Patents by Inventor Bruce J. Bates

Bruce J. Bates 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: 6466516
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically characterizing the spatial arrangement among the data points of a three-dimensional time series distribution in a data processing system wherein the classification of said time series distribution is required. The method and apparatus utilize grids in Cartesian coordinates to determine (1) the number of cubes in the grids containing at least one input data point of the time series distribution; (2) the expected number of cubes which would contain at least one data point in a random distribution in said grids; and (3) an upper and lower probability of false alarm above and below said expected value utilizing a discrete binomial probability relationship in order to analyze the randomness characteristic of the input time series distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 6430522
    Abstract: A method for finding a probability density function (PDF) and its statistical moments for a chosen one of four newly derived probability models for an arbitrary exponential function of the forms g(x)=&agr;xme−&bgr;xn, −∞<x<∞; g ⁡ ( x ) = α ⁢   ⁢ x m ⁢ ⅇ - βx n , 0 ≤ x < ∞ ; g ⁢ ( x ) = α ⁡
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 6397234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically characterizing the spatial arrangement among the data points of a time series distribution in a data processing system wherein the classification of said time series distribution is required. The method and apparatus utilize a grid in Cartesian coordinates to determine (1) the number of cells in the grid containing at least-one input data point of the time series distribution; (2) the expected number of cells which would contain at least one data point in a random distribution in said grid; and (3) an upper and lower probability of false alarm above and below said expected value utilizing a discrete binomial probability relationship in order to analyze the randomness characteristic of the input time series distribution. A labeling device also is provided to label the time series distribution as either random or nonrandom, and/or random or nonrandom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 6389229
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine the fstop that provides optimal image resolution for a predetermined depth-of-field. An approximate and exact method and apparatus are provided to determine the optimal resolution fstop. The optimal resolution fstop is a function of the lens focal length, depth-of-field in front of the object, wavelength of light, and distance of the object to the lens center. Once the optimal resolution fstop is determined, the camera is adjusted to the closest discrete fstop available. When the approximate field technique is utilized, the camera must be adjusted to the discrete fstop closest to, but not exceeding, the computed fstop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark J. DiPippo, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 5886700
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a three-dimensional sub-volume within a graphical display is disclosed and includes selecting an option from a menu screen to relocate or re-size a three-dimensional sub-volume within the graphical display, and upon selecting the option to relocate or re-size, proceeding with the following. A cursor is placed on either the sub-volume or a selected corner of the sub-volume within the graphical display, a selected one of a left and a right mouse buttons is depressed, and the sub-volume is dragged to a relocation area or resized within an "x-y" plane and/or a "z" plane of the graphical display according to depression of the selected mouse button and placement of the cursor. When the selected one of the left and right mouse buttons is released, the x, y, and z-coordinates of the relocation area and/or resizing are locked. The sub-volume is, therefore, manipulated within a three-dimensional frame of reference by controlling the mouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Mark J. Di Pippo, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 5784297
    Abstract: A method for finding a probability density function (PDF) and its statistical moments for an arbitrary exponential function of the form g(x)=.alpha.x.sup.m e.sup.-.beta.x.spsp.n,0<x<.infin., where .alpha., .beta., n>0, m>-1 are real constants in one-dimensional distributions and g(x.sub.1,x.sub.2, . . . ,x.sub.l) in the hyperplane. Non-linear regression analyses are performed on the data distribution and a root-mean-square (RMS) is calculated and recorded for each solution set until convergence. The basis function is reconstructed from the estimates in the final solution set and a PDF is obtained. The moment generating function (MGF), which characterizes any statistical moment of the distribution, is obtained using a novel function derived by the inventors and the mean and variance are obtained in standard fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Bruce J. Bates
  • Patent number: 5781460
    Abstract: A chaotic signal processing system receives an input signal provided by a nsor in a chaotic environment and performs a processing operation in connection therewith to provide an output useful in identifying one of a plurality of chaotic processes in the chaotic environment. The chaotic signal processing system comprises an input section, a processing section and a control section. The input section is responsive to input data selection information for providing a digital data stream selectively representative of the input signal provided by the sensor or a synthetic input representative of a selected chaotic process. The processing section includes a plurality of processing modules each for receiving the digital data stream from the input means and for generating therefrom an output useful in identifying one of a plurality of chaotic processes. The processing section is responsive to processing selection information to select one of the plurality of processing modules to provide the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Chung T. Nguyen, Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Sherry E. Hammel, Bruce J. Bates, Steven C. Nardone
  • Patent number: 5696700
    Abstract: A signal processing system and computer-implemented method for processing a igital data sequence representing an input signal to generate a fractal dimension value. The system includes a correlation integral value generation module, correlation plot generation module, a segmentation module, correlation dimension generation module, and a control module. The correlation integral value generation module generates a series of correlation integral values for points w.sub.n (k) in "N"-dimensional space corresponding to vectors of said digital data sequence, and in particular generates inter-point distance values within each of a plurality of volume elements of said "N"-dimensional space. The correlation plot generation module generates a correlation integral plot comprising a plot of the correlation integral values as a function of said "N"-dimensional space volume elements. The segmentation module generates, from the plot, a series of correlation integral plot segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Sherry E. Hammel, Bruce J. Bates, Steven C. Nardone
  • Patent number: 5675553
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for filling in missing data intels in a quantized time-dependent data signal that is generated by, e.g., an underwater acoustic sensing device. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, this quantized time-dependent data signal is analyzed to determine the number and location of any intervals of missing data, i.e., gaps in the time series data signal caused by noise in the sensing equipment or the local environment. The quantized time-dependent data signal is also modified by a low pass filter to remove any undesirable high frequency noise components within the signal. A plurality of mathematical models are then individually tested to derive an optimum regression curve for that model, relative to a selected portion of the signal data immediately preceding each previously identified data gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr., Chung T. Nguyen, Sherry E. Hammel, Bruce J. Bates, Steven C. Nardone
  • Patent number: 5357484
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the range and depth to an acoustic ource from a sampling site in a medium. A linear array of pressure transducers monitors the acoustic field produced by the acoustic source. A measurement processor utilizes the measured acoustic field to produce an initial field condition for each member of the array. An environmental model includes environmental data in the form of acoustically pertinent variables that define acoustic energy transfer characteristics through the medium at different ranges and depths. A backpropagation processor utilizes the initial field condition and the acoustically pertinent variables to produce, for each incremental range and depth, an amplitude function. An index processor normalizes the amplitude functions for each incremental range and depth, and an index extreme value processor selects the amplitude function with the maximum amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bruce J. Bates, Susan M. Bates