Patents by Inventor Charles H. Volk
Charles H. Volk 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).
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Patent number: 10156444Abstract: A control system includes a processor that operates one or more control loops that enable gyroscopic angular measurement for an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Each of the one or more control loops operates over a range of set points defined for each of the respective control loops. A dynamic loop adjuster receives environmental input data to determine environmental conditions for the IMU. The dynamic loop adjuster alters at least one of the set points for at least one of the one or more control loops operated by the processor based on the determined environmental conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, Charles H. Volk
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Publication number: 20160341553Abstract: A control system includes a processor that operates one or more control loops that enable gyroscopic angular measurement for an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Each of the one or more control loops operates over a range of set points defined for each of the respective control loops. A dynamic loop adjuster receives environmental input data to determine environmental conditions for the IMU. The dynamic loop adjuster alters at least one of the set points for at least one of the one or more control loops operated by the processor based on the determined environmental conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS COORATIONInventors: DANIEL A. TAZARTES, CHARLES H. VOLK
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Patent number: 9429426Abstract: A control system includes a processor that operates one or more control loops that enable gyroscopic angular measurement for an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Each of the one or more control loops operates over a range of set points defined for each of the respective control loops. A dynamic loop adjuster receives environmental input data to determine environmental conditions for the IMU. The dynamic loop adjuster alters at least one of the set points for at least one of the one or more control loops operated by the processor based on the determined environmental conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, Charles H. Volk
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Publication number: 20150204668Abstract: A control system includes a processor that operates one or more control loops that enable gyroscopic angular measurement for an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Each of the one or more control loops operates over a range of set points defined for each of the respective control loops. A dynamic loop adjuster receives environmental input data to determine environmental conditions for the IMU. The dynamic loop adjuster alters at least one of the set points for at least one of the one or more control loops operated by the processor based on the determined environmental conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: DANIEL A. TAZARTES, CHARLES H. VOLK
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Patent number: 9086483Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a material detection system. The system includes a sensor system configured to collect radiation from a region of interest. The collected radiation can include a plurality of frequency bands. The system also includes a processing unit configured to detect a material of interest. The material of interest can be a concealed dielectric material, and the processing unit can be configured to decompose the collected radiation into natural resonance signals to analyze the natural resonance signals to detect an anomaly corresponding to the concealed dielectric material based on wave characteristics of the natural resonance signals. The processing unit could also include processing layers associated with the plurality of frequency bands for detecting and identifying the material of interest based on wave characteristics associated with each of the plurality of frequency bands of the collected radiation.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, A. Douglas Meyer, Charles H. Volk, Raj K. Shori, Hector Macias
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Patent number: 8890073Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a material detection and/or identification system. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensor system configured to collect EM radiation from a region of interest. The collected EM radiation could comprise orthogonally-polarized EM radiation. The system also includes a processing unit configured to detect and identify a material of interest in the region of interest. As an example, the processing unit could measure reflectivity data associated with a material of interest based on the collected EM radiation and calculate a refractive index of a material of interest based on the measured reflectivity data, such that the material of interest is identified based on the refractive index. The processing unit can also be configured to calculate a surface roughness associated with the material, such that the refractive index can be calculated based on the surface roughness associated with the material.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, A. Douglas Meyer, Charles H. Volk, Azmat H. Siddiqi
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Patent number: 8598501Abstract: A sensor system uses ground emitters to illuminate a projectile in flight with a polarized RF beam. By monitoring the polarization modulation of RF signals received from antenna elements mounted on the projectile, both angular orientation and angular rate signals can be derived and used in the inertial solution in place of the gyroscope. Depending on the spacing and positional accuracies of the RF ground emitters, position information of the projectile may also be derived, which eliminates the need for accelerometers. When RF signals of ground emitter/s are blocked from the guided projectile, the sensor deploys another plurality of RF antennas mounted on the projectile nose to determine position and velocity vectors and orientation of incoming targets.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance an Electronics Co., Inc.Inventors: A. Douglas Meyer, Mostafa A. Karam, Charles A. Lee, Charles H. Volk
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Publication number: 20130001354Abstract: A sensor system uses ground emitters to illuminate a projectile in flight with a polarized RF beam. By monitoring the polarization modulation of RF signals received from antenna elements mounted on the projectile, both angular orientation and angular rate signals can be derived and used in the inertial solution in place of the gyroscope. Depending on the spacing and positional accuracies of the RF ground emitters, position information of the projectile may also be derived, which eliminates the need for accelerometers. When RF signals of ground emitter/s are blocked from the guided projectile, the sensor deploys another plurality of RF antennas mounted on the projectile nose to determine position and velocity vectors and orientation of incoming targets.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: A. Douglas Meyer, Mostafa A. Karam, Charles A. Lee, Charles H. Volk
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Publication number: 20120248313Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a material detection system. The system includes a sensor system configured to collect radiation from a region of interest. The collected radiation can include a plurality of frequency bands. The system also includes a processing unit configured to detect a material of interest. The material of interest can be a concealed dielectric material, and the processing unit can be configured to decompose the collected radiation into natural resonance signals to analyze the natural resonance signals to detect an anomaly corresponding to the concealed dielectric material based on wave characteristics of the natural resonance signals. The processing unit could also include processing layers associated with the plurality of frequency bands for detecting and identifying the material of interest based on wave characteristics associated with each of the plurality of frequency bands of the collected radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: MOSTAFA A. KARAM, A. Douglas Meyer, Charles H. Volk, Raj K. Shori, Hector Macias
