Patents by Inventor Robert E. Ball

Robert E. Ball 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: 8736380
    Abstract: An amplifier for use in a buoyant cable antenna operable to receive signals within a frequency band includes: a first amplifier operable to provide amplified signals based on the received signals; a bandpass filter arranged to pass filtered signals within a first portion of the frequency band, the filtered signals being based on the amplified signals; an attenuator arranged in parallel with said bandpass filter and operable to attenuate signals within a second portion of the frequency band, the attenuated signals being based on the amplified signals; and a second amplifier operable to provide an amplified output including first amplified signals within the first portion of the frequency band and to provide second amplified signals within the second portion of the frequency band. The first amplified signals have a first gain, the second amplified signals have a second gain, and the first gain is more than the second gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Sr., Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Publication number: 20140085004
    Abstract: An amplifier for use in a buoyant cable antenna operable to receive signals within a frequency band includes: a first amplifier operable to provide amplified signals based on the received signals; a bandpass filter arranged to pass filtered signals within a first portion of the frequency band, the filtered signals being based on the amplified signals; an attenuator arranged in parallel with said bandpass filter and operable to attenuate signals within a second portion of the frequency band, the attenuated signals being based on the amplified signals; and a second amplifier operable to provide an amplified output including first amplified signals within the first portion of the frequency band and to provide second amplified signals within the second portion of the frequency band. The first amplified signals have a first gain, the second amplified signals have a second gain, and the first gain is more than the second gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Patent number: 8289811
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is drawn to method of determining a location of a submersible vehicle. The method includes obtaining first bearing information based on a location of a ship at a first time relative to the submersible vehicle and receiving broadcast information from the ship, wherein the broadcast information includes location information related to a second location of the ship at a second time, a velocity of the ship at the second time and a course of the ship at the second time. The method further includes obtaining second bearing information based on the second location of the ship at the second time relative to the submersible vehicle, obtaining a velocity of the submersible vehicle at the second time and obtaining a course of the submersible vehicle at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley
  • Publication number: 20110051555
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is drawn to method of determining a location of a submersible vehicle. The method includes obtaining first bearing information based on a location of a ship at a first time relative to the submersible vehicle and receiving broadcast information from the ship, wherein the broadcast information includes location information related to a second location of the ship at a second time, a velocity of the ship at the second time and a course of the ship at the second time. The method further includes obtaining second bearing information based on the second location of the ship at the second time relative to the submersible vehicle, obtaining a velocity of the submersible vehicle at the second time and obtaining a course of the submersible vehicle at the second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: James B. Mitchell, Bliss G. Carkhuff, Morris L. London, Robert E. Ball, Nathaniel J. Hundley