Patents by Inventor Edward J. Hilliard, Jr.

Edward J. Hilliard, Jr. 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: 7013808
    Abstract: A method for determining a bounding region for a launched weapon. The method processes the course and speed of ocean currents, and the bearing and range to an aim point to determine the resultant speed of the launched weapon. The method then processes the resultant speed to determine a course for the weapon. The method also processes the ownship position at launch, the desired aim point and the resultant speed to determine weapon run time. The method provides a mathematical distribution of the uncertainty in the speed and course of the ocean current and then processes it to generate a scatter region of possible weapon positions. The method then processes the distribution function of the mathematical distribution and the desired aim point to determine a plurality of positions that define a bounding region. Finally, the method quantifies possible positions of the scatter region that are within the bounding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph J. Perruzzi, Edward J. Hilliard, Jr., Megan M. Gibson
  • Patent number: 6199471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining a weapon firing strategy for an evading target. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of sensing the motion of the target, analyzing the motion of the target, providing a weapon employment decision aid, determining the evasion region for the target using the weapon employment decision aid and the analyzed motion, visually displaying the evasion region, feeding operator knowledge about the evading target, and generating a representation of the probability of the location of the evading target. The weapon employment decision aid utilizes beta density functions to determine the evasion region. The weapon employment decision aid displays target course and speed in the form of bar graphs and allows the operator to input information about target evasion course and speed and uncertainty levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph J. Perruzzi, John T. Williamson, Edward J. Hilliard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6112667
    Abstract: A mine placement system is provided for determining mine launch parameters ased on launcher vehicle position, speed, and direction and on latitude. The system includes an input module for receiving launcher vehicle position, speed, and direction having a settable aim point. The input module is connected to a processor module which continuously calculates the trajectory of the mine as the launch ship maneuvers. The processor module having a vectorizer, a decoder, a time processing unit and gyroprocessing unit drives a launch display having steering cursors and a range display. The steering cursors and range display provide maneuver information to the ship's operator to steer the ship to a launch window which will allow a mine to deploy to the set aim point. In addition to displaying the set aim point, the display also shows the present actual mine placement point based on the launch ships present location and velocity. Whenever a mine is launched, the system records the actual mine placement point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Vernon P. Bailey, Edward J. Hilliard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5187690
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer system employs a seawater return cable as a receiver lement. The cable is either open ended or short circuited with the seawater. A carrier frequency is applied at one end of the cable. Acoustic pressure waves impinging the cable change the characteristic input impedance of the cable. The changes in the impedance amplitude and phase angle are processed to derive information descriptive of the acoustic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Edward J. Hilliard, Jr.