Patents by Inventor Michael R. Franceschini

Michael R. Franceschini 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: 10908275
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
  • Publication number: 20200241127
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael R. FRANCESCHINI, Kelly P. MULDOON, Steven L. TIMM
  • Patent number: 10725170
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
  • Patent number: 10693580
    Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 10299266
    Abstract: A wireless device network comprises: an unsynchronized wireless device in a time division multiple access based system; and a cognitive master in communication with the device, wherein the master processor is configured to: determine a number of time slots required for the master to transmit a message to and receive a response from the device, each time slot is a portion of a radio frequency spectrum over a frame period; when the number of time slots required are consecutively available, broadcast an announcement message indicating start of discovery of the unsynchronized device; wherein the device processor is configured to: generate a response message including a device ID; and broadcast the response message to the master; wherein the master processor is configured to: generate a correction factor based on at least one of a master transmit time and a master received time; and broadcast the correction factor to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Publication number: 20190097746
    Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 10177868
    Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Publication number: 20180270811
    Abstract: A wireless device network comprises: an unsynchronized wireless device in a time division multiple access based system; and a cognitive master in communication with the device, wherein the master processor is configured to: determine a number of time slots required for the master to transmit a message to and receive a response from the device, each time slot is a portion of a radio frequency spectrum over a frame period; when the number of time slots required are consecutively available, broadcast an announcement message indicating start of discovery of the unsynchronized device; wherein the device processor is configured to: generate a response message including a device ID; and broadcast the response message to the master; wherein the master processor is configured to: generate a correction factor based on at least one of a master transmit time and a master received time; and broadcast the correction factor to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 9867180
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device network comprises: a plurality of device nodes using TDMA, the plurality of device nodes configured to transmit during a future TDMA frame of communication on channels having timeslots; and a timeslot allocation function comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to: receive signal characterization data characterizing a radio altimeter signal; using the signal characterization data, predict a frequency of the radio altimeter signal during the future TDMA frame of communication; identify conflicting timeslots for respective channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channels during conflicting timeslots; and transmit a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to the plurality of device nodes, the TDMA timeslot allocation including non-conflicting timeslots where the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
  • Patent number: 9864043
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed of using a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar unit for data communication by receiving a signal with a phase encoded data channel, and processing the signal with the phase encoded data channel to simultaneously determine data and timing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, John B. Mckitterick
  • Patent number: 9791550
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed synchronizing clocks of FMCW radar units by transmitting a first signal of a first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the first signal varying over a first frequency range around a first baseband frequency, receiving a second signal at the first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the second signal varying over a second frequency range around a second baseband frequency, determining values of a plurality of parameters including a first timing offset of the first FMCW radar unit based on a digital difference signal between the first and second signals, receiving a second timing offset of a second FMCW radar unit, determining a clock offset based on the first and second timing offsets, and synchronizing a clock of the first FMCW radar unit with a clock of the second FMCW radar unit based on the clock offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Mckitterick, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 9755796
    Abstract: An avionics system comprises a plurality of avionics components; at least one OFDM transmitter coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to transmit a wireless OFDM signal comprising a plurality of sub-bands; at least one OFDM receiver coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to receive the wireless OFDM signal transmitted by the OFDM transmitter; and a radio altimeter configured to transmit a signal tone that sweeps a frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter at a predefined rate and periodicity. The at least one OFDM transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless OFDM signal in the frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter and to sequentially turn off respective subsets of the plurality of sub-bands in synchronization with the predefined rate and periodicity of the signal tone frequency sweep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jamal Haque, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Publication number: 20170181146
