Patents by Inventor Jerry D. Robichaux
Jerry D. Robichaux 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: 10199722Abstract: A radome structure of an antenna system is provided having a plurality of switchable antenna elements disposed around a perimeter of the radome structure that can simultaneously track multiple targets and be implemented in a variety of different applications. Each of the switchable antenna elements can be individually switched between different radiation patterns to support different applications. The antenna system may include an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal, an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal and a plurality of switchable radio frequency (RF) antenna elements disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of switchable RF antenna elements can be switched from a first radiation pattern to a second radiation pattern to change an array radiation pattern of the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Glafkos K. Stratis, Wayne L. Sunne, Jim R. Hicks, Mark A. Owens, Jerry D. Robichaux, Douglas Mills
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Patent number: 10153545Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a seeker system having an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal, an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antenna elements symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal. The seeker system further includes a plurality of RF waveguiding structures. In an embodiment, each of the RF waveguiding structures have first and second ends and are symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal such that in response to an RF signal incident on a first end of the waveguiding structure, the RF signal is provided to one of the plurality of RF antenna elements such that in response to an RF signal incident on the seeker system from any direction, each of the plurality of RF antenna elements receive the RF signal with a desired phase characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Glafkos K. Stratis, Jerry D. Robichaux, Wayne L. Sunne, Jim R. Hicks, David G. Derrick, Alphonso A. Samuel
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Publication number: 20180123229Abstract: A radome structure of an antenna system is provided having a plurality of switchable antenna elements disposed around a perimeter of the radome structure that can simultaneously track multiple targets and be implemented in a variety of different applications. Each of the switchable antenna elements can be individually switched between different radiation patterns to support different applications. The antenna system may include an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal, an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal and a plurality of switchable radio frequency (RF) antenna elements disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of switchable RF antenna elements can be switched from a first radiation pattern to a second radiation pattern to change an array radiation pattern of the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Glafkos K. Stratis, Wayne L. Sunne, Jim R. Hicks, Mark A. Owens, Jerry D. Robichaux, Douglas Mills
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Publication number: 20170288303Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a seeker system having an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal, an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antenna elements symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal. The seeker system further includes a plurality of RF waveguiding structures. In an embodiment, each of the RF waveguiding structures have first and second ends and are symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal such that in response to an RF signal incident on a first end of the waveguiding structure, the RF signal is provided to one of the plurality of RF antenna elements such that in response to an RF signal incident on the seeker system from any direction, each of the plurality of RF antenna elements receive the RF signal with a desired phase characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Glafkos K. Stratis, Jerry D. Robichaux, Wayne L. Sunne, Jim R. Hicks, David G. Derrick, Alphonso A. Samuel
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Patent number: 9546853Abstract: An air vehicle, such as a munition like a guided bomb or missile, has a control system that allows control surfaces to be mechanically uncoupled from one or more actuators to allow the control surfaces to freely move (rotate) relative to a fuselage of the vehicle, for example allowing the control surfaces to “weather vane” by assuming an orientation corresponding to the direction of airflow past the air vehicle (direction of airflow relative to the air vehicle). When active positioning of the control surfaces is desired, the control surfaces may be mechanically coupled to one or more actuators that are used to position the control surfaces. The selective coupling of the actuator(s) and the control surfaces may be accomplished by selectively coupling together a sleeve that is mechanically coupled to the control surfaces, and a nut that moves along a shaft of an actuator, for example using a resilient device.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Bruce E Morgan, Stevie Alejandro, Jerry D Robichaux, Alfredo Ramos, Heinz D Klemm, Bryan W Nickel, Andrew P Douglas
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Publication number: 20160040967Abstract: An air vehicle, such as a munition like a guided bomb or missile, has a control system that allows control surfaces to be mechanically uncoupled from one or more actuators to allow the control surfaces to freely move (rotate) relative to a fuselage of the vehicle, for example allowing the control surfaces to “weather vane” by assuming an orientation corresponding to the direction of airflow past the air vehicle (direction of airflow relative to the air vehicle). When active positioning of the control surfaces is desired, the control surfaces may be mechanically coupled to one or more actuators that are used to position the control surfaces. The selective coupling of the actuator(s) and the control surfaces may be accomplished by selectively coupling together a sleeve that is mechanically coupled to the control surfaces, and a nut that moves along a shaft of an actuator, for example using a resilient device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Bruce E. Morgan, Stevie Alejandro, Jerry D. Robichaux, Alfredo Ramos, Heinz D. Klemm, Bryan W. Nickel, Andrew P. Douglas
