Patents by Inventor Michael Aucoin

Michael Aucoin 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: 20240012164
    Abstract: A distributed navigation system includes navigation platforms, each having a universal navigation processor, relative navigation systems to provide source information to the navigation platforms, navigation filters provided on one or more of the universal navigation processors, and an anchor navigation node disposed on one or more of the navigation platforms to form one or more anchor navigation platforms. Each anchor navigation node includes an inertial navigation system, a clock, and absolute navigation systems, which are used, in combination with source information, to determine navigation information. The anchor navigation platforms provide the navigation information to other navigation platforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Benjamin F. Lane, William W. Whitacre, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Joseph M. Kinast, Cort Nolan Johnson, Gregory P. Blasche, Michael A. Aucoin, Jeffrey D. Jungemann, Peter A. Lewis, Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 11774602
    Abstract: A distributed navigation system includes navigation platforms, each having a universal navigation processor, relative navigation systems to provide source information to the navigation platforms, navigation filters provided on one or more of the universal navigation processors, and an anchor navigation node disposed on one or more of the navigation platforms to form one or more anchor navigation platforms. Each anchor navigation node includes an inertial navigation system, a clock, and absolute navigation systems, which are used, in combination with source information, to determine navigation information. The anchor navigation platforms provide the navigation information to other navigation platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Benjamin F. Lane, William W. Whitacre, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Joseph M. Kinast, Cort Nolan Johnson, Gregory P. Blasche, Michael A. Aucoin, Jeffrey D. Jungemann, Peter A. Lewis, Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 11150357
    Abstract: A distributed navigation system architecture includes a plurality of navigation platforms, each having a universal navigation processor configured to communicate with other universal navigation processors, one or more relative navigation systems configured to provide source information to the navigation platforms, an anchor navigation node disposed on one or more of the plurality of navigation platforms in order to form one or more anchor navigation platforms, the anchor navigation node, including an inertial navigation system, a clock, and one or more absolute navigation systems, configured to determine navigation information based on the inertial navigation system, the clock, the one or more absolute navigation systems and optionally the source information, the one or more anchor navigation platforms providing the navigation information to the other navigation platforms, and a navigation processor system in communication with each of the universal navigation processors in order to provide operating informat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Benjamin F. Lane, William W. Whitacre, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Joseph M. Kinast, Cort Nolan Johnson, Gregory P. Blasche, Michael A. Aucoin, Jeffrey D. Jungemann, Peter A. Lewis, Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 11043132
    Abstract: A navigation system for determining quality and integrity of source information includes one or more data sources that provide the source information, a situation module that provides situation data, an information module that determines an estimate of the quality and an estimate of the integrity of the source information based on the source information and the situation data, an integrity monitor module that determines the integrity and the quality of the source information based on the estimate of the quality and the estimate of the integrity of the source information from the information module, and that validates the source information based on the integrity of the source information and/or the quality of the source information, and a navigation state estimator that determines the navigation information of the one or more objects based on the validated source information and corresponding quality of the source information received from the integrity monitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Aucoin, Juha-Pekka J. Laine
  • Patent number: 10386202
    Abstract: A navigation system for determining quality and integrity of source information includes one or more data sources that provide the source information, a situation module that provides situation data, an information module that determines an estimate of the quality and an estimate of the integrity of the source information based on the source information and the situation data, an integrity monitor module that determines the integrity and the quality of the source information based on the estimate of the quality and the estimate of the integrity of the source information from the information module, and that validates the source information based on the integrity of the source information and/or the quality of the source information, and a navigation state estimator that determines the navigation information of the one or more objects based on the validated source information and corresponding quality of the source information received from the integrity monitor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Aucoin, Juha-Pekka J. Laine
  • Publication number: 20180306930
    Abstract: A distributed navigation system architecture includes a plurality of navigation platforms, each having a universal navigation processor configured to communicate with other universal navigation processors, one or more relative navigation systems configured to provide source information to the navigation platforms, an anchor navigation node disposed on one or more of the plurality of navigation platforms in order to form one or more anchor navigation platforms, the anchor navigation node, including an inertial navigation system, a clock, and one or more absolute navigation systems, configured to determine navigation information based on the inertial navigation system, the clock, the one or more absolute navigation systems and optionally the source information, the one or more anchor navigation platforms providing the navigation information to the other navigation platforms, and a navigation processor system in communication with each of the universal navigation processors in order to provide operating informat
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Benjamin F. Lane, William W. Whitacre, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Joseph M. Kinast, Cort Nolan Johnson, Gregory P. Blasche, Michael A. Aucoin, Jeffrey D. Jungemann, Peter A. Lewis, Stephen P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180238709
    Abstract: A navigation system for determining quality and integrity of source information includes one or more data sources that provide the source information, a situation module that provides situation data, an information module that determines an estimate of the quality and an estimate of the integrity of the source information based on the source information and the situation data, an integrity monitor module that determines the integrity and the quality of the source information based on the estimate of the quality and the estimate of the integrity of the source information from the information module, and that validates the source information based on the integrity of the source information and/or the quality of the source information, and a navigation state estimator that determines the navigation information of the one or more objects based on the validated source information and corresponding quality of the source information received from the integrity monitor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Aucoin, Juha-Pekka J. Laine
  • Patent number: 7668656
    Abstract: A method for creating minimal data representing a source image is presented. The source image is divided into a grid of cells. A color is selected for each cell corner based on sampling an area defined by the cell corner. An indication of the selected color is stored in an array dependent on the co-ordinates of the cell corner in the source image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Avidyne Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Southard, Lowell F. Bell, Michael A. Aucoin, Frédéric Gouin, Theodore H. Cannaday, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080158049
    Abstract: A method for creating minimal data representing a source image is presented. The source image is divided into a grid of cells. A color is selected for each cell corner based on sampling an area defined by the cell corner. An indication of the selected color is stored in an array dependent on the co-ordinates of the cell corner in the source image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: David A. Southard, Lowell F. Bell, Michael A. Aucoin, Frederic Gouin, Theodore H. Cannaday.
