Patents by Inventor James V. Leonard

James V. Leonard 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: 10012728
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener is disclosed. An example method includes identifying a target based on a composite three-dimensional image generated based on data received from a first aerial vehicle acting as a master vehicle and a second aerial vehicle acting as a slave vehicle; changing a role of the first aerial vehicle to the slave vehicle; changing the role of the second aerial vehicle to the master vehicle; and causing, using the second aerial vehicle acting as the master vehicle, a third vehicle to attack the target based on the identity of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
  • Publication number: 20160202354
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener is disclosed. An example method includes identifying a target based on a composite three-dimensional image generated based on data received from a first aerial vehicle acting as a master vehicle and a second aerial vehicle acting as a slave vehicle; changing a role of the first aerial vehicle to the slave vehicle; changing the role of the second aerial vehicle to the master vehicle; and causing, using the second aerial vehicle acting as the master vehicle, a third vehicle to attack the target based on the identity of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
  • Patent number: 9194948
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener may include memory and a processor. The memory may store at least a target library indicating respective target parameters for a plurality of known potential targets. The processor may be configured by stored instructions to generate a composite multi-dimensional representation of a target based on radar data received at the apparatus from other aerial vehicles collecting projections over an area in which the target is located and based on radar data collected by an aerial vehicle in which the apparatus is located, identify the target based on the composite multi-dimensional representation, and generate aimpoint data regarding the target based on an identity of the target. The aimpoint data defining the most vulnerable point on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
  • Patent number: 9083439
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending data. Input signals from input wires are received. The input signals include data. Information about the input signals is identified. The data and the information are sent in digital signals over a wire to a second location. The input signals are recreated from the data and the information received in the digital signals over the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron Lee Eggemeyer
  • Patent number: 8990002
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided to permit an aerial asset to determine its current location and to, in turn, locate and track a target even as efforts are made by others to jam or otherwise hinder offboard communications that may prevent reliance upon GPS or other positioning systems. A method includes receiving, at a navigation control vehicle, information regarding the relative position of a target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method also determines a relative position of the target with respect to the navigation control vehicle at least partially based on the information regarding the relative position of the target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method provides information regarding the relative position of the target to an aerial asset to facilitate location of the target by the aerial asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James V. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20150023399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending data. Input signals from input wires are received. The input signals include data. Information about the input signals is identified. The data and the information are sent in digital signals over a wire to a second location. The input signals are recreated from the data and the information received in the digital signals over the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron Lee Eggemeyer
  • Patent number: 8922348
    Abstract: A device, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, includes a receiver to receive interrogation signals transmitted over a first frequency band from an RFID reader device. The device includes a transmitter to transmit a notification signal over a second frequency band to a computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) in response to receiving a particular interrogation signal at the receiver. The computing device is distinct from the RFID reader device and the second frequency band is distinct from the first frequency band. The notification signal includes data indicating that the particular interrogation signal was received at the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Terrence Halbert, Michael L. Goodall
  • Publication number: 20140354418
    Abstract: A device, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, includes a receiver to receive interrogation signals transmitted over a first frequency band from an RFID reader device. The device includes a transmitter to transmit a notification signal over a second frequency band to a computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) in response to receiving a particular interrogation signal at the receiver. The computing device is distinct from the RFID reader device and the second frequency band is distinct from the first frequency band. The notification signal includes data indicating that the particular interrogation signal was received at the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Terrence Halbert, Michael L. Goodall
  • Patent number: 8552836
    Abstract: An alignment system for coupling a component to a vehicle includes at least one sensor target coupled to the component, and a controller assembly configured to transmit a signal towards the sensor target and receive a reflected signal from the sensor target, wherein the controller assembly is configured to output an orientation dataset for the component relative to the vehicle using the reflected signal. The system also includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the controller assembly, wherein the processing device is programmed to translate the orientation dataset and cause a set of component positioning signals based on the orientation dataset to be displayed at a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joshua R. Pollema, James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, John D. Musgraves, Jr., William J. Ebert
  • Patent number: 7968831
