Patents Examined by Dan Pihulic
  • Sensor for airborne shooter localization system
    Patent number: 7787331
    Abstract: A sensor assembly suitable for use in an airborne shooter localization system. The sensor assembly has a pressure sensor subassembly with a pressure transducer positioned to detect pressure variations associated with a shock wave from a passing projectile or the muzzle blast following the shock wave. To substantially increase the signal to noise ratio for measurements of the shock wave, the pressure sensor subassembly attenuates pressure fluctuations triggered by turbulent airflow over the surface of the subassembly more than it attenuates the shock wave. This preferential attenuation is provided by separating the pressure transducer from the surface of the sensor assembly by a cavity large enough that the pressure fluctuations are substantially attenuated as they propagate across the cavity. Additionally, features of a housing that holds the pressure sensor subassembly facilitate use on an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: BBN Technologies, Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Barger, John Stanley
  • System and method for computing a location of an acoustic source
    Patent number: 7787328
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for computing a location of an acoustic source is disclosed. The method includes steps of processing a plurality of microphone signals in frequency space to search a plurality of candidate acoustic source locations for a maximum normalized signal energy. The method uses phase-delay look-up tables to efficiently determine phase delays for a given frequency bin number k based upon a candidate source location and a microphone location, thereby reducing system memory requirements. Furthermore, the method compares a maximum signal energy for each frequency bin number k with a threshold energy Et(k) to improve accuracy in locating the acoustic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Chu, Michael Kenoyer, Richard Washington
  • Pest deterrent
    Patent number: 7782711
    Abstract: An improved in-ground pest deterrent composed of a hollow plastic spike which houses a sonic pulse producer and is battery powered in which the sonic pulse producing circuitry is fixed and shielded within the housing such that when a removable battery sleeve is removed, the sonic pulse producing circuitry remains within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Richard Fembleaux
  • System for detecting, tracking, and reconstructing signals in spectrally competitive environments
    Patent number: 7782710
    Abstract: A method and system for determination of the trajectory, miss distance, and velocity of a projectile using an antenna array. The present invention also includes a method and system for extracting signal vectors of simultaneously spectrally competitive component fields from resolvable transmitters; a method and system for relaying simultaneous and spectrally competitive signals from a set of transmitters on a common channel and simultaneously rebroadcasting such signals over another channel to resolvable receivers generally as a composite field; and a method and system for increasing the spectral efficiency of a cellular phone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Charles A. Uzes
  • Methods and systems for underwater navigation
    Patent number: 7778111
    Abstract: A method for navigating underwater is disclosed. The method uses a navigation system to project a first velocity measurement along one or more signal beams having a second velocity measurement, where the second velocity measurement is related to at least one of the one or more signal beams. The method determines a position and location of an object associated with the navigation system based on a prediction of at least the second velocity measurement, and the navigation system is adjusted to perform within a prescribed measurement range based on a covariance of the first and second velocity measurements. The performance adjustments made in determining the position and location of the object are operable independent of the navigation system maintaining each of the signal beams due to one or more external environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley J. Hawkinson, Kevin Sweeney, Randolph G. Hartman
  • Systems and methods for detection and analysis of amplitude modulation of underwater sound
    Patent number: 7773458
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detection and analysis of amplitude modulation of underwater sound employ a product of a time delayed first electrical signal with a second electrical signal to generate a summed-product signal. The time delayed first electrical signal and the second electrical signal have an amplitude modulation indicative of characteristics of a vessel propeller. The summed-product signal is analyzed to detect a vessel and to determine the characteristics of the vessel propeller. In some arrangements a plurality of summed-product signals are analyzed to also determine a depth of the detected vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Arnold W. Novick, Michael F. Janik, Ian B. Kerfoot, Mary Kerfoot, legal representative
  • System and method of horizontal wave measurement
    Patent number: 7768874
