Patents by Inventor KENNETH F. McKINNEY

KENNETH F. McKINNEY 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).

  • Publication number: 20230262086
    Abstract: In an example, a component analyzer can compute a respective part score for each part of the platform based on a part property table, and a respective connection score for each connection of the platform based on a connection property table. The component analyzer can provide the respective part and connection scores as score data to an architecture modeling engine to compute a probability model based on the score data and an architecture model. The probability model can include a part probability value and a connection probability value, and the architecture model can characterize a target architecture of the platform. A survivability analysis engine can evaluate the probability model and the architecture model to determine a likelihood that one or more potential cyber-attacks on the platform based on the target architecture are successful or unsuccessful in compromising at least one part of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHARLES CONNORS, Geoffrey R. Janjua, Kenneth F. McKinney, Victoria Nagorski, Charles Negus, David Squiller, Lyndsay Walker, Matthew Ward, Kenneth R. Weidele
  • Publication number: 20230259633
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an evaluation of system-of-systems (SoS) architectures for cyber vulnerabilities. In an example, architecture description data and component description data for an SoS can be received. Architecture definition file (ADF) data can be generated based on the architecture and component description data. A model of a target SoS architecture for the SoS can be generated based on the ADF data. The target SoS architecture for the SoS can be evaluated to identify potential cyber-attack vectors with respect to the target SoS architecture, and a probabilistic analysis of the potential cyber-attack vectors can be executed to compute a probability for each cyber-attack vector indicative of a likelihood that a respective cyber-attack results in a mission failure by the SoS based on the target SoS architecture. Display data can be generated for visualization on an output device that includes each identified potential cyber-attack vector and associated computed probability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis A. Oddo, Charles Connors, Kenneth F. McKinney
  • Patent number: 11254046
    Abstract: An FDM printer that provides five degree-of-freedom printing capabilities. In one embodiment, the FDM printer includes three transitional drive devices that allow a printer print head to be translationally moved in the X, Y and Z axes planes and a pair of rotationally drive devices that allow a workpiece platform to be rotated in the Y-axis plane and the combined X-axis and Z-axis planes. In this manner, the relative position between the print head and the workpiece platform allows the printer to print complex workpieces in a single continuous print, such as workpieces including large closed, hollow geometries, and without the need for providing support structures for overhangs and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth F. McKinney, Andrew Simmons
  • Patent number: 10935587
    Abstract: A system and related method for determining whether an electrical circuit has been compromised. The system includes a circuit probe positioned relative to the electrical circuit that detects electromagnetic circuit emissions therefrom and an analysis device electrically coupled to the circuit probe and receiving electromagnetic emissions detection signals therefrom, where the analysis device identifies constituent frequencies and their magnitudes in the detection signals. The system also includes a comparison processor responsive to the constituent frequencies and magnitudes from the analysis device, where the comparison processor compares the constituent frequencies and magnitudes to previously stored constituent frequencies and magnitudes obtained from an equivalent test circuit to the electrical circuit to determine whether the electrical circuit has been compromised. A background probe can be provided to obtain background emissions that can be subtracted from the circuit emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth F. McKinney, Kenneth R. Weidele, Geoffrey R. Janjua, Allan T. Hilchie, Kirk L. Haderlie
  • Publication number: 20210025931
    Abstract: A system and related method for determining whether an electrical circuit has been compromised. The system includes a circuit probe positioned relative to the electrical circuit that detects electromagnetic circuit emissions therefrom and an analysis device electrically coupled to the circuit probe and receiving electromagnetic emissions detection signals therefrom, where the analysis device identifies constituent frequencies and their magnitudes in the detection signals. The system also includes a comparison processor responsive to the constituent frequencies and magnitudes from the analysis device, where the comparison processor compares the constituent frequencies and magnitudes to previously stored constituent frequencies and magnitudes obtained from an equivalent test circuit to the electrical circuit to determine whether the electrical circuit has been compromised. A background probe can be provided to obtain background emissions that can be subtracted from the circuit emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: KENNETH F. McKINNEY, KENNETH R. WEIDELE, GEOFFREY R. JANJUA, ALLAN T. HILCHIE, KIRK L. HADERLIE
  • Patent number: 10754993
    Abstract: A method and architecture for mitigating configuration memory imprinting in programmable logic devices. At power-up, a configuration memory inversion control determines whether to operate the current power cycle in normal mode or inversion mode, with an objective of equal time in each mode over the system's lifecycle. A configuration memory (CM) input inversion plane is positioned between a CM controller and the CM cells, and a CM output inversion plane is positioned between the CM cells and the FPGA function blocks. When running in inversion mode, data to/from the CM cells is inverted (0's and 1's are swapped) by the input and output inversion planes. By balancing time individual memory addresses spend in high and low voltage states, the system minimizes differences in memory cell stresses, thus reducing memory imprinting effects. The same concept applied to other architectures, such as a processor's external RAM and internal cache, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Weidele, Kenneth F. McKinney, Christopher H. Meawad, Tim Manestitaya, Allan T. Hilchie, Timothy D. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 10747909
