Patents by Inventor Hiram McCall
Hiram McCall 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: 9668035Abstract: A high signal to noise ratio circuit and signal processing scheme described herein provides signal power above a noise floor such that high performance rate gyro operation can be achieved. The technology described herein exploits the combination of very low noise rate signal front end and a carrier frequency locked to a crystal filter's passband. A fixed single frequency and a sampled alternating current amplitude for conveyance of rate information is utilized.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE, INC.Inventor: Hiram McCall
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Patent number: 9611031Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an angular parameter between a base member and a control surface of an aircraft is disclosed. An estimate is obtained of an angular rate of the control surface with respect to an inertial frame of the aircraft using a rate sensor. A residual angular rate that is a difference between a commanded angular rate and the estimate of the angular rate of the control surface is determined. The residual angular rate is used to control the angular parameter of the control surface or the angular parameter of the base member.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.Inventor: Hiram McCall
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Publication number: 20150304741Abstract: A high signal to noise ratio circuit and signal processing scheme described herein provides signal power above a noise floor such that high performance rate gyro operation can be achieved. The technology described herein exploits the combination of very low noise rate signal front end and a carrier frequency locked to a crystal filter's passband. A fixed single frequency and a sampled alternating current amplitude for conveyance of rate information is utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE, INC.Inventor: Hiram McCall
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Publication number: 20150066251Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an angular parameter between a base member and a control surface of an aircraft is disclosed. An estimate is obtained of an angular rate of the control surface with respect to an inertial frame of the aircraft using a rate sensor. A residual angular rate that is a difference between a commanded angular rate and the estimate of the angular rate of the control surface is determined. The residual angular rate is used to control the angular parameter of the control surface or the angular parameter of the base member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.Inventor: Hiram McCall
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Patent number: 7162367Abstract: A self-contained/interruption-free earth's surface positioning method and system, carried by a user on the earth's surface, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, an altitude measurement device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a data link, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, altitude measurement device, the GPS receiver, the data link, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of the user. The user's position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the user position information.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Ching-Fang Lin, Hiram McCall
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Publication number: 20060100781Abstract: A self-contained/interruption-free earth's surface positioning method and system, carried by a user on the earth's surface, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, an altitude measurement device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a data link, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, altitude measurement device, the GPS receiver, the data link, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of the user. The user's position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the user position information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2000Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventors: Ching-Fang Lin, Hiram McCall
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Patent number: 6738714Abstract: A vehicle self-carried positioning system, carried in a vehicle, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of a vehicle on land and in water, and the vehicle position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the vehicle position information.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6697758Abstract: A processing method for motion measurement, which is adapted to be applied to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of the carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS (MicroElectronicMechanicalSystem) angular rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the present invention utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6671622Abstract: A vehicle self-carried positioning system, carried in a vehicle, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of a vehicle on land and in water, and the vehicle position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the vehicle position information.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6671648Abstract: A micro inertial measurement unit, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is employed with MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6651027Abstract: A processing method for motion measurement, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6611170Abstract: An angular rate amplifier, which is adapted to amplify useful signals, which are proportional to rotation motion of a carrier, and to suppress noise, which is not proportional to rotation motion of a carrier, in output signals from an angular rate producer, including a MEMS (MicroElectronicMechanicalSystem) angular rate sensor. Compared with a conventional amplifiers, a noise shield and a co-resident trans impedance amplifier are utilized to achieve high signal/noise ratio. Furthermore, the angular rate producer and the noise shield and a co-resident trans impedance amplifier are used in a micro inertial measurement unit (IMU) to improve performance of the micro inertial measurement unit to form highly accurate, digital angular increments, velocity increments, position, velocity, attitude, and heading measurements of a carrier under dynamic environments.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Publication number: 20030158665Abstract: A vehicle self-carried positioning system, carried in a vehicle, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of a vehicle on land and in water, and the vehicle position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the vehicle position information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6596976Abstract: A method and system for pointing and stabilizing a device that needs to be pointed and stabilized with a desired direction, are disclosed, wherein current attitude measurement and attitude rate measurement of the device measured by an attitude producer, which includes an inertial measurement unit, and the desired direction information measured by a target coordinates producer are processed by a pointing controller to compute rotation commands to an actuator. An actuator rotates and stabilizes the device at the desired direction according to the rotation commands in the presence of disturbances and parametric uncertainties to account for the undesired vibration due to disturbances. A visual and voice device provide an operator with visualization and voice indication of the pointing and stabilization procedure of the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Ching-Fang Lin, Hiram McCall
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Publication number: 20030105588Abstract: A method and system for pointing and stabilizing a device that needs to be pointed and stabilized with a desired direction, are disclosed, wherein current attitude measurement and attitude rate measurement of the device measured by an attitude producer, which includes an inertial measurement unit, and the desired direction information measured by a target coordinates producer are processed by a pointing controller to compute rotation commands to an actuator. An actuator rotates and stabilizes the device at the desired direction according to the rotation commands in the presence of disturbances and parametric uncertainties to account for the undesired vibration due to disturbances. A visual and voice device provide an operator with visualization and voice indication of the pointing and stabilization procedure of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2000Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Ching-Fang Lin, Hiram McCall
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Patent number: 6522992Abstract: A core inertial measurement unit, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is employed with MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6516283Abstract: A core inertial measurement unit, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is employed with MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: American GNC Corp.Inventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6508122Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) for measuring angular rate of a carrier includes an angular rate sensor unit, microelectronic circuitry, and signal processing to obtain highly accurate, sensitive, stable angular rate measurements of the carrier under dynamic environments. Wherein, the angular rate sensor unit receives dither driver signals, capacitive pickoff excitation signals, and displacement restoring signals to output angle rate signals in response to the motion of the carrier and dither motion signals; the central circuitry receives the angle rate signals in response to the motion of the carrier and dither motion signals to output angular rate signals and digital low frequency inertial element displacement signals; a digital signal processing system analyzes digital low frequency inertial element displacement signals to feed back the dither drive signals to the angular rate sensor unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Patent number: 6494093Abstract: A method for measuring motion of a user, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of the carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS angular rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, said processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks said size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: American GNC CorporationInventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin
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Publication number: 20020183958Abstract: A core inertial measurement unit, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is employed with MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Hiram McCall, Ching-Fang Lin