Patents by Inventor Richard J. Rikoski

Richard J. Rikoski 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: 11685479
    Abstract: A mooring system including a plurality of connected floats and weights being positively buoyant on a water surface and being negatively buoyant at a depth below the water surface. The mooring system also includes a trigger mechanism arranged to reduce the buoyancy of a portion of the connected floats and weights from a being positively buoyant to negatively buoyant to cause the portion of the connected floats and weights to sink below the water surface where the trigger mechanism changes the buoyance of the portion of the connected floats and weights by either adding a weight to one end or separating the end from a buoyant element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hadal, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20230037515
    Abstract: A method for charging a battery set of an autonomous vehicle including: determining charging requirements of the battery set of the autonomous vehicle via a communication from the autonomous vehicle to a charging station, in response to the communication from the autonomous vehicle, connecting a plurality of batteries of the charging station in a first combination to match the charging requirements of the battery set of the autonomous vehicle; and charging the battery set of the autonomous vehicle using the plurality of batteries of the charging station in the first combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11482867
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a charging system. The charging system may be implemented within an independent charging station or within an autonomous vehicle. Boolean charging can be used to obtain the desired charge or discharge voltage for charging an autonomous vehicle at a charging station. By combining a subset of a sequence of batteries arrays that differ in voltage by powers of two in series, where each battery array may include multiple batteries or battery cells, a voltage may be obtained which is equal to the sum of the voltages across each battery array. This voltage may be used in turn to charge additional batteries or battery arrays. The process may be repeated until the desired amount of battery arrays has been charged and the desired voltage has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11312463
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described herein for providing electrical power to a marine vehicle. In some aspects, a marine vehicle includes a power system arranged to receive and store electrical power delivered from a solar panel assembly. The power system may include one or more batteries. The vehicle also includes a processor arranged to determine an extension time and an retraction time for a solar panel assembly and a controller that, in response to instructions from the processor, is arranged to extend the solar panel assembly and retract the solar panel assembly. The solar panel assembly is arranged to be configured in at least one of an extended position and a retracted position. The solar panel assembly includes one or more solar panels where the solar panel assembly is in electrical communication with the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11099273
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced blazed array and/or phased array sonar systems are described herein. In one aspect, a sonar system includes a blazed sonar array and/or phased sonar array having: at least one transducer connected to a housing of a vehicle; a transmitter, in electrical communication with the at least one transducer, causing the transducer to emit at least one sonar signal, the sonar signal having a Doppler sharpening pulse length and the vehicle having a Doppler sharpening velocity; a receiver, in electrical communication with the at least one transducer, for receiving signals from at least one transducer, the received signals corresponding to acoustic signals captured by the at least one transducer; and a processor, in electrical communication with the transmitter and receiver, arranged to control the Doppler sharpening pulse length and generate a 3D image based on the received signals, Doppler sharpening pulse length, and Doppler sharpening velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11077921
    Abstract: A pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventors: James Morash, Jonathan Pompa, Ben Kfir, Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 11016185
    Abstract: The application relates to bi-static or multi-static holographic navigation systems, including methods of localizing an emitter or receiver with high precision relative to the sea floor. The system and methods can be used with a fully active sonar or radar system using well synchronized transmitters and receivers. The system and methods can be used with a passive sonar or radar system localizing a transmitter or a receiver based on poorly timed received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10988219
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. According to one aspect, an underwater vehicle may comprise one or more buoyancy elements, a pressure tolerant cavity, and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more neutrally buoyant battery cells. In some aspects, the battery cells may have an average density that is about equal to the density of the fluid in which the vehicle is immersed. The vehicle may also comprise a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rikoski, Robert S. Damus, Brian Schlotterbeck, Owen Hale, Chinmoy Saha
  • Patent number: 10978889
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a multi-level battery protection system. In some embodiments, a multi-level battery protection system can include multiple levels at the junction box level and multiple levels at the battery level. In some embodiments, at the junction box level, the multi-level battery protection system can include junction box fuses and a current limiting circuit. In some embodiments, at the battery level, the multi-level battery protection system can include battery fuses and a microprocessor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Goldin, Ben Kfir, Douglas Traeger, Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20210070401
    Abstract: A mooring system including a plurality of connected floats and weights being positively buoyant on a water surface and being negatively buoyant at a depth below the water surface. The mooring system also includes a trigger mechanism arranged to reduce the buoyancy of a portion of the connected floats and weights from a being positively buoyant to negatively buoyant to cause the portion of the connected floats and weights to sink below the water surface where the trigger mechanism changes the buoyance of the portion of the connected floats and weights by either adding a weight to one end or separating the end from a buoyant element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Hadal, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10822058
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a modular buoy deployment system including modules arranged to be assembled at a destination location and an aerial delivery apparatus arranged to deliver the buoy modules to the destination location. The modules are connectable to at least one other module and form a buoy when assembled. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a platform arranged to receive one or more aerial delivery apparatuses. Each module conforms to a delivery criteria of the aerial delivery apparatus. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a power system arranged to recharge the aerial delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10763685
