Patents by Inventor James R. Ashley

James R. Ashley 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: 5515230
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are supplied for an electrical power substation used to interconnect an input three-phase power line to one or more poly-phase output distribution power lines. The teaching of the subject application shows that parasitic losses in prior art substation wiring that uses coaxial cables to conduct power into and out of the substation can be reduced by using an individual grounding rod for each outer conductor instead of following conventional practice and connecting all three conductors together at a common grounding rod. Moreover, if the three input coaxial cables to the distribution substation or the three output coaxial cables from the substation have the current in a center conductor precisely matched to the return current in the associated outer conductor, there will be neither an electric potential gradient nor a magnetic intensity outside of the transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 5218507
    Abstract: Extraneous electric and magnetic fields, which may be public health risks associated with electric power transmission, are avoided by using an improved power transmission cable and wiring arrangement that uses coaxial transmission lines configured so that the return current flows in the outer conductor. A cable structure is taught that both provides the desired shielding and maintains protection against lightning strikes. The coaxial transmission lines eliminate radiation of 50-60 Hz electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 5175442
    Abstract: A six-phase power line configuration reduces the measured intensity of electric and magnetic fields that are associated with transmitting AC electric power. An open-wire configuration is taught that is compatible with transmission on power line right-of-ways, and that can be made by converting existing three-phase dual circuit power lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 5147983
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for six-phase distribution of high voltage electrical power. The invention provides new six phase distribution wiring, using coaxial conductors, that is configured to reduce fringing electric and magnetic fields when used either as part of an overhead distribution system, or when buried underground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 5070441
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for distributing electrical power from a six phase powerline to both single phase and three phase loads. The invention provides for improved power transmission efficiency, and offers compatibility between an installed base of single and three phase loads and a new six phase distribution wiring system that is configured to reduce fringing electric and magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4952887
    Abstract: An active voltage divider circuit is applied to the loop filter of a phase-lock loop, thereby providing a variable gain factor, wherein the gain with large phase error is substantially greater than the gain with small phase error. This results in improved acquisition time for large frequency offsets, while providing in the phase-lock state the same performance as a conventional loop having the same natural loop frequency and damping factor. By sampling the applied radio frequency signal with an amplitude detector and applying the sampled output and the output of a phase sensitive detector to an analog divider, amplitude variations of the input signal are cancelled, thereby making the loop filter essentially independent of the amplitude of the input signal. In a further embodiment the input signal is coupled to a quadrature detector wherefrom I and Q output signals are coupled to a divider which provides error signals to the loop filter that are independent of the input signal amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Hercules Defense Electronics Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4801861
    Abstract: A microwave bridge circuit for measuring frequency modulation noise signals arising in low power, high frequency sources having a highly non-constant FM noise versus baseband frequency characteristic includes amplifying and filtering means for excluding signals in frequency ranges beyond the field of interest and frequency response compensator means of attenuating signals outside the primary range of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Hercules Defense Electronics Systems Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Ashley, Frank M. Palka
  • Patent number: 4721901
    Abstract: A reflection coefficient phase angle measurement apparatus includes a voltage controlled phase shifter coupled to phase shift a sample of one of the signals incident to and reflected from a waveguide termination. The phase shifted signal sample and a sample of the non-phase shifted signal are phase compared in a phase detector and the sign of the signal resulting from the phase comparison is noted. This sign is compared with the sign of the previous phase comparison to determine a zero crossing. When a zero crossing has not occurred an incrementing signal is added to the phase control signal applied to the voltage controlled phase shifter to alter the phase of the the phase shifted signal sample, and the procedure is repeated until a zero crossing is obtained. The control voltage applied at the zero crossing is established by interpolation and utilized to determine the reflection coefficient phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventor: James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4415852
    Abstract: A single hybrid junction discriminator is described for operation over a wide operating frequency range. The single hybrid discriminator uses a transmission line, phase shifters and fixed short circuits in providing a resonant cavity in the discriminator element to form a device that will measure near carrier frequency modulated noise on a carrier frequency. Only a minimum exchange of circuit components is required for changed carrier frequencies. With the phase shifter located in the signal channel, operation is a direct and easy process for quadrature detection. Component arrangement is critical to the operation of the single hybrid discriminator. The single hybrid discriminator is more sensitive than either the two hybrid or one hybrid and a directional coupler type discriminator because better usage is made of the available signal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James R. Ashley, Thomas A. Barley, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4303899
