| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 8183508 |
Pyrotechnic fin deployment and retention mechanism |
May 22, 2012 |
| A fin retention and deployment mechanism includes a detent in each of a plurality of fins, a mechanism that engages the detent, and at least one spring clip that maintains each of the fins in a non-deployed position. The mechanism also includes a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the |
| 8131420 |
Vehicle health and usage monitoring system and method |
March 6, 2012 |
| A health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) and method for monitoring the health and/or usage of one or more components of a vehicle. In various embodiments, the present invention uses a plurality of wireless sensors configured, when activated by a vibration of the vehicle, to monitor on |
| 8117909 |
Icing resistant sensor port for a fuel tank environment |
February 21, 2012 |
| A system for an icing resistant sensor port assembly includes shaped and patterned features for resisting the formation and propagation of ice around a sensor port, such as for a pressure sensor in an aircraft fuel tank. Water may be present in fuel tanks due to condensation and other |
| 8071926 |
Stability multiplexed autopilot |
December 6, 2011 |
| Rolling airframe projectile guidance and stability systems are disclosed. Flight control surfaces, such as canards and/or tail fins are attached to a projectile airframe that is designed to roll during flight. Stepper motors are attached to the flight control surfaces and move the flight |
| 8023443 |
Wireless sensor system |
September 20, 2011 |
| Providing wireless communication between an access point and a wireless device includes the wireless device operating in a first reduced power mode for a first period of time, where the wireless device does not receive communications while operating in the first reduced power mode an |
| 7965948 |
Power and data transmitted over a single optical fiber |
June 21, 2011 |
| Transmitting power and data to electronic components using a single optical fiber includes receiving a light power signal via the single fiber optic, converting the power light signal to electrical energy, at least a portion of which may be stored in an energy storage element, and, i |
| 7963442 |
Spin stabilized projectile trajectory control |
June 21, 2011 |
| A Reconfigurable Nose Control System (RNCS) is designed to adjust the flight path of spin-stabilized artillery projectiles. The RNCS uses the surface of a projectile nose cone as a trim tab. The nose cone may be despun by the action of aerodynamic surfaces, to zero spin relative to e |
| 7937343 |
Method and apparatus for randomized verification of neural nets |
May 3, 2011 |
| Described are techniques for using statistical analysis to reduce the number of samples required in accordance with statistical analysis confidence intervals to verify correctness of a component. These techniques may be used in verification of a neural network or other hardware or so |
| 7903720 |
Alternative direct sequence spread spectrum symbol to chip mappings and methods for generating t |
March 8, 2011 |
| Alternative direct sequence spread spectrum symbol to chip mappings and methods for generating the same for use in a direct sequence spread spectrum wireless protocol and embedded in a transceiver chip used by wireless subsystems are provided. The present invention discloses alternat |
| 7729510 |
Method for distinguishing a smoke condition from a dust condition using video images |
June 1, 2010 |
| Detecting video phenomena, such as fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of video images from a plurality of sources, compensating the images to provide enhanced images, extracting features from the enhanced images, and combining the features from the plurality |
| 7684936 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for determining a future time of a component |
March 23, 2010 |
| A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for determining a future time associated with a component, where the future time can be indicative that some action can be taken with respect to the component. In some embodiments, the future time can be indicative of a co |
| 7683521 |
Radio frequency surface acoustic wave proximity detector |
March 23, 2010 |
| A proximity sensor for determining a position of an object. The proximity sensor includes a SAW device having a load end and an input end for receiving an input pulse. A sensing section connects to the load end of the SAW device. When the object is in a first position, the sensing se |
| 7638750 |
Optical power for electronic circuits using a single photovoltaic component |
December 29, 2009 |
| Optical power uses light to run remote, isolated circuits without metallic wires. An optical power system may include a single photovoltaic component that supplies a first voltage in response to impingement of light on the photovoltaic component. A voltage booster receives the first |
| 7512503 |
Wire fault detection |
March 31, 2009 |
| Described are techniques used in a wire diagnostics system to detect events, such as defects, that may occur within a wire or cable under test. An incident voltage signal is sent out on the wire and a measured voltage signal is obtained which includes the incident voltage and the ref |
| 7512463 |
Reducing vibration using QR decomposition and unconstrained optimization for a multi-rotor aircr |
March 31, 2009 |
| Determining adjustments to decrease vibrations caused by rotating blades from a plurality of rotors includes determining a first plurality of adjustment normalization values for a plurality of possible adjustments of blades of a first one of the plurality of rotors, where the first p |
| 7360294 |
Method of assembling an inductive proximity sensor |
April 22, 2008 |
| A method of assembling an inductive proximity sensor maintains inductive coil wound bobbins in fixed relation to an inductive core within a housing. The method includes configuring two inductive coil wound bobbins with an integral ledge cantilevered from an inside surface thereof for |
| 7358720 |
Proximity sensor interface |
April 15, 2008 |
| A first measured value is determined which is associated with the proximity of a target to an inductive sensor. A first voltage signal having a first amplitude is generated. The first voltage signal is provided as a driving signal to the inductive sensor. A sensor current signal is r |
