Patents by Inventor Alan Michel

Alan Michel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240083602
    Abstract: Vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods include one or more probe assemblies for engaging with and securing the target vehicle. The one or more probe assemblies may include one or more attenuation features or movable joints to enable and/or dampen movement of the one or more probe assemblies relative to a capture vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Michel, Michael Alfred Tosto, Kevin David Tebbe, Daisaku Inoyama, John Francis Papayanopoulos
  • Patent number: 11827386
    Abstract: Vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods include one or more probe assemblies for engaging with and securing the target vehicle. The one or more probe assemblies may include one or more attenuation features or movable joints to enable and/or dampen movement of the one or more probe assemblies relative to a capture vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Michel, Michael Alfred Tosto, Kevin David Tebbe, Daisaku Inoyama, John Francis Papayanopoulos
  • Patent number: 11708133
    Abstract: The recovery device comprises a floating cradle configured to receive and support the vehicle, the cradle having an entrance for the vehicle situated at a rear end of the cradle and delimited between two lateral portions, the cradle being configured or capable of being configured with a rear lateral extension extending toward the rear from one of the two lateral portions, the other lateral portion having no rear lateral extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NAVAL GROUP
    Inventors: Eric Jouvion, Pierre-Alan Michel, Eric Perrot
  • Patent number: 11434026
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating or reducing the risk of an electrostatic discharge due to static charge differentials between a first spacecraft and a second spacecraft as the first spacecraft approaches the second spacecraft may be accomplished using a passive electrostatic discharge mitigation device. In some embodiments, mitigation of static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft may be actively accomplished by an electric propulsion system provided on the first spacecraft. In some embodiments, mitigation may be provided by both actively and passively mitigating static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christine A. Agathon-Burton, Matthew Alan Michel, Dewey Edwin Cochran, Ronald Lynn Graham, Gregg A. Herbert, William A. Llorens
  • Publication number: 20210394869
    Abstract: The recovery device comprises a floating cradle configured to receive and support the vehicle, the cradle having an entrance for the vehicle situated at a rear end of the cradle and delimited between two lateral portions, the cradle being configured or capable of being configured with a rear lateral extension extending toward the rear from one of the two lateral portions, the other lateral portion having no rear lateral extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Eric JOUVION, Pierre-Alan MICHEL, Eric PERROT
  • Publication number: 20210339893
    Abstract: Vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods include one or more probe assemblies for passively engaging with and securing the target vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Michel, Michael Alfred Tosto, Kevin David Tebbe, Daisaku Inoyama, John Francis Papayanopoulos
  • Publication number: 20210339892
    Abstract: Vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods include one or more probe assemblies for engaging with and securing the target vehicle. The one or more probe assemblies may include one or more attenuation features or movable joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Michel, Michael Alfred Tosto, Kevin David Tebbe, Daisaku Inoyama, John Francis Papayanopoulos
  • Patent number: 11104459
    Abstract: Capture assemblies and compliant extension assemblies may be utilized for insertion into a nozzle of a liquid engine of a spacecraft. The capture assembly may include an apparatus such as a probe for insertion into the nozzle and an assembly at least partially enclosed in a forward portion of the probe. The assembly may include a plurality of actuated fingers for deploying outwardly from the probe when the probe is inserted into the nozzle. The compliant extension assembly may be at least partially enclosed in a housing connected to the capture assembly for axial movement of the probe. The compliant extension assembly may facilitate axial movement of the probe between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the probe is extended forwardly, relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Peter O. Sorensen, Matthew Alan Michel, William A. Llorens, David M. Murphy, Jeffrey Braden, Michael Edward McEachen, Michael Foster
  • Patent number: 10939192
    Abstract: An electret condenser microphone is provided. The electret condenser microphone comprises a diaphragm, a backplate with a metal layer on the side facing the diaphragm and an amplifier on the other side, the input of the amplifier electrically connecting the metal layer, a spacer separating the diaphragm and the backplate PWB; and a metal sleeve accommodating the diaphragm, the backplate and the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan Michel, Sean Gao, Guangyue Lv
  • Publication number: 20210031951
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating or reducing the risk of an electrostatic discharge due to static charge differentials between a first spacecraft and a second spacecraft as the first spacecraft approaches the second spacecraft may be accomplished using a passive electrostatic discharge mitigation device. In some embodiments, mitigation of static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft may be actively accomplished by an electric propulsion system provided on the first spacecraft. In some embodiments, mitigation may be provided by both actively and passively mitigating static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Christine A. Agathon-Burton, Matthew Alan Michel, Dewey Edwin Cochran, Ronald Lynn Graham, Gregg A. Herbert, William A. Llorens
  • Patent number: 10850871
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating or reducing the risk of an electrostatic discharge due to static charge differentials between a first spacecraft and a second spacecraft as the first spacecraft approaches the second spacecraft may be accomplished using a passive electrostatic discharge mitigation device. In some embodiments, mitigation of static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft may be actively accomplished by an electric propulsion system provided on the first spacecraft. In some embodiments, mitigation may be provided by both actively and passively mitigating static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christine A. Agathon-Burton, Matthew Alan Michel, Dewey Edwin Cochran, Ronald Lynn Graham, Gregg A. Herbert, William A. Llorens
