Patents by Inventor CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER

CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER 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).

  • Publication number: 20210028861
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, JAMES M. CICCHIELLO
  • Publication number: 20180323870
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, JAMES M. CICCHIELLO
  • Publication number: 20170048003
    Abstract: A system includes a detector array having a plurality of level detectors to monitor an optical input signal. Each level detector of the detector array operates in a different operating range, and each operating range for each level detector has a different saturation level and a different cutoff level based on a power level of the optical input signal. A controller monitors the plurality of level detectors of the detector array to detect a present power level for the optical input signal by selecting the operating range that is associated with the level detector operating between its saturation level and its cutoff level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, JAMES M. CICCHIELLO, CURTIS J. HARKRIDER, CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, FREDERICK D. BEAN
  • Publication number: 20150171957
    Abstract: A system includes a detector array having a plurality of level detectors to monitor an optical input signal. Each level detector of the detector array operates in a different operating range, and each operating range for each level detector has a different saturation level and a different cutoff level based on a power level of the optical input signal. A controller monitors the plurality of level detectors of the detector array to detect a present power level for the optical input signal by selecting the operating range that is associated with the level detector operating between its saturation level and its cutoff level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, JAMES M. CICCHIELLO, CURTIS J. HARKRIDER, CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, FREDERICK D. BEAN
  • Publication number: 20150171961
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, JAMES M. CICCHIELLO
  • Publication number: 20150171962
    Abstract: A free-space optical (FSO) transceiver can include a transmission protocol configured to encapsulate outgoing network packets in by employing a reliable ordered protocol that relies on retransmission of lost data to form outgoing encapsulated packets. The transmission protocol controller can be configured to employ a congestion algorithm that optimizes throughput over a lossy link. The FSO transceiver can also include a transmitter configured to provide an output optical signal corresponding to the outgoing encapsulated packets over an FSO link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, James M. Cicchiello, John Featherston, Frederick D. Bean