| 7355392 |
Printed circuit card-based proximity sensor and associated method of detecting a proximity of an |
April 8, 2008 |
| A proximity sensor assembly includes a multilayer printed wiring board proximity sensor, the proximity sensor being operable as either a variable-reluctance sensor or an eddy current loss sensor. The proximity sensor includes a plurality of layers configured to form at least one woun |
| 7321102 |
Float switch transient suppression device |
January 22, 2008 |
| A float switch system for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a tank of combustible liquid comprises: a float switch disposed within the tank; an interface circuit external to the tank and coupled through wiring to the float switch; a passive transient suppression |
| 7302101 |
Viewing a compartment |
November 27, 2007 |
| Detecting video phenomena, such as fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of video images from a plurality of sources, compensating the images to provide enhanced images, extracting features from the enhanced images, and combining the features from the plurality |
| 7296006 |
Method of inferring rotorcraft gross weight |
November 13, 2007 |
| Described are systems and methods for determining the gross weight of an aircraft. A flight regime is determined based on one or more inputs. A neural net is selected based on a flight regime. The neural net inputs may include derived values. A first estimate of the gross weight is p |
| 7280696 |
Video detection/verification system |
October 9, 2007 |
| Detecting video phenomena, such as fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of video images from a plurality of sources, compensating the images to provide enhanced images, extracting features from the enhanced images, and combining the features from the plurality |
| 7272513 |
Optimal shaft balance using integer programing to handle discrete adjustment |
September 18, 2007 |
| Determining a shaft balance adjustment includes measuring an initial vibration of the shaft, determining if the initial vibration is greater than a predetermined value, and, if the initial vibration is greater than the predetermined value, determining an adjustment by choosing a best |
| 7271585 |
Method of fabricating a multilayer wiring board proximity sensor |
September 18, 2007 |
| A method of fabricating a multilayer wiring board proximity sensor includes forming a laminate, and fabricating a plurality of through-conductors through the layers of the laminate. The laminate has a plurality of layers including one or more core layers and a plurality of coil layer |
| 7262595 |
Segmented core for an inductive proximity sensor |
August 28, 2007 |
| An inductive proximity sensor for sensing the presence of target based on a change of inductance in the sensor. The sensor includes a coil and a core formed of a permeable material so as to form an electromagnetic field when the coil is electrically driven. The core has a base, a cen |
| 7256818 |
Detecting fire using cameras |
August 14, 2007 |
| Detecting a fire, such as a fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of frames of video information, determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames, and detecting the presence of fire in response to the energy indicator for each o |
| 7250857 |
Multiplexer method and system for intrinsically safe applications and a multiplexer switch for u |
July 31, 2007 |
| A multiplexing system is provided for a plurality of sensors disposed in a tank containing a potentially explosive environment and excited from a common excitation circuit outside of the tank through a corresponding plurality of signal lines that penetrate the tank. The multiplexing |
| 7245315 |
Distinguishing between fire and non-fire conditions using cameras |
July 17, 2007 |
| Detecting fire and non-fire conditions includes receiving a plurality of frames of video information, determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames, detecting a fire condition in response to the energy indicator for each of the subset of the plurality |
| 7203716 |
Method and apparatus for fast interpolation of multi-dimensional functions with non-rectangular |
April 10, 2007 |
| Interpolation techniques are described for use with data that may not be uniform and may be characterized as scattered. Such data may be obtained in instances where data acquisition may not be easily controlled such as in obtaining experimental data for use with models. Data interpolatio |
| 7176398 |
Transient suppression device and method of packaging the same |
February 13, 2007 |
| A transient suppression device for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a fuel tank of an aircraft over interface wiring that penetrates a wall of the fuel tank comprises: an elongated, hollow, conductive housing capped at one end and open at another end, the housing |
| 7170385 |
Inductive proximity sensor and method of assembling the same |
January 30, 2007 |
| An inductive proximity sensor comprises: a housing including an opening on one side; an inductive core including two legs, each core leg including a foot portion; an inductive coil wound bobbin disposed about each leg of the core, each bobbin including an integral ledge cantilevered from |
| 7139668 |
Wire event detection |
November 21, 2006 |
| Classifying a portion of an electrical signal propagating through a conductor includes digitizing the electrical signal to provide a digitized signal, providing a plurality of stored digitized signals, wherein each stored digitized signal corresponds to a type of fault for the conduc |
| 7136794 |
Method and apparatus for estimating values for condition indicators |
November 14, 2006 |
| Disclosed are techniques used in connection with determining a health indicator (HI) of a component, such as that of an aircraft component. The HI is determined using condition indicators (CIs) which parameterize characteristics about a component minimizing possibility of a false ala |
| 7129701 |
Method of inductive proximity sensing |
October 31, 2006 |
| A method of non-intrusive, inductive proximity sensing of a target through a conductive barrier comprises the steps of: disposing an inductive proximity sensor on one side of a barrier of conductive material; disposing a target on the other side of the barrier; determining an appropr |
| 7120563 |
