Patents by Inventor John F. Takacs
John F. Takacs 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: 8763442Abstract: In representative embodiments, a system includes an acoustic emitter, a controller, an optical sensor, and an indicator for indicating a detection of a predetermined trace chemical vapor by the optical sensor. The acoustic emitter is positioned at a predetermined distance above the ground surface and configured to project a beam of acoustic energy toward the ground surface with a variable angle of incidence ?. The controller is configured to control the acoustic emitter to vary the angle of incidence of the acoustic beam within the variable angle of incidence ?, while the optical sensor is configured for standoff sensing of a trace chemical vapor proximate the ground surface. Excitation of the ground surface, particularly at a critical angle of incidence ?, causes the release of trace chemical vapors from a buried source and the soil into the air above the buried source.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Leora Peltz, Michael A. Carralero, Paul R. Davies, Frederick L. Davis, John F. Takacs
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Patent number: 8757548Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes: a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) providing inertial measurements for the tanker aircraft; a first GPS receiver providing a GPS location for a GPS antenna attached to the tanker aircraft; and a processor adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft through integration of the inertial measurements, the processor being further adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state error relative to the GPS location and to filter the first inertial navigation state error and the first inertial navigation state based upon noise characteristics of the first IMU and the first GPS receiver to provide an updated inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft, the processor being further adapted to control the refueling boom relative to a receiver aircraft based upon the first and updated inertial navigation states.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignees: The Boeing Company, Sysense, Inc.Inventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Walton Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Patent number: 8485037Abstract: An apparatus comprising a vibration generation system, a vibration measurement system, and an optical system associated with the vibration measurement system, and a controller. The vibration generation system is configured to generate acoustic energy that causes vibrations to occur in the ground. The vibration measurement system is configured to transmit laser beams to the surface of the ground in which the vibrations occur, receive responses to the laser beams, and generate vibration data from the responses. The optical system is configured to direct the laser beams to the surface of the ground such that the laser beams have a selected spatial arrangement relative to the surface. The controller is configured to determine whether an object is present under the surface of the ground using the vibration data.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John F. Takacs, Frederick L. Davis, James E. Brown, Cecil L. Hayes, Wilfred Shigeki Otaguro
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Publication number: 20130047701Abstract: In representative embodiments, a system includes an acoustic emitter, a controller, an optical sensor, and an indicator for indicating a detection of a predetermined trace chemical vapor by the optical sensor. The acoustic emitter is positioned at a predetermined distance above the ground surface and configured to project a beam of acoustic energy toward the ground surface with a variable angle of incidence ?. The controller is configured to control the acoustic emitter to vary the angle of incidence of the acoustic beam within the variable angle of incidence ?, while the optical sensor is configured for standoff sensing of a trace chemical vapor proximate the ground surface. Excitation of the ground surface, particularly at a critical angle of incidence ?, causes the release of trace chemical vapors from a buried source and the soil into the air above the buried source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Leora Peltz, Michael A. Carralero, Paul R. Daveis, Frederick L. Davis, John F. Takacs
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Patent number: 8162261Abstract: According to an embodiment, an aerial refueling drogue has a coupling having a channel formed there through. One end of the coupling is attached to a hose. A power generator unit is positioned in the channel of the coupling.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Harry W. Slusher, John F. Takacs
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Patent number: 7937190Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes: a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) providing inertial measurements for the tanker aircraft; a first GPS receiver providing a GPS location for a GPS antenna attached to the tanker aircraft; and a processor adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft through integration of the inertial measurements, the processor being further adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state error relative to the GPS location and to filter the first inertial navigation state error and the first inertial navigation state based upon noise characteristics of the first IMU and the first GPS receiver to provide an updated inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft, the processor being further adapted to control the refueling boom relative to a receiver aircraft based upon the first and updated inertial navigation states.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Walton R. Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Patent number: 7887010Abstract: Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deployable portion can include at least a portion of a flexible fuel line, a drogue coupled to the flexible fuel line, and an actuatable device operatively coupled to at least one of the drogue and the fuel line. The deployable portion can further include a guidance system that is operatively coupled to the actuatable device and that includes instructions to direct the operation of the actuatable device and move the drogue during flight.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John F. Takacs, Stephen M. Stecko, Gordon R. Jefferson, Gregory A. Roberts, Joseph D. Shoore
