Patents by Inventor Donald Malocha

Donald Malocha 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: 9970902
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a sensor system includes providing a surface acoustic wave (SAW) tag on a substrate including a detector bank of reflectors at one end to generate a detector SAW responsive to an interrogation signal, a reference bank of reflectors at an opposite end of the substrate to generate a reference SAW responsive to the interrogation signal, and a transducer between the detector and reference banks of reflectors for receiving the interrogation signal and transmitting the detector and reference SAW from the detector and the reference banks of reflectors in response. A hydrogen gas sensor is formed on the substrate in a propagation delay path (delay path) between the detector bank of reflectors and the transducer to modulate propagation parameters of the detector SAW in response to sensing hydrogen gas. The forming includes depositing a SnO2 film then depositing a Pd film onto the SnO2 film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Brian Fisher
  • Publication number: 20170254780
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a sensor system includes providing a surface acoustic wave (SAW) tag on a substrate including a detector bank of reflectors at one end to generate a detector SAW responsive to an interrogation signal, a reference bank of reflectors at an opposite end of the substrate to generate a reference SAW responsive to the interrogation signal, and a transducer between the detector and reference banks of reflectors for receiving the interrogation signal and transmitting the detector and reference SAW from the detector and the reference banks of reflectors in response. A hydrogen gas sensor is formed on the substrate in a propagation delay path (delay path) between the detector bank of reflectors and the transducer to modulate propagation parameters of the detector SAW in response to sensing hydrogen gas. The forming includes depositing a SnO2 film then depositing a Pd film onto the SnO2 film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: DONALD MALOCHA, BRIAN FISHER
  • Patent number: 9477857
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based coherence multiplexing system includes SAW tags each including a SAW transducer, a first SAW reflector positioned a first distance from the SAW transducer and a second SAW reflector positioned a second distance from the SAW transducer. A transceiver including a wireless transmitter has a signal source providing a source signal and circuitry for transmitting interrogation pulses including a first and a second interrogation pulse toward the SAW tags, and a wireless receiver for receiving and processing response signals from the SAW tags. The receiver receives scrambled signals including a convolution of the wideband interrogation pulses with response signals from the SAW tags and includes a computing device which implements an algorithm that correlates the interrogation pulses or the source signal before transmitting against the scrambled signals to generate tag responses for each of the SAW tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc., The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Robert C. Youngquist, Donald Malocha, Nancy Saldanha
  • Patent number: 9383340
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for a coded SAW tag and hydrogen gas sensor with substrate, detector and identical reference bank of reflectors fabricated the substrate to generate a surface acoustic wave in response to a interrogation signal, a transducer between the detector and reflectors, and a tin dioxide (SnO2) and palladium (Pd) film sensitive to hydrogen gas at ambient temperature deposited in a propagation delay path between the reflectors and the transducer to modulate the detector surface acoustic wave propagation parameters in response to sensing a hydrogen gas. The SnO2 and Pd film is deposited on the delay path by depositing the film through a mask. The deposited film is annealed to gain room-temperature hydrogen sensitivity and reversibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Brian Fisher
  • Patent number: 9172423
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for correlator time delay extraction for wireless acoustic wave devices. A receiver receives an analog signal as a sum of plural different analog coded signals each having a different time delay and matched filters corresponding to the acoustic devices is used to extract the time delay to recover the original plural different analog coded signals. In an embodiment the acoustic devices generate orthogonal-frequency codes signals with block-time-diversity to reduce the cross-correlation “noise” due to multi-codes. The time diversity spreads the tags ensemble energy in time, thereby reducing the time energy density. An estimate of the delay time using the passband frequency phase slope, or in the time domain by using the correlation peak, is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 9097054
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passive wireless surface acoustic wave devices for orthogonal frequency coded devices to implement ON-OFF sensors reusing orthogonal frequency code and distinguishing between ON and OFF states using additional PN sequence and on/off switches producing multi-level coding as well as external stimuli for switching and identification of a closure system. An embodiment adds a level of diversity by adding a dibit to each surface acoustic wave devices, thus providing four different possible coding states. The PN on-off coding can be with the dibit for coding in a multi-tag system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Publication number: 20140137473