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Patent number: 7579799Abstract: Methods and devices for determining the position and/or angular orientation of a rotating shaft. Exemplary features include a sensor module and a position determination module. Sensor module may include a plurality of Hall Effect devices (HEDs) arranged at a specified angular separation to produce a signal in response to rotation of the shaft. Position module may be responsive to sensor module to produce a converted signal, determine an error term, and produce a position estimate. Converted signal may be produced by processing the HED signals into sinusoidal reference signals having offset scale and amplitude scale factors. Error term may be determined by processing the converted signals to produce an estimated position signal. Position estimate may be produced by processing the error term. Refined position measurement may be achieved by iterative elimination of regressive differences between position estimates with minimization of absolute magnitude of error term.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Jerry D. Robichaux, John F. Bugge, Charles De Lair, Eric M. Lafontaine
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Patent number: 6961654Abstract: A method and system to control engine shutdown in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) are provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV “soak” (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Lee Boggs, Jerry D. Robichaux, Mark William Peters, Stephen John Kotre
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Patent number: 6868926Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle 10 and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle 10 is provided. Combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine 24 only after the crankshaft 25 of the engine 24 has been rotated by an electric motor or generator 30 to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile 114, 112, thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine 24, allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels 42, and allowing for a smoother operation of the vehicle 10. The fuel injectors 13, throttle plate 11, and spark plugs 15 are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter 7 to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine 24 is operating.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Lee Boggs, Jerry D. Robichaux, Mark William Peters, Paul Michael Deniston, Stephen John Kotre
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Patent number: 6845305Abstract: A system and method for accurate control of engine torque for a parallel/series hybrid electric vehicle (PSHEV) is disclosed. An accurate estimate of engine torque is determined from the generator motor torque of a PSHEV. The estimated engine torque can then be used to control engine torque in a closed loop torque control strategy. The invention comprises at least one controller to receive, process and output torque signals; a first control strategy to determine a modified engine torque signal from at least a desired engine torque signal; and a second control strategy to determine variables for air, fuel and spark from said modified engine torque signal. The first control strategy can include a proportional integral (PI) controller. The estimated engine torque signal can be a function of an estimated generator motor torque signal, a generator motor speed signal and an engine torque loss signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Abbas Raftari, Deepa Ramaswamy, Jerry D. Robichaux
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Patent number: 6763298Abstract: A method and system to control engine shutdown for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is provided. Tailpipe emissions are reduced during the many engine shutdowns and subsequent restarts during the course of an HEV drive cycle, and evaporative emissions are reduced during an HEV “soak” (inactive) period. The engine shutdown routine can ramp off fuel injectors, control engine torque (via electronic throttle control), control engine speed, stop spark delivery by disabling the ignition system, stop purge vapor flow by closing a vapor management valve (VMV), stop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow by closing an EGR valve, and flush the intake manifold of residual fuel (vapor and puddles) into the combustion chamber to be combusted chamber to be combusted. The resulting exhaust gas byproducts are then converted in the catalytic converter.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Lee Boggs, Jerry D. Robichaux, Mark William Peters, Stephen John Kotre
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Publication number: 20040112653Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle 10 and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle 10 is provided. Combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine 24 only after the crankshaft 25 of the engine 24 has been rotated by an electric motor or generator 30 to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile 114, 112, thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine 24, allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels 42, and allowing for a smoother operation of the vehicle 10. The fuel injectors 13, throttle plate 11, and spark plugs 15 are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter 7 to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine 24 is operating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David Lee Boggs, Jerry D. Robichaux, Mark William Peters, Paul Michael Deniston, Stephen John Kotre
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Patent number: 6751534Abstract: A feedback system 10 for use with a hybrid electric vehicle 12 having a propulsion system 14 which includes a motor/generator 16 and an internal combustion engine 20. The system 10 provides a driver of vehicle 12 with tactile, audible, visual and/or other perceivable feedback, effective to notify the driver that the powertrain 14 of the vehicle is active when the internal combustion engine 20 is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jerry D. Robichaux, Peter John Grutter