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for regulating a charging rate of a battery module for an autonomous vehicle. In some aspects, the method comprises measuring a first battery cell temperature using a first temperature sensor located at a first battery cell of a plurality of batter cells in a battery module, determining whether the first battery cell temperature corresponds to a lowest temperature of the plurality of battery cells, determining a first charging rate corresponding to the first battery cell temperature, determining a first charging current and a first charging voltage corresponding to the first charging rate, and adjusting a charging current to the first charging current and a charging voltage to the first charging voltage for the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: HADAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ben Kfir, Doug Traeger, Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20200156753
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described herein for providing electrical power to a marine vehicle. In some aspects, a marine vehicle includes a power system arranged to receive and store electrical power delivered from a solar panel assembly. The power system may include one or more batteries. The vehicle also includes a processor arranged to determine an extension time and an retraction time for a solar panel assembly and a controller that, in response to instructions from the processor, is arranged to extend the solar panel assembly and retract the solar panel assembly. The solar panel assembly is arranged to be configured in at least one of an extended position and a retracted position. The solar panel assembly includes one or more solar panels where the solar panel assembly is in electrical communication with the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10621698
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a sensory compensation device including a position and orientation sensor arranged to generate position and orientation data based on one or more of detected velocity, angular rate, gravity, motion, position and orientation associated with the device. The device also optionally includes an optical sensor arranged to capture real-time images and generate real-time image data of an area adjacent to the device. The device includes a processor arranged to: i) optionally receive the real-time image data, ii) receive the position and orientation data and iii) generate compensated image data based on the real-time image data and the position and orientation data. Furthermore, the device includes a display arranged to display compensated images derived from the compensated image data where a portion of the compensated images includes the captured real-time images, if captured, with adjusted positions and orientations in relation to the captured real-time images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hadal, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10436886
    Abstract: The application relates to bi-static or multi-static holographic navigation systems, including methods of localizing an emitter or receiver with high precision relative to the sea floor. The system and methods can be used with a fully active sonar or radar system using well synchronized transmitters and receivers. The system and methods can be used with a passive sonar or radar system localizing a transmitter or a receiver based on poorly timed received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hadal, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20190202530
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a modular buoy deployment system including modules arranged to be assembled at a destination location and an aerial delivery apparatus arranged to deliver the buoy modules to the destination location. The modules are connectable to at least one other module and form a buoy when assembled. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a platform arranged to receive one or more aerial delivery apparatuses. Each module conforms to a delivery criteria of the aerial delivery apparatus. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a power system arranged to recharge the aerial delivery apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20180366955
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a charging system. The charging system may be implemented within an independent charging station or within an autonomous vehicle. Boolean charging can be used to obtain the desired charge or discharge voltage for charging an autonomous vehicle at a charging station. By combining a subset of a sequence of batteries arrays that differ in voltage by powers of two in series, where each battery array may include multiple batteries or battery cells, a voltage may be obtained which is equal to the sum of the voltages across each battery array. This voltage may be used in turn to charge additional batteries or battery arrays. The process may be repeated until the desired amount of battery arrays has been charged and the desired voltage has been achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20180365804
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a sensory compensation device including a position and orientation sensor arranged to generate position and orientation data based on one or more of detected velocity, angular rate, gravity, motion, position and orientation associated with the device. The device also optionally includes an optical sensor arranged to capture real-time images and generate real-time image data of an area adjacent to the device. The device includes a processor arranged to: i) optionally receive the real-time image data, ii) receive the position and orientation data and iii) generate compensated image data based on the real-time image data and the position and orientation data. Furthermore, the device includes a display arranged to display compensated images derived from the compensated image data where a portion of the compensated images includes the captured real-time images, if captured, with adjusted positions and orientations in relation to the captured real-time images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Publication number: 20180362121
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: James Morash, Jonathan Pompa, Ben Kfir, Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 10110323
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include releasable storage devices that can surface with data. The devices include data storage, an antenna, battery and means to propel the device to the surface or into the atmosphere. In certain embodiments, it is a USB memory stick, a battery, suitable buoyancy, and an antenna. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include a rocket to boost the system out of the water to a higher altitude. Once the system is airborne, it can transmit data to a ship or satellite via radio communications, via other line of site methods such as optical, or may be captured by an aircraft such as a UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hadal, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Damus, Richard J. Rikoski