Patents Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Patent number: 9440752
    Abstract: A method for increasing density of a region of a porous, phenolic bonded (“PPB”) body adjacent to a selected surface to increase failure tensile strength of the adjacent region and/or to decrease surface recession at elevated temperatures. When the surface-densified PPB body is brought together with a substrate, having a higher failure tensile strength, to form a composite body with a PPB body/substrate interface, the location of tensile failure is moved to a location spaced apart from the interface, the failure tensile strength of the PPB body is increased, and surface recession of the material at elevated temperature is reduced. The method deposits and allows diffusion of a phenolic substance on the selected surface. The PPB body and the substrate may be heated and brought together to form the composite body. The phenolic substance is allowed to diffuse into the PPB body, to volatilize and to cure, to provide a processed body with an increased surface density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Margaret M. Stackpoole, Christian Espinoza
  • Patent number: 9444548
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved method of processing conglomerate data. The method employs a Triband Wavelet Transform that decomposes and decimates the conglomerate signal to obtain a final result. The invention may be employed to improve performance of Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Philip J Hamory, Allen R Parker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9434832
    Abstract: An aerogel and process of making the aerogel is provided. The aerogel is a polyimide aerogel having polyamide cross-links formed using a triacid chloride cross-linker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Mary Ann B. Meador
  • Patent number: 9434486
    Abstract: A frictionless satellite constraint system is provided. The constraint system includes at least one clamp bar configured to restrain a satellite within the constraint system in an axial direction. The constraint system also includes a plurality of pins configured to restrain the satellite within the constraint system in a lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luis H. Santos, John D. Hudeck
  • Patent number: 9435821
    Abstract: A single-axis accelerometer includes a housing defining a sleeve. An object/mass is disposed in the sleeve for sliding movement therein in a direction aligned with the sleeve's longitudinal axis. A first piezoelectric strip, attached to a first side of the object and to the housing, is longitudinally aligned with the sleeve's longitudinal axis. The first piezoelectric strip includes a first strip of a piezoelectric material with carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a length thereof. A second piezoelectric strip, attached to a second side of the object and to the housing, is longitudinally aligned with the sleeve's longitudinal axis. The second piezoelectric strip includes a second strip of the piezoelectric material with carbon nanotubes substantially aligned along a length thereof. A voltage sensor is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second piezoelectric strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Dennis Stephen Tucker, Pedro A. Capó-Lugo
  • Patent number: 9431778
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for debris exclusion and removal apparatuses for connectors which have inverting end caps with a multi-axis lever configuration, inverting end caps with enlarged handle and/or side rail configurations, rotating end cap configurations, poppet valve configurations, O-ring configurations, filament barrier configurations, retractable cover configurations, clamshell end cap configurations, or any combination thereof. Apparatuses may also provide for an intelligent electrical connector system capable of detecting damage to or faults within a plurality of conductors and then rerouting the energy through a non-damaged spare conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert P. Mueller, Mark E. Lewis, Gary L. Bastin, Matthew C. Branch, Jeffrey W. Carlson, Adam G. Dokos, Kevin A. Murtland, Matthew W. Nugent, Gabor J. Tamasy, Ivan I. Townsend, III
  • Patent number: 9423799
    Abstract: An information processing system and method for adaptively selecting an aircraft descent flight path for an aircraft, are provided. The system receives flight adaptation parameters, including aircraft flight descent time period, aircraft flight descent airspace region, and aircraft flight descent flyability constraints. The system queries a plurality of flight data sources and retrieves flight information including any of winds and temperatures aloft data, airspace/navigation constraints, airspace traffic demand, and airspace arrival delay model. The system calculates a set of candidate descent profiles, each defined by at least one of a flight path angle and a descent rate, and each including an aggregated total fuel consumption value for the aircraft following a calculated trajectory, and a flyability constraints metric for the calculated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: Minghong G. Wu, Steven M. Green
  • Patent number: 9424654
