Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Van Dixhorn

Timothy J. Van Dixhorn 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).

  • Methods and apparatuses for autonomous flight termination
    Patent number: 9429403
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. Devries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L. Weigel, Charles L. Dedon
  • METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT TERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140330457
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: George B. PAPADOPOULOS, Derek R. DEVRIES, Steven W. THOMAS, Timothy J. VAN DIXHORN, Charles I. WEIGEL, Charles L. DEDON
  • Methods and apparatuses for autonomous flight termination
    Patent number: 8868258
    Abstract: A flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. DeVries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L Weigel, Charles L. Dedon
  • METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT TERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140067164
    Abstract: Embodiments include a flight safety assembly onboard an aerial vehicle, which includes a first sensor configured to sense first information related to flight of the aerial vehicle and a second sensor configured to sense second information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A sensor input is adapted to receive third information related to the flight of the aerial vehicle. A processor is operably coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the sensor input. The processor is configured to determine three independent instantaneous impact points for the aerial vehicle by independently analyzing each of the first information, the second information and the third information. The processor is also configured to generate three independent onboard flight termination indicators for each of the three independent instantaneous impact points that intersects with a region to be protected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: George B. Papadopoulos, Derek R. DeVries, Steven W. Thomas, Timothy J. Van Dixhorn, Charles L. Weigel, Charles L. Dedon