Patents by Inventor Raymond R. LaFrey

Raymond R. LaFrey 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).

  • Surveillance system and method for aircraft approach and landing
    Patent number: 6809679
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft are disclosed. The system features a processor, an interrogating antenna, a receiving antenna, and a data link. The processor schedules interrogations and suppression pulses. Both of the antennas and the data link are in signal communication with the processor. The interrogating antenna transmits interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft. At least some of the interrogations include suppression pulses. The receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements. The receiving antenna receives replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicates the replies to the processor. The processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies. The data link communicates information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Raymond R. LaFrey, Jeffrey L. Gertz, William H. Harman, III, M. Loren Wood, Jr.
  • Surveillance system and method for aircraft approach and landing
    Publication number: 20040046687
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring and predicting information on the position of approaching aircraft are disclosed. The system features a processor, an interrogating antenna, a receiving antenna, and a data link. The processor schedules interrogations and suppression pulses. Both of the antennas and the data link are in signal communication with the processor. The interrogating antenna transmits interrogations to a plurality of approaching aircraft. At least some of the interrogations include suppression pulses. The receiving antenna comprises at least three fixed, broad azimuth, array elements. The receiving antenna receives replies from each of the plurality of approaching aircraft and communicates the replies to the processor. The processor determines a state for each of the plurality of approaching aircraft based on the replies. The data link communicates information on the state of each of the plurality of approaching aircraft from the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Raymond R. LaFrey, Jeffrey L. Gertz, William H. Harman, M. Loren Wood