Patents Examined by Brian Steinberger
  • Patent number: 4528566
    Abstract: A directional locating device transmits pulsed RF signals at a stabilized frequency and is carried by an object the direction of which is to be determined from a distance remote from the transmitter. A one-half wave delay line in the receiver is responsive to the signal detected by a directional antenna for generating a 180 degree out-of-phase signal with respect to the signal detected by a sense antenna. A variable inductance coupling transformer having a primary winding is connected directly to the sense antenna and the output of the one-half wave delay line to produce at a secondary winding of the transformer a summation signal representing the summation of the 180 degree out-of-phase signal and the signal detected by the sense antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Inventor: Michael D. Tyler
  • Patent number: 4528650
    Abstract: Apparatus for multiplexing ancillary devices in a streamer cable towed by a boat in ocean seismic operation, in which the cable includes a plurality of ancillary devices located throughout the cable. The apparatus includes a source providing step pulses located on the boat. Also located on the boat is a circuit providing control signals and a network providing control voltages. A plurality of series connected control pulse circuits are located in the streamer cable with the first control pulse circuit of the series being connected to the step pulse source. The control pulse circuits are responsive to the step pulses for providing a plurality of control pulses in a predetermined sequence. An energizing voltage source located on the boat provides a square wave energizing voltage. A plurality of switching networks are located throughout the cable with each switching network being connected to a corresponding ancillary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Howlett, Herbert J. Meyer, Stanley F. Zimmer
  • Patent number: 4528567
    Abstract: A radio signal direction tendency system which includes an antenna array providing signals having a phase indicative of signal direction and a dual compressive receiver for reviewing and processing said signals to provide an output signal indicative of received signal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Argo Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Miles, Richard A. Koenen
  • Patent number: 4518964
    Abstract: A device for determining the arrival time of a fast or slow rising front pulse is provided comprising a first comparator to which are applied at its inputs a delayed pulse and an attenuated non-delayed pulse, and a second comparator connected in parallel across the first, through an AND logic circuit receiving the pulse applied to the input of the device through a circuit connected to one of its inputs, acting on the noise and/or the signal.This circuit is either a low-pass filter or a divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Joseph Hetyei
  • Patent number: 4513285
    Abstract: An accurate radio frequency ranging system is provided for measuring the time required for a signal to be transmitted from a ground station to a remote station and to be returned to the ground station. The ground station is provided with a master reference clock that is employed to drive a first pseudonoise generator. The ranging system in the ground station is started by a unique and predetermined start epoch signal produced by the first pseudonoise generator. The first pseudonoise generated signals are transmitted to the remote station where they are tracked and sensed. When the original start epoch signal is sensed at the remote station, it is employed as a trigger or read signal to initiate the generation of a stop epoch signal. The stop epoch signal is retransmitted to the ground station and stored in a register where it is compared with pseudonoise generated signals being retransmitted from the remote station to the ground station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Pike, John W. Zscheile, Jr., Billie M. Spencer
  • Patent number: 4513287
    Abstract: A device for the elimination of n.sup.th trace moving echoes and radar interference echoes in a radar system operating by bursts and comprising a display device for moving targets. The device comprises means for detecting first and n.sup.th trace echoes of which the amplitudes exceed, respectively, two given thresholds S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, and means for comparing these echoes with each other. The device finds particular utilization in a surveillance radar or in a radar landing system operating by pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Serge J. Penhard
  • Patent number: 4513402
    Abstract: Earthquake simulator making it possible to produce seismic waves and apply them to a sample, wherein it comprises a generator able to produce shock waves, whose frequencies are similar to the shock wave frequencies produced in a natural earthquake, the ratio of similitude being equal to 1/.lambda. in which .lambda. is a positive integer, said generator being formed by a cylinder, sealed at one of its ends by one of the walls of a cell containing the sample and at the other end by a thick wall to which are fixed means making it possible to produce shock waves within the cylinder, said waves being transmitted from the interior of the cylinder to the interior of the cell by means of openings made in the wall of the latter causing movements of the sample similar to those encountered during natural earthquakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Bernard Devaure
