Patents by Inventor David Keith Mesecher

David Keith Mesecher 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: 7830982
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of digital signal processing devices for supplying phase-and-amplitude-weighted digital baseband signals, a beamforming processor for processing the weighted digital baseband signals to adaptively form a plurality of beam patterns for the antenna elements, a plurality of digital modulators for converting the digital baseband signals into intermediate frequency digital signals, and a modulator for modulating in-phase and quadrature components of the intermediate frequency digital signals to produce composite radio frequency output signals for the antenna elements. Receiving apparatus, and methods of transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals on a plurality of antenna elements are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: David Keith Mesecher
  • Patent number: 7606528
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a distributed array of antenna elements for receiving a radio frequency signal on a satellite communications link, wherein the radio frequency signal includes a known preamble; a plurality of mixers for translating the radio frequency signal to a plurality of baseband signals having in-phase and quadrature components; a processor for applying weights to the baseband signals, wherein the weights are found adaptively in response to the preamble in combination with decision-directed feedback when the preamble is not present; and a receiver for processing the weighted baseband signals. A pre-processor can be used to create sub-arrays of the antenna elements using maximal-ratio weighting. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: David Keith Mesecher
  • Patent number: 7551139
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first sensor mounted on a first platform for sampling a first portion of a continuous waveform occurring in a time window and for producing a first signal sample, a second sensor mounted on a second platform for sampling a second portion of the continuous waveform occurring in the time window for producing a second signal sample, and a processor for determining time difference of arrival measurements and for applying a maximum likelihood estimation process to combine multiple time difference of arrival measurements between multiple pairs of platforms, to estimate the location of an emitter of the continuous waveform. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: David Keith Mesecher
  • Publication number: 20090146881
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first sensor mounted on a first platform for sampling a first portion of a continuous waveform occurring in a time window and for producing a first signal sample, a second sensor mounted on a second platform for sampling a second portion of the continuous waveform occurring in the time window for producing a second signal sample, and a processor for determining time difference of arrival measurements and for applying a maximum likelihood estimation process to combine multiple time difference of arrival measurements between multiple pairs of platforms, to estimate the location of an emitter of the continuous waveform. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: David Keith Mesecher
  • Publication number: 20090023383
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a distributed array of antenna elements for receiving a radio frequency signal on a satellite communications link, wherein the radio frequency signal includes a known preamble; a plurality of mixers for translating the radio frequency signal to a plurality of baseband signals having in-phase and quadrature components; a processor for applying weights to the baseband signals, wherein the weights are found adaptively in response to the preamble in combination with decision-directed feedback when the preamble is not present; and a receiver for processing the weighted baseband signals. A pre-processor can be used to create sub-arrays of the antenna elements using maximal-ratio weighting. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: David Keith Mesecher