John M Sutton

US Patent:

40074005, Feb 8, 1977

Filed:

Mar 11, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/557439

Inventors:

John F. Sutton - Beltsville MD

International Classification:

H01J 2970
H01J 2972

US Classification:

315364

Abstract:

A cathode ray oscilloscope deflection system selectively displays an integral number of cycles of a periodic or quasi-periodic input signal, regardless of the frequency of the signal. A wide band phase locked loop, synchronized to the input signal, generates pulses at a pulse repetition rate that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the input signal. A ripple counter converts the pulses into a staircase, x-axis deflection signal having a period equal to the duration of the number of cycles of the input signal selected for display and a predetermined maximum amplitude so that the x-axis of the scope is always swept the same distance regardless of the frequency of the input signal. The number of cycles displayed is determined by the repetition rate of the phase locked loop pulses relative to the frequency of the input signal. The repetition rate of the loop pulses is controlled by: (a) a first binary divider for controlling which of the fundamental or integral submultiple frequency of the input signal to which the phase locked loop is synchronized, and/or (b) a second binary divider circuit for controlling the pulse repetition rate of feedback pulses in the phase locked loop.

US Patent:

50159631, May 14, 1991

Filed:

Sep 29, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/414815

Inventors:

John F. Sutton - Greenbelt MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

H03D 104

US Classification:

329361

Abstract:

A synchronous demodulator includes a switch which is operated in synchronism with an incoming periodic signal and both divides and applies that signal to two signal channels. The two channels each include a network for computing and holding, for a predetermined length of time, the average signal value on that channel and applies those values, in the form of two other signals, to the inputs of a diffferential amplifier. The networks may be R-C networks. The output of the differential amplifier may or may not form the output of the synchronous detector and may or may not be filtered. The output will not include a periodic signal due to the presence of a dc offset. Additionally, the output will not contain any substantial ripple due to periodic components in the input signal. In a somewhat more complex version, containing twice the structural components of the above synchronous demodulator with a more complex switching mechanism, essentially all ripple due to periodic components in the input signal are eliminated.

US Patent:

53111982, May 10, 1994

Filed:

Aug 23, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/571060

Inventors:

John F. Sutton - Dayton MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01Q 124

US Classification:

343701

Abstract:

An antenna, which may be a search coil, is connected to an operational amplifier circuit which provides negative impedances, each of which is in the order of magnitude of the positive impedances which characterize the antenna. The antenna is connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier, a resistor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier, a capacitor-resistor network, in parallel, is connected between the output and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier, and a resistor is connected from the noninverting input and the circuit common. While this circuit provides a negative resistance and a negative inductance, in series, which appear, looking into the noninverting input of the operational amplifier, in parallel with the antenna, these negative impedances appear in a series loop with the antenna positive impedances, so as to algebraically add. This circuit is tuned by varying the various circuit components so that the negative impedances are very close, but somewhat less, in magnitude, to the antenna impedances. The result is to increase the sensitivity of the antenna by lowering its effective impedance.

US Patent:

52968669, Mar 22, 1994

Filed:

Jul 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/736845

Inventors:

John F. Sutton - Greenbelt MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Adminsitrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01Q 126

US Classification:

343701

Abstract:

An antenna, which may be a search coil, connected to an active circuit which provides negative impedances, each of which is of the order of magnitude of the positive impedances which characterize this active antenna. In one embodiment, one coil terminal is connected to an amplifier which drives a voltage-controlled current source that, in turn, drives a feedback coil which is coupled to the original search coil. In another embodiment that additionally exhibits an advantageous signal-to-noise characteristic, both terminals of the search coil are connected to a differential amplifier that, in turn, provides the control voltage for a current source, which, as in the first embodiment, drives the feedback winding. The feedback coil is wound to provide positive feedback by additive superposition of both coil fields. The positive feedback provided by the feedback current lowers the antenna impedance which, in turn, increases the effective area of the antenna.

US Patent:

50217291, Jun 4, 1991

Filed:

Oct 6, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/418373

Inventors:

John F. Sutton - Greenbelt MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
Administration National Aeronautics and Space - Washington DC

International Classification:

G05F 112

US Classification:

323311

Abstract:

A differential, voltage-controlled current source, employing operational amplifiers as the active elements, provides an essentially symmetrical, differential, high impedance drive to a load, the