track the target in a pure RF mode, a GPS-based open loop pointing mode or a hybrid mode. The tracking may automatically switch between the pure RF mode and the hybrid mode, depending upon whether GPS data is available from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Scott M. Lyon, Jonathan R. Lawton, Joshua R. Warr, Richard A. Vester
  • Patent number: 9499267
    Abstract: Ground-accessing elevator systems and methods are provided for transporting personnel between the ground level and one or more decks of multi-level vehicle such as a fixed-wing aircraft. The vehicle elevator systems and methods may be implemented using a multi-track guide rail system configured to guide an elevator car between the ground and two or more levels within a vehicle. The multi-track guide rail system may include an intra-vehicle track fixed to the vehicle structure and configured to guide the elevator car between decks of the vehicle, and a separate deployment track may be configured to telescope downward from the intra-vehicle guide rail track to guide the elevator car during deployment to the ground from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP
    Inventors: Wayne J. Ehlert, Michael G. Glenn, James R. Grimes, Loyd R. Hamilton, Christopher M. Jackson, Mark A. McCoy, Richard R. Pardun, Paul H. Peterson, Albert W. Ruggles, Scot A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 9482803
    Abstract: A holographic sight is provided having a housing that includes a plurality of holograph sight components. A laser diode mounted in the housing is configured to emit a laser light beam. The light beam is transmitted to an integrated diffraction grating and filter unit which includes a grating and a filter in a single device. The diffraction grating has a grating surface for diffracting the light beam and also diffracting unwanted ambient light transmitted into the housing. The filter is an optical filter contacting at least a portion of the grating. The optical filter is adapted to absorb at least one wavelength of the ambient light to inhibit the ambient light from diffracting into a visible spectrum that might otherwise be viewable to a user looking into the holographic sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications, Warrior Systems Division, EO Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Paul Dehmlow, David Edwin Ventola, Zbynek Ryzi
  • Patent number: 9479062
    Abstract: A galvanically isolated DC/DC converter includes at least one first side converter circuit coupled between a pair of first side DC terminals, and at least one second side converter circuit coupled between a pair of second side DC terminals. The second side converter circuit has at least a first and a second switching element, each including a switch and a diode connected in parallel. When the DC/DC converter is in power transfer operation from the pair of first side DC terminals to the pair of second side DC terminals, the diodes of the first and second switching elements are alternately in a conductive state, with each of the first and second switching elements being controlled such that a closed state of the respective switch extends beyond a transitioning of the diode of the same switching element from the conductive state to a blocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS MAGNET-MOTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Biebach, Kay Peschke
  • Patent number: 9478865
    Abstract: A configurable antenna may include a circular horn array comprising a plurality of horn antennas, a configurable waveguide in a center of the circular horn array, and a plurality of actuators. The configurable waveguide includes a plurality of retractable triangular wedges, with one side of each wedge oriented to one of the plurality of horn antenna and a corner oriented toward a center of the waveguide, wherein a circle defined by each of the corners oriented toward the center of the waveguide defines a first circumference. The configurable waveguide further includes a plurality of movable tuning rods arranged in a circle defining a second circumference, the second circumference being smaller than the first circumference, said movable tuning rods further arranged such that the movable tuning rods are between the corners the corners oriented toward the center of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Bryan Willis, Neil K. Harker, Timothy G. Riggs, Brandon G. Walsh
  • Patent number: 9457507
    Abstract: A thin film mirror, comprising: a mirror shell (605); a reflective film (601) stretched between forming structures (603) provided on said mirror shell and reflective film being arranged such that they form a chamber which is capable of being placed under at least partial vacuum; the mirror shell having an inner surface which forms an inner wail of said chamber, wherein the mirror shell is a moulded part where its inner surface is a controlled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Link Simulation and Training UK Limited
    Inventors: Graham Olive, Graham Barnes, Henry Nicholson-Cole
  • Patent number: 9442587
    Abstract: A touch sensor controller system for use in a vehicle of the type utilizing a software application to be interfaced with by an operator of the vehicle includes a touch sensor and a touch detector associated with the touch sensor. A touch gesture processor is provided which prevents unwanted or unintended touch gestures from being communicated to the application software during certain operating conditions of the vehicle. The touch gesture processor receives inputs of the operating conditions of the vehicle and receives touch gesture information from the touch detector, and the touch gesture processor is operative to determine the types of touch gestures to be permitted to be passed to the software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerome Conway, Marcus Dutton
  • Patent number: 9445137