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Patent number: 6718822Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine to improve air/fuel ratio control using a feed-forward observer-based control strategy include estimating current and future airflow actuator positions, determining corresponding mass airflow values, and determining a future in-cylinder air charge based on a difference between the current and future mass airflow values. In one embodiment, the difference between current and future mass airflow estimates is used as a feed-forward term and combined with a sensed or measured value generated by a mass airflow sensor prior to being processed using a manifold filling model to predict the future cylinder air charge.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ihab S. Soliman, Tobias John Pallett, Jerry D. Robichaux
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Patent number: 6708483Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a “lean-burn” internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having an emissions control device capable of alternatively storing and releasing NOx when exposed to exhaust gases that are lean and rich of stoichiometry, respectively, determines a performance impact, such as a fuel-economy benefit, of operating the engine at a selected lean or rich operating condition. The method and apparatus then enable the selected operating condition as long as such enabled operation provides further performance benefits.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jerry D. Robichaux, David Karl Bidner, Gopichandra Surnilla
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Patent number: 6688411Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle 10 and a method for operating the hybrid electric vehicle 10 in which combustion is made to occur within the internal combustion engine 24 only after the crankshaft 25 of the engine 24 has been rotated by an electric motor or generator 30 to a certain speed and according to a certain ramped or partially ramped profile 114, 112, thereby reducing the amount of emissions from the engine 24, allowing for a more efficient torque transfer to wheels 42, and allowing for a more smoother operation of the vehicle 10. The fuel injectors 13, throttle plate 11, and spark plugs 15 are also controlled in order to allow emissions to be reduced during activation of the engine and to allow the catalytic converter 7 to be heated in order to allow these emissions to be further reduced as the engine 24 is operating.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Lee Boggs, Jerry D. Robichaux, Mark William Peters, Paul Michael Deniston, Stephen John Kotre
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Patent number: 6684631Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a lean-burn internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having a three-way catalyst and a NOx trap located downstream of the three-way catalyst includes a controller which calculates current levels of tailpipe NOx during lean engine operating conditions based upon the difference between a determined instantaneous feedgas NOx concentration and a determined instantaneous trap efficiency. The controller discontinues lean engine operation when the tailpipe NOx, expressed in terms of either grams-per-mile or grams-per-hour, exceeds a predetermined threshold level, either instantaneously or as averaged over the course of a trap purge-fill cycle.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Jerry D. Robichaux, Michael John Cullen
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Patent number: 6640622Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine to improve air/fuel ratio control using a feed-forward observer-based control strategy include estimating current and future airflow actuator positions, determining corresponding mass airflow values, and determining a future in-cylinder air charge based on a difference between the current and future mass airflow values. In one embodiment, the difference between current and future mass airflow estimates is used as a feed-forward term and combined with a sensed or measured value generated by a mass airflow sensor prior to being processed using a manifold filling model to predict the future cylinder air charge.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ihab S. Soliman, Tobias John Pallett, Jerry D. Robichaux
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Patent number: 6594989Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a “lean-burn” internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having an emissions control device capable of alternatively storing and releasing NOx when exposed to exhaust gases that are lean and rich of stoichiometry, respectively, optimizes vehicle fuel economy while complying with emissions standards by prohibiting lean engine operation only when tailpipe emissions, calculated in terms of grams of an exhaust gas constituent per vehicle mile traveled, exceeds a permissible threshold value. The threshold value is preferably itself periodically determined based upon a detected or determined level of vehicle activity, such that vehicle activity characterized by greater transient engine operation prescribes a relatively lower level of permissible vehicle emissions.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jerry D. Robichaux, Michael John Cullen
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Publication number: 20030115856Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a lean-burn internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having a three-way catalyst and a NOx trap located downstream of the three-way catalyst includes a controller which calculates current levels of tailpipe NOx during lean engine operating conditions based upon the difference between a determined instantaneous feedgas NOx concentration and a determined instantaneous trap efficiency. The controller discontinues lean engine operation when the tailpipe NOx, expressed in terms of either grams-per-mile or grams-per-hour, exceeds a predetermined threshold level, either instantaneously or as averaged over the course of a trap purge-fill cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Jerry D. Robichaux, Michael John Cullen