  • Patent number: 4509050
    Abstract: An automatic adaptive sensitivity time control for a ground mapping radar comprises the dynamic range of radar returns for presentation on a video display. A feedback loop including a differential amplifier senses the magnitude of a signal presented to a limit amplifier and compares the same with a clutter threshold reference potential. A low-pass filter in the feedback loop then smooths or averages the clutter deviation from the reference potential to adjust the clutter level out of a log IF amplifier so that the nominal clutter signal level of close-in returns does not exceed a predetermined magnitude. A second embodiment includes a dual time constant filter in the feedback loop. A comparator circuit senses the leading edge of clutter return signals and switches the feedback loop to its faster time constant mode allowing dynamic compression of smaller time constant pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Salvatore Amoroso, Jr., Russell W. Conklin
  • Patent number: 4507660
    Abstract: An anechoic chamber utilizes an expanded central area resembling two flared horns with their rims fastened together, with the general vertex area of one of the horns forming the source area of the chamber and the other end the test or receiver end, there being adequate room beneath the two ends to include as part of the chamber rooms outside the chamber shell for housing the transmitter and receiver equipment. The purpose of the flare is to reduce shallow angle incidence on the walls of the chamber to improve performance by decreasing reflectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Advanced Electromagnetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Leland H. Hemming
  • Patent number: 4503432
    Abstract: A constant false alarm rate is achieved in a moving-target-indicator radar y controlling the threshold in doppler channels according to the level of clutter in range gates near the range rate being examined for the presence of a target. Processing is simplified by using analog signals in charge coupled devices for target detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Walter H. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4502052
    Abstract: A passive data determination system (10) for use in a traveling projectile (12) is provided including a logarithmic receiver (20) for receiving a power signal P.sub.r from a source target (14) and emitting in response thereto an output voltage signal E.sub.o which is proportional to the logarithm of P.sub.r. A clock pulse signal is provided, such as by an oscillator (22) to measure a change in output voltage .DELTA.E.sub.o. Means such a microprocessor (28) provides a signal R which is a function of Kv.multidot.(.DELTA.t/.DELTA.E.sub.o), where K is equal to -2 (log e) and V is a known relative velocity between the projectile (12) and the target (14) and which indicates the range of the projectile to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventor: George V. Colby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4500976
    Abstract: In a seismic exploration system, the waveforms provided from a plurality of seismic sources are phase shifted so as to maximize the strength of signals received by a plurality of seismic receivers and the signals output from the plurality of seismic receivers are phase shifted so as to substantially maximize the strength of the composite signal which results from the summation of the output from the plurality of seismic receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Richard E. DuBroff
  • Patent number: 4500882
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector and a primary and a subsidiary array antenna which are disposed in front of an aperture of the reflector so as to be positioned back-to-back with each other. An electric power which is supplied to the primary array antenna is also partly supplied to the subsidiary array antenna after it has been controlled in both phase and amplitude in order that a radiant beam from the subsidiary array antenna compensates for that portion of a secondary radiant beam from the reflector which is blocked by the primary array antenna. For example, a transmission source is connected to the primary array antenna through a coupler and a distributor while the coupler is connected to the subsidiary array antenna through a phase and an amplitude regulator and a distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Katagi, Seiji Mano
  • Patent number: 4499469
    Abstract: A radar system testing apparatus for use in evaluating radar performance of terrain following, forward looking radars, generally installed in the nose of military aircraft. The operator inputs the antenna position and rotational arc limits desired which are converted into reference voltages and compared to the antenna's true position by a logic comparator network. When the true position is within the operator's selected window, and the radar system inputs a trigger signal to indicate transmitter firing, the logic network will respond with a spiked waveform. This waveform traverses two consecutive one shot multivibrators with appropriate controls to vary the width of the resultant output pulses. By controlling the size of the pulses, the operator effectively selects a variety of target ranges and target widths for testing purposes. These controlled pulses are fed back into the radar system where they generate a simulated target return for evaluating the performance of the radar system under known conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Inventor: John W. Kesterson
