Patents by Inventor Chris Hodgson
Chris Hodgson 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: 10837780Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for navigating mobile structures. The mobile structure may include a main attitude & heading reference system (AHRS) and one or more devices. The one or more devices may include a slave AHRS such as a gyroscope. Data may be transmitted from the main AHRS to the one or more devices through a network. Latency may be present in the transmission of data. As such, data from the slave AHRS may be used to determine changes in heading and/or attitude of the mobile structure to compensate for such latency. In addition, such data may be used to determine changes in wind direction and/or heading experienced by the mobile structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: FLIR Belgium BVBAInventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, Christopher Yeomans
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Publication number: 20180106619Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for navigating mobile structures. The mobile structure may include a main attitude & heading reference system (AHRS) and one or more devices. The one or more devices may include a slave AHRS such as a gyroscope. Data may be transmitted from the main AHRS to the one or more devices through a network. Latency may be present in the transmission of data. As such, data from the slave AHRS may be used to determine changes in heading and/or attitude of the mobile structure to compensate for such latency. In addition, such data may be used to determine changes in wind direction and/or heading experienced by the mobile structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, Christopher Yeomans
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Patent number: 9821892Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide wind sensor motion compensation for wind sensors mounted to moving platforms. A wind sensor motion compensation system may include a wind sensor, a wind sensor accelerometer, one or more additional sensors, actuators, controllers, user interfaces, and/or other modules mounted to or in proximity to a vehicle. The wind sensor motion compensation system may be implemented with one or more logic devices adapted to receive sensor signals and determine a sensor-motion compensated wind velocity. The logic devices may be adapted to receive a wind sensor acceleration and a relative wind velocity from a wind sensor, determine a wind sensor velocity from the wind sensor acceleration, and determine a sensor-motion compensated relative wind velocity from the wind sensor velocity and the relative wind velocity.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson
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Patent number: 9577312Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide polarization alignment for wireless networking systems. A polarization aligned wireless networking system may include one or more sensors, controllers, user interfaces, and/or other modules mounted to or in proximity to a vehicle. Antennas for each of the electronic devices may be implemented with linear polarization components that can be substantially aligned with a lateral axis of the vehicle. Each electronic device may be implemented with a logic device adapted to use a corresponding antenna to form one or more wireless links between the various electronic devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, Matthieu Maindrou, Stuart Johnson
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Publication number: 20150375837Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide wind sensor motion compensation for wind sensors mounted to moving platforms. A wind sensor motion compensation system may include a wind sensor, a wind sensor accelerometer, one or more additional sensors, actuators, controllers, user interfaces, and/or other modules mounted to or in proximity to a vehicle. The wind sensor motion compensation system may be implemented with one or more logic devices adapted to receive sensor signals and determine a sensor-motion compensated wind velocity. The logic devices may be adapted to receive a wind sensor acceleration and a relative wind velocity from a wind sensor, determine a wind sensor velocity from the wind sensor acceleration, and determine a sensor-motion compensated relative wind velocity from the wind sensor velocity and the relative wind velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson
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Publication number: 20150333393Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide polarization alignment for wireless networking systems. A polarization aligned wireless networking system may include one or more sensors, controllers, user interfaces, and/or other modules mounted to or in proximity to a vehicle. Antennas for each of the electronic devices may be implemented with linear polarization components that can be substantially aligned with a lateral axis of the vehicle. Each electronic device may be implemented with a logic device adapted to use a corresponding antenna to form one or more wireless links between the various electronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, Matthieu maindrou, Stuart Johnson
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Patent number: 8301714Abstract: A method of wirelessly networking a system of at least first and second communication nodes includes obtaining a common power source for the at least first and second communication nodes, switching on the common power source, and establishing a power-up time. Each of the first and second communication nodes is capable of tracking the time since the power-up time. The method includes sending a start signal from one of the first and second communication nodes, wherein the start signal occurs after the power-up time and includes at least information of the elapsed time since the power up time. The method includes networking the other of the first and second communication nodes with the one of the first and second communication nodes sending the start signal, if the elapsed time of the other of the first and second communication nodes approximately matches the elapsed time provided in the start signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Raymarine UK LimitedInventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, Bertrand Ekoue
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Patent number: 8291757Abstract: A device and apparatus for determining wind conditions around a sailboat. The device includes means for receiving a measured wind angle and wind speed readings from a wind sensor attached to the sailboat and readings of boat heading and boat speed through the water, means for storing wind angle correction data, a computing unit for computing a corrected wind angle reading using the measured wind angle reading, the boat speed reading and the wind angle correction data and for computing a wind direction using the corrected wind angle reading and the boat heading reading, and means for displaying the wind direction. The device additionally includes input means for receiving a wind direction error tack to tack, means for determining the current tack state of the sailboat using the measured wind angle reading, and means for modifying the correction data. Thus, powerful and intuitive correction of wind direction readings is possible.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Raymarine UK LimitedInventors: Mark Johnson, Chris Hodgson, David Gauthier
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Publication number: 20110192223Abstract: A device and apparatus for determining wind conditions around a sailboat. The device includes means for receiving a measured wind angle and wind speed readings from a wind sensor attached to the sailboat and readings of boat heading and boat speed through the water, means for storing wind angle correction data, a computing unit for computing a corrected wind angle reading using the measured wind angle reading, the boat speed reading and the wind angle correction data and for computing a wind direction using the corrected wind angle reading and the boat heading reading, and means for displaying the wind direction. The device additionally includes input means for receiving a wind direction error tack to tack, means for determining the current tack state of the sailboat using the measured wind angle reading, and means for modifying the correction data. Thus, powerful and intuitive correction of wind direction readings is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Inventors: Mark JOHNSON, Chris HODGSON, David GAUTHIER
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Publication number: 20110161455Abstract: A method of wirelessly networking a system of at least first and second communication nodes includes obtaining a common power source for the at least first and second communication nodes, switching on the common power source, and establishing a power-up time. Each of the first and second communication nodes is capable of tracking the time since the power-up time. The method includes sending a start signal from one of the first and second communication nodes, wherein the start signal occurs after the power-up time and includes at least information of the elapsed time since the power up time. The method includes networking the other of the first and second communication nodes with the one of the first and second communication nodes sending the start signal, if the elapsed time of the other of the first and second communication nodes approximately matches the elapsed time provided in the start signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: SUUNTO OYInventors: Mark JOHNSON, Chris HODGSON, Bertrand EKOUE