Patents by Inventor Peter R. Franchi

Peter R. Franchi 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: 5485158
    Abstract: A method to measure the far field antenna pattern of an experimental antenna on a smaller range than conventionally used. The basic innovation of the present invention is that the implementation is moved in straight line, toward or away from the antenna under test (AUT), and the measurements are taken while the AUT is rotated about its phase center in a manner that is synchronized with the radial probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert J. Mailloux, Peter R. Franchi, Harvey E. Tobin
  • Patent number: 5432523
    Abstract: In order to measure the far field antenna pattern of a phased array antenna, the phased array is focused at a probe antenna which is a specific distance away from the aperture. The antenna pattern is then measured by moving the probe antenna on an elliptical arc about the antenna under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Jeffrey Simmers, Peter R. Franchi, Harvey E. Tobin
  • Patent number: 5204685
    Abstract: In order to measure the far field antenna pattern of a phased array antenna, the phased array is focused at a probe antenna which is a specific distance away from the aperture. The antenna pattern is then measured by moving the probe antenna on a constant focal arc. This arc minimizes phase aberrations due to defocusing error. To minimize amplitude errors, the pattern of the probe antenna is carefully matched to compensate for the variation induced amplitude error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Peter R. Franchi, Harvey E. Tobin
  • Patent number: 5093639
    Abstract: An electromagnetic stripline coupler apparatus having a pair of coupler units which are separated by a conductive ground plane with a slot in it that is aligned to pass signal energy between the coupler units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Peter R. Franchi, Nicholas P. Kernweis
  • Patent number: 4998112
    Abstract: A method for measuring the far field antenna pattern of a large phased array antenna on a conventional far field range by applying a correction factor to the antenna phase shifters. As the antenna is electronically steered to each of its scan angle, a particular correction factor is applied to each radiating elements to correct the far field antenna pattern to the shortened far field range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the Secretary of the Airforce
    Inventors: Peter R. Franchi, Harvey Tobin
  • Patent number: 4616230
    Abstract: The sum and difference ports of a conformal phased array monopulse antenna are fed in such a manner as to correct for the degraded radiation pattern which would otherwise occur as a function of scan angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: John D. Antonucci, Peter R. Franchi
  • Patent number: 4381509
    Abstract: The bandwidth limitation in space fed phased arrays (that results from the use of phase shifters to implement beam steering) is overcome by a lens arrangement in which independent feeds are provided at the focal plane of the lens. Each feed generates a collimated beam in a different spatial direction. Each beam can then be steered about its central position by means of phase shifters, while retaining a substantially improved bandwidth. An algorithm is derived for designing three-dimensional (3D) microwave lenses with line source feeds by stacking a number of identical two-dimensional (2D) parallel-plate, wide-angle constrained lenses into a cylindrical antenna structure. This lens design provides focused beams over a wide range of scan angles in both elevation and azimuth with only small optical aberration. A wide variety of lens designs can be achieved through this algorithm, dependent upon the constraints which are selected for the 2D lens counterpart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Walter Rotman, Peter R. Franchi
  • Patent number: 4213122
    Abstract: An intrusion detection system utilizes a radio frequency radiative system whose near electromagnetic field is monitored by receiving devices which respond, in a measurable way, to any disturbance of the near electromagnetic field by physical intrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Walter Rotman, Nicholas V. Karas, Ronald L. Fante, Peter R. Franchi
  • Patent number: 4135185
    Abstract: An RF intruder system utilizes two concentric loops of wire spaced apart for a predetermined magnitude, either of which can transmit and/or receive electromagnetic energy. This area within the loops are to be protected against intrusion. Without intrusion, the received signal is steady. Upon intrusion, there are signal changes which are instantly noted by signal detection and processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Walter Rotman, J. Leon Poirier, Nicholas V. Karas, Peter R. Franchi, Ronald L. Fante
  • Patent number: 3938160
    Abstract: High gain limited scan operation of phased array antennas is accomplished with microwave circuitry by appropriately coupling the array elements into sub-arrays and establishing a 90.degree. out of phase relationship between even and odd mode power at the aperture of each array element. Even and odd mode power from the feed circuit of each element is coupled to the feed circuit of each nearest adjacent element to form three element overlap subarrays in each plane of scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Mailloux, Peter R. Franchi