Patents Examined by Daniel T. Pihulic
  • Patent number: 6829198
    Abstract: An electro acoustic transducer has a housing having an axial threaded bore. A transducer driver element is axially aligned in the bore and has a first end mounted on an electrically conductive holder that is axially displaceable by a conductive screw member. A hemisphere on the other end of the driver element contacts a diaphragm for radiating acoustic signals. An electrical connector has a conductive coil spring coupled to the screw member and is electrically connected to the first end of the driver element via the coil spring, screw member, holder, and mounting plug. Another electrical connector is connected to the other end of the driver element via a conductive front plate, diaphragm, and hemisphere in one embodiment or a flexible lead in another embodiment. In both embodiments, the electrical connectors couple electrical driving signals to the driver elements to cause the driver elements to mechanically vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert S. Janus, Michael D. Jevnager, Raymond P. Pineault
  • Patent number: 6826117
    Abstract: An ultrasonic signal is used to link a beacon unit to a tracker unit to provide a tracking and navigation system for firefighters to use in a smoke filled environment at the scene of a fire. The beacon unit transmits an omnidirectional ultrasonic signal. The tracker unit, using a directional ultrasonic receiver provides a display or other indication of the signal strength of the received ultrasonic signal to allow the direction to the beacon unit to be determined. The ultrasonic signal provided by the beacon unit may be pulse modulated to include digitally encoded data that may be used to identify particular individuals, objects, materials, dangers, or exits. In addition, the tracker unit may be provided with a transmitter and the beacon unit provided with a receiver such that audio communication may be established therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Summit Safety, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Haase, Zachary S. Haase, Paul M. Chizinski, Malcolm S. MacGregor, Donald B. Bruck
  • Patent number: 6804167
    Abstract: A temporal correlation SONAR calculates the velocity and position of a water navigable craft. A first pulse and a second set of pulses are transmitted towards an ocean bottom. A tetrad of hydrophones on the craft receives echoes of the pulses. A correlation between the first pulse received on one hydrophone with the second pulses received on another hydrophone produces correlation points, for which a correlogram is generated. The distance between the hydrophones is divided by twice the time value at the peak of the correlation to calculate the velocity of the vessel. Another correlation is generated for hydrophones pairs that are positioned diagonally from one another, and maximum correlation values, along with hydrophone angles, are used to calculate athwart-ship velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Scoca, James G. Huber, Barry S. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6791902
    Abstract: A portable fish finder device with a housing that defines a wrap cavity for receiving a signal cable that communicates between a depth finder device and a transducer attached to the water craft. A skirt connected to the housing moves between a first position covering the wrap cavity and a second position uncovering the cavity for winding or unwinding the signal cable. The depth finder device pivotally mounts to the housing to move between a storage position with a display screen received in a recess of the housing and an extended position for viewing the display. The cable winds into the wrap cavity for storage and unwinds when the housing is disposed on a portion of a water craft for use of the depth finder with the transducer communicating signals in a body of water for detecting underwater articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Techsonic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steiner, Wendell Wilson, Patrick Spivey, Jared Rudd, Darrell Watt, Marti Elnicki
  • Patent number: 6771562
    Abstract: A buoy to shore fish finding system has a buoyant station with a sonar transmitter, a sonar receiver, a sonar to electric signal transducer and a radio transmitter all controlled by a microprocessor. The system shore station has a radio receiver and signal display controlled by a shore station microprocessor. The buoyant station microprocessor is programmed to generate sync pulses and to transmit both the sync pulses and transduced sonar echo returns to the shore station while the shore station microprocessor is programmed to display only echo signals received after a sync pulse. The shore station is detachably secured to the arm of the fisherman or to his fishing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Techsonic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Betts, Christopher James Bennett, Douglas W. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6768702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a directional electro-acoustic transducer and arrays of transducers of the cylindrical or ring electro-mechanical type in conjunction with a partial conformal acoustic baffle. Such a device has very desirable directional beam patterns that are nearly frequency independent over a significant frequency range and the radiation is has a characteristic broadband frequency response due to multimode excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventors: David A. Brown, Boris Aronov
  • Patent number: 6765524
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring gauging system including a radar antenna, a plurality of functionally independent radar measuring channels, and a feeder operably connected with the channels and operable to feed microwave signals of the channels to the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Saab Marine Electronics AB
