Patents by Inventor Richard P. Welle
Richard P. Welle 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).
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Publication number: 20230067936Abstract: An apparatus includes a satellite in the form of a plate having a thickness being smaller than a width of the satellite. The apparatus also includes a plurality of contact points distributed on a face of the satellite, allowing for one or more additional satellites to be stacked upon the satellite.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 11492147Abstract: An apparatus includes a satellite in the form of a plate having a thickness being smaller than a width of the satellite. The apparatus also includes a plurality of contact points distributed on a face of the satellite, allowing for one or more additional satellites to be stacked upon the satellite.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATIONInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Publication number: 20220033111Abstract: An apparatus includes a satellite in the form of a plate having a thickness being smaller than a width of the satellite. The apparatus also includes a plurality of contact points distributed on a face of the satellite, allowing for one or more additional satellites to be stacked upon the satellite.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Patent number: 11212187Abstract: A communications network comprising of n-hop local neighborhoods. The network includes a plurality of communication nodes and a plurality of local neighborhoods wherein each local neighborhood includes a central node around which the local neighborhood is defined. The network also includes a subset of the plurality of nodes located within the local neighborhoods of each of the central nodes. Each of the subset of the plurality of nodes in a local neighborhood is not more than n hops away over currently existing links from the central node of the local neighborhood.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATIONInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 11161630Abstract: A free-floating spherical gimbal (“gimbal”) that includes a moving portion substantially spherical in shape and partially enclosed within a larger spherical and stationary cavity. The moving portion of the spherical gimbal is maintained in a location without direct mechanical contact with the stationary cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATIONInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Publication number: 20210214105Abstract: A free-floating spherical gimbal (“gimbal”) that includes a moving portion substantially spherical in shape and partially enclosed within a larger spherical and stationary cavity. The moving portion of the spherical gimbal is maintained in a location without direct mechanical contact with the stationary cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Patent number: 10763967Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 10484095Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Publication number: 20190326991Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Publication number: 20190089454Abstract: A dedicated satellite to reduce the cost and increase the rate and reliability of data transmission from space to ground is provided. For each client satellite producing data in Earth orbit, a dedicated relay satellite is provided. The relay satellite may fly near the client satellite and receive data from the client satellite by RF communication. The relay satellite may transmit the data to a ground terminal or to another satellite using a laser communication system. Because the relay satellite is not physically connected to the client satellite, the attitude-control requirements of an optical communication system are not imposed on the client satellite. The relay satellite may also be deployed from the client satellite. The relay satellite may allow downlinking large amounts of data for new satellite operators without an existing ground network and for established satellite operators seeking higher data rates, lower latency, or reduced ground system operating costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Publication number: 20180367216Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously receiving and transmitting data in space may include a receiver configured to receive an incoming beam transmitted from a source along a receive vector between the source and the receiver. The apparatus may also include a transmitter to generate a transmitted beam along a transmit vector. The apparatus may further include a single-axis gimbal configured to rotate the transmit vector about an axis substantially perpendicular to the receive vector, and an attitude-control system configured to rotate the apparatus about an axis parallel to the receive vector or the transmit vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 10142012Abstract: A dedicated satellite to reduce the cost and increase the rate and reliability of data transmission from space to ground is provided. For each client satellite producing data in Earth orbit, a dedicated relay satellite is provided. The relay satellite may fly near the client satellite and receive data from the client satellite by RF communication. The relay satellite may transmit the data to a ground terminal or to another satellite using a laser communication system. Because the relay satellite is not physically connected to the client satellite, the attitude-control requirements of an optical communication system are not imposed on the client satellite. The relay satellite may also be deployed from the client satellite. The relay satellite may allow downlinking large amounts of data for new satellite operators without an existing ground network and for established satellite operators seeking higher data rates, lower latency, or reduced ground system operating costs.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATIONInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 9941967Abstract: A system for reducing the cost and increasing the rate and reliability of data transmission from space to ground includes a network of relay satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Each relay satellite is configured to receive data from one or more client satellites, and configured to transmit data from LEO to ground using optical communications. The system may also include multiple optical ground stations configured to receive the data and transmit the received data using terrestrial networks to client locations. The network may provide an alternative to downlinking large amounts of data for new satellite operators without an existing ground network and for established satellite operators seeking higher data rates, lower latency, or reduced ground system operating costs.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATIONInventors: Richard P. Welle, Siegfried W. Janson, Roger Yang, John Serafini