    Abstract: Analog circuits for detecting edges in pixel arrays are disclosed. A comparator may be configured to receive an all pass signal and a low pass signal for a pixel intensity in an array of pixels. A latch may be configured to receive a counter signal and a latching signal from the comparator. The comparator may be configured to send the latching signal to the latch when the all pass signal is below the low pass signal minus an offset. The latch may be configured to hold a last negative edge location when the latching signal is received from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Norman F Prokop
  • Patent number: 9423426
    Abstract: A circuit board that serves as a control and sampling interface to an inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) is provided. The circuit board is also configured to interface with a local oscillator and an external trigger pulse. The circuit board is further configured to receive the external trigger pulse from an external source that time aligns the local oscillator and initiates sampling of the inertial measurement device for data at precise time intervals based on pulses from the local oscillator. The sampled data may be synchronized by the circuit board with other sensors of a navigation system via the trigger pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: David T Chelmins, Richard T. Powis, Jr., Obed Sands
  • Patent number: 9419558
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus including an oscillator, a ramp generator, and an inverter. The oscillator is configured to generate a waveform comprising a low time and a high time. The inverter is configured to receive the waveform generated by the oscillator, and invert the waveform. The ramp generator is configured to increase a gate control voltage of a transistor connected to a solar cell, and rapidly decrease the gate control voltage of the transistor. During the low time, a measurement of a current and a voltage of the solar cell is performed. During the high time, a measurement of a current of a shorted cell and a voltage reference is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael J. Krasowski, Norman F. Prokop
  • Patent number: 9418844
    Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell is provided and includes multiple semiconducting layers and an interface layer disposed between the multiple semiconducting layers. The interface layer is made from an interface bonding material that has a refractive index such that a ratio of a refractive index of each of the multiple semiconducting layers to the refractive index of the interface bonding material is less than or equal to 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Landis
  • Patent number: 9419319
    Abstract: A photonic waveguide choke includes a first waveguide flange member having periodic metal tiling pillars, a dissipative dielectric material positioned within an area between the periodic metal tiling pillars and a second waveguide flange member disposed to be coupled with the first waveguide flange member and in spaced-apart relationship separated by a gap. The first waveguide flange member has a substantially smooth surface, and the second waveguide flange member has an array of two-dimensional pillar structures formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Edward J. Wollack, Kongpop U-Yen, David T. Chuss
  • Patent number: 9411569
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable storage devices for providing a climate data analytic services application programming interface distribution package. The example system can provide various components. The system provides a climate data analytic services application programming interface library that enables software applications running on a client device to invoke the capabilities of a climate data analytic service. The system provides a command-line interface that provides a means of interacting with a climate data analytic service by issuing commands directly to the system's server interface. The system provides sample programs that call on the capabilities of the application programming interface library and can be used as templates for the construction of new client applications. The system can also provide test utilities, build utilities, service integration utilities, and documentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John L. Schnase, Daniel Q. Duffy, Glenn S. Tamkin
  • Patent number: 9414072
    Abstract: Frequency-based, pixel-adaptive filtering using the JPEG-ESAP algorithm for low bit rate JPEG formatted color images may allow for more compressed images while maintaining equivalent quality at a smaller file size or bitrate. For RGB, an image is decomposed into three color bands—red, green, and blue. The JPEG-ESAP algorithm is then applied to each band (e.g., once for red, once for green, and once for blue) and the output of each application of the algorithm is rebuilt as a single color image. The ESAP algorithm may be repeatedly applied to MPEG-2 video frames to reduce their bit rate by a factor of 2 or 3, while maintaining equivalent video quality, both perceptually, and objectively, as recorded in the computed PSNR values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Irving Linares
  • Patent number: 9405005
    Abstract: The present invention proposes an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) architecture and process, in which priority aircraft and ADS-B IN traffic information are included in the transmission of data through the telemetry communications to a remote ground control station. The present invention further proposes methods for displaying general aviation traffic information in three and/or four dimension trajectories using an industry standard Earth browser for increased situation awareness and enhanced visual acquisition of traffic for conflict detection. The present invention enable the applications of enhanced visual acquisition of traffic, traffic alerts, and en-route and terminal surveillance used to augment pilot situational awareness through ADS-B IN display and information in three or four dimensions for self-separation awareness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Ricardo A. Arteaga