    Inventor: Mikael Kleman
  • Patent number: 6744398
    Abstract: A distancing system for determining a distance between first and second locations comprising mobile and fixed units. The mobile unit is arranged at the first location and comprises first receive and first transmit portions operating at respective first and second frequencies, first and second baseband processors operating based on first and second clock signals, and a first control portion. The fixed unit is arranged at the second location and comprises second receive and transmit portions operating at the respective second and first frequencies, a third baseband processor operating based on a third clock signal, a second control portion, and a mode switch. The configuration of mode switch circuit allows communication between the fixed and mobile units or a determination of the distance between first and second locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventors: Derek J. Pyner, Russell A. Fretenburg, Steven S. J. Kazemir
  • Patent number: 6738312
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for measuring the speed of sound, the arrangement comprising: an electrical pulse generating means (402) for generating an output electrical pulse signal (404), a transmitting transducer (403) for converting said output electrical pulse signal (404) into an output acoustic pulse signal (405), a reflector (407) for reflecting said output acoustic pulse signal (405), thereby producing a reflected acoustic pulse signal (409), a receiving transducer (408) being arranged such as to receive said output acoustic pulse signal (405) transmitted directly from said transmitting transducer and said reflected acoustic pulse signal (409) reflected by said reflector, wherein said receiving transducer converts the received output acoustic pulse signal (405) into a reconstructed output electrical pulse signal (410) and the reflected acoustic pulse signal (409) into a reconstructed reflected electrical pulse signal (411), a speed determination means for determining the speed of sound (41
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Addest Technovation Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Kah Chye Tan, Zenton Goh, Kwok Chiang Ho
  • Patent number: 6738314
    Abstract: An autonomous mine detection and neutralization system including a motorized underwater vehicle having a guidance control component, and a vehicle positioning system attached to the vehicle via a communications cable. The system also includes a buoyant surface unit comprising a protective housing surrounding an interior chamber, a positive buoyancy buoy attached to the housing, an antenna system attached to the housing, and a radio transmitter and receiver system positioned within the chamber, which radio transmitter and receiver system is electrically attached to the vehicle positioning system and the antenna system. The mine detection system is launched into a body of water from an air craft or surface vessel. The vehicle then proceeds to an underwater target on its own, relaying navigation data and imagery through a communications cable to a surface unit which relays the information over a radio frequency link to a remote user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: L3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Teeter, Kip Harrington
  • Patent number: 6738313
    Abstract: A system for detecting distances for vehicle and robotic applications includes a transducer for generating a transmission signal to be sent in the direction of an obstacle, and for obtaining a receiving signal corresponding to an echo produced by the reflection of the transmission signal off the obstacle. The transducer is driven by a chaos generator, such as a Chua's circuit. The system also includes a correlator for correlating the transmission signal and the receiving signal so that the distance between the obstacle and the transducer is identified by an instant at which the correlation assumes a high value. The transmission signal may be a square-wave signal selectively generated with one first frequency and one second frequency, and jumps between the two frequencies are determined by the instants of emission of the pulses generated by an analog type pulse generator driven by the chaos generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luigi Fortuna, Alessandro Rizzo, Mattia Frasca, Marco Branciforte, Marco Bartolone
  • Patent number: 6735149
    Abstract: A device forming a mouthpiece for a snorkel or diving regulator, adapted to fit in the mouth of a diver or swimming and comprising a body provided with an air intake and extended by two lateral branched each provided with a bite tab, and at least one transducer buzzer positioned in one of the branches and comprising a piezoelectric membrane. Each transducer buzzer comprises a peripheral weight fixed to the periphery of the piezoelectric membrane, and elements for transmitting the vibrations of the membrane towards the teeth of the diver or swimmer. Furthermore, each transducer buzzer is positioned in the branch in such a way that the piezoelectric membrane is totally isolated from the external environment, and that the transmission elements form a contact interface with the teeth at the bite tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Amphicom
    Inventor: Bruno Pierot
  • Patent number: 6731569
    Abstract: Methods for reducing ringing of dual-function ultrasonic air-coupled transducers in which at least one electrical passive circuit is applied to the transducer. The circuit may be either a linear circuit or a non-linear circuit. Different circuits can be applied to the transducer when the transducer is in a transmission mode than when the transducer is in a reception mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Inc.
