Patents by Inventor Michael A. Horton

Michael A. Horton 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: 9217639
    Abstract: A true north heading is determined by using gyroscopes of differing accuracy and orienting a gyroscope of a higher accuracy to a direction that is more sensitive to azimuth change (e.g., an east/west direction). A gyroscope with a lower accuracy is placed perpendicular to the gyroscope with a higher accuracy and can be oriented towards a north or south direction. The gyroscopes may be placed on a rotatable platform to properly orient the gyroscopes. The higher-accuracy gyroscope may be implemented by using multiple gyroscopes oriented in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Qiyue Zhang, Michael A. Horton, Ralph M. Kling, Semen Shtigluz
  • Patent number: 8965736
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a MEMS IMU having an automatic gain control. The dynamic measurement range of the MEMS IMU is controlled by controlling the gain of a signal amplifier before the analog to digital converter (ADC) to make full use of the ADC range. In one embodiment, two or more MEMS inertial sensor sets are installed in the IMU. One of the sensor sets is for high accuracy with low dynamic range, and the other set or sets is for higher dynamic range with less resolution or accuracy. In one implementation, a digital processor determines which of the sensor sets to be used according to the system dynamic estimation. In another implementation, the system weights the sensor outputs from the sensor sets according to the system dynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Qiyue-John Zhang
  • Patent number: 8825436
    Abstract: A spatially distributed MEMS inertial sensor array is designed to reduce or cancel measurement errors and to increase the signal detection accuracy. By combining the measurements from a pair of sensors having sensing axes in two different, non-orthogonal directions, the correlated error due to the environmental changes are cancelled or reduced and the uncorrelated random noise is also reduced by the square root of two. By sequentially sampling the sensor array in the time domain, the number of the ADC circuits can be largely reduced. A two dimensional signal processing method is used to process the sensor array output data, in order to further reduce the remaining errors. Namely, one dimension uses the outputs from multiple spatially distributed sensor sets and the other dimension is the time domain. The signal to noise ratio is increased by using the signal correlation in both the spatial domain and the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Qiyue-John Zhang, Ralph M. Kling, Michael A. Horton, Martin A. Williams, David J. Zaziski
  • Patent number: 8521428
    Abstract: A system and method for more accurately and robustly determining the heading of a vehicle by taking measurements of angle rates using rate sensors mounted on a movable mechanical assembly. In a quasi-static state of the vehicle, the mechanical assembly is rotated around axes perpendicular to the tangent plane of the Earth, and angle rates are measured by the rate sensors at different rotational angles of the mechanical assembly. The measurements of the angle rates are then computed to determine the initial heading of the vehicle relative to the true north of the Earth in the quasi-static state of the vehicle. After determining the initial heading, navigation state propagation is performed to determine the heading of the vehicle in non-quasi-static state of the vehicle. By taking measurements of the rate sensors at different rotation angles and performing computation, the heading of the vehicle relative to the Earth's true north can be determined using less accurate angle sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Darren S. Liccardo, John J. James, Walter K. Stockwell, Michael A. Horton
  • Publication number: 20120232847
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a MEMS IMU having an automatic gain control. The dynamic measurement range of the MEMS IMU is controlled by controlling the gain of a signal amplifier before the analog to digital converter (ADC) to make full use of the ADC range. In one embodiment, two or more MEMS inertial sensor sets are installed in the IMU. One of the sensor sets is for high accuracy with low dynamic range, and the other set or sets is for higher dynamic range with less resolution or accuracy. In one implementation, a digital processor determines which of the sensor sets to be used according to the system dynamic estimation. In another implementation, the system weights the sensor outputs from the sensor sets according to the system dynamics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CROSSBOW TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Qiyue-John Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120232832
    Abstract: A spatially distributed MEMS inertial sensor array is designed to reduce or cancel measurement errors and to increase the signal detection accuracy. By combining the measurements from a pair of sensors having sensing axes in two different, non-orthogonal directions, the correlated error due to the environmental changes are cancelled or reduced and the uncorrelated random noise is also reduced by the square root of two. By sequentially sampling the sensor array in the time domain, the number of the ADC circuits can be largely reduced. A two dimensional signal processing method is used to process the sensor array output data, in order to further reduce the remaining errors. Namely, one dimension uses the outputs from multiple spatially distributed sensor sets and the other dimension is the time domain. The signal to noise ratio is increased by using the signal correlation in both the spatial domain and the time domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CROSSBOW TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Qiyue-John Zhang, Ralph M. Kling, Michael A. Horton, Martin A. Williams, David J. Zaziski