    Abstract: The resonator is formed with a primary line which is slightly less than a ltiple of a half wavelength long, a tee, and a matching stub. The primary line and the stub are adjustable to make the total length a multiple of one half wavelength. A mechanical link can be connected across the two adjustable lengths so as to maintain a total length of a multiple integral of one half wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Thomas A. Barley, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr., James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4048568
    Abstract: It is desirable to be able to measure the FM noise spectra of signals whose arrier power is less than the minimum power level at which a direct non-amplified analyzer can operate satisfactorily. Generally a carrier less than approximately + 2 dbm would require analysis by a very low power measuring system.In the superheterodyne analyzer the discrimination process for a high frequency input signal is accomplished at a suitable intermediate frequency. A single set of discrimination equipment is utilized in the measurement of a wide carrier frequency range of input signals using relatively narrow band intermediate frequency hardware to optimize the analysis function. This provides a means for measuring frequencies from 4 GHz to 8 GHz or from 2 MHz to 2 GHz for example, with high accuracy and sensitivity, while using the same intermediate frequency hardware limited to operational bandwidths of a few MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gustaf J. Rast, Jr., Thomas A. Barley, Raiford L. Hammond, James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4034285
    Abstract: A superheterodyne noise measuring discriminator uses an optimum length trmission line which permits near carrier frequency modulation to be measured on a carrier frequency in a broad range from approximately two megahertz to two gigahertz with one set of components. A balanced phase detector, power dividers, attenuators coupled with the optimum length transmission line and balanced mixing of signal and reference signals at an IF level provide wide frequency range discrimination. This noise measuring discriminator operates over a wide frequency range with the only component changes being an input bandpass filter, the optimum length transmission line, adjustable phase shift device, and variable frequency local oscillator. The transmission line sections are easily changed by simply selecting proper line lengths which may be previously established. The optimum length transmission line can operate over several octaves of frequency range with analyzer degradation of less than three decibels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James R. Ashley, Thomas A. Barley, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4002970
    Abstract: An optimum length transmission line discriminator circuit is disclosed wh provides for measurement of near carrier frequency modulation in the microwave region. An optimum length of transmission line within the discriminator is instrumental in providing the discrimination function. The transmission line discriminator possesses the same basic circuit properties required to provide measurement and affords a broader range of operation than established microwave cavity methods can feasibly provide. The optimized transmission line length provides for maximum efficiency from the transmission line parameters over a wide frequency range. In measuring frequency modulation noise, carrier nulling in excess of 60 decibels is accomplished with a slide screw tuner in conjunction with the optimized length line. This null is relatively insensitive to environmental effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James R. Ashley, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr., Thomas A. Barley
  • Patent number: 4002969
    Abstract: Measurement apparatus using an optimum length transmission line discriminr is disclosed which allows near carrier frequency modulation to be measured in the very high and ultra high frequency regions without the use of a microwave type cavity resonator or a tuned resonant circuit. Amplitude modulation rejection through direct current biasing of a quadrature detector enhances near carrier FM measurement. Signal energy is routed through two channels to the quadrature detector. A reference channel provides attenuation and phase shifting, and a signal channel comprising the optimum length line provides FM discrimination. The phase detector is direct current biased to separate amplitude modulation noise from near carrier frequency modulation noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Thomas A. Barley, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr., James R. Ashley
  • Patent number: 4002971
    Abstract: A wide operating frequency range transmission line discriminator uses an imum length transmission line which permits near carrier frequency modulation to be measured on a carrier frequency in a broad range from approximately two megahertz to one gigahertz. A hybrid junction, balanced phase detector, power dividers, attenuators and a variable transmission line coupled with the optimum length transmission line provide a wide frequency range discriminator with only a minimum exchange in selected components being necessary for changes in carrier frequency. This near carrier analyzer operates over the wide frequency range with the only component changes being an input bandpass filter, the optimum length transmission line, and the variable length transmission line used as a variable or adjustable phase shift device. The transmission line sections are easily changed by simply selecting proper line lengths which may be previously established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gustaf J. Rast, Jr., Thomas A. Barley, James R. Ashley