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Publication number: 20120248314Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a material detection and/or identification system. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensor system configured to collect EM radiation from a region of interest. The collected EM radiation could comprise orthogonally-polarized EM radiation. The system also includes a processing unit configured to detect and identify a material of interest in the region of interest. As an example, the processing unit could measure reflectivity data associated with a material of interest based on the collected EM radiation and calculate a refractive index of a material of interest based on the measured reflectivity data, such that the material of interest is identified based on the refractive index. The processing unit can also be configured to calculate a surface roughness associated with the material, such that the refractive index can be calculated based on the surface roughness associated with the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: MOSTAFA A. KARAM, A. DOUGLAS MEYER, CHARLES H. VOLK, AZMAT H. SIDDIQI
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Patent number: 8224574Abstract: An exemplary navigation system uses a master navigation component at a first location in a vehicle and a slave navigation component at a second location that is a variable displacement to the first location due to physical deformation of the vehicle. Static and dynamic location components provide static and dynamic information of the displacement between the first and second locations. An error estimator estimates errors in the navigational measurement data generated by the slave navigation component based on the navigational measurement data generated by the master navigation component and the displacement information provided by the static and dynamic location components. The master navigation component corrects the navigation measurement data of the slave navigation component based on the determined error and translates the corrected navigation measurement data of the slave navigation component into navigational measurement data in its coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.Inventors: Daniel A. Tazartes, Charles H. Volk, James R. Huddle, Jerome S. Lipman, Maureen Lipman, legal representative
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Patent number: 8065108Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for measuring at least one thermal property of a material. The system includes a thermal source configured to generate an incident thermal wave that propagates through a medium and is provided onto the material at an incident angle. The system also includes a thermal detector that is configured to receive a reflected thermal wave corresponding to the incident thermal wave reflected from the material at a reflection angle that is approximately equal to the incident angle. The system further includes a controller configured to control a magnitude of the incident angle to ascertain a thermal Brewster angle of the material and to calculate the at least one thermal property of the material based on the thermal Brewster angle.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, Charles H. Volk, A. Douglas Meyer
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Publication number: 20100198549Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for measuring at least one thermal property of a material. The system includes a thermal source configured to generate an incident thermal wave that propagates through a medium and is provided onto the material at an incident angle. The system also includes a thermal detector that is configured to receive a reflected thermal wave corresponding to the incident thermal wave reflected from the material at a reflection angle that is approximately equal to the incident angle. The system further includes a controller configured to control a magnitude of the incident angle to ascertain a thermal Brewster angle of the material and to calculate the at least one thermal property of the material based on the thermal Brewster angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Mostafa A. Karam, Charles H. Volk, A. Douglas Meyer
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Patent number: 7406379Abstract: An exemplary navigation system uses a master navigation component at a first location with a first sensor in a vehicle and a slave navigation component with a second sensor at a second location that is a variable displacement to the first location due to physical deformation of the vehicle. Static and dynamic location components provide static and dynamic information of the displacement between the first and second locations. A flexural model based on the deformation characteristics calculates the dynamic displacement. An error estimator estimates errors in the navigation measurement data of the slave navigation component based on the displacement information.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Charles H. Volk, James R. Huddle, Daniel A. Tazartes, Maureen Lipman, legal representative, Jerome S. Lipman
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Patent number: 7292031Abstract: A cell in one example comprises an alkali metal and a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell. In one implementation, the alkali metal may be an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal. The parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporatinInventors: Henry C. Abbink, Edward Kanegsberg, Kenneth D. Marino, Charles H. Volk
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Patent number: 7058505Abstract: An exemplary system that provides for navigation redundancy includes first and second navigation components adapted to determine first and second navigation parameters, respectively. A network component determines a relationship between the first and second navigation components, wherein the relationship describes a navigation solution for the second navigation component in terms of the first navigation component. A health monitor determines a health indicator for the second navigation component. The second navigation component determines a navigation solution for the second navigation parameters when the health indicator indicates a healthy condition. The network component determines a navigation solution for the second navigation parameters based on the relationship that describes behavior of the second navigation component in terms of the first navigation component when the health indicator indicates an unhealthy condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2005Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Rosario J. Milelli, Victor F. Strachan, Charles H. Volk, Daniel A. Tazartes
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Patent number: 5432604Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope has an electrically insulating barrier ring placed between the grounded metal mounting device and the frame, which is formed of a lithium aluminosilicate material that contains mobile ions. The barrier ring prevents migration of the ions from the frame material to the mirrors that are used to direct the counterpropagating waves around the closed path in the ring laser gyroscope.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1993Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.Inventors: John M. Canfield, Charles H. Volk, James D. Assendrup, Christine E. Geosling, Ann T. Nicol
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Patent number: 4446428Abstract: There is disclosed a nuclear magnetic alignment device for use in a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope and the like. One embodiment includes a container for gas having a layer of rubidium hydride on its inner surface. The container comprising a spherical portion and a tip portion, is rotationally symmetric about an axis of symmetry. Enclosed within the container is a nuclear moment gas having a nuclear electric quadrupole moment, such as xenon-131, and an optically pumpable substance, such as rubidium. A portion of the rubidium is a vapor. The remainder is a condensed pellet which is deposited in the tip of the container such that the pellet is also rotationally symmetric about the axis of symmetry of the container. A layer of rubidium hydride is deposited on the inner surface of the container.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1981Date of Patent: May 1, 1984Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.Inventors: Tae M. Kwon, Charles H. Volk