  • Patent number: 9400237
    Abstract: An ultra-high temperature optical method incorporates speckle optics for sensing displacement and strain measurements well above conventional measurement techniques. High temperature pattern materials are used which can endure experimental high temperature environments while simultaneously having a minimum optical aberration. A purge medium is used to reduce or eliminate optical distortions and to reduce, and/or eliminate oxidation of the target specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Russell W. Smith, H. Kevin Rivers, Joseph G. Sikora, Mark C. Roth, William M. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9396294
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modeling an external occulter including: providing at least one processor executing program code to implement a simulation system, the program code including: providing an external occulter having a plurality of petals, the occulter being coupled to a telescope; and propagating light from the occulter to a telescope aperture of the telescope by scalar Fresnel propagation, by: obtaining an incident field strength at a predetermined wavelength at an occulter surface; obtaining a field propagation from the occulter to the telescope aperture using a Fresnel integral; modeling a celestial object at differing field angles by shifting a location of a shadow cast by the occulter on the telescope aperture; calculating an intensity of the occulter shadow on the telescope aperture; and applying a telescope aperture mask to a field of the occulter shadow, and propagating the light to a focal plane of the telescope via FFT techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Richard G. Lyon, Mark Clampin, Peter Petrone, III
  • Patent number: 9393619
    Abstract: Disclosing herein is a method for manufacturing nickel-titanium compositions. The method includes disposing a powdered composition in a mold; the powdered composition comprising nickel and titanium; the titanium being present in an amount of about 38 to about 42 wt % and the nickel being present in an amount of about 58 to about 62 wt %; sintering the powdered composition to produce a sintered preform; compacting the preform; machining the preform to form an article; heat treating the article; the annealing being conducted at a temperature of about 1650° F. to about 1900° F. at a pressure of about 3 Torr to about 5 Kg?f/cm2 for a time period of about 10 minutes to about 5 hours; and quenching the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, ABBOTT BALL COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn N. Glennon, Christopher DellaCorte
  • Patent number: 9381802
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for an electric vehicle includes a wheel rim that is concentrically disposed about a central axis. A propulsion-braking module is disposed within an interior region of the wheel rim. The propulsion-braking module rotatably supports the wheel rim for rotation about the central axis. The propulsion-braking module includes a liquid cooled electric motor having a rotor rotatable about the central axis, and a stator disposed radially inside the rotor relative to the central axis. A motor-wheel interface hub is fixedly attached to the wheel rim, and is directly attached to the rotor for rotation with the rotor. The motor-wheel interface hub directly transmits torque from the electric motor to the wheel rim at a 1:1 ratio. The propulsion-braking module includes a drum brake system having an electric motor that rotates a cam device, which actuates the brake shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Joshua M. Figuered, Eduardo Herrera, Thomas M. Waligora, William J. Bluethmann, Logan Christopher Farrell, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert L. Vitale, Ross Briant Winn, Raymond Edward Eggleston, IV, Raymond Guo, Steven J. Weber, Lucien Q. Junkin, James Jonathan Rogers
  • Patent number: 9383254
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a symmetric absorber-coupled far-infrared microwave kinetic inductance detector including: a membrane having an absorber disposed thereon in a symmetric cross bar pattern; and a microstrip including a plurality of conductor microstrip lines disposed along all edges of the membrane, and separated from a ground plane by the membrane. The conducting microstrip lines are made from niobium, and the pattern is made from a superconducting material with a transition temperature below niobium, including one of aluminum, titanium nitride, or molybdenum nitride. The pattern is disposed on both a top and a bottom of the membrane, and creates a parallel-plate coupled transmission line on the membrane that acts as a half-wavelength resonator at readout frequencies. The parallel-plate coupled transmission line and the conductor microstrip lines form a stepped impedance resonator. The pattern provides identical power absorption for both horizontal and vertical polarization signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kongpop U-yen, Edward J. Wollack, Ari D. Brown, Thomas R. Stevenson, Amil A. Patel