Patents by Inventor Michael J. Choiniere

Michael J. Choiniere 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: 11859949
    Abstract: The system and method of projectile flight management using a combination of radio frequency orthogonal interferometry for the long range navigation and guidance of one or more projectiles that does not need to be accurate all the way to the ground based on the use of larger artillery. The system provides for more accurate targeting, especially in GPS-denied and GPS-limited environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Ira B. Ekhaus, Quang M. Lam
  • Patent number: 11740055
    Abstract: The system and method of projectile flight management using a combination of radio frequency orthogonal interferometry for the long range navigation and guidance of one or more projectiles and a short range navigation and guidance system to provide for more accurate targeting, especially in GPS-denied and GPS-limited environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Ira B. Ekhaus, Quang M. Lam
  • Patent number: 11474365
    Abstract: The system and method for imaging having filter containing polarized elements, multispectral elements or both being oscillated in circular or linear motion so each individual pixel will view a scene thru the individual filters. The motion of the filter is synchronized with a frame rate of an imager. In one example this is accomplished by micro actuators. Each pixel sampling feeds a processor detection algorithm that determines if a multispectral/polarization signature is present in the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Jay W. Coffey, Jason R. Lane, Davis A. Lange, Jason T. Stockwell
  • Publication number: 20220260340
    Abstract: A ground imaging system for use on a guided aerobody includes one or more lenses designed to receive EM radiation from a ground level, a filter substrate having a plurality of filters, a sensor array designed to receive the EM radiation from the filter substrate, and a processing device coupled to the sensor array. The filter substrate is located at a focal plane of the one or more lenses such that the filter substrate receives the EM radiation from the one or more lenses. The plurality of filters includes at least polarization filters and multispectral filters. The processing device is designed to analyze multispectral and polarization signatures of the electromagnetic radiation from identified objects at the ground level and determine that one or more of the objects is not a desired target based at least on the hyperspectral and polarization signatures of the one or more objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Jay W. Coffey, Jason R. Lane, Davis A. Lange, Paul D. Zemany
  • Patent number: 11385024
    Abstract: The system and method of projectile flight management using a combination of radio frequency orthogonal interferometry for the long range navigation and guidance of one or more projectiles and a short range navigation and guidance system to provide for more accurate targeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Quang M. Lam, Michael J. Choiniere, Egor V. Degtiarev, Ira B. Ekhaus
  • Patent number: 11385025
    Abstract: The system and method of swarm navigation using a follow the forward approach. Using on-board sensors and communications links between members of a swarm, numerous targets can be engaged more quickly and precisely. In some cases, a designator is used to help a forward of the swarm navigate to a target using image-based navigation up until terminal guidance is used. A cascade of messages are projected back to a following round so that, each member of a swarm can determine a best target/round match and provide real-time, up-to-date information regarding targets' locations and each round's location, range to target, target selection, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Matthew F. Chrobak
  • Patent number: 11371806
    Abstract: A guidance assembly and method for guiding an ordnance to a target. The assembly can operated in navigation and targeting modes and has an imager/seeker including an objective lens assembly and an imaging sensor array which provide image data for mapping and terminal seeker performance. The imager/seeker is pivotally mounted on the ordnance. An actuator is coupled to the imager/seeker and can be actuated to pivot the imager/seeker relative to a longitudinal axis of the ordnance from a navigation position to a targeting position. A flight control unit communicates with the imager/seeker and the actuator, and has a processor which analyses the image data to provide navigation flight control signals for guiding the ordnance in the navigation mode of operation and determining a target direction via automatic target recognition or aimpoint algorithms for directing the ordnance to the target in the targeting mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Choiniere
  • Publication number: 20220120544
    Abstract: The system and method of a low inertia, rolling control actuation system (CAS) for a projectile. A CAS having only two canards provides reduced cost and quicker reaction times. In some cases one or more bearings can intermittently decouple the CAS from the projectile and in some cases with the use of a brake. If there are two bearings on either side of the CAS, the front and/or back of the projectile can be decoupled to provide even quicker response times. The front of the projectile may have a warhead and additional sensors or imagers. The rear of the projectile may contain a booster or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, William R. Samuels, Jason T. Stockwell
  • Patent number: 11300670
    Abstract: The system and method of weapon on-board range and velocity tracking using a synchronized clock and a pulse beacon on a fire control system, or the like, coupled with an on-board rear-facing detector and processor. A round or a UAS may use this system to accurately estimate range with respect to the fire control system, over time, and the round's or UAS's velocity at various times along its flight path. The system provides for smaller miss distances, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Jason H. Batchelder, Matthew F. Chrobak
  • Patent number: 11300383
    Abstract: A guidance system for a projectile having a mid-body. The guidance system having a mid-body semi-active laser seeker. The seeker has an objective lens assembly and a sensor array that reads laser energy and transmits data to determine the direction of the laser energy. A glint management unit is connected to mid-body in such a manner that glint laser energy is prevented from passing to the objective lens assembly and sensor array so as to enhance determination of the location of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Choiniere
  • Patent number: 11244184