  • Patent number: 7978061
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Publication number: 20100157879
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: MEMSIC, INC.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 7705729
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: MEMSIC, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 7418364
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose Rios
  • Patent number: 7369047
    Abstract: A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of radio-frequency identification signals, and indicative of proximity sensing at the module. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing inventory, pricing and customer responses to transmit through the adaptive network signals representative of information to be displayed at selectively-addresses modules in response to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming an adaptive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 7216055
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose Rios
  • Patent number: 7176808
    Abstract: A method and system updates a network of sensors remotely through the use of a communication link. The sensors to be updated as well as data files to perform the updating are selected at a base station. The selected sensors are notified of the upcoming update by the base station and may accept or reject the update. The sensors that approve the update then receive data files through the communication link. The sensors notify the base station of any missing data files, which are then retransmitted to all sensors that may be missing data files from the first transmission. After the sensors receive all data files, the update is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Broad, Matt Miller, Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 6853947
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology
    Inventor: Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 6647352
    Abstract: A method and system attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology
    Inventor: Michael A. Horton
  • Patent number: 6421622
    Abstract: A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object. Attitude sensing is accomplished by measuring acceleration in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate about each such axis to compute attitude accurately relative to a vertical axis. The system includes accelerometers and angular rate sensors for sensing the acceleration and the angular rate, respectively, of the object. A processor updates a quarternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object and a corrective rate signal to obtain the attitude of the object. Temperature compensation and frequency compensation may also be performed to update the quarternion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Horton, Jose A. Rios, Jin Song
  • Patent number: 6369204
    Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to the &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin receptor known to be expressed in large amounts on the surface of osteoclasts and accordingly, associated with bone resorption. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies are believed to recognize unique epitopes on &agr;v&bgr;3 and are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with excessive bone resorption and/or in the inhibition of tumor cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Jin Kim, Michael A. Horton, Sarah C. Bodary, Anan Chuntharapai
  • Patent number: 6359126
    Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to the &agr;v&bgr;3 integrin receptor known to be expressed in large amounts on the surface of osteoclasts and accordingly, associated with bone resorption. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies recognize unique epitopes on &agr;v&bgr;3 and are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with excessive bone resorption and/or in the inhibition of tumor cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Jin Kim, Michael A. Horton, Sarah C. Bodary, Anan Chuntharapai
  • Patent number: 5652110
    Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to the .alpha.v.beta.3 integrin receptor known to be expressed in large amounts on the surface of osteoclasts and accordingly, associated with bone resorption. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies are believed to recognize unique epitopes on .alpha.v.beta.3 and are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with excessive bone resorption and/or in the inhibition of tumor cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Jin Kim, Michael A. Horton, Sarah C. Bodary, Anan Chuntharapai
  • Patent number: 5652109
    Abstract: The invention relates to monoclonal antibodies to the .alpha.v.beta.3 integrin receptor known to be expressed in large amounts on the surface of osteoclasts and accordingly, associated with bone resorption. The disclosed monoclonal antibodies are believed to recognize unique epitopes on .alpha.v.beta.3 and are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with excessive bone resorption and/or in the inhibition of tumor cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Jin Kim, Michael A. Horton, Sarah C. Bodary, Anan Chuntharapai