Patents by Inventor Mark D. Hischke

Mark D. Hischke 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: 7079778
    Abstract: Infrared communications scheme for use in an embedded system. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises the use of an infrared communications scheme, according to IrDA protocol, which is utilized to transmit and receive data optically between circuit cards housed within an enclosed, embedded system. Preferably, each respective circuit card is provided with an LED and photodiode to respectively transmit and receive data optically. As such, wire connections are eliminated and allows the systems and methods of the present invention to withstand a greater degree of vibration and shock than that of the prior-art systems and methods. Moreover, the systems and methods of the present invention provide increased reliability and provide greater electrical isolation between modules than prior-art systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Shannon Mary Nelson, Richard Joseph Paul, Mark D. Hischke
  • Patent number: 6898378
    Abstract: Infrared communications scheme for use in an embedded system. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises the use of an infrared communications scheme, according to IrDA protocol, which is utilized to transmit and receive data via an electrical interface between circuit cards housed within an enclosed, embedded system. Preferably, each respective circuit card is provided with a digital tri-stateable transmitter element and a digital receiver to respectively transmit and receive data. The systems and methods of the present invention provide increased reliability than prior-art systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Shannon M. Nelson, Stuart J. Collar, Mark D. Hischke
  • Patent number: 6560270
    Abstract: A method for tuning spread spread spectrum receivers to a frequency of a digital signal within a specified frequency band as the steps of coarse tuning the receiver while a preamble of the digital signal is being received, fine tuning the receiver while the preamble of the digital signal is being received, and demodulating the signal. Preferably, the step of coarse tuning the receiver comprises dividing the specified frequency band into a plurality of first sub-bands, and sequentially measuring a receive signal strength within each of the sub-bands until a receive signal strength is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Hischke
  • Patent number: 6531965
    Abstract: An unattended ground sensor for the monitoring of a remote area. The unattended ground sensor comprises a housing that supports a power source, a communications module, at least one sensor module and a mainframe module. Additionally, the unattended ground sensor includes a common electrical bus in electrical communication with the power source, the communications module, the at least one sensor module, and the mainframe module. The common electrical bus is operative to provide a communications pathway between the power source, the communications module, the at least one sensor, and the mainframe module. Accordingly, the mainframe module is operative to control the operation of the unattended ground sensor through the common electrical bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Kaiser, Mark D. Hischke, Shannon Mary Nelson, Stuart J. Collar, Dana Lynn Bourbonnais
  • Patent number: 6067041
    Abstract: A moving target simulator for testing a radar system has a radio frequency receiver, a digital radio frequency memory in electrical communication with the radio frequency receiver for storing a signal received thereby, a digital delay circuit in electrical communication with the digital radio frequency memory for providing a time delay between reception and transmission of the radio frequency signal, an amplitude modulation circuit in electrical communication with the digital radio frequency memory for modulating an amplitude of the radio frequency signal, a Doppler modulation circuit in electrical communication with the digital radio frequency memory for providing a Doppler-modulated signal, and a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting the radio frequency signal after it has been delayed, amplitude-modulated, and/or Doppler-modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Kaiser, Stuart J. Collar, Mark D. Hischke