Patents by Inventor James M. Cicchiello

James M. Cicchiello 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: 11601197
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Featherston, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello
  • Patent number: 10848241
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Featherston, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello
  • Patent number: 10236995
    Abstract: A system includes a detector array having a plurality of level detectors to monitor an optical input signal. Each level detector of the detector array operates in a different operating range, and each operating range for each level detector has a different saturation level and a different cutoff level based on a power level of the optical input signal. A controller monitors the plurality of level detectors of the detector array to detect a present power level for the optical input signal by selecting the operating range that is associated with the level detector operating between its saturation level and its cutoff level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Featherston, James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Christopher A. Archer, Frederick D. Bean
  • Patent number: 10038497
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) to transmit outgoing communications data and to receive incoming communications data in a transceiver. A main detector is coupled to the modem to convert an optical signal representing the incoming communications data to an electrical signal for the modem. An adaptive data rate processor monitors the electrical signal from the main detector to determine a current power level for the optical signal. The adaptive data rate processor dynamically adjusts a data rate of the modem based on the determined current power level of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Northrup Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: John Featherston, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello
  • Patent number: 9537580
    Abstract: A system includes a detector array having a plurality of level detectors to monitor an optical input signal. Each level detector of the detector array operates in a different operating range, and each operating range for each level detector has a different saturation level and a different cutoff level based on a power level of the optical input signal. A controller monitors the plurality of level detectors of the detector array to detect a present power level for the optical input signal by selecting the operating range that is associated with the level detector operating between its saturation level and its cutoff level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: John Featherston, James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Christopher A. Archer, Frederick D. Bean
  • Patent number: 9503183
    Abstract: A free-space optical (FSO) transceiver can include a link predictor configured to estimate conditions for an FSO link over a window of time in the future. The FSO transceiver can also include a scheduler configured to assign outgoing packets to blocks of time in the window of time based on quality of service (QoS) parameters of each of the outgoing packets and on conditions in each block of time in the window of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: John Featherston, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello, Frederick D. Bean
  • Patent number: 9231697
    Abstract: A free-space optical (FSO) transceiver can include a transmission protocol configured to encapsulate outgoing network packets in by employing a reliable ordered protocol that relies on retransmission of lost data to form outgoing encapsulated packets. The transmission protocol controller can be configured to employ a congestion algorithm that optimizes throughput over a lossy link. The FSO transceiver can also include a transmitter configured to provide an output optical signal corresponding to the outgoing encapsulated packets over an FSO link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello, John Featherston, Frederick D. Bean
  • Publication number: 20150171962
    Abstract: A free-space optical (FSO) transceiver can include a transmission protocol configured to encapsulate outgoing network packets in by employing a reliable ordered protocol that relies on retransmission of lost data to form outgoing encapsulated packets. The transmission protocol controller can be configured to employ a congestion algorithm that optimizes throughput over a lossy link. The FSO transceiver can also include a transmitter configured to provide an output optical signal corresponding to the outgoing encapsulated packets over an FSO link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER A. ARCHER, James M. Cicchiello, John Featherston, Frederick D. Bean
  • Publication number: 20150171968
    Abstract: A free-space optical (FSO) transceiver can include a link predictor configured to estimate conditions for an FSO link over a window of time in the future. The FSO transceiver can also include a scheduler configured to assign outgoing packets to blocks of time in the window of time based on quality of service (QoS) parameters of each of the outgoing packets and on conditions in each block of time in the window of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: JOHN FEATHERSTON, Christopher A. Archer, James M. Cicchiello, Frederick D. Bean
  • Patent number: 7557979
    Abstract: A beam-steering element made of a more optically-active material, potassium tantalate niobate, with an improved diffraction efficiency, having a plurality of electrode layers and one electro-optic crystal layer interposed between every two adjacent electrode layers. Each electro-optic crystal layer and the electrode layer adjacent thereto have an aspect ratio of about 1:1. The electrode layers and the electro-optic crystal layers are interposed between two substrates. Preferably, the substrates are transparent to an incoming beam to be modulated by the electro-optic crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Kenneth E. Kreischer, David A. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20080259435
    Abstract: A beam-steering element made of a more optically-active material, potassium tantalate niobate, with an improved diffraction efficiency, having a plurality of electrode layers and one electro-optic crystal layer interposed between every two adjacent electrode layers. Each electro-optic crystal layer and the electrode layer adjacent thereto have an aspect ratio of about 1:1. The electrode layers and the electro-optic crystal layers are interposed between two substrates. Preferably, the substrates are transparent to an incoming beam to be modulated by the electro-optic crystal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Kenneth E. Kreischer, David A. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7411724
