Patents by Inventor Fred M. Lightfoot

Fred M. Lightfoot 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: 8193651
    Abstract: A fleet of vessels attached together longitudinally (rows), and transversely (columns) and operating in unison convert wave energy to electrical energy which is stored in either a chemical or electrical form. The vessels when detached from the fleet provide transportation to coastal or by navigable waterway ports of call for distribution to market centers. Both wind wave and swell wave energy conversion is performed by use of the differential motion between the vessels. Means are provided for the energy conversion systems to adapt to changes in wave direction, wave length, amplitude, and phase. Such vessels are self powered for off shore or inland waterway navigation, either singularly or in multiples, with which to deliver energy to other sea going vessels or to land based ports of call. Two or more of such vessels are capable of using the energy of waves during the delivery process. The fleet can maintain a designated geographical location by dynamic positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Fred M. Lightfoot, Robert Eugene Milligan, Terry Ivan Eade, William Carl Morchin
  • Patent number: 4746924
    Abstract: The positions of a non-cooperative emitter (illuminator) and reflector (target) relative to a receiver of electromagnetic energy, which neither directly nor indirectly controls the illuminator, is determined utilizing emissions received directly from the illuminator as well as reflected emissions from the target. A range R.sub.I between the receiver and the non-cooperative illuminator is determined by measuring the time difference between receiving the reflected signals at a pair of interferometer antennas located at the wing tips of a receiver aircraft. Calculation of the location of the target is accomplished by utilizing range R.sub.I, as well as a time differential .DELTA.t between the receipt of the reflected signals at the interferometer antennas and the receipt of a corresponding direct signals at a radar antenna located at the aircraft. In the event there is clutter in the reflected signal which hinders the determination of the time differential .DELTA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Fred M. Lightfoot
  • Patent number: 4642649
    Abstract: In a passive-type ranging system in which a pair of directional antennas mounted in spaced apart relationship along a baseline are synchronously scanned on a distant emitter of RF radiation for determining the range to the emitter as a function of a time differential t.sub.21 of the received emissions at the spaced antennas, an improved method and apparatus is disclosed in which each of the separate antennas is replaced by an electronically steered interferometer sensor. The pair of spaced, interferometer sensors are scanned in phase-locked synchronization to cause the characteristic multiple interference lobes and intervening nulls to sweep across the distant emitter. Certain of the sensors, lobes, or nulls, are used as highly directional indices for precision measurement of the range determining time differential t.sub.21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Fred M. Lightfoot