Patents by Inventor Ralph Thomas Hoctor

Ralph Thomas Hoctor 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: 8013310
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline, and a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device, form a first image from the plurality of far-field datasets, and form a second image if the first image indicates presence of a source, the second image formed from the plurality of far-field datasets using an estimated source location from the first image and thereby having a higher contrast than the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Morpho Detection, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz
  • Publication number: 20110183698
    Abstract: Methods and systems and computer program products for reusing radio resources in a medical telemetry networks are provided. The method receives at a server, traffic information for a plurality of mobile transceivers, from a plurality of distributed receivers. The method identifies time slot assignments and frequency channel assignments of the plurality of mobile transceivers based on traffic information. The method then updates one or more time slot assignments and/or one or more frequency channel assignments based, at least in part, on traffic information. Finally, the method broadcasts updated instances of the time slot assignments and updated instances of frequency channel assignments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, David Michael Davenport, Neal John Seidl, Matthew George Grubis, Sahika Genc
  • Patent number: 7925068
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional guide image of an object to be scanned during an ultrasound scan. The method comprises insonifying the object, receiving return echoes from the object, processing the return echoes to generate a data set representing the object, comparing the data set with a plurality of shape models, selecting a best fit shape model responsive to the step of comparing and displaying the best fit shape model as the guide image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh
  • Publication number: 20100104064
    Abstract: A system for threat detection is provided. The system includes an imaging detector configured to detect radiation originating from at least one source of radiation over a pre-determined period of time or distance traveled. The system also includes a processor coupled to the imaging detector. The processor is configured to backproject the radiation detected onto multiple points in world space via an image reconstruction technique. The processor is also configured to generate a first set of image pixels identifying a location of the source of radiation corresponding to each of the points in world space, wherein the first set of image pixels indicate presence of all possible sources of radiation. The processor is further configured to generate a second set of image pixels from the radiation backprojected, identifying only one or more potential sources of threat via a threat detection algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Ralph Thomas Hoctor
  • Patent number: 7663105
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline. The imaging system includes a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device. The computer is also configured to form a preliminary image based on the acquired plurality of far-field datasets, and apply an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to the preliminary image; wherein the EM algorithm includes an ordered subset algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Morpho Detection, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Evren Asma, Jeffrey Gordon, Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen
  • Publication number: 20090310747
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline, and a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device, form a first image from the plurality of far-field datasets, and form a second image if the first image indicates presence of a source, the second image formed from the plurality of far-field datasets using an estimated source location from the first image and thereby having a higher contrast than the first image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz
  • Publication number: 20090297058
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon an imaging device. The imaging device includes a first detector and a second detector. The imaging system includes a mask having a first pattern of apertures therein, the mask positioned on a first side of the first detector, an anti-mask having a second pattern of apertures therein, wherein the second pattern is derived from the first pattern, the anti-mask positioned on a first side of the second detector, and a computer configured to acquire a plurality of mask datasets and anti-mask datasets of a gamma source, add one of the mask datasets and subtract its respective anti-mask dataset to create a far-field dataset, adjust the far-field image dataset, reconstruct a near-field image of the source using the far-field dataset, and apply an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to one of the far-field image dataset and the near-field image to enhance contrast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Evren Asma
  • Publication number: 20090296890
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline. The imaging system includes a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device. The computer is also configured to form a preliminary image based on the acquired plurality of far-field datasets, and apply an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to the preliminary image; wherein the EM algorithm includes an ordered subset algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz, Evren Asma, Jeffrey Gordon, Floribertus P.M. Heukensfeldt Jansen
  • Patent number: 7573398
    Abstract: A communication system is presented. The system includes one or more transmitters configured to transmit a signal, where each of the signals generated by the one or more transmitters corresponds to a respective frequency. Further, the system includes a plurality of receiver front-ends configured to receive the signal transmitted by each of the one or more transmitters. The system also includes a plurality of remodulator modules configured to translate each of the received signals to a signal having a respective intermediate frequency. In addition, the system includes a combining module configured to combine each of the signals having respective intermediate frequencies to generate a single composite signal. Also, the system includes a single analog-to-digital converter configured to process the composite signal and generate a digital output. Additionally, the system includes a digital signal processor module configured to extract the signal transmitted by each of the one or more transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Richard Louis Zinser, Jr., Matthew George Grubis, Neal John Seidl
  • Patent number: 7548223
    Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications. alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Glen William Brooksby, Daniel David Harrison, Daniel Arthur Staver, Ertugrul Berkcan, Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Wolfgang Daum, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, II
  • Patent number: 7499711
    Abstract: A system and method involve determining the location of objects within an area of interest using wireless signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor and a plurality of mobile devices. Further, at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location may be provided. The mobile devices transmit a wireless signal to the base stations, which then determine a location of the mobile devices based on time difference of arrival information between the mobile devices measured at all the base stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, John Erik Hershey, Nick Andrew Van Stralen, Harold Woodruff Tomlinson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080316086
