Patents by Inventor Michael W. Shafer

Michael W. Shafer 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: 11588226
    Abstract: Implementations of a method of detecting a plurality of radio pulses may include, using a signal processor, combining at least three pulses included in radio data collected over a first time interval by a directional antenna coupled with a software defined radio coupled with a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV coupled with a base station including the signal processor; determining a detected time for each of the at least three pulses in the first time interval; using the detected time for each of the at least three pulses, predicting a future time for each of at least three future pulses; and, using the software defined radio and directional antenna, listening for each of the at least three future pulses in radio data over a second time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents Acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University
    Inventors: Michael W. Shafer, Paul G. Flikkema
  • Patent number: 10292587
    Abstract: Implementations of energy harvester systems may include: an accumulator having an air bladder separated from water by a membrane; one or more hydro turbines coupled with the accumulator; two or more check valves each coupled with one of the one or more hydro turbines; a system battery coupled to the power conditioner; and an electronic load coupled to the system batter through the power conditioner; wherein the two or more check valves are configured to be in contact with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University
    Inventors: Michael W. Shafer, Eric R. Morgan, Gregory Hahn
  • Patent number: 10277305
    Abstract: Implementations of UAV wildlife monitoring system may include a ground control station wirelessly coupled to a UAV which may include a flight controller, a first radio, a second radio, a first antenna, a second antenna, a very high frequency (VHF) radio receiver, and a computer, all operatively coupled together. The monitoring system may also include a VHF tag configured to be coupled to an animal, wherein when the VHF tag is coupled to the animal, the VHF radio receiver receives a VHF radio signal from the VHF tag using the first antenna, wherein the computer process the VHF radio signal to create the location data from the VHF radio signal, processes the location data, and sends the location data to the second radio, wherein the second radio transmits the location data into a telecommunications channel, and wherein the ground control station receives the location data from the telecommunications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University
    Inventors: Michael W. Shafer, Paul G. Flikkema, Joseph Davidson
  • Patent number: 9979463
    Abstract: Implementations of UAV wildlife monitoring system may include a ground control station wirelessly coupled to a UAV which may include a flight controller, a first radio, a second radio, a first antenna, a second antenna, a very high frequency (VHF) radio receiver, and a computer, all operatively coupled together. The monitoring system may also include a VHF tag configured to be coupled to an animal, wherein when the VHF tag is coupled to the animal, the VHF radio receiver receives a VHF radio signal from the VHF tag using the first antenna, wherein the computer process the VHF radio signal to create the location data from the VHF radio signal, processes the location data, and sends the location data to the second radio, wherein the second radio transmits the location data into a telecommunications channel, and wherein the ground control station receives the location data from the telecommunications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University
    Inventors: Michael W. Shafer, Paul G. Flikkema, Joseph Davidson
  • Publication number: 20160357238
    Abstract: Implementations of energy harvester systems may include: an accumulator having an air bladder separated from water by a membrane; one or more hydro turbines coupled with the accumulator; two or more check valves each coupled with one of the one or more hydro turbines; a system battery coupled to the power conditioner; and an electronic load coupled to the system batter through the power conditioner; wherein the two or more check valves are configured to be in contact with water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Michael W. Shafer, Eric R. Morgan, Gregory Hahn