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device network comprises: a plurality of device nodes using TDMA, the plurality of device nodes configured to transmit during a future TDMA frame of communication on channels having timeslots; and a timeslot allocation function comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to: receive signal characterization data characterizing a radio altimeter signal; using the signal characterization data, predict a frequency of the radio altimeter signal during the future TDMA frame of communication; identify conflicting timeslots for respective channels, wherein the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal overlaps with the respective channels during conflicting timeslots; and transmit a TDMA timeslot allocation, for wireless communications during the future TDMA frame of communication, to the plurality of device nodes, the TDMA timeslot allocation including non-conflicting timeslots where the predicted frequency of the radio altimeter signal does not overlap with th
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
  • Publication number: 20170180072
    Abstract: Systems and methods to synchronize wireless device nodes in the presence of a FMCW radio altimeter are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven L. Timm, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Publication number: 20170176588
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio altimeter tracking filter is provided. The filter comprises: a wireless radio interface; a processor coupled to the wireless radio interface; a memory coupled to the wireless radio interface; wherein the wireless radio interface is configured to wirelessly receive a radio altimeter signal and convert the radio altimeter signal to a baseband frequency signal, wherein the a radio altimeter signal sweeps across a first frequency spectrum between a first frequency and a second frequency; wherein the processor is configured to pass the baseband frequency signal through a filter executed by the processor, the filter comprising a passband having a first bandwidth, and wherein the filter outputs a plurality of spectral chirps in response to the baseband frequency signal passing through the first bandwidth; wherein the processor is configured to process the plurality of spectral chirps to output characteristic parameters that characterize the radio altimeter signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, Kelly P. Muldoon, Steven L. Timm
  • Publication number: 20160277161
    Abstract: An avionics system comprises a plurality of avionics components; at least one OFDM transmitter coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to transmit a wireless OFDM signal comprising a plurality of sub-bands; at least one OFDM receiver coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of avionics components and configured to receive the wireless OFDM signal transmitted by the OFDM transmitter; and a radio altimeter configured to transmit a signal tone that sweeps a frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter at a predefined rate and periodicity. The at least one OFDM transmitter is configured to transmit the wireless OFDM signal in the frequency spectrum allocated to the radio altimeter and to sequentially turn off respective subsets of the plurality of sub-bands in synchronization with the predefined rate and periodicity of the signal tone frequency sweep.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jamal Haque, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 9408250
    Abstract: A wireless communication system comprises one or more control units operable to transmit control signals, a plurality of actuators responsive to the control signals, and a plurality of sensors operable to transmit sensor data used by the one or more control units in generating the control signals. Each of the sensors, actuators, and one or more control units are located at a fixed position in the system relative to one another. Each of the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of actuators are coupled to at least one of the one or more control units via a plurality of wireless paths. Each of the plurality of sensors are operable to transmit the sensor data in an assigned time slot to at least one of the one or more control units over a plurality of wireless channels in each of the plurality of wireless paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yunjung Yi, Vicraj T. Thomas, Kelly P. Muldoon, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Patent number: 9350504
    Abstract: Using bearer channels for wireless nodes includes initiating communication among the wireless nodes that include a node and one or more neighbor nodes. An adaptive channel operable to communicate messages between the node and the neighbor nodes is established. One or more bearer channels are selected. The one or more neighbor nodes are notified of the one or more selected bearer channels using the adaptive channel. The node and the neighbor nodes communicate over the bearer channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Scott Y. Seidel, Michael R. Franceschini
  • Publication number: 20160047892
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed of using a Frequency-Modulated-Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar unit for data communication by receiving a signal with a phase encoded data channel, and processing the signal with the phase encoded data channel to simultaneously determine data and timing information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Michael R. Franceschini, John B. Mckitterick
  • Publication number: 20160025844
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed synchronizing clocks of FMCW radar units by transmitting a first signal of a first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the first signal varying over a first frequency range around a first baseband frequency, receiving a second signal at the first FMCW radar unit, a frequency of the second signal varying over a second frequency range around a second baseband frequency, determining values of a plurality of parameters including a first timing offset of the first FMCW radar unit based on a digital difference signal between the first and second signals, receiving a second timing offset of a second FMCW radar unit, determining a clock offset based on the first and second timing offsets, and synchronizing a clock of the first FMCW radar unit with a clock of the second FMCW radar unit based on the clock offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: John B. Mckitterick, Michael R. Franceschini