Patents by Inventor Albert L. Coleman

Albert L. Coleman 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).

  • Method and apparatus for improving performance of an inertial navigation system having global positioning system corrections
    Patent number: 6631323
    Abstract: Performance of an inertial navigation system (INS) corrected with GPS position data is enhanced with the addition of a filter that smooths the GPS-INS position difference data and couples the smoothed data to the INS position data. Difference data provided to the filter is edited to eliminate GPS-INS position data that excceeds a predetermined level. Performance is further improved by applying position resets from the INS Kalman filter in a ramp like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Terry A. Tucker, Albert L. Coleman
  • Method and apparatus for improving performance of an inertial navigation system having global positioning system corrections
    Publication number: 20020026283
    Abstract: Performance of an inertial navigation system (INS) corrected with GPS position data is enhanced with the addition of a filter that smooths the GPS-INS position difference data and couples the smoothed data to the INS position data. Difference data provided to the filter is edited to eliminate GPS-INS position data that excceeds a predetermined level. Performance is further improved by applying position resets from the INS Kalman filter in a ramp like manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Terry A. Tucker, Albert L. Coleman
  • Configurable marine steering system
    Patent number: 5107424
    Abstract: A ship steering system has a multiplicity of selectable steering stations. A continuously rotating helm at each steering station generates digital rudder control signals which cause a predetermined rudder movement for each 360.degree. of helm rotation. Steering stations are selected through a multiplexer controlled at a command steering station. The steering system is operable from the command steering station in a plurality of modes, which includes auto-pilot, helm (full-follow-up), and tiller (non-follow-up). Helm and/or tiller modes of operation are available at steering stations remote from the command steering station. The system provides for an emergency takeover from the helm or autopilot modes by automatically establishing the tiller mode when the tiller stick is moved. When in the autopilot mode an alarm system provides an alert should the course deviate from a selected course tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sperry Marine Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca A. Bird, David A. Bennett, Albert L. Coleman, Jeffrey C. Johnson, Ronald K. Richey, Gregory Schluge, Steven E. Schubert, Eldon J. Thompson, John F. Yancey, Jr.
  • Adaptive autopilot
    Patent number: 4692868
    Abstract: An adaptive autopilot for Marine Vessles which seeks to obtain minimum combined hull and rudder drag while maintaining heading control by providing optimum rudder activity through a series of iterative steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Wesner, John F. Yancey, Albert L. Coleman