Patents by Inventor Benjamin D. Skurdal

Benjamin D. Skurdal 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).

  • Electromagnetic initiator coil
    Patent number: 8042447
    Abstract: The present invention enables the passive initiation of a deployment sequence for a countermeasure payload. The invention comprises an initiator coil that is positioned inside an electromagnetic countermeasure launcher. When the electromagnetic countermeasure launcher electromagnetically generates propulsive force to propel a payload to its deployment position, inductive coupling between one or more propulsion coils of the launcher and the initiator coil induces current to flow in the initiator coil, which thereby initiates the deployment sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Skurdal, Jonathan B. MacNeil, Thomas G. Sullivan, Randy L. Gaigler, Leszek Stanislaw Basak
  • Architecture for a launch controller
    Patent number: 7910867
    Abstract: A scalable and distributable software architecture for use in conjunction with various different weapons control system and launch systems is disclosed. The architecture discards the proprietary and non-open protocols and services that characterize in favor of open source adaptive and middleware components. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the inventive architecture is implemented as a Launch Control Module that separates different layers of responsibility within a launch controller (e.g., LCU) and exposes its variation points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. Edwards, George H. Goetz, Jennifer L. Houston-Manchester, Christine A. Ballard, Benjamin D. Skurdal
  • ARCHITECTURE FOR A LAUNCH CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20110049237
    Abstract: A scalable and distributable software architecture for use in conjunction with various different weapons control system and launch systems is disclosed. The architecture discards the proprietary and non-open protocols and services that characterize in favor of open source adaptive and middleware components. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the inventive architecture is implemented as a Launch Control Module that separates different layers of responsibility within a launch controller (e.g., LCU) and exposes its variation points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralph W. Edwards, George H. Goetz, Jennifer L. Houston-Manchester, Christine A. Ballard, Benjamin D. Skurdal
  • Electro magnetic countermeasure launcher
    Patent number: 7895931
    Abstract: A system for launching a countermeasure device is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses an electromagnetic catapult to throw a countermeasure payload, wherein the azimuth, elevation, and propulsive force of the electromagnetic catapult are controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Randy L. Gaigler, George Raymond Root, Jr., Benjamin D. Skurdal, Leszek Stanislaw Basak
  • Stacked Munitions Launcher and Method Therefor
    Publication number: 20100263648
    Abstract: A system for launching a plurality of projectiles from a single launch tube is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses an electromagnetic catapult to sequentially throw a first projectile and a second projectile. The first projectile is thrown while the second projectile is temporarily restrained within the launch tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leszek Stanislaw Basak, Benjamin D. Skurdal
  • Electromagnetic Initiator Coil
    Publication number: 20090173328
    Abstract: The present invention enables the passive initiation of a deployment sequence for a countermeasure payload. The invention comprises an initiator coil that is positioned inside an electromagnetic countermeasure launcher. When the electromagnetic countermeasure launcher electromagnetically generates propulsive force to propel a payload to its deployment position, inductive coupling between one or more propulsion coils of the launcher and the initiator coil induces current to flow in the initiator coil, which thereby initiates the deployment sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Skurdal, Jonathan B. MacNeil, Thomas G. Sullivan, Randy L. Gaigler, Leszek Stanislaw Basak
  • Electro Magnetic Countermeasure Launcher
    Publication number: 20080121098
    Abstract: A system for launching a countermeasure device is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses an electromagnetic catapult to throw a countermeasure payload, wherein the azimuth, elevation, and propulsive force of the electromagnetic catapult are controllable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Randy L. Gaigler, George Raymond Root, Benjamin D. Skurdal, Leszek Stanislaw Basak