    Abstract: A RADAR system including a set of RADAR apparatuses is disclosed. Each apparatus includes a processor, a pulse unit in signal communication with the processor, a waveform signal generator in signal communication with the pulse unit, and a set of radar antennas in signal communication with the waveform signal generator. The waveform signal generator is capable of generating a waveform signal in response to pulses provided by the pulse unit. The set of antennas is capable of transmitting a burst of microwave energy in response to each waveform signal and to receive a plurality of reflected bursts associated with the transmitted bursts. An acquisition unit is configured to develop and amplify a finite window integral associated with each reflected burst, the acquisition unit in signal communication with the set of antennas and a pre-processor configured to digitize and store information relating to each finite window integral for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, Vincent Paul Staudinger, Kenneth Brakeley Welles
  • Patent number: 7466261
    Abstract: A RADAR system including a set of RADAR apparatuses is disclosed. Each apparatus includes a processor, a pulse unit in signal communication with the processor, a waveform signal generator in signal communication with the pulse unit, and a set of radar antennas in signal communication with the waveform signal generator. The waveform signal generator is capable of generating a waveform signal in response to pulses provided by the pulse unit. The set of antennas is capable of transmitting a burst of microwave energy in response to each waveform signal and to receive a plurality of reflected bursts associated with the transmitted bursts. An acquisition unit is configured to develop and amplify a finite window integral associated with each reflected burst, the acquisition unit in signal communication with the set of antennas and a pre-processor configured to digitize and store information relating to each finite window integral for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, Vincent Paul Staudinger, Kenneth Brakeley Welles
  • Patent number: 7425199
    Abstract: Ultrasound is used to provide input data for a blood pressure estimation scheme. The use of transcutaneous ultrasound provides arterial lumen area and pulse wave velocity information. In addition, ultrasound measurements are taken in such a way that all the data describes a single, uniform arterial segment. Therefore a computed area relates only to the arterial blood volume present. Also, the measured pulse wave velocity is directly related to the mechanical properties of the segment of elastic tube (artery) for which the blood volume is being measured. In a patient monitoring application, the operator of the ultrasound device is eliminated through the use of software that automatically locates the artery in the ultrasound data, e.g., using known edge detection techniques. Autonomous operation of the ultrasound system allows it to report blood pressure and blood flow traces to the clinical users without those users having to interpret an ultrasound image or operate an ultrasound imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Kai Erik Thomenius, Aaron Mark Dentinger
  • Publication number: 20080194957
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional image (70) of an object. The method includes providing a model (8) of the object (62) (200), insonifying regions of the object from source transducers (58) external to the object (62) (202), receiving return echoes from the object (62) at receiving transducers (58) external to the object (62), processing the return echoes (204) and generating a hybrid image (70) of the object (62) comprising object regions responsive to the model (8) of the object (62) and object regions responsive to the return echoes (208/212).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh, Bruno Hans Haider
  • Publication number: 20080187193
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional guide image of an object to be scanned during an ultrasound scan. The method comprises insonifying the object, receiving return echoes from the object, processing the return echoes to generate a data set representing the object, comparing the data set with a plurality of shape models, selecting a best fit shape model responsive to the step of comparing and displaying the best fit shape model as the guide image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh
  • Patent number: 7385705
    Abstract: Generating a multispectral or hyperspectral image of an image source with an optical system having an adjustable, wavenumber-dependent point spread function, by collecting panchromatic images of the image source, each of which corresponds to a selected point spread function and includes a measured intensity data set corresponding to a range of wavelengths, transforming the panchromatic images into the spatial frequency domain by using a Fourier transform, solving a matrix equation at each spatial frequency, in which a vector of the transformed panchromatic images is equal to the product of a predetermined matrix of discrete weighting coefficients and a vector representing a wavenumber content of the image source at each spatial frequency, resulting in a determined wavenumber content of the image source in the spatial frequency domain, and inverse transforming the determined wavenumber content of the image source from the spatial frequency domain into the image domain, resulting in the multispectral or hypersp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Frederick Wilson Wheeler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7313127
    Abstract: A time-division-multiplexed radio communication system and method uses transmitted-reference, delay-hopped (TR/DH) ultra-wideband (UWB) broadcast signal to provide a pilot signal to all mobile devices in a coverage area from which time synchronization is derived. Using this TR/DH UWB pulse pilot signal and low-complexity demodulation in the mobile devices, the mobile devices utilize a simple signal detection algorithm to acquire synchronization with the pilot signal. As a result, all devices in a local area network become synchronized to the system's bit clock. This greatly reduces the search space required for signal acquisition, receiver signal processing complexity, and length of message preambles required to synchronize the base station receiver to a transmission from any of the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Stephen Michael Hladik
  • Patent number: 7269427
    Abstract: A system and method involve tracking the location of objects within an area of interest using transmitted-reference ultra-wideband (TR-UWB) signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor, at least one mobile device and at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location. The mobile device is equipped with a transmitter for transmitting a TR-UWB signal to a base station, which then determines a location of the mobile device based on time difference of arrival information between the beacon transmitters and mobile devices measured at all the base stations. Preferably, the area of interest includes a plurality of mobile devices each transmitting a delay-hopped TR-UWB signal according to a code-division multiple access scheme. The mobile devices may be attached to a patient and/or a medical asset within the hospital for tracking purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, John Erik Hershey, Nick Andrew Van Stralen, Harold Woodruff Tomlinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7262729
    Abstract: A radar system having a processor, a waveform generator, a plurality of antenna interfaces, a set of first antennas configured to transmit a waveform, and a set of second antennas configured to receive a reflected waveform is disclosed. The waveform generator and antenna interfaces are in control and signal communication with the processor, each of the first antennas are in signal communication with one of each antenna interface, and each of the second antennas are in signal communication with one of each antenna interface. The waveform generator is in control and signal communication with each antenna interface, and is configurable to generate a waveform conforming to at least two ISM bands. Each first antenna is configured to transmit a circularly polarized electromagnetic waveform, and each second antenna is configured to receive a reflected circularly polarized electromagnetic waveform complementary to the first antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Erik Hershey, Ralph Thomas Hoctor, David Michael Davenport, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, Richard Louis Frey, Kenneth Brakeley Welles, V. Paul Staudinger, Harold W. Tomlinson, Jr.