  • Patent number: 10841680
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microphone including a main body, where an audio signal is generated in the main body based on the sound level and some other properties received, and an amplifier disposed in the main body, where the amplifier is adapted to amplify the audio signal, with the amplifier able to be configured with multiple gain levels. The present disclosure further provides a method for processing audio signals including: acquiring an audio signal; selecting a gain from multiple gain levels of an amplifier based on a property of the acquired audio signal, where the amplifier is built in a main body of a microphone; and modifying the digital representation after analog to digital conversion of the acquired audio signal according to the selected gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan Michel, Sean Gao, Guangyue Lv
  • Publication number: 20190215591
    Abstract: An electret condenser microphone is provided. The electret condenser microphone comprises a diaphragm, a backplate with a metal layer on the side facing the diaphragm and an amplifier on the other side, the input of the amplifier electrically connecting the metal layer, a spacer separating the diaphragm and the backplate PWB; and a metal sleeve accommodating the diaphragm, the backplate and the spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alan MICHEL, Sean GAO, Guangyue LV
  • Publication number: 20190182574
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microphone including a main body, where an audio signal is generated in the main body based on the sound level and some other properties received, and an amplifier disposed in the main body, where the amplifier is adapted to amplify the audio signal, with the amplifier able to be configured with multiple gain levels. The present disclosure further provides a method for processing audio signals including: acquiring an audio signal; selecting a gain from multiple gain levels of an amplifier based on a property of the acquired audio signal, where the amplifier is built in a main body of a microphone; and modifying the digital representation after analog to digital conversion of the acquired audio signal according to the selected gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Alan MICHEL, Sean GAO, Guangyue LV
  • Publication number: 20180297722
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating or reducing the risk of an electrostatic discharge due to static charge differentials between a first spacecraft and a second spacecraft as the first spacecraft approaches the second spacecraft may be accomplished using a passive electrostatic discharge mitigation device. In some embodiments, mitigation of static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft may be actively accomplished by an electric propulsion system provided on the first spacecraft. In some embodiments, mitigation may be provided by both actively and passively mitigating static potential between the first spacecraft and the second spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christine A. Agathon-Burton, Matthew Alan Michel, Dewey Edwin Cochran, Ronald Lynn Graham, Gregg A. Herbert, William A. Llorens
  • Publication number: 20180297723
    Abstract: Capture assemblies and compliant extension assemblies may be utilized for insertion into a nozzle of a liquid engine of a spacecraft. The capture assembly may include an apparatus such as a probe for insertion into the nozzle and an assembly at least partially enclosed in a forward portion of the probe. The assembly may include a plurality of actuated fingers for deploying outwardly from the probe when the probe is inserted into the nozzle. The compliant extension assembly may be at least partially enclosed in a housing connected to the capture assembly for axial movement of the probe. The compliant extension assembly may facilitate axial movement of the probe between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the probe is extended forwardly, relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Peter O. Sorensen, Matthew Alan Michel, William A. Llorens, David M. Murphy, Jeffrey Braden, Michael Edward McEachen, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20160261965
    Abstract: A method for packaging a plurality of microphones is provided. The method includes: obtaining a first parameter value, a second parameter value, and position information for each of the plurality of microphones and sorting the plurality of microphones by both the first parameter and the second parameter to obtain a sorted list which contains position information of the plurality of microphones. The method further includes packaging the plurality of microphones according to the sorted list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Weixing GAO, Alan MICHEL, Zongying XIA
  • Publication number: 20060109998
    Abstract: A system and method for RF immunity of an electret condenser microphone. In one embodiment, the microphone comprises a printed wire board, an amplifier, a capacitor. The amplifier and the capacitor are mounted on the printed wire board such that longitudinal axis, i.e., the axis defined by the line between the output pin and the ground pin, of the capacitor is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the amplifier. According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, an electret condenser microphone according to the present invention is provided, and current is provided to the capacitor to result in the creation of a magnetic field about the longitudinal axis of the capacitor. The magnetic field created is positioned such that it does not significantly contribute to the generation of RF current in the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: MWM Acoustics, LLC (an Indiana limited liability company)
    Inventor: Alan Michel
  • Patent number: 7004073
    Abstract: A bellows, spool, and collar system for dispensing projectiles and submunitions with a predictable and uniform pattern is disclosed. The system utilizes projectiles densely packed in a spool. A plurality of spools is packaged in a missile, bomb, or similar tubular device with an energetic bellows actuator between each spool. The energetic bellows actuator expands rapidly to push a spool of projectiles out of the tubular housing. Timing means is provided for each bellows to provide proper axial spacing between spools prior to subsequently timed release of the projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Alan Michel
  • Patent number: D950462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NAVAL GROUP
    Inventor: Pierre-Alan Michel