Wire fault detection |
October 10, 2006 |
| Described are techniques used in a wire diagnostics system to detect events, such as defects, that may occur within a wire or cable under test. An incident voltage signal is sent out on the wire and a measured voltage signal is obtained which includes the incident voltage and the ref |
| 7100865 |
Method and apparatus for stowing and deploying control surfaces of a guided air vehicle |
September 5, 2006 |
| Apparatus for stowing and deploying a plurality of control surfaces of a guided air vehicle comprises: a housing including: a plurality of slotted openings along an outside surface thereof; and a corresponding plurality of cavities within the housing, each cavity extending to the outside |
| 7006339 |
Apparatus for and method of protecting the safe side wiring of a protective barrier against tran |
February 28, 2006 |
| A method of protecting safe side wiring of a protective energy barrier against transferring fault energy into a potentially explosive environment comprises the steps of: enclosing the safe side wiring with at least one layer of shielding completely along the length thereof, the at le |
| 6957582 |
Ultrasonic system and method of gauging aircraft fuel and detecting battle damage |
October 25, 2005 |
| An aircraft ultrasonic system for fuel gauging and battle damage detection comprises: at least one ultrasonic transducer disposed at a fuel tank of the aircraft; a first circuit for exciting the at least one ultrasonic transducer to transmit an acoustic pulse toward a surface of fuel in |
| 6950763 |
Optimal shaft balance using integer programming to handle discrete adjustment |
September 27, 2005 |
| Determining a shaft balance adjustment includes measuring an initial vibration of the shaft, determining if the initial vibration is greater than a predetermined value, and, if the initial vibration is greater than the predetermined value, determining an adjustment by choosing a best |
| 6927958 |
Active transient suppression apparatus for potentially explosive environments |
August 9, 2005 |
| Active transient suppression apparatus coupleable in series with an electrical pathway into a potentially explosive environment for limiting current, voltage and energy thereto comprises: an impedance element coupleable in series with the electrical pathway; a protection circuit comp |
| 6847917 |
Method and apparatus for selecting condition indicators in determining the health of a component |
January 25, 2005 |
| Disclosed are techniques used in connection with determining a health indicator (HI) of a component, such as that of an aircraft component. The HI is determined using condition indicators (CIs) which parameterize characteristics about a component minimizing possibility of a false alarm. |
| 6822460 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a dry/wet state of a thermistor bead using temperature compen |
November 23, 2004 |
| A system for determining a level of a combustible fuel in an aircraft fuel tank with a thermistor bead comprises: apparatus for disposing the thermistor bead at a height in the fuel tank; a temperature sensor disposed in the fuel tank for measuring a temperature in proximity to the t |
| 6800867 |
System for measuring a parameter inside an adverse environment while protecting the adverse envi |
October 5, 2004 |
| An active safety barrier circuit is disposable in series with an electrical conductor at a barrier between an adverse environment and an outside environment for passing an analog signal over the electrical conductor across the barrier while preventing potentially dangerous electrical |
| 6782122 |
Apparatus for measuring height of a liquid in a container using area image pattern recognition t |
August 24, 2004 |
| This disclosure is directed to apparatus for measuring height of a surface of liquid in a container utilizing a light source and camera pair disposed above the liquid surface in a predetermined spatial relationship to each other and the container. The light source illuminates the liquid |
| 6758084 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a dry/wet state of a thermistor bead |
July 6, 2004 |
| A method of detecting a dry/wet state of a thermistor bead comprises the steps of: conducting current through the thermistor bead selectively between first and second current levels; measuring a difference in voltage across the thermistor bead in response to the first and second current |
| 6754569 |
Method and apparatus for normalizing condition indicators |
June 22, 2004 |
| Disclosed are techniques used in connection with determining a health indicator (HI) of a component, such as that of an aircraft component. The HI is determined using condition indicators (CIs) which parameterize characteristics about a component minimizing possibility of a false alarm. |
| 6744036 |
Optically coupled sensor for application to combustible liquids |
June 1, 2004 |
| An optically coupled circuit is electrically coupleable to a capacitive probe transducer disposed in a liquid in a tank for sensing the capacitance of the probe transducer which is a measure of a parameter of the liquid. A first converter circuit receives optical energy over a non-co |
| 6728658 |
Method and apparatus for determining the health of a component using condition indicators |
April 27, 2004 |
| Disclosed are techniques used in connection with determining a health indicator (HI) of a component, such as that of an aircraft component. The HI is determined using condition indicators (CIs) which parameterize characteristics about a component minimizing possibility of a false alarm. |
| 6714393 |
Transient suppression apparatus for potentially explosive environments |
March 30, 2004 |
| Transient suppression apparatus, which is coupleable in series with an electrical pathway into a potentially explosive environment for limiting current, voltage and energy thereto, comprises: an impedance element coupleable in series with the electrical pathway to conduct current to the |
| 6711523 |
Method and apparatus for determining a condition indicator for use in evaluating the health of a |
March 23, 2004 |
| Disclosed are techniques used in connection with determining a health indicator (HI) of a component, such as that of an aircraft component. The HI is determined using condition indicators (CIs) which parameterize characteristics about a component minimizing possibility of a false alarm. |
