Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Exely

Bruce E. Exely 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: 9523548
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Publication number: 20160047618
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Patent number: 9121670
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Patent number: 9074888
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are presented for compensating for gyroscopic drift in a stabilized gimbal system mounted on a vehicle. When the vehicle is parked and the gimbal is not being commanded to move by an operator, encoders or resolvers of the gimbal stabilized system are read and periodically read thereafter. When the vehicle begins to move or the gimbal is commanded to move, the last periodic reading of the resolvers is used to determine the amount that the gimbal has moved during the rest period. A gyroscopic drift rate is computed by dividing the amount of angular movement by the time period between the readings, and the gyroscopic drift rate is used for corrections while the vehicle is moving or gimbal is commanded to move. Each time the vehicle stops, the gyroscopic drift rate is re-computed and updated. The gyroscope can be heated until the drift rate is constant with respect to temperature, further helping the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Linton, Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely
  • Publication number: 20150153128
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Patent number: 9032859
    Abstract: Multiple independently gimbaled devices, such as an electro-optical sensor and machine gun, are mounted to a rotating platform on a vehicle. The platform can rotate to prevent one device from blocking the other while aiming at an off-board location. A control system can harmonize the rotation of the device gimbals and rotating platform so that they remain pointed at the same location. The platform can be rotated to place a firing weapon downwind of a sensor or otherwise compensate for effects of one on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DRS SUSTAINMENT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Michael C. Mareschal, Jeffery P. Bertram, Jeffrey S. Folmer, Bruce E. Exely
  • Publication number: 20150025801
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are presented for compensating for gyroscopic drift in a stabilized gimbal system mounted on a vehicle. When the vehicle is parked and the gimbal is not being commanded to move by an operator, encoders or resolvers of the gimbal stabilized system are read and periodically read thereafter. When the vehicle begins to move or the gimbal is commanded to move, the last periodic reading of the resolvers is used to determine the amount that the gimbal has moved during the rest period. A gyroscopic drift rate is computed by dividing the amount of angular movement by the time period between the readings, and the gyroscopic drift rate is used for corrections while the vehicle is moving or gimbal is commanded to move. Each time the vehicle stops, the gyroscopic drift rate is re-computed and updated. The gyroscope can be heated until the drift rate is constant with respect to temperature, further helping the calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Linton, Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely
  • Publication number: 20140283675
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Patent number: 8833232
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for controlling a turret assembly with two or more gimbaled, swivel assembly sub-systems, such as a gimbaled gun and a gimbaled electro-optical sensor. The turret can be automatically slewed in response to one of the swivel assemblies rotating. A user can switch turret modes reflecting a priority between the gimbaled sub-systems system so that one takes priority over the other(s) during a mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Fox, Bruce E. Exely, Michael C. Mareschal, Thomas D. Linton
  • Patent number: 6396235
    Abstract: A two axis (azimuth and elevation) stabilized common gimbal (SGC) for use on a wide variety of commercial vehicles and military vehicles which are employed in combat situations capable of stabilizing a payload of primary sensors and of mounting a secondary sensor payload that is independent of the moving axes. The SCG employs three gyroscopes, inertial angular rate feedback for providing gimbal control of two axes during slewing and stabilization. In addition the third (roll) gyroscope is used for performing automatic calibration and decoupling procedures. In this regard, the SCG provides an interface for the primary suite of sensors comprising one or more sensors having a common line-of-sight (LOS) and which are stabilized by electronics, actuators, and inertial sensors against vehicle motion in both azimuth and elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Engineered Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Ellington, Bruce E. Exely, Jeffrey S. Folmer, William S. Lambros, Thomas D. Linton, John P. Buck, Jr., Russell R. Moning, Peter M. Ellis, Kenneth A. Roseman, James R. Marshall