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that automatically display an optimized aimpoint on a target image in received seeker data. In one embodiment, a method receives missile seeker target data. A seeker mode data is extracted from the received missile seeker target data. The location of a most vulnerable spot on a target is identified based on a comparison of target library data with seeker image data. A marker is generated at the location of the optimized aimpoint and output to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Meyer, William J. Ebert, James V. Leonard
  • Patent number: 7869385
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20100097183
    Abstract: An alignment system for coupling a component to a vehicle includes at least one sensor target coupled to the component, and a controller assembly configured to transmit a signal towards the sensor target and receive a reflected signal from the sensor target, wherein the controller assembly is configured to output an orientation dataset for the component relative to the vehicle using the reflected signal. The system also includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the controller assembly, wherein the processing device is programmed to translate the orientation dataset and cause a set of component positioning signals based on the orientation dataset to be displayed at a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Joshua R. Pollema, James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, John D. Musgraves, JR., William J. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20090109863
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20090037214
    Abstract: Building an internal digital library for an organization includes accepting abstracts from members of the organization, the abstracts submitted for publication; performing internal review on the abstracts to approve or deny publication; storing approved abstracts in the internal digital library; and accepting papers corresponding to the abstracts and storing the papers in the internal digital library. The papers are stored regardless of whether they are approved for publication. Building the internal library further includes linking the abstracts to the corresponding papers; and making the abstracts accessible to members of the organization. A paper can be accessed from the internal library by following the link from its corresponding abstract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, William J. Ebert, Richard E. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20080308670
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that automatically display an optimized aimpoint on a target image received seeker data. In one embodiment, a method receives missile seeker target data. Then, seeker mode data is extracted from the received missile seeker target data. The location of an optimized aimpoint is identified based on a comparison of target library data with seeker image data. A marker is generated at the location of the optimized aimpoint; and output to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard E. Meyer, William J. Ebert, James V. Leonard
  • Patent number: 7353090
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft. The system includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block I missiles). However, the aircraft is also capable of carrying a store of a first predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block II missiles), and capable of communicating with the store across a communication bus (e.g., MK-82 Digital Data Bus). The system also includes a bus monitor assembly capable of capturing data communications transferred across the communication bus between the aircraft and the store, the data communications being captured from the communication bus. The bus monitor assembly is also capable of preparing the data communications, and monitoring the communication bus across which the data communications are transferred, the communication bus being monitored based upon the prepared data communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7255608
    Abstract: A connector body component for a connector assembly in which the connector body component has a plurality of independent body segments secured together to form a single assembly. The connector body segments are held together within a housing member and may include interlocking structures on wall surfaces thereof. Forming the connector body in independent segments allows one body segment to be replaced in the event of damage to the connector body or one conductive element held in the connector body, thus eliminating the need to replace the entire connector body. This saves significant time and expense when repairing or modifying a connector body having a plurality of independent conductors coupled to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Monroe A. Lalumandier, James V Leonard, Richard E Meyer, William J Ebert
  • Patent number: 7228261
    Abstract: Methods and systems for testing and diagnosis of weapon control systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for testing a weapon control system includes an interface unit and a simulator unit. The interface unit is adapted to be operatively coupled to the weapon control system, and the simulator unit is operatively coupled to the interface unit. The simulator unit receives and analyzes a control signal, and transmits at least one of a first type of responsive signal indicative of a properly functioning component, and a second type of responsive signal indicative of a malfunctioning component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, William J. Ebert, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Richard E. Meyer, Bobby J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7002336
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the electrical power system of an aircraft uses existing unmodified test equipment not otherwise capable of reliably testing and certifying the aircraft for weapon store launching operations for a particular store type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Allan W. Nelson, Patrick F. Dudenhoeffer, Todd J. Palmer, Richard E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6763289
    Abstract: A system for operating and releasing a store of a first predetermined type includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type and a bypass apparatus. The store is releasably secured to the aircraft, and the aircraft is capable of releasing the store. The aircraft is capable of being configured such that a store of the first predetermined type is capable of operating independent of operating instructions. The bypass apparatus is carried by the aircraft and adapted to facilitate operation of the store. The bypass apparatus can store operating instructions and thereafter transmit the operating instructions into the store. As such, after the aircraft releases the store the store is capable of operating according to the operating instructions. Also, the system can include an umbilical cable disposed between the aircraft and the store. The bypass apparatus can, therefore, be disposed within the umbilical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, William Joseph Ebert, Jr.