Patents by Inventor Neil C. Coffey

Neil C. Coffey 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: 10928549
    Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an airborne system for measuring meteorological parameters, including a high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formed completely or partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam. In various embodiments, the UAV may include extendable wings configured to extend and retract as the UAV climbs and descends to different altitude levels. In various embodiments, the UAV may include one or more infrasonic sensors and wind screening configured to measure one or more meteorological parameters, such as wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting. The infrasonic sensors may be configured to determine wind shear at the local and regional level. In various embodiments, other meteorological sensors may also be included in/on the UAV in addition to the infrasonic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Qamar A. Shams, Neil C. Coffey
  • Patent number: 6879893
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a fleet of vehicles includes at least one data acquisition and analysis module (DAAM) mounted on each vehicle in the fleet, a control module on each vehicle in communication with each DAAM, and terminal module located remotely with respect to the vehicles in the fleet. Each DAAM collects/analyzes sensor data to generate analysis results that identify the state of a plurality of systems of the vehicle. Each vehicle's control module collects/analyzes the analysis results from each onboard DAAM to generate vehicle status results that identify potential sources of vehicle anomalies. The terminal module collects/analyzes the analysis results and vehicle status results transmitted from each control module from the fleet of vehicles to identify multiple occurrences of vehicle anomalies and multiple occurrences of those vehicle systems operating at a performance level that is unacceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Stanley E. Woodard, Neil C. Coffey, Bryant D. Taylor, Keith L. Woodman
  • Publication number: 20040078125
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a fleet of vehicles includes at least one data acquisition and analysis module (DAAM) mounted on each vehicle in the fleet, a control module on each vehicle in communication with each DAAM, and terminal module located remotely with respect to the vehicles in the fleet. Each DAAM collects/analyzes sensor data to generate analysis results that identify the state of a plurality of systems of the vehicle. Each vehicle's control module collects/analyzes the analysis results from each onboard DAAM to generate vehicle status results that identify potential sources of vehicle anomalies. The terminal module collects/analyzes the analysis results and vehicle status results transmitted from each control module from the fleet of vehicles to identify multiple occurrences of vehicle anomalies and multiple occurrences of those vehicle systems operating at a performance level that is unacceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Stanley E. Woodard, Neil C. Coffey, Bryant D. Taylor, Keith L. Woodman