    Abstract: A system and method of horizontal wave measurement is disclosed. The system for measuring the directional spectrum of waves in a fluid medium having a substantially planar surface may include a sonar system having a plurality of transducers for generating respective acoustic beams and receiving echoes from one or more range cells located substantially within the beams, at least one of the plurality of acoustic beams being angled non-orthogonally to at least one other of the plurality of acoustic beams. The method may calculate the directional spectrum associated with the waves from the received echoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon S Strong, Blair H Brumley, Jerald W Mullison
  • Channel impulse response estimation
    Patent number: 7768876
    Abstract: A method of estimating the impulse response of a channel is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an impulse signal to the channel, detecting a received signal from the channel, and calculating an estimate of the impulse response of the channel by applying a calculated inverse matrix of the impulse signal to the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Frequency-modulated radar system with variable pulse interval capability
    Patent number: 7768445
    Abstract: A radar system utilizing a CW radar system, including an FMCW radar, is capable of avoiding interference wave generation and of simultaneously covering a number of radar systems within limited frequency modulation bands. The radar system 1 for emitting into space transmission radio waves based on a frequency-modulated continuous wave reference, and receiving transmission radio waves reflected from an external object, as well as for obtaining beat signals, from the received signals and the continuous wave reference, and computing from the beat signals obtained, a distance to and a velocity of the external object, comprises a pulse generation means 13 for pulsing the continuous-wave reference at an interval unique to the radar system, and an antenna 16 for emitting into space, the pulse transmit signals as the transmission radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Inaba
  • Feedback protection of pressure measurement devices
    Patent number: 7764570
    Abstract: Systems and methods for feedback protection of pressure measurement devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transmitter inside a pressure measurement device transmits a transmission signal directly or indirectly toward an ambient opening of the pressure measurement device. A reflection of the transmission signal is then received at a receiver and data associated with the transmission signal and the reflection of the transmission signal are examined to determine if an obstruction exists in the pressure measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jason R Perez
  • Positioning system using ultrasonic waves and method for operating the same
    Patent number: 7764574
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a positioning system using ultrasonic waves. The method installs a plurality of ultrasonic satellites generating ultrasonic signals to position a mobile. The method sequentially gives satellite identification numbers to the plurality of ultrasonic satellites, generates a synchronization signal, provides it to the plurality of ultrasonic satellites, and allows the mobile to receive ultrasonic signals, which are generated by the plurality of ultrasonic satellites in the order of the satellite identification numbers when the ultrasonic satellites receive the synchronization signal, to measure distances between the mobile and the ultrasonic satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: KT Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Hwal Lee
  • Methods of and systems for monitoring the acoustic transmission conditions in underwater areas using unmanned, mobile underwater vehicles
    Patent number: 7760587
    Abstract: A method of and system for monitoring the acoustic transmission conditions in underwater areas using an unmanned, mobile, submersible vehicle of the type including a source of acoustic signals. The submersible vehicle is controlled so that the vehicle traverses a desired path through the water of an area of interest. As the submersible vehicle traverses the desired path, a time-synchronized acoustic signal is transmitted from the acoustic source to at least one receiver spaced from the submersible vehicle so as to generate data representing the acoustic properties of the environment in the water between the acoustic source and the at least one receiver as the submersible vehicle traverses the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ocean Acoustical Services and Instrumentation Systems (OASIS), Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Abbot, Charles J. Gedney, Chris J. Emerson, David W. Morton
  • Through the bulkhead repeater
    Patent number: 7760585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting radio frequency signals and associated information through a plurality of compartments and associated bulkhead walls in a water vessel. The method and apparatus includes a through-the-bulkhead repeater system, in which one or more bi-directional repeater units are mounted on bulkhead walls in each compartment. The bi-directional units communicate with each other to transfer signals throughout the vessel. In operation, a bi-directional unit converts radio frequency signals into energy forms such as ultrasonic waves, which are propagated from one compartment to an adjacent compartment through the thick bulkhead walls. The propagated energy forms are received in the adjacent compartment by another bi-directional unit, which eventually converts the energy form into an output radio frequency signal, which is then transmitted by the bi-directional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Albert Ortiz, Donald Dalessandro, Qing Dong
