Patents by Inventor Dwayne C. Merna
Dwayne C. Merna 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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Patent number: 10913550Abstract: Feedback control circuitry includes rate limiter circuitry configured to generate a rate limited position command based on a position command for a controlled component and based on a speed command for the controlled component. The feedback control circuitry also includes error adjustment circuitry configured to apply a control gain to an error signal to generate an adjusted error signal. The error signal is based on position feedback and the rate limited position command, and the position feedback indicates a position of the controlled component. The feedback control circuitry further includes an output terminal configured to output a current command generated based on the adjusted error signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna
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Patent number: 10911061Abstract: Demodulation circuitry includes an input terminal configured to be coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and configured to receive a plurality of ADC outputs. The plurality of ADC outputs are generated based on resolver outputs. The demodulation circuitry also includes a rectifier configured to rectify the plurality of ADC outputs. Rectifying the plurality of ADC outputs preserves a phase of the plurality of ADC outputs. The demodulation circuitry includes amplitude determination circuitry configured to determine, based on the rectified plurality of ADC outputs, demodulated amplitude values corresponding to the resolver outputs. The demodulation circuitry further includes angle computation circuitry configured to generate position outputs based on the demodulated amplitude values.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Patent number: 10830591Abstract: An apparatus includes a coarse resolver configured to output coarse position signals indicative of a coarse position of a drive shaft of a motor. The apparatus also includes a fine resolver configured to output fine position signals indicative of a fine position of the drive shaft of the motor. The apparatus further includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive the coarse position signals from the coarse resolver and the fine position signals from the fine resolver and generate an initial position output, based on the coarse position signals, that indicates an initial position of the drive shaft. The control circuit is further configured to generate a subsequent position output, based on the fine position signals, that indicates a subsequent position of the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Patent number: 10673368Abstract: A pulse-width modulation control circuit includes a first transistor and a signal generator. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to a power source and a second terminal coupled to a first input of a controlled component. The signal generator includes a first node coupled to a gate of the first transistor. The signal generator is configured to receive a comparison value and a comparison criterion and to compare the comparison value to a counter value based on the comparison criterion. In response to the comparison value satisfying the comparison criterion with respect to the counter value, the signal generator is configured to send a control signal to the gate of the first transistor to generate a pulse edge of a pulse of a pulse-width modulated signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna
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Publication number: 20190296761Abstract: Demodulation circuitry includes an input terminal configured to be coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and configured to receive a plurality of ADC outputs. The plurality of ADC outputs are generated based on resolver outputs. The demodulation circuitry also includes a rectifier configured to rectify the plurality of ADC outputs. Rectifying the plurality of ADC outputs preserves a phase of the plurality of ADC outputs. The demodulation circuitry includes amplitude determination circuitry configured to determine, based on the rectified plurality of ADC outputs, demodulated amplitude values corresponding to the resolver outputs. The demodulation circuitry further includes angle computation circuitry configured to generate position outputs based on the demodulated amplitude values.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Publication number: 20190294200Abstract: A pulse-width modulation control circuit includes a first transistor and a signal generator. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to a power source and a second terminal coupled to a first input of a controlled component. The signal generator includes a first node coupled to a gate of the first transistor. The signal generator is configured to receive a comparison value and a comparison criterion and to compare the comparison value to a counter value based on the comparison criterion. In response to the comparison value satisfying the comparison criterion with respect to the counter value, the signal generator is configured to send a control signal to the gate of the first transistor to generate a pulse edge of a pulse of a pulse-width modulated signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna
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Publication number: 20190291898Abstract: Feedback control circuitry includes rate limiter circuitry configured to generate a rate limited position command based on a position command for a controlled component and based on a speed command for the controlled component. The feedback control circuitry also includes error adjustment circuitry configured to apply a control gain to an error signal to generate an adjusted error signal. The error signal is based on position feedback and the rate limited position command, and the position feedback indicates a position of the controlled component. The feedback control circuitry further includes an output terminal configured to output a current command generated based on the adjusted error signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna
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Publication number: 20190293429Abstract: An apparatus includes a coarse resolver configured to output coarse position signals indicative of a coarse position of a drive shaft of a motor. The apparatus also includes a fine resolver configured to output fine position signals indicative of a fine position of the drive shaft of the motor. The apparatus further includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive the coarse position signals from the coarse resolver and the fine position signals from the fine resolver and generate an initial position output, based on the coarse position signals, that indicates an initial position of the drive shaft. The control circuit is further configured to generate a subsequent position output, based on the fine position signals, that indicates a subsequent position of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Publication number: 20190291899Abstract: Dither circuitry includes harmonic signal generation circuitry configured generate a high order even harmonic of a base excitation signal. The dither circuitry also includes a combiner configured to generate a dithered excitation signal based on the high order even harmonic and the base excitation signal. The dither circuitry further includes an output terminal configured to output the dithered excitation signal to a sensor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Patent number: 10414519Abstract: Dither circuitry includes harmonic signal generation circuitry configured generate a high order even harmonic of a base excitation signal. The dither circuitry also includes a combiner configured to generate a dithered excitation signal based on the high order even harmonic and the base excitation signal. The dither circuitry further includes an output terminal configured to output the dithered excitation signal to a sensor device.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas C. Cameron, Dwayne C. Merna, Manu Sharma
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Patent number: 9986660Abstract: Conductive cooled gimbaled inertial measurement units are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an inertial measurement unit, a gimbal assembly in which the inertial measurement unit is disposed, the gimbal assembly having gaps between each gimbal of the gimbal assembly, the gaps including a gas to conduct heat from the gimbal assembly, and an isothermal dome at least partially surrounding the gimbal assembly, the isothermal dome having a cooling tube disposed on an external surface of the isothermal dome to transfer heat from the gimbal assembly via conduction.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Stephen Butscher, James K. Gingrich, Shaun Detloff, Joseph Brent Templeton, Dwayne C. Merna, Joseph Eugene Justin
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Publication number: 20170231114Abstract: Conductive cooled gimbaled inertial measurement units are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an inertial measurement unit, a gimbal assembly in which the inertial measurement unit is disposed, the gimbal assembly having gaps between each gimbal of the gimbal assembly, the gaps including a gas to conduct heat from the gimbal assembly, and an isothermal dome at least partially surrounding the gimbal assembly, the isothermal dome having a cooling tube disposed on an external surface of the isothermal dome to transfer heat from the gimbal assembly via conduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Stephen Butscher, James K. Gingrich, Shaun Detloff, Joseph Brent Templeton, Dwayne C. Merna, Joseph Eugene Justin
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Publication number: 20100007554Abstract: A system and a method wherein future navigation data is broadcast on one channel and current navigation data is broadcast on another channel. By instituting minor changes in message structure, anti-jamming capability can be enhanced. In accordance with one method, future navigation data is distributed by satellites to receivers for tracking of a conventional channel. In accordance with another method, part of the future navigation data (i.e., ephemeris and clock data) is distributed by satellites to receivers for use with a dataless channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Hanching Grant Wang, Dwayne C. Merna