  • Patent number: 7379816
    Abstract: A method for creating minimal data representing a source image is presented. The source image is divided into a grid of cells. A color is selected for each cell corner based on sampling an area defined by the cell corner. An indication of the selected color is stored in an array dependent on the co-ordinates of the cell corner in the source image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Avidyne Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Southard, Lowell F. Bell, Michael A. Aucoin, Frédéric Gouin, Theodore H. Cannaday, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080040038
    Abstract: A method for creating minimal data representing a source image is presented. The source image is divided into a grid of cells. A color is selected for each cell corner based on sampling an area defined by the cell corner. An indication of the selected color is stored in an array dependent on the co-ordinates of the cell corner in the source image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: David Southard, Lowell Bell, Michael Aucoin, Frederic Gouin, Theodore Cannaday
  • Patent number: 7039505
    Abstract: A method for creating minimal data representing a source image is presented. The source image is divided into a grid of cells. A color is selected for each cell corner based on sampling an area defined by the cell corner. An indication of the selected color is stored in an array dependent on the co-ordinates of the cell corner in the source image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Avidyne Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Southard, Lowell F. Bell, Michael A. Aucoin, Frédéric Gouin, Theodore H. Cannaday, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5659453
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. Parameters indicative of power flow and possible fault events on the line, such as voltage and load current, are monitored and analyzed for an arc burst pattern exhibited by arcing faults in a power system. These arcing faults are detected by identifying bursts of each half-cycle of the fundamental current. Bursts occurring at or near a voltage peak indicate arcing on that phase. Once a faulted phase line is identified, a comparison of the current and voltage reveals whether the fault is located in a downstream direction of power flow toward customers, or upstream toward a generation station. If the fault is located downstream, the line is de-energized, and if located upstream, the line may remain energized to prevent unnecessary power outages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Texas A&M University
    Inventors: B. Don Russell, B. Michael Aucoin, Carl L. Benner
  • Patent number: 5600526
    Abstract: To prevent unnecessary power outages, and to remove feeder lines from service only when certain hazardous fault conditions occur, a load analysis system including an apparatus and method, monitors the load level of a feeder line and determines the presence of any arcing on the feeder line. In a two stage load pattern analysis, the presence of arcing and load current level changes are used to discriminate high impedance, low current conditions including a downed conductor, a broken and dangling conductor, a tree or object contact with the feeder line, overcurrent activities, and normal switching events such as recloser operation. The load analysis system also provides output commands including wait, alarm, trip-ready, trip and normal, depending upon which status is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: B. Don Russell, B. Michael Aucoin, Carl L. Benner
  • Patent number: 5578931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain frequency components. The analyzed load current is then compared to frequency components of an arcing fault model spectrum to determine whether an arcing fault exists on the power line. If the difference between the analyzed load current and the model spectrum is less than a selected error value, then an arcing fault exists on the power line. Otherwise, no arcing fault exists and conditions are normal on the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: B. Don Russell, B. Michael Aucoin
  • Patent number: 5512832
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an arcing fault on a power line carrying a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes energy values of the load current flowing through the line. The analyzed energy values are compared to several threshold values. The number of energy values being greater than the threshold values are compiled to determine whether an arcing fault exists on the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: B. Don Russell, B. Michael Aucoin
  • Patent number: 5485093
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a fault on a power line carrying a line parameter such as a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain an energy value. The energy value is compared to a threshold value stored in a buffer. If the energy value is greater than the threshold value a counter is incremented. If the energy value is greater than a high value threshold or less than a low value threshold then a second counter is incremented. If the difference between two subsequent energy values is greater than a constant then a third counter is incremented. A fault signal is issued if the counter is greater than a counter limit value and either the second counter is greater than a second limit value or the third counter is greater than a third limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventors: B. Don Russell, B. Michael Aucoin, Carl L. Benner