    Abstract: The system and method for hyperspectral target identification provides for sue of a sensor array such that for a 2 by 2 pixel, each pixel is set to a different wavelength by employing a band pass filter, so that one can determine whether a cluster set is of a natural object or a man-made object. Using ratios of the collected energy within the partitioned sub-bands one can make near real-time declarations about targets and in some cases, friend or foe determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Choiniere
  • Patent number: 11243058
    Abstract: The system and method for accurately determining range-to-go for the command detonation of a projectile. Using dual laser and/or radio frequency detectors on the tail and on the nose of a spinning projectile to determine the range-to-go, time-to-go, or lateral offset from the projectile to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Bruce Winker
  • Patent number: 11221194
    Abstract: An integrated architecture and its associated sensors and processing software subsystems are defined and developed allowing a conventional unguided bullet to be transformed into a guided bullet without the use of an on-board inertial measurement unit (IMU). Some important SW components of the present disclosure include a target state estimator (TSE); a bullet state estimator (BSE); Multi-Object Tracking and Data Association; NTS GL; and a Data Link. Pre-conversion of two angles and range information of an OI sensor from spherical coordinates into Cartesian coordinates eliminates the Jacobian dependency in the H matrix for the BSE, thus increasing the miss distance performance accuracy of the bullet target engagement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Quang M. Lam, Michael J. Choiniere, George M. Horihan, David A. Richards, Jason T. Stockwell
  • Patent number: 11215454
    Abstract: A system for finding up in a projectile flight relative to earth. The system having a transmitter which transmits polarized reference signals to a guidance sub-system on the projectile. The guidance sub-system includes a magnetometer and polarized and non-polarized receivers. Measurements from the magnetometer are used to determine a general up direction. The polarized and non-polarized receivers are arranged such that, during rotation of the projectile, reference signals received by the polarized receiver modulate whereas reference signals received by the non-polarized receivers are unaffected. A ratio of the strengths of the signals received by the polarized and non-polarized receivers determines alignment of a vertical axis. From the general up direction and alignment of the vertical axis, a precise up direction of the projectile in flight relative to the earth can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Choiniere
  • Patent number: 11199387
    Abstract: The system and method for accurately determining range-to-go for the command detonation of a projectile. Using dual laser and/or radio frequency detectors on the tail and on the nose of a spinning projectile to determine the range-to-go, time-to-go, or lateral offset from the projectile to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Bruce Winker
  • Patent number: 11199380
    Abstract: The system and method of projectile flight management using a combination of radio frequency orthogonal interferometry for the long range navigation and guidance of one or more projectiles and a short range navigation and guidance system to provide for more accurate targeting, especially in GPS-denied and GPS-limited environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Ira B. Ekhaus, Michael J. Choiniere, Quang M. Lam
  • Patent number: 11199379
    Abstract: The system and method for EO/IR and RF sensor fusion and tracking using a dual extended Kalman filter (EKF) system provides a dynamic mixing scheme leveraging the strength of each individual sensor to adaptively combine both sensors' measurements and dynamically mix them based on the actual relative geometries between the sensors and objects of interest. In some cases the objects are adversarial targets and other times they are assets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Quang M. Lam, Michael J. Choiniere, George M. Horihan, David A. Richards, Jason T. Stockwell
  • Patent number: 11195285
    Abstract: An object detection system comprises a polarizer configured to polarize an incoming image scene, a motor controller configured to control a spin rate of the polarizer, a lens configured to collect scene data from the polarized image scene, a first integrated circuit configured to measure the collected scene data at two different and orthogonal polarizations, a second integrated circuit configured to determine a degree of polarization (DoP) and an angle of polarization (AoP) for each image frame pair and to generate pre-processed data, and a processor configured to match the pre-processed data to target criteria. The first integrated circuit can be a DROIC imager and the second integrated circuit can be a FPGA. The AoP and DoP can be determined at a pixel level. The second integrated circuit is configured to apply spatial filtering having a DoP greater than 70% or where AoP is unique to immediate surroundings of AoP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Choiniere
  • Publication number: 20210312639
    Abstract: An object detection system comprises a polarizer configured to polarize an incoming image scene, a motor controller configured to control a spin rate of the polarizer, a lens configured to collect scene data from the polarized image scene, a first integrated circuit configured to measure the collected scene data at two different and orthogonal polarizations, a second integrated circuit configured to determine a degree of polarization (DoP) and an angle of polarization (AoP) for each image frame pair and to generate pre-processed data, and a processor configured to match the pre-processed data to target criteria. The first integrated circuit can be a DROIC imager and the second integrated circuit can be a FPGA. The AoP and DoP can be determined at a pixel level. The second integrated circuit is configured to apply spatial filtering having a DoP greater than 70% or where AoP is unique to immediate surroundings of AoP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. CHOINIERE
  • Publication number: 20210278516
    Abstract: The system and method of weapon on-board range and velocity tracking using a synchronized clock and a pulse beacon on a fire control system, or the like, coupled with an on-board rear-facing detector and processor. A round or a UAS may use this system to accurately estimate range with respect to the fire control system, over time, and the round's or UAS's velocity at various times along its flight path. The system provides for smaller miss distances, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. CHOINIERE, Jason H. BATCHELDER, Matthew F. CHROBAK