Patents by Inventor Albert D. Darby, Jr.

Albert D. Darby, Jr. 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).

  • Patent number: 5774502
    Abstract: A data transmission system in which an on/off keyed (OOK) AM/DPSK modulated data signal with an on/off ratio exceeding about 80 dB which has been modulated on a carrier is received at a compact, easily fabricated and battery powered data receiver which operates without automatic gain control and which includes a double loop antenna (diameter of about two inches) with a trimmer capacitor center tapped to the antenna for providing a conjugate impedance match between the antenna and a low noise amplifier. In the receiver, a square-law detection AM demodulator for demodulating the amplified signal is in a bipolar silicon IC, and a DPSK data detector for decoding the demodulated signal is in a separate digital CMOS IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Donald K. Belcher, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Alexander J. Nadler
  • Patent number: 5765112
    Abstract: A two-way communications system that provides ubiquitous wireless data communication services, such as throughout the continental United States, by using a network of only a few, widely distributed radio base station (RBS) sites and the existing paging network infrastructure. The paging network infrastructure is used as an outbound link to request data from the remote field units. The outbound page message indicates a time and frequency at which the RBSs can expect to receive data from the field units. A network hub or message operations center (MOC) coordinates the operation of the paging systems and RBSs from a central location. For example, the MOC determines an available HF frequency and time for a particular field unit to transmit, and then issues the request for data to the field unit using the existing paging network infrastructure. The field units make use of paging receivers, and an HF transmitter to report remote data such as a geoposition or other sensor data when requested to do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Flash Comm. Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan T. Fitzgerald, Andrew T. Powshok, Donald K. Belcher, Jeffrey R. White, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Rodney Nelson
  • Patent number: 5734963
    Abstract: A two-way communications system provides ubiquitous wireless data communication services, such as throughout the continental United States, by using a network of only a few, widely distributed radio base station (RBS) sites and the existing paging network infrastructure. A network hub or mission operation center (MOC) coordinates the operation of the paging systems and RBSs from a central location. The paging network infrastructure is used as an outbound link over which each of the field units is regularly provided with a outbound data message containing information on the available frequencies and time slots the field units can use to transmit inbound data messages to the RBSs. If any of the field units desires to transmit data to MOC, the field unit selects an available frequency from the outbound data message, and transmits its data at the selected available frequency and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Flash Comm, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan T. Fitzgerald, Andrew T. Powshok, Donald K. Belcher, Jeffrey R. White, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Rodney Nelson
  • Patent number: 5640442
    Abstract: A two-way communications system that provides ubiquitous wireless data communication services, such as throughout the continental United States, by using a network of only a few, widely distributed radio base station (RBS) sites and the existing paging network infrastructure. The paging network infrastructure is used as an outbound link to request data from the remote field units. The outbound page message indicates a time and HF frequency at which the RBSs can expect to receive inbound data from the field units. A network hub or mission operation center (MOC) determines a radio frequency which is expected to be propagating and clear at the time that a particular field unit is to use the frequency as an inbound link. The MOC then issues the request for data to the field unit using an existing inexpensive wireless system such as the paging network infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Flash Comm, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendan T. Fitzgerald, Andrew T. Powshok, Donald K. Belcher, Jeffrey R. White, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Rodney Nelson
  • Patent number: 5627526
    Abstract: A method and system for determining whether a transmitting unit is proximate a receiving unit wherein the transmitting unit includes a magnetic field generator for a providing a plurality of time-sequential magnetic fields, each of the sequences being a differential phase shift key (DPSK) modulated code. The magnetic field is transmitted at a relatively interference free frequency of 72 KHz and the DPSK modulation frequency is about 1200 bits per second. Each pair of transmitting and receiving unit uses with a distinguishing code selected from a predetermined group of generally orthogonal codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Harris Corp.
    Inventors: Donald K. Belcher, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Lamar G. McBryde
  • Patent number: 4259740
    Abstract: In a communication system, a signal detection and acquisition system, which is capable of locating and phase-locking onto a narrow-band signal in a large frequency uncertainty region in a short period of time, employs the following series of operations:(a) sequentially search for signal power in adjacent frequency bins into which the frequency uncertainty region is divided,(b) find the widest loop filter bandwidth at which the receiver phase lock loop can lock onto a transmitted signal,(c) sweep the loop carrier reference oscillator and phase lock onto the transmitted signal,(d) convert the bandwidth of the loop filter at which phase lock was acquired to the bit rate bandwidth, and(e) bit synchronize and begin data recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Snell, Albert D. Darby, Jr., Raymond F. Cobb