Patents by Inventor Frank A. Birdsong

Frank A. Birdsong 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: 9096332
    Abstract: An airship docking station includes one or more sources of relatively high speed airflow to facilitate landing an airship in turbulent or gusting air conditions. The sources of airflow are arranged to produce an envelope of airflow over the surface of the airship to stabilize the airship as it lands and is moved into a docked position where it can be secured. The docking station allows an airship to land with reduced or eliminated risk of damage to the airship, payload or ground personnel injury compared to current methods in use. The docking station and method thus ensure more consistent wind conditions adjacent the docking station. Protection from buffeting by gusting winds also facilitates automated or semi-automated airship landing with fewer or no ground personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John G. Benkert, Frank A. Birdsong
  • Publication number: 20130341463
    Abstract: An airship docking station includes one or more sources of relatively high speed airflow to facilitate landing an airship in turbulent or gusting air conditions. The sources of airflow are arranged to produce an envelope of airflow over the surface of the airship to stabilize the airship as it lands and is moved into a docked position where it can be secured. The docking station allows an airship to land with reduced or eliminated risk of damage to the airship, payload or ground personnel injury compared to current methods in use. The docking station and method thus ensure more consistent wind conditions adjacent the docking station. Protection from buffeting by gusting winds also facilitates automated or semi-automated airship landing with fewer or no ground personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John G. Benkert, Frank A. Birdsong
  • Patent number: 7990308
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for detecting targets. A transmitter may transmit a first inverse transform signal, the first inverse transform signal derived from a reference image of a first reference target at a first aspect angle. A receiver may receive a return signal reflected from a scene. A detector may determine, based on the return signal, if an object similar to the first target at the first aspect angle is detected within the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Frank A. Birdsong, Jr., Lloyd E. Kinsey, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100214154
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for detecting targets. A transmitter may transmit a first inverse transform signal, the first inverse transform signal derived from a reference image of a first reference target at a first aspect angle. A receiver may receive a return signal reflected from a scene. A detector may determine, based on the return signal, if an object similar to the first target at the first aspect angle is detected within the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Frank A. Birdsong, JR., Lloyd E. Kinsey, JR.
  • Patent number: 7567627
    Abstract: The location of a transmitter transmitting a signal may be estimated by receiving the signal at each receiver of a plurality of receivers, where the receivers are in motion relative to the transmitter. The following are performed for pairs of receivers to yield phase differences: establishing a first phase offset of the signal as received at a first receiver; establishing a second phase offset of the signal as received at a second receiver; and determining a phase difference corresponding to the pair of receivers in accordance with the first phase offset and the second phase offset. A location of the transmitter is estimated in accordance with the plurality of phase differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph J. Fraundorfer, Darrell L. Young, Frank A. Birdsong, Jr.