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passive wireless surface acoustic wave devices for orthogonal frequency coded devices to implement ON-OFF sensors reusing orthogonal frequency code and distinguishing between ON and OFF states using additional PN sequence and on/off switches producing multi-level coding as well as external stimuli for switching and identification of a closure system. An embodiment adds a level of diversity by adding a dibit to each surface acoustic wave devices, thus providing four different possible coding states. The PN on-off coding can be with the dibit for coding in a multi-tag system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 8669871
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passive wireless surface acoustic wave devices for orthogonal frequency coded devices to implement ON-OFF sensors reusing orthogonal frequency code and distinguishing between ON and OFF states using additional PN sequence and on/off switches producing multi-level coding as well as external stimuli for switching and identification of a closure system. An embodiment adds a level of diversity by adding a dibit to each surface acoustic wave devices, thus providing four different possible coding states. The PN on-off coding can be with the dibit for coding in a multi-tag system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Publication number: 20140043946
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based coherence multiplexing system includes SAW tags each including a SAW transducer, a first SAW reflector positioned a first distance from the SAW transducer and a second SAW reflector positioned a second distance from the SAW transducer. A transceiver including a wireless transmitter has a signal source providing a source signal and circuitry for transmitting interrogation pulses including a first and a second interrogation pulse toward the SAW tags, and a wireless receiver for receiving and processing response signals from the SAW tags. The receiver receives scrambled signals including a convolution of the wideband interrogation pulses with response signals from the SAW tags and includes a computing device which implements an algorithm that correlates the interrogation pulses or the source signal before transmitting against the scrambled signals to generate tag responses for each of the SAW tags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Spac, University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERT C. YOUNGQUIST, DONALD MALOCHA, NANCY SALDANHA
  • Patent number: 8169320
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coding SAW OFC devices to mitigate code collisions in a wireless multi-tag system. Each device producing plural stepped frequencies as an OFC signal with a chip offset delay to increase code diversity. A method for assigning a different OFC to each device includes using a matrix based on the number of OFCs needed and the number chips per code, populating each matrix cell with OFC chip, and assigning the codes from the matrix to the devices. The asynchronous passive multi-tag system includes plural surface acoustic wave devices each producing a different OFC signal having the same number of chips and including a chip offset time delay, an algorithm for assigning OFCs to each device, and a transceiver to transmit an interrogation signal and receive OFC signals in response with minimal code collisions during transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Publication number: 20110285510
    Abstract: Methods and systems for passive wireless surface acoustic wave devices for orthogonal frequency coded devices to implement ON-OFF sensors reusing orthogonal frequency code and distinguishing between ON and OFF states using additional PN sequence and on/off switches producing multi-level coding as well as external stimuli for switching and identification of a closure system. An embodiment adds a level of diversity by adding a dibit to each surface acoustic wave devices, thus providing four different possible coding states. The PN on-off coding can be with the dibit for coding in a multi-tag system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 7961105
    Abstract: Weighted surface acoustic wave reflector gratings for coding identification tags and sensors to enable unique sensor operation and identification for a multi-sensor environment. In an embodiment, the weighted reflectors are variable while in another embodiment the reflector gratings are apodized. The weighting technique allows the designer to decrease reflectively and allows for more chips to be implemented in a device and, consequently, more coding diversity. As a result, more tags and sensors can be implemented using a given bandwidth when compared with uniform reflectors. Use of weighted reflector gratings with OFC makes various phase shifting schemes possible, such as in-phase and quadrature implementations of coded waveforms resulting in reduced device size and increased coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Puccio, Donald Malocha
  • Publication number: 20110135026