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Patent number: 9468867Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided for inducing the separation of constituent elements from a microfluidic sample by introducing phase changes in the microfluidic sample while contained in a microfluidic channel in the device. At least a portion of the microfluidic sample is frozen to cause fractional exclusion of the constituent element from the frozen portion of the microfluidic sample. Different portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in different sectors and at different times in order to cause movement in a desired direction of the separated constituent element. Portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in a sequential order of adjacent sectors within the microfluidic channel in order to cause sequential movement of the excluded constituent element toward one portion of the microfluidic channel. The frozen portion of the microfluidic sample is then thawed, wherein the separated constituent element remains substantially separated from the thawed, purified microfluidic sample.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Publication number: 20160269116Abstract: A system for reducing the cost and increasing the rate and reliability of data transmission from space to ground includes a network of relay satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Each relay satellite is configured to receive data from one or more client satellites, and configured to transmit data from LEO to ground using optical communications. The system may also include multiple optical ground stations configured to receive the data and transmit the received data using terrestrial networks to client locations. The network may provide an alternative to downlinking large amounts of data for new satellite operators without an existing ground network and for established satellite operators seeking higher data rates, lower latency, or reduced ground system operating costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Richard P. WELLE, Siegfried W. JANSON, Roger YANG, John SERAFINI
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Publication number: 20160269101Abstract: A dedicated satellite to reduce the cost and increase the rate and reliability of data transmission from space to ground is provided. For each client satellite producing data in Earth orbit, a dedicated relay satellite is provided. The relay satellite may fly near the client satellite and receive data from the client satellite by RF communication. The relay satellite may transmit the data to a ground terminal or to another satellite using a laser communication system. Because the relay satellite is not physically connected to the client satellite, the attitude-control requirements of an optical communication system are not imposed on the client satellite. The relay satellite may also be deployed from the client satellite. The relay satellite may allow downlinking large amounts of data for new satellite operators without an existing ground network and for established satellite operators seeking higher data rates, lower latency, or reduced ground system operating costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Publication number: 20160269100Abstract: A relay satellite node is provided. The relay satellite node may enable separate pointing of a receive portion and transmit portion of the node, enabling continuous communication through the node. The node may include two separate satellites flying in close proximity to one another. One of the satellites may use its attitude-control system to enable high-gain communications from a distant source, and the other satellite may use its attitude-control system to enable high-gain communication to a distant receiver. The two satellites may communicate with one another over a high-rate, short-range, omnidirectional communication system. A LEO network of these nodes, in combination with dedicated client-specific relay satellites may provide high-rate communication between any space asset and a ground network with latency limited only by the speed of light.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Publication number: 20140102116Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided for inducing the separation of constituent elements from a microfluidic sample by introducing phase changes in the microfluidic sample while contained in a microfluidic channel in the device. At least a portion of the microfluidic sample is frozen to cause fractional exclusion of the constituent element from the frozen portion of the microfluidic sample. Different portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in different sectors and at different times in order to cause movement in a desired direction of the separated constituent element. Portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in a sequential order of adjacent sectors within the microfluidic channel in order to cause sequential movement of the excluded constituent element toward one portion of the microfluidic channel. The frozen portion of the microfluidic sample is then thawed, wherein the separated constituent element remains substantially separated from the thawed, purified microfluidic sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. WELLE
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Patent number: 8642353Abstract: A microfluidic device is provided for inducing the separation of constituent elements from a microfluidic sample by introducing phase changes in the microfluidic sample while contained in a microfluidic channel in the device. At least a portion of the microfluidic sample is frozen to cause fractional exclusion of the constituent element from the frozen portion of the microfluidic sample. Different portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in different sectors and at different times in order to cause movement in a desired direction of the separated constituent element. Portions of the microfluidic sample may be frozen in a sequential order of adjacent sectors within the microfluidic channel in order to cause sequential movement of the excluded constituent element toward one portion of the microfluidic channel. The frozen portion of the microfluidic sample is then thawed, wherein the separated constituent element remains substantially separated from the thawed, purified microfluidic sample.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle
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Patent number: 8245731Abstract: A fluid transport/containment apparatus includes a fluid-bearing module and an actuation module. The fluid-bearing module includes a substrate and fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, with one or more of the fluid transport/containment elements having microfluidic dimensions. The actuation module is detachably secured to the fluid-bearing module such that the actuation elements are operatively interfaced with the fluid transport/containment elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventor: Richard P. Welle