  • Patent number: 4496951
    Abstract: A hyperbolic navigation receiver locates ships, and the like, by phase-locking the output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator or voltage-controlled phase shifter of respectively provided tracking loop filters corresponding to the incoming signals from a master and slave station. The voltage-controlled oscillator or voltage-controlled phase shifter is caused to produce an output signal which is a multiple frequency of the incoming signal. Phase discrimination of the output signals is undertaken without the use of a multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Tsukada, Yoshiharu Kanzaki, Yoshikazu Hori
  • Patent number: 4494117
    Abstract: A helical antenna for radiating waves in both orthogonal states of circular olarization that is fed at the base by a first feed and at the tip by a second feed. The amplitude and phase of the signal from the first feed controls the amplitude and phase of the wave in the first orthogonal polarization while the amplitude and phase of the second signal from the second feed independently controls the amplitude and phase of the wave in the second polarization state. Radiated waves of any arbitrary polarization state are formed by adjusting the amplitude and phase of the feed signal. Alternative embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: H. Paris Coleman
  • Patent number: 4493281
    Abstract: The invention is a safety circuit for torpedoes which causes lead weights be ejected when the torpedo is not running and is below a predetermined depth. It uses a CMOS multivibrator and NAND gates to pulse power to the existing pressure transducer and a comparator. This comparator checks depth and alternator power. When conditions are met, it holds power on and after five seconds, causes the weights to be dropped.The circuit is powered by existing batteries in the torpedo exercise head. To minimize any effect on the battery life, a strobbing technique is used where voltage is switched on for only a few milliseconds once every ten seconds. Depth is checked by the use of the comparator. One comparator input is connected to the torpedo's depth transducer and the other to a reference voltage in accordance with the predetermined depth limit. When the transducer voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the comparator turns on.One output from the comparator then latches-on for as long as the comparator is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Coleman
  • Patent number: 4492962
    Abstract: A low-power adaptive array for transmitting a signal may be used by itself in low-power applications or in high-power applications in conjunction with a commercial radio transmitter to optimize the radiation field of the transmitter used. The adaptive system comprises a continuous-wave (C-W) signal source having a certain amount of power. A power divider hybrid circuit, whose input is connected to the output of the C-W generator, divides its output power into N+1 parts. N quadrature hybrid circuits, one in each of N channels, whose inputs are connected to the output of the power divider hybrid circuit, divide their input signals into two quadrature components. One channel, a reference channel, does not require a quadrature circuit. A plurality of attenuators, each having inputs from the power divider hybrid circuit and the quadrature hybrid circuits, attenuates the power received from the quadrature hybrid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Inventor: Peder M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4492960
    Abstract: An RF system is disclosed in which the input mixer of the system is also used as a switch to allow the local oscillator to be used as the transmitter oscillator. The switching mixer may also be used as an attenuator or signal modulator. A local oscillator is connected via a filter to a 90.degree. 3 db hybrid coupler. Two of the four ports of the hybrid coupler are coupled through impedance matching networks to reversely polarized mixer diodes. Bias circuits are connected to the mixer diodes for variably adjusting the bias current to the mixer diodes to thereby adjust their reflection/absorption characteristics. A second filter is connected between the first filter and the hybrid coupler for extracting an intermediate frequency signal. A third filter is connected to the fourth port of the hybrid coupler and to the antenna of the RF system. The first and third filters pass RF and local oscillator signals and block IF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Alfred R. Hislop
  • Patent number: 4493061
    Abstract: An arrangement of a plurality of individual gas expansible marine sources, wherein the positive portions of the primary shock waves are additive in effect, the negative portions of the primary shock waves are not additive in effect and the positive and negative portions of the after-shock or bubble occurrences also are not additive in effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford H. Ray