Patents by Inventor Robert Bruce Friend

Robert Bruce Friend 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: 11323173
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate signal beams. The signal beams define a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is fixed in position relative to the ground and mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna is a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to support concurrent communication sessions with a plurality of spacecraft via the signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Friend, Kurt William Loheit
  • Publication number: 20200127731
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate signal beams. The signal beams define a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is fixed in position relative to the ground and mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna is a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to support concurrent communication sessions with a plurality of spacecraft via the signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Friend, Kurt William Loheit
  • Publication number: 20200083951
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate a plurality of signal beams. The plurality of signal beams defines a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna includes a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to initiate concurrent communications with a plurality of spacecraft via the plurality of signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Friend, Kurt William Loheit
  • Patent number: 10567071
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna of a ground station. The antenna is configured to generate a plurality of signal beams. The plurality of signal beams defines a plurality of cells in the sky. The antenna is mechanically fixed to a particular orientation. The antenna includes a phased array antenna. The system also includes a processor coupled to the antenna. The processor is configured to initiate concurrent communications with a plurality of spacecraft via the plurality of signal beams. The plurality of spacecraft is located within the plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Friend, Kurt William Loheit
  • Patent number: 9796488
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for dual port ring compatible satellites are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method for removably attaching at least one spacecraft to a payload attach ring on a launch vehicle involves attaching a strongback of each of the spacecrafts to two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the strongback of each of the spacecrafts is attached to each of the two respective payload ports via a respective beam mounted to a respective port adaptor plate. The method further involves separating the strongback of each of the spacecrafts from the two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle by using at least one mechanical actuator on each of the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cook, Robert Bruce Friend
  • Publication number: 20170096240
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for dual port ring compatible satellites are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method for removably attaching at least one spacecraft to a payload attach ring on a launch vehicle involves attaching a strongback of each of the spacecrafts to two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the strongback of each of the spacecrafts is attached to each of the two respective payload ports via a respective beam mounted to a respective port adaptor plate. The method further involves separating the strongback of each of the spacecrafts from the two respective payload ports of the payload attach ring on the launch vehicle by using at least one mechanical actuator on each of the beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Cook, Robert Bruce Friend