Patents by Inventor Dennis Longstaff

Dennis Longstaff 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: 9041587
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a radar system is provided which accurately measures the surface profile in a wide sector beneath and forward of a helicopter, to aid low level transit and landing in poor visibility. This uses an electronic beam synthesis technique to form multiple beams directed at the area of interest, each measuring the distance to the first reflected signal received by each beam. These distances represent the profile of the ground and any objects on the ground. A processor then compares the measured profile with the ideal ground profile for safe landing. If the deviations from straight and level exceed the specified requirement for safe landing, or if sufficient rotor clearance is not detected, then a warning is given to the operator. A display will show the measured ground profile highlighting the unsafe regions, allowing the operator to seek a safe region to land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: Teledyne Australia PTY LTD, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Ian Dennis Longstaff
  • Patent number: 8427360
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar altimeter which utilizes a downward looking MIMO phased array to form multiple beams, covering a relatively wide sector, e.g., +/?60 degrees or thereabouts. The distance to the ground is then measured in each beam allowing the ground profile to be formed. The beams may be tilted forward to cover from about +90 degrees forward (horizontal) to about 30 degrees behind nadir. The provision of such a forward tilt gives a greater degree of coverage in the direction of approach vector to the ground. This additional cover enables the altimeter to more accurately detect other vehicles in the proximity to the current approach vector of the vehicle to the desired landing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis Longstaff
  • Publication number: 20110279669
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radar altimeter which utilizes a downward looking MIMO phased array to form multiple beams, covering a relatively wide sector, e.g., +/?60 degrees or thereabouts. The distance to the ground is then measured in each beam allowing the ground profile to be formed. The beams may be tilted forward to cover from about +90 degrees forward (horizontal) to about 30 degrees behind nadir. The provision of such a forward tilt gives a greater degree of coverage in the direction of approach vector to the ground. This additional cover enables the altimeter to more accurately detect other vehicles in the proximity to the current approach vector of the vehicle to the desired landing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Teledyne Australia PTY LTD
    Inventor: DENNIS LONGSTAFF
  • Patent number: 7994965
    Abstract: A surveillance apparatus (100) is provided, said apparatus including a linear sub-array (101) of N omnidirectional transmitter elements (103) and a planar sub-array (102) of M receiver elements (104). A plurality of the transient elements (105) are generated by separating out at each of the receivers (104) the signals transmitted from the antenna elements (103) of the transmitter sub-array (101). This allows the geometry of each path (from each transmitter antenna element, to the point being imaged and back to the receiver antenna elements) to be converted to a delay or phase shift to focus on the particular point being imaged. The transient elements (105) form a cylindrical array (106) at the mid points between transmitter and receiver sub-arrays. Such a configuration enables a full 360 degrees of cover in azimuth and typically +/?60 degrees in elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Dennis Longstaff
  • Patent number: 7978120
    Abstract: A radar imaging system for capturing an image of an object within an area of interest through at least one visual impairment. The radar imaging system comprises at least one radar array. The radar array includes a plurality of transmitter elements and a plurality of receiver elements for receiving a plurality of coded return signals from an object through the at least one visual impairment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Ian Dennis Longstaff
  • Publication number: 20100220001
    Abstract: A radar imaging system for capturing an image of an object within an area of interest through at least one visual impairment. The radar imaging system comprises at least one radar array. The radar array includes a plurality of transmitter elements and a plurality of receiver elements for receiving a plurality of coded return signals from an object through the at least one visual impairment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Teledyne Australia PTY LTD
    Inventor: Ian Dennis LONGSTAFF
  • Publication number: 20100204867
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system for use with an unmanned vehicle, the system includes a plurality of radar elements arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the unmanned vehicle, wherein the radar elements transmit a plurality of pulses about the vehicle and receive a plurality of return signals from one or more objects within the range of the vehicle. Upon detecting the one or more objects within range of the vehicle, the system determines if an object is on a course which requires evasive action and suitably alters the vehicle's course in order to avoid collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Teledyne Australia PTY LTD
    Inventor: Dennis LONGSTAFF
  • Publication number: 20100164784
    Abstract: A surveillance apparatus (100) is provided, said apparatus including a linear sub-array (101) of N omnidirectional transmitter elements (103) and a planar sub-array (102) of M receiver elements (104). A plurality of the transient elements (105) are generated by separating out at each of the receivers (104) the signals transmitted from the antenna elements (103) of the transmitter sub-array (101). This allows the geometry of each path (from each transmitter antenna element, to the point being imaged and back to the receiver antenna elements) to be converted to a delay or phase shift to focus on the particular point being imaged. The transient elements (105) form a cylindrical array (106) at the mid points between transmitter and receiver sub-arrays. Such a configuration enables a full 360 degrees of cover in azimuth and typically +/?60 degrees in elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Filtronic Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Dennis Longstaff
  • Patent number: 7714765
    Abstract: A perimeter antenna array for a radar, in particular a slope monitoring radar, formed from a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements and a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements, together forming a rectangle of receiver and transmitter elements. Signals are switched to the transmitter elements and received by the receiving elements. The signals are processed to obtain signals for virtual elements located equidistant between transmitting and receiving elements. The signals from the virtual elements are analyzed to produce a radar image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: GroudProbe Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen Stickley, Dennis Longstaff
  • Publication number: 20090033556
    Abstract: A perimeter antenna array for a radar, in particular a slope monitoring radar, formed from a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements and a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements, together forming a rectangle of receiver and transmitter elements. Signals are switched to the transmitter elements and received by the receiving elements. The signals are processed to obtain signals for virtual elements located equidistant between transmitting and receiving elements. The signals from the virtual elements are analysed to produce a radar image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Glen Stickley, Dennis Longstaff
  • Patent number: 6850183
    Abstract: A slope monitoring system having a radar and a video camera recording images sequences of the slope. A data processing unit performs coordinate registration to align the radar images and the video images. Interferometry is used to detect movement in the slope by generating interference maps between the images. These are suitably phase maps showing the phase change between a radar image and a reference image. An alarm occurs if a significant movement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Groundprobe Pty Limited
    Inventors: Bryan Reeves, David Noon, Glen Stickley, Dennis Longstaff
  • Publication number: 20040046690
    Abstract: A slope monitoring system having a radar and a video camera recording images sequences of the slope. A data processing unit performs coordinate registration to align the radar images and the video images. Interferometry is used to detect movement in the slope by generating interference maps between the images. These are suitably phase maps showing the phase change between a radar image and a reference image. An alarm occurs if a significant movement is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Reeves, David Noon, Glen Stickley, Dennis Longstaff