  • Method for operation of a radar sensor
    Patent number: 7755540
    Abstract: A method for close-proximity operation of a radar sensor for the generation of a usable detection field, for the recognition of people and/or stationary objects by an antenna, whereby the detection field can be altered or adjusted electronically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Bircher Reglomat AG
    Inventors: Klaus Mezger, Leon Audergon
  • System for providing wireless waterproof audio
    Patent number: 7755975
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing wireless waterproof audio to a user in an aquatic environment. The systems may include earphones adapted to be waterproof and coupled to a receiver for receiving a wireless signal. The systems may also include a waterproof housing containing a transmitter and adapted to receive an electronic audio device such that the signal generated by the device may be transmitted by the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: H2O Audio, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Wilhelm Pettersen, Rany Polany, Kari Kristian Rauhala
  • Method and apparatus for providing leak-before-burst failure of a pressurized component
    Patent number: H2243
    Abstract: In a pressure vessel, pressure fitting, or pressure component, service use may result in the propagation of fatigue cracks. According to embodiments, a leak channel may be designed and formed to cause a pressurized fluid nominally contained by the pressure member to leak after formation of a fatigue crack, rather than undergoing a more catastrophic burst failure. According to an embodiment, a method is taught for determining the propensity of fatigue cracks to form, determining the location of the possible fatigue cracks, and determining a location for a leak channel, leak hole, weep hole, etc. for preventing burst failure. According to an embodiment, a computer program performs steps to design leak channels for prevention of burst failures in favor of leak-before-burst (LBB) failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventor: Darren L. Stang
  • Age-hardenable, nickel-base superalloy with improved notch ductility
    Patent number: H2245
    Abstract: A precipitation hardenable nickel base alloy that provides a novel combination of elevated temperature strength, ductility, and reduced notch sensitivity at temperatures up to about 1300° F. is described. The alloy contains, in weight percent, about Carbon 0.10 max. Manganese 0.35 max. Silicon 0.2-0.7 Phosphorus 0.03 max. Sulfur 0.015 max. Chromium 12-20 Molybdenum 4 max. Tungsten 6 max. Cobalt 5-12 Iron 14 max. Titanium 0.4-1.4 Aluminum 0.6-2.6 Niobium 3-7 Boron 0.003-0.015 the balance being nickel and usual impurities. An article made from the alloy and a method of making the alloy are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: CRS Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl A. Heck, Richard B. Frank
  • Portable medical equipment suite
    Patent number: H2247
    Abstract: A portable medical equipment suite that includes a case, a power distribution system, a physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, a portable suction unit, a medical information management system and an oxygen dispenser. The case has a door and an interior, the door allows access to the interior of the case; the case is self contained and waterproof when the door is closed. The power distribution system, the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, the portable suction unit, the medical information management system, and the oxygen dispenser are disposed within the interior of the case. The power distribution system powers the physiological monitoring and defibrillation system, the portable suction unit, and the medical information management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert Frank Medve
  • Blending of economic, reduced oxygen, winter gasoline
    Patent number: H2248
    Abstract: Provide is a novel gasoline composition which is substantially free of oxygenates and is in compliance with the California Phase 3 Predictive Model. The gasoline composition is suitable for use in the winter months, i.e., having a Reid vapor pressure in the range of greater than 7.0 to about 15.0 psi. The method for blending the gasoline comprises blending streams from a refinery in a controlled manner to maintain compliance with the California Phase 3 Predictive Model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Brundage, David A. Kohler, Richard T. Engle
  • Blending of economic, reduced oxygen, winter gasoline
    Patent number: H2249
    Abstract: Provide is a novel gasoline composition which is substantially free of oxygenates and is in compliance with the California Predictive Model. The gasoline composition is suitable for use in the winter months, i.e., having a Reid vapor pressure in the range of greater than 7.0 to about 15.0 psi. The method for blending the gasoline comprises blending streams from a refinery in a controlled manner to maintain compliance with the California Predictive Model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Brundage, David A. Kohler, Richard T. Engle