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Patent number: 7769543Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes sensors such as electro-optical sensor or GPS sensors that provide measurements used by the system to automatically control the refueling boom so as to mate with a receiver aircraft. The system is configured to monitor the health of the sensors and to reconfigure itself if any of the sensor are faulty.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Walton Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Publication number: 20100108815Abstract: According to an embodiment, an aerial refueling drogue has a coupling having a channel formed there through. One end of the coupling is attached to a hose. A power generator unit is positioned in the channel of the coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: STEPHEN M. STECKO, HARRY W. SLUSHER, JOHN F. TAKACS
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Publication number: 20090248225Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes: a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) providing inertial measurements for the tanker aircraft; a first GPS receiver providing a GPS location for a GPS antenna attached to the tanker aircraft; and a processor adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft through integration of the inertial measurements, the processor being further adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state error relative to the GPS location and to filter the first inertial navigation state error and the first inertial navigation state based upon noise characteristics of the first IMU and the first GPS receiver to provide an updated inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft, the processor being further adapted to control the refueling boom relative to a receiver aircraft based upon the first and updated inertial navigation states.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Stephen M Stecko, Walton Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Publication number: 20080270027Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes sensors such as electro-optical sensor or GPS sensors that provide measurements used by the system to automatically control the refueling boom so as to mate with a receiver aircraft. The system is configured to monitor the health of the sensors and to reconfigure itself if any of the sensor are faulty.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Walton Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Publication number: 20080265097Abstract: A system for automated control of a refueling boom coupled to a tanker aircraft is provided. The system includes: a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) providing inertial measurements for the tanker aircraft; a first GPS receiver providing a GPS location for a GPS antenna attached to the tanker aircraft; and a processor adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft through integration of the inertial measurements, the processor being further adapted to calculate a first inertial navigation state error relative to the GPS location and to filter the first inertial navigation state error and the first inertial navigation state based upon noise characteristics of the first IMU and the first GPS receiver to provide an updated inertial navigation state for the tanker aircraft, the processor being further adapted to control the refueling boom relative to a receiver aircraft based upon the first and updated inertial navigation states.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Stephen M. Stecko, Walton Williamson, John F. Takacs, Jason L. Speyer
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Patent number: 7219857Abstract: Controllable refueling drogues and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes a fuel delivery device having a deployable portion configured to be deployed overboard an aircraft during aerial refueling. The deployable portion can include at least a portion of a flexible fuel line, a drogue coupled to the flexible fuel line, and an actuatable device operatively coupled to at least one of the drogue and the fuel line. The deployable portion can further include a guidance system that is operatively coupled to the actuatable device and that includes instructions to direct the operation of the actuatable device and move the drogue during flight.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John F. Takacs, Stephen M. Stecko, Gordon R. Jefferson, Gregory A. Roberts, Joseph D. Shoore
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Patent number: 7007894Abstract: An in-flight refueling system, damping device and method are provided for enhancing the stability of an elongate hose extending from a tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation. The various embodiments of the system, device, and method provide a passive, integrated damping device that may generate electrical energy from changes in disposition of the elongate hose and then using the electrical energy generated to impart mechanical damping forces to a portion of the elongate hose. Thus, the embodiments may minimize the occurrence of oscillations in the elongate hose as it extends from the tanker aircraft during an in-flight refueling operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John F. Takacs, Stephen M. Stecko
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Patent number: 5051572Abstract: An advantageous device and method enables a photomultiplier to be gated on and off at electronic rates. A single multi-winding pulse transformer is employed to enable the triggering of the photomultiplier tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1990Date of Patent: September 24, 1991Assignee: McDonnell Douglas CorporationInventors: Alan A. Joseph, Russell W. Johnston, John F. Takacs