Patents by Inventor Mitchell A. Corcoran

Mitchell A. Corcoran 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).

  • Method and means for precise time synchronization
    Patent number: 6590524
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method which synchronizes a slave time with a master time. The master time is derived from a received signal. The master time is compared to the slave time to detect any offset of the slave time relative to the master time. If an offset is detected, the slave time is adjusted to correct the offset. Also disclosed is a method of synchronizing a pseudolite transmitter time with GNSS time. The transmitter time is compared to GNSS time to detect any offset of the transmitter time. The transmitter time is adjusted to correct the offset if an offset is detected. Also disclosed is an improved pseudolite. The pseudolite has a pseudolite transmitter and GNSS receiver. The pseudolite transmitter time is synchronized with GNSS time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Farley, Jeffrey J. Jorgensen, Jeffrey L. Tuohino, Susan R. Schellenberg, Wilmer A. Mickelson, Mitchell A. Corcoran
  • Long range GNSS ephemeris data transfer method and apparatus using the same
    Patent number: 6336076
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of transferring satellite ephemeris data for a first GNSS satellite from a pseudolite to a GNSS receiver. Also disclosed are pseudolites and GNSS receivers implementing the same. A first satellite global positioning signal transmitted by the first GNSS satellite is received at the pseudolite. The pseudolite transmits a pseudolite global positioning signal containing the satellite ephemeris data for the first GNSS satellite. The GNSS receiver receives the pseudolite global positioning signal and retrieves from the pseudolite signal the satellite ephemeris data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Farley, Joseph M. Strus, Susan R. Schellenberg, Mitchell A. Corcoran
  • Fast acquisition of GPS signal corrupted by doppler or time delay effects
    Patent number: 6259400
    Abstract: An RF translator is placed on an artillery shell. The RF translator receives a GPS signal, converts the GPS signal to an S band signal, and then transmits the S band signal. The S band signal is received by a ground antenna and it is converted back to an L1 GPS signal. The transmission of the S band signal to a ground antenna induces two effects which make fast direct P(Y) acquisitions difficult. First, since the artillery shell is moving, a carrier Doppler is induced on the S band signal. Second, the time delay caused by the transmission of the S band signal affects the nominal code phase for acquisition. Acquisition of GPS signals corrupted by second frequency data effects require special compensation if fast direct P(Y) code acquisition is desired. A carrier Doppler and a code phase compensation term allow the GPS ground receiver software to focus its search window for the carrier frequency (code rate) and the code phase (time delay).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Higgins, John R. Bader, Eric D. Nelson, Mitchell A. Corcoran