Patents by Inventor Andrew E. Dolphin

Andrew E. Dolphin 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).

  • Guidance system and method for missile divert minimization
    Patent number: 8933382
    Abstract: A missile guidance system is configured to estimate a time to go, the time to go comprising an amount of time until a missile would reach a closest point of approach to a target. The guidance system is also configured to estimate a zero-effort miss distance along a zero-effort miss vector, the zero-effort miss distance comprising a distance by which the missile would miss the target if the missile performs no future maneuvers. The guidance system is also configured to determine a tolerance for the zero-effort miss distance, the tolerance being a function of the time to go. The guidance system is further configured to modify a course of the missile by adjusting an expenditure of propellant such that the estimated zero-effort miss distance in excess of the tolerance is removed from future consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Andrew E. Dolphin
  • GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MISSILE DIVERT MINIMIZATION
    Publication number: 20120248237
    Abstract: A missile guidance system is configured to estimate a time to go, the time to go comprising an amount of time until a missile would reach a closest point of approach to a target. The guidance system is also configured to estimate a zero-effort miss distance along a zero-effort miss vector, the zero-effort miss distance comprising a distance by which the missile would miss the target if the missile performs no future maneuvers. The guidance system is also configured to determine a tolerance for the zero-effort miss distance, the tolerance being a function of the time to go. The guidance system is further configured to modify a course of the missile by adjusting an expenditure of propellant such that the estimated zero-effort miss distance in excess of the tolerance is removed from future consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Andrew E. Dolphin