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).
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Patent number: 10012728Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
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Publication number: 20160202354Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
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Patent number: 9194948Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: James V. Leonard, Shirley N. Cheng, Michael G. Neff
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Patent number: 9083439Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron Lee Eggemeyer
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Patent number: 8990002Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: James V. Leonard
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Publication number: 20150023399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron Lee Eggemeyer
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Patent number: 8922348Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Terrence Halbert, Michael L. Goodall
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Publication number: 20140354418Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Terrence Halbert, Michael L. Goodall
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Patent number: 8552836Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Joshua R. Pollema, James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, John D. Musgraves, Jr., William J. Ebert
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Patent number: 7968831Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard E. Meyer, William J. Ebert, James V. Leonard
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Patent number: 7869385Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
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Publication number: 20100097183Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: Joshua R. Pollema, James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, John D. Musgraves, JR., William J. Ebert
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Publication number: 20090109863Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, William J. Ebert
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Publication number: 20090037214Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: James V. Leonard, William J. Ebert, Richard E. Meyer
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Publication number: 20080308670Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard E. Meyer, William J. Ebert, James V. Leonard
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Patent number: 7353090Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 4, 2004Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Robert K. Menzel, Richard E. Meyer
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Patent number: 7255608Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 5, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Monroe A. Lalumandier, James V Leonard, Richard E Meyer, William J Ebert
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Patent number: 7228261Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2003Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, William J. Ebert, Aaron L. Eggemeyer, Richard E. Meyer, Bobby J. Wilson
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Patent number: 7002336Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 28, 2003Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Allan W. Nelson, Patrick F. Dudenhoeffer, Todd J. Palmer, Richard E. Meyer
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Patent number: 6763289Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James V. Leonard, Richard E. Meyer, William Joseph Ebert, Jr.