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coding SAW OFC devices to mitigate code collisions in a wireless multi-tag system. Each device producing plural stepped frequencies as an OFC signal with a chip offset delay to increase code diversity. A method for assigning a different OCF to each device includes using a matrix based on the number of OFCs needed and the number chips per code, populating each matrix cell with OFC chip, and assigning the codes from the matrix to the devices. The asynchronous passive multi-tag system includes plural surface acoustic wave devices each producing a different OFC signal having the same number of chips and including a chip offset time delay, an algorithm for assigning OFCs to each device, and a transceiver to transmit an interrogation signal and receive OFC signals in response with minimal code collisions during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 7952482
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coding SAW OFC devices to mitigate code collisions in a wireless multi-tag system. Each device producing plural stepped frequencies as an OFC signal with a chip offset delay to increase code diversity. A method for assigning a different OCF to each device includes using a matrix based on the number of OFCs needed and the number chips per code, populating each matrix cell with OFC chip, and assigning the codes from the matrix to the devices. The asynchronous passive multi-tag system includes plural surface acoustic wave devices each producing a different OFC signal having the same number of chips and including a chip offset time delay, an algorithm for assigning OFCs to each device, and a transceiver to transmit an interrogation signal and receive OFC signals in response with minimal code collisions during transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Patent number: 7825805
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices and methods for providing an orthogonal frequency coding technique for surface acoustic wave sensors incorporating the use of multiple parallel acoustic tracks to provide increased coding by phase shifting and delaying a code sequence. The surface acoustic wave sensor includes parallel tracks with multiple reflectors with differing delay offsets to form a complex code sequence. The reflectors may be uniform, but alternatively could include fingers withdrawn, have reflector position modulation, differing frequencies or be spatially weighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Derek Puccio
  • Publication number: 20100271209
    Abstract: Weighted surface acoustic wave reflector gratings for coding identification tags and sensors to enable unique sensor operation and identification for a multi-sensor environment. In an embodiment, the weighted reflectors are variable while in another embodiment the reflector gratings are apodized. The weighting technique allows the designer to decrease reflectively and allows for more chips to be implemented in a device and, consequently, more coding diversity. As a result, more tags and sensors can be implemented using a given bandwidth when compared with uniform reflectors. Use of weighted reflector gratings with OFC makes various phase shifting schemes possible, such as in-phase and quadrature implementations of coded waveforms resulting in reduced device size and increased coding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Derek Puccio, Donald Malocha
  • Patent number: 7777625
    Abstract: Weighted surface acoustic wave reflector gratings for coding identification tags and sensors to enable unique sensor operation and identification for a multi-sensor environment. In an embodiment, the weighted reflectors are variable while in another embodiment the reflector gratings are apodized. The weighting technique allows the designer to decrease reflectively and allows for more chips to be implemented in a device and, consequently, more coding diversity. As a result, more tags and sensors can be implemented using a given bandwidth when compared with uniform reflectors. Use of weighted reflector gratings with OFC makes various phase shifting schemes possible, such as in-phase and quadrature implementations of coded waveforms resulting in reduced device size and increased coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Puccio, Donald Malocha
  • Publication number: 20100117804
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coding SAW OFC devices to mitigate code collisions in a wireless multi-tag system. Each device producing plural stepped frequencies as an OFC signal with a chip offset delay to increase code diversity. A method for assigning a different OCF to each device includes using a matrix based on the number of OFCs needed and the number chips per code, populating each matrix cell with OFC chip, and assigning the codes from the matrix to the devices. The asynchronous passive multi-tag system includes plural surface acoustic wave devices each producing a different OFC signal having the same number of chips and including a chip offset time delay, an algorithm for assigning OFCs to each device, and a transceiver to transmit an interrogation signal and receive OFC signals in response with minimal code collisions during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Nikolai Kozlovski
  • Publication number: 20100066495
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices and methods for providing an orthogonal frequency coding technique for surface acoustic wave sensors incorporating the use of multiple parallel acoustic tracks to provide increased coding by phase shifting and delaying a code sequence. The surface acoustic wave sensor includes parallel tracks with multiple reflectors with differing delay offsets to form a complex code sequence. The reflectors may be uniform, but alternatively could include fingers withdrawn, have reflector position modulation, differing frequencies or be spatially weighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Donald Malocha, Derek Puccio