Patents by Inventor Dennis L. Kurschner
Dennis L. Kurschner 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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Publication number: 20090205415Abstract: The present invention comprises a device for determining the roll orientation of a body with respect to a local fixed coordinate system or a predetermined reference vector. The device uses a measurement of an external magnetic field, such as the Earth's magnetic field, to determine a roll orientation reference with respect to the field or an uncompensated roll orientation. The uncompensated roll orientation is then adjusted according to a bias angle, such as an angular difference between the external magnetic field and a local fixed coordinate system, to determine the roll orientation of the device with respect to the local fixed coordinate system or a compensated roll angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2006Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Lyle H. Johnson, Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 7566027Abstract: The present invention comprises a device for determining the roll orientation of a body with respect to a local fixed coordinate system or a predetermined reference vector. The device uses a measurement of an external magnetic field, such as the Earth's magnetic field, to determine a roll orientation reference with respect to the field or an uncompensated roll orientation. The uncompensated roll orientation is then adjusted according to a bias angle, such as an angular difference between the external magnetic field and a local fixed coordinate system, to determine the roll orientation of the device with respect to the local fixed coordinate system or a compensated roll angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Lyle H. Johnson, Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 7334523Abstract: A fuze may include a detonator, a firing capacitor and a control circuit. The firing capacitor may be charged to a nominal operational voltage, wherein when the firing capacitor is discharged across the detonator, an external explosive charge may be detonated. The firing capacitor may also be charged to a sterilization voltage, wherein when the firing capacitor is discharged across the detonator, the detonator may be destroyed without causing detonation of an external explosive charge. When the detonator is destroyed, the sterilized fuze is unable to trigger detonation of an external explosive charge.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: James D. Lucas, Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 5497704Abstract: A multifunctional magnetic fuze is disclosed. The sensor includes an apparatus and method for counting each rotation of a projectile after firing from a weapon. A signal is generated which indicates the rotations of the projectile and a counter counts the turns so that the projectile may detonate at a predetermined nominal number of turns. The turns count may also be used to calculate spin rate and muzzle velocity so that the nominal turns count may be adjusted based on actual velocity. The fuze also may include a timer for counting a time to burst of a projectile. The turns count and/or the times count may be utilized to provide accurate detonation.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1993Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Dennis L. Kurschner, David P. Erdmann, Scott D. Crist
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Patent number: 5271327Abstract: An electro-mechanical base element fuze is disclosed wherein mechanical innovations along with the latest in electronic sensing, signal processing and miniaturization provide safety and simplicity as well as improving performance, reliability and reducing costs.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1992Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Gregory F. Filo, Dennis L. Kurschner, Paul L. Weber
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Patent number: 5265539Abstract: A dipole magnet is placed in a sabot of an explosive projectile. The magnet is arranged and configured within the interior surface of the sabot--such that when the sabot is placed over the casing of the projectile, the majority of the magnetic flux tends to take a path through the projectile casing and between two sensing coils located within the fuze and within the projectile. The first sensing coil forms a larger circle which encompasses the aft end or outer diameter of the projectile which is made up of ferrous materials. The second sensing coil forms a smaller concentric circle (relative to the first sensing coil) and is situated inside the inner diameter of the after end of the projectile, thus encompassing no ferrous metal. The majority of the flux from the magnet enters the ferrous projectile casing, travels through the casing, and exits primarily between the two coils on a continuous path back to the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Dennis L. Kurschner, Gregory F. Filo
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Patent number: 5202532Abstract: An autonomous detonation device comprising an acoustic sensor, a logic circuit, and an output circuit. The invention is capable of discriminating the acoustic signal of an explosion of a primary charge such that it will detonate an explosive shortly thereafter. The invention further incorporates a delay system for safety purposes.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1991Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Steven A. Haglund, Dennis L. Kurschner, Kenneth W. Paulson
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Patent number: 5076511Abstract: A weapon deliver/target interceptor (DISK) comprising a spinning right circular cylinder maneuvered by thrusters located about the periphery of the cylinder's circumference. The cylinder is guided by means of a forward looking sensor mounted on the front face of the cylinder and a guidance system which senses the rotational acceleration and precessional acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1990Date of Patent: December 31, 1991Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Gunter Stein, Dennis L. Kurschner, Jeffrey M. Burrows
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Patent number: 4580497Abstract: In combination: an air core coil; a passive detector connected to said coil for giving a first output in response to change in the ambient magnetic field due to movement of a magnetic body near the coil; an active detector connected to the same coil and operable to create a local magnetic field about the coil and to give a second output in response to changes in the local field due to the movement of the body; apparatus energizing the active detector in response to the output of the passive detector; and apparatus giving a further output in response to simultaneous outputs from both the detectors.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1984Date of Patent: April 8, 1986Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.Inventors: David P. Erdmann, Dennis L. Kurschner, John C. Timmerman
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Patent number: 4468763Abstract: In combination: a geophone having a resonant frequency in the pressure wave band and a response that decreases with frequency below the resonant frequency; an amplifier connected to the geophone and having a gain which is substantially constant for frequencies above the resonant frequency, and which varies inversely with frequency for frequencies below the resonant frequency; a band-pass filter connected to the amplifier; a single channel rectifier connected to the band-pass filter; apparatus connected to the rectifier for obtaining short term and long term averages of the rectifier output; and apparatus including a comparator connectied to the last named apparatus for giving an output when the short term average exceeds the long term average by more than a predetermined amount.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1983Date of Patent: August 28, 1984Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Russell D. Braunling, Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 4206451Abstract: A system for detecting intrusions into a protected area by personnel, vehicles, or other objects, including a sensor capable of detecting magnetic and/or pressure disturbances and a signal processing means for generating an alarm signal when an unwanted intrusion occurs. The signal processing apparatus includes a first band-pass filter for selecting the portion of the signal from the sensor which is within a first frequency range, and a second band-pass filter for selecting a portion of the signal within a second frequency range. Logic circuitry is provided to process the two analog signals from the two band-pass filters using amplitude, signal energy and zero-crossing characteristics of the two signals in a cross-channel relationship to eliminate false alarms which might be caused by disturbances such as lightning, thunder, or wind.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1975Date of Patent: June 3, 1980Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventor: Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 4052595Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system for detecting the passage of vehicles past a predetermined point along a road. Using a pair of magnetic sensors positioned in a spaced relationship, together with appropriate logic circuitry, the apparatus according to the present invention is able to detect the number of and the direction of vehicles traveling along said road. Counting means are also provided to give an indication of the number of vehicles passing in each of the two directions during any selected period of time.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1976Date of Patent: October 4, 1977Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: David P. Erdmann, Dennis L. Kurschner
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Patent number: 3961320Abstract: A system for sensing seismic and magnetic disturbances, comprising a segmented transducer, such as a line sensor, and electronic circuitry for processing the signals developed by the segmented transducer. The segmented transducer comprises sets of windings wrapped around a ferromagnetic core. Currents are induced in the transducer windings by magnetic field disturbances caused by external ferrous objects. Electronic signal processing circuitry associated with the transducer extracts information from the induced seismic and magnetic signals and activates an alarm if the information meets predetermined criteria. Important criteria used include whether the seismic signals are impulsive, whether the magnetic or stress disturbances are localized, and whether specific thresholds of magnetic and stress activity are reached.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1974Date of Patent: June 1, 1976Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: David P. Erdmann, Dennis L. Kurschner