Patents by Inventor John J. Ermer

John J. Ermer 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: 11352034
    Abstract: A trusted accident avoidance control system supported on a vehicle operable to travel a path, and comprising at least first and second location determination components operable to estimate a current position of the vehicle. An error correction component can receive the estimated current position information from the first and second location determination components and determine an updated estimated current position of the vehicle based on these, wherein the error correction component can be operable with a path database to identify a predetermined threshold velocity for the updated estimated current position of the vehicle. A velocity management component can determine, based on the updated estimated current position, whether a current velocity of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold velocity, and if so, initiate an accident avoidance measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Ross, Michael J. Holihan, John J. Ermer
  • Publication number: 20210107537
    Abstract: A trusted accident avoidance control system supported on a vehicle operable to travel a path, and comprising at least first and second location determination components operable to estimate a current position of the vehicle. An error correction component can receive the estimated current position information from the first and second location determination components and determine an updated estimated current position of the vehicle based on these, wherein the error correction component can be operable with a path database to identify a predetermined threshold velocity for the updated estimated current position of the vehicle. A velocity management component can determine, based on the updated estimated current position, whether a current velocity of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold velocity, and if so, initiate an accident avoidance measure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Richard C. Ross, Michael J. Holihan, John J. Ermer
  • Publication number: 20210107546
    Abstract: A trusted train derailment avoidance control system supported on a train operable to travel a fixed track, and comprising an inertial measurement unit. The IMU estimates a current position of the train based on initial position and movement data measured by the IMU. One or more aiding systems are operable to generate supplemental position data. An error correction component corrects drift in the IMU and generates an updated estimated current position based on the positon solutions from the IMU and the one or more aiding systems. A velocity management component determines whether a current velocity of the train exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity for the updated estimated current position, and initiates a derailment avoidance measure in accordance with a determination that the threshold velocity is exceeded. The trusted train derailment avoidance control system is self-contained to the train, not relying on outside sources to generate any estimated current positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Richard C. Ross, Michael J. Holihan, John J. Ermer