    Abstract: A method for conditioning a network based encoded video stream including receiving the video stream over an RF data link, detecting any missing and/or corrupted data within the data stream, and inserting curative data in place of the missing or corrupted data. A system and method for transmitting a real-time video stream to an end-user at least partially over an RF data link including the video conditioner wherein a camera obtains video footage, an encoder to compresses the video stream, an RF transmitter transmits the encoded video stream over an RF data link, and an RF receiver to receives the encoded video stream from the RF transmitter. The video stream is conditioned by the video conditioner and routed to an end user through a computer network wherein a decoder decodes the encoded video stream and the video stream is viewed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
    Inventor: W. Kyle Unice
  • Patent number: 9444502
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cancelling interference from a received signal in order to properly detect a signal of interest are disclosed. A combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be received. A copy or sample of the interference signal may be determined. The interference signal and the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be converted to the optical domain. The interference signal may be optically phase shifted by ?180 degrees, which may result in an optically inverted interference signal. The optically inverted interference signal may be variably optically attenuated and/or variably optically time delayed, for example based on a detected output power of an optical subsystem of the interference cancellation system. As a result, interference cancellation of the interference signal from the combined signal of interest plus interference signal may be achieved, resulting in 50 dB or more of cancellation of the interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Elias Bonaventure Kpodzo, Robert Holland, Yanhua Deng, Paul Prucnal, Andrew McCandless, Paul Dourbal
  • Patent number: 9405860
    Abstract: A content addressable memory (CAM) system can include a comparator core in which all of the keys of the CAM are embedded in comparator blocks. A search key can be provided to each of the comparator blocks, which can compare the search key to its embedded key and determine whether the search key matches the embedded key. The comparator blocks can be organized into paged sets in the comparator core such that only one of the comparator blocks in each paged set is selected and compares its embedded key to the search key at any given time. The comparator block selected in each paged set can be incremented until the search key has been compared to the keys embedded in all of the comparator blocks of the comparator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventor: Larry R. Trout
  • Patent number: 9400337
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for measuring low levels of acceleration caused by low frequency seismic waves. For example, an omnidirectional beam accelerometer configured to measure low frequency waves is disclosed. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may include three beam acceleration sensors. Each beam acceleration sensor may include a respective mass and a respective beam. Each respective beam may be comprised at least in part of a piezoelectric material. Each beam acceleration sensor may have a ratio of mass density [kg/m3] to beam stiffness [N/m] of at least 4.5×10?5 kg/Nm2. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may also include a housing to ensure the sensors are operating in orthogonal directions and an interface circuit to interface between the sensor and external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sterling William Jones, David Ralph Kimball
  • Patent number: 9390650
    Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure relates to an OLED display compatible for operation in both a day mode and a night mode and methods of operating such a display. In one embodiment, a display comprises a screen, a plurality of sub-pixels including red, green, blue and red-orange pixels. The display also comprises an arrangement scheme for the sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Sanjay Tripathi
  • Patent number: 9377520
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for locating signal wave (SW) emitter/s using at least one moving signal collection platform. The disclosed systems and methods may be employed in one embodiment to estimate the signal energy transmitted from a grid of locations (such as a map) using collected IQ data (or other raw data representation such as IQ data covariance matrix), and without requiring computation of any intermediate geolocation-observable measurements (such as angle-of-arrival, direction-of-arrival, etc.). In a further embodiment, the disclosed systems and methods may be implemented in a blind manner (i.e., transmitted emitter signal/s are unknown and processed blindly) to geolocate SW emitters using a single SW signal collection platform (e.g., at relatively large standoff distances in some implementations) without relying on a known signal modulation or operation of multiple simultaneous SW signal collection platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems LP
    Inventors: Bryan L. Westcott, Steven P. Stanners
  • Patent number: 9374107
    Abstract: An LDPC decoder includes a check node processor. The check node processor is configured to implement an n-degree check node, where n is a predetermined number. The degree of a check node is the number of edges coupled to the check node. The LDPC decoder also includes a plurality of n time division multiplexers coupled to the check node processor to couple different edge connection input values to the check node processor at different times so as to allow the check node processor to be time division multiplexed for use in implementing different check nodes with the same check node processor. Each of the multiplexers is configured to provide no more than one edge connection input value to the check node processor at any given time. Each edge connection is used to implement an edge into a check node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Ryan W. Hinton, Joshua D. Gunn
  • Patent number: 9372070
    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: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dale Jancic, Christopher Rakowski, Donald Spencer