    Abstract: A method and architecture for mitigating memory imprinting in electronic system volatile memory. At system power-up, a bus mode register control determines whether to operate the current power cycle in normal mode or inversion mode, with an objective of equal amounts of time in each mode over the system's lifecycle. A bi-directional data bus inverter is positioned between a system processor and volatile memory. When the system is running in inversion mode, data from non-volatile memory is inverted (0's and 1's are swapped) when copied to volatile memory, and the data bus inverter rectifies all data bits flowing in/out of the processor. By balancing the time spent by individual memory addresses in high and low voltage states, the system minimizes differences in memory cell stresses, thus reducing memory imprinting effects. The same concept applied to other architectures, such as internal processor cache memory, and FPGA configuration memory, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Weidele, Kenneth F. McKinney, Christopher H. Meawad, Tim Manestitaya, Allan T. Hilchie, Timothy D. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 10661500
    Abstract: A feed mechanism for feeding a filament into a print head assembly in an FDM printer. The feed mechanism includes a drive assembly that drives the filament into a reservoir where the reservoir is heated by a heater, where the filament is liquefied therein. A pump in the reservoir pumps the liquefied filament material out of the reservoir through an extrusion nozzle to a print head of the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth F. McKinney, Andrew Simmons, Kenneth Weidele, Tim Manestitaya, Alex Grammar
  • Patent number: 10606764
    Abstract: A field programmable gate array (FPGA) including a root of trust architecture. The architecture includes a system controller providing system control commands for the architecture and a cryptography processor for performing a hash or key operation for authentication of controller-embedded software and attestation of correct firmware in external system resources. The architecture also includes a lock-step fault-tolerant processor being responsive to messages from the system controller, and including a plurality of soft lock-step cores. Each soft core including separate memory and resources and operating on the same input, where each soft core provides output messages that are analyzed by a logic in the fault-tolerant processor that selects one of the messages to be output to the cryptography processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory D. Kravit, Kenneth R. Weidele, Kenneth F. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20200097683
    Abstract: A method and architecture for mitigating memory imprinting in electronic system volatile memory. At system power-up, a bus mode register control determines whether to operate the current power cycle in normal mode or inversion mode, with an objective of equal amounts of time in each mode over the system's lifecycle. A bi-directional data bus inverter is positioned between a system processor and volatile memory. When the system is running in inversion mode, data from non-volatile memory is inverted (0's and 1's are swapped) when copied to volatile memory, and the data bus inverter rectifies all data bits flowing in/out of the processor. By balancing the time spent by individual memory addresses in high and low voltage states, the system minimizes differences in memory cell stresses, thus reducing memory imprinting effects. The same concept applied to other architectures, such as internal processor cache memory, and FPGA configuration memory, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: KENNETH R. WEIDELE, KENNETH F. McKINNEY, CHRISTOPHER H. MEAWAD, TIM MANESTITAYA, ALLAN T. HILCHIE, TIMOTHY D. SCHAFFNER
  • Publication number: 20200097684
    Abstract: A method and architecture for mitigating configuration memory imprinting in programmable logic devices. At power-up, a configuration memory inversion control determines whether to operate the current power cycle in normal mode or inversion mode, with an objective of equal time in each mode over the system's lifecycle. A configuration memory (CM) input inversion plane is positioned between a CM controller and the CM cells, and a CM output inversion plane is positioned between the CM cells and the FPGA function blocks. When running in inversion mode, data to/from the CM cells is inverted (0's and 1's are swapped) by the input and output inversion planes. By balancing time individual memory addresses spend in high and low voltage states, the system minimizes differences in memory cell stresses, thus reducing memory imprinting effects. The same concept applied to other architectures, such as a processor's external RAM and internal cache, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth R. WEIDELE, Kenneth F. McKINNEY, Christopher H. MEAWAD, Tim MANESTITAYA, Allan T. HILCHIE, Timothy D. SCHAFFNER
  • Patent number: 10556389
    Abstract: A feed mechanism for feeding a filament through a print head assembly in an FDM printer. The feed mechanism includes a first oval-shaped track having a plurality track elements extending around the first track and a second oval-shaped track having a plurality of track elements extending around the second track, where the first and second tracks counter-rotate. A space is defined between the first and second tracks that receives the filament in a manner so that the track elements that are in the space contact the filament, where rotation of the first and second tracks in opposite directions causes the filament to be driven through the space and onto the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth F. McKinney, Andrew Simmons, Kenneth Weidele, Tim Manestitaya, Alex Grammar
  • Publication number: 20190111620
    Abstract: An FDM printer that provides five degree-of-freedom printing capabilities. In one embodiment, the FDM printer includes three transitional drive devices that allow a printer print head to be translationally moved in the X, Y and Z axes planes and a pair of rotationally drive devices that allow a workpiece platform to be rotated in the Y-axis plane and the combined X-axis and Z-axis planes. In this manner, the relative position between the print head and the workpiece platform allows the printer to print complex workpieces in a single continuous print, such as workpieces including large closed, hollow geometries, and without the need for providing support structures for overhangs and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: KENNETH F. McKINNEY, ANDREW SIMMONS