    Inventors: Oleksandr V. Yurchenko, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6724689
    Abstract: An acoustic spectra personal identification system comprising acoustic signal generating means, acoustic transducer means and computer means including storage means, processor means and acoustic signal analysis means, whereby a data base may be generated and maintained that stores acoustic resonance spectrum information specific to selected body parts of known individuals, for comparison against newly captured acoustic resonance spectral information obtained from an identification subject and for determination whether said subject's acoustic spectra matches that of a data base participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Philip Koenig
  • Patent number: H2103
    Abstract: A system using two algorithms for scheduling packets in a multi-hop network. The objective of the algorithms is to reduce end-to-end message (not packet) transmission delays. Both algorithms schedule packet transmissions based on the length of the original message to which the package belongs. The first algorithm is preemptive and is based on the shortest-message-first principle and the second is based on the shortest-remaining-transmit-time principle. We develop simulation models for analyzing the algorithms. The simulations show that when message sizes vary widely, these algorithms can significantly reduce average end-to-end message delays compared to the First-Come-First-Serve scheduling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Eytan Modiano
  • Patent number: H2106
    Abstract: A virtual FDD base station comprises two base station sub-units each of which comprise a base station transmitter and a base station receiver. The first base station sub-unit transmits base-to-user messages to user stations only during a first half of a repeating time frame, and receives user-to-base messages from the user stations only during a second half of the time frame. The second base station sub-unit is preferably collocated with the first base station sub-unit and synchronized thereto, and transmits base-to-user messages to user stations only during half of the time frame, while receiving user-to-base messages from the user stations only during the other half of the time frame. Duplex communication channels are preferably defined by correlating a base transmit time slot with a user transmit time slot, which are separated by a sufficient amount of time to allow transmit/receive switching by a user station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Opuswave Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Izzet M. Bilgic, Sherman Gavette, Steve Howser
  • Patent number: H2107
    Abstract: In pursuit of developing a means for mounting a pedestal mounted CRT in a rack mounted application in a test console, it was necessary to develop a compact means of securing the CRT plastic envelope to a perforated slidable shelf in the test console. Since the vertical space was critical, it was determined that the swivel base could be discarded and replaced by a unique “Blind Capture Mounting Stud” and a “Mounting Spacer”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Melvin W. Richter
  • Patent number: H2109
    Abstract: A passive instantaneous microwave signal frequency identifying and angle of arrival identifying system employing a beam steering multiple element antenna coupled through a Butler matrix to a plurality of simplified Fourier transformation radio receivers wherein unit value or near unit value magnitudes of the Kernel function ⅇ - j2 ⁢   ⁢ π ⁢   ⁢ kn N in the receivers' Fourier transformations are used to elude transformation computation complexity and resulting radio receiver size and cost penalties. Limiting amplifiers, a video signal path and direction finding encoding logic are also employed. Airborne military application of the system in electronic warfare direction finding, radar frequency determination and other activities is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James B. Y. Tsui, Keith M. Graves
  • Patent number: H2110
    Abstract: This invention automates a portion of the existing process by applying computerized comparative assessment program to the image presented on the operator's viewing screen. This is accomplished by creating a computerized image database of all known weapons, dangerous articles, and other prohibited items. At the same time the scanned container's contents data is converted to the image presented on the operator's viewing screen, the same data is computer compared to the weapons database. Just as the human mentally compares learned weapons database against what he or she sees on the monitor, the computer accomplishes the same process, except much more timely and accurately. When the computer identifies data from the scanned image that correlates to it's prohibited items database, it alerts the security operator by any number of common means and highlights the image on the security operator's monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: George H. Newman
  • Patent number: H2111
    Abstract: Test and Evaluation Community Network (TECNET) is a set of software and safeguards that operates on a standard UNIX based computer to provide the following capabilities in a secure fashion via the World Wide Web operating over the Internet: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Multimedia Internet Mail Extension (MIME) compliant electronic mail with many user features. Reflector configured bulletin board capabilities as a logical extension of the above electronic mail system for group sharing. Hierarchical file repositories allowing binary upload, copying, and download for Internet store and forward capability. Protected File Transfer Protocol (FTP) areas supplant the above file repository capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: George F. Hurlburt, Harold C. Grossman, Alan Wayne Madison