    Abstract: A beam-steering element made of a more optically-active material, potassium tantalate niobate, with an improved diffraction efficiency, having a plurality of electrode layers and one electro-optic crystal layer interposed between every two adjacent electrode layers. Each electro-optic crystal layer and the electrode layer adjacent thereto have an aspect ratio of about 1:1. The electrode layers and the electro-optic crystal layers are interposed between two substrates. Preferably, the substrates are transparent to an incoming beam to be modulated by the electro-optic crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Kenneth E. Kreischer, David A. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7190907
    Abstract: An optical tag, having a photo-detector, a controller, a piezoelectric translator, a battery and a retro-reflective tape. The photo-detector is responsive to an optical energy at a predetermined wavelength, and the controller is connected to the output of the photo-detector. The piezoelectric translator connected to controller is also connected to the battery when the photo-detector responds to the optical energy. The retro-reflective tape is directly mounted on the piezoelectric translator. When the connection between the piezoelectric translator and the battery is established, a pulse is generated and applied to the retro-reflective tape. Therefore, the optical energy incident on the retro-reflective tape is modulated by the pulse and retro-reflected by the retro-reflective tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Cicchiello
  • Patent number: 7171126
    Abstract: An optical head is provided for a free space optical communications system. The optical head is utilized for transmitting and receiving modulated infrared laser beams. The optical head includes an optical amplifier, a circulator, an ultrafine-steering element, a fine-steering element, a course-steering element, and a fine track sensor. Additionally, a method is provided for facilitating airborne free space optical communications between an airborne host platform and a link platform. Each platform has an optical head which transmits and receives data via modulated infrared laser beams, wherein the host includes at least an optical head having a fine, coarse, and ultrafine steering element configured in a cascaded three-tier steering element architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, John Featherston, Jean Christopher Shelton
  • Patent number: 7146060
    Abstract: A phase distortion device/method has been developed to improve images. A wave source generates waves, which stimulate the reflection and/or emission of narrow-band waves from an object of interest or a nearby object. The phase distortion of the narrow-band waves is used to obtain an impulse response function, which is then used to correct an image formed by illumination waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Hao C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7075955
    Abstract: An integrated optical parametric oscillator, having an optical parametric oscillation region to convert a pump source into a signal beam and an idler beam, and a fine-steering region to adjust optical path of the signal beam in order to finely select a required wavelength component of the signal beam. The optical parametric oscillator is contoured with a plurality of exterior planes with specific reflective characteristics to form a resonator of the idler beam while reflecting and diffracting the signal beam with a desired wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Ronald K. Meyer, Gerald Griffith
  • Patent number: 7057787
    Abstract: An electro-optic crystal based beam-steering device preferably based on KTN, having a first deflector and a second deflector. The first deflector has a pair of substrates each having a plurality of first electrode lines extending along a first direction and a plurality of electro-optic crystal modulators interposed between the first electrode lines. The second deflector has a pair of substrates each having a plurality of second electrode lines extending along a second direction and a plurality of electro-optic crystal modulators interposed between the second electrode lines. The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider
  • Patent number: 6958851
    Abstract: An electronically modulated prism, having a bulk crystal, a plurality of electrode pads formed on a top surface of the bulk crystal, and a common electrode formed on a bottom surface of the bulk crystal. The bulk crystal is optically isotropic with zero electric field applied thereto and optically anisotropic when subjected to a non-zero electric field. More specifically, the bulk crystal between each of the electrode pads and the common electrode has an index of fraction altered proportionally to the electric field applied thereto, such that an incident beam propagate through the crystal is modulated with an accumulated phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Cicchiello
  • Patent number: 6894818
    Abstract: A conformed all-reflective beam-steering (CARBS) device is provided which is a hybrid of a mirror and one-axis gimbal assembly mounted on a rotating carriage. The CARBS device functions as a coarse-steering element in an electro-optical tracking system. The one-axis gimbal only has to steer over 0-45° elevation (El), rather than the more typical +/?45° El. To provide a full field of regard (FOR), the present invention relies on a rotating carriage to rotate 360°. The present invention facilitates the full FOR by positioning a mirror and one-axis gimbal assembly close to the exit pupil window. Further, the present invention takes advantage of decentration and off-axis parabolic reflectors to maintain a small footprint. This compact design allows for lower system inertia, which reduces power draw, and further provides a system which may be package to meet upcoming military modular packaging requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Michael A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20040124335
    Abstract: A phase distortion device/method has been developed to improve images. A wave source generates waves, which stimulate the reflection and/or emission of narrow-band waves from an object of interest or a nearby object. The phase distortion of the narrow-band waves is used to obtain an impulse response function, which is then used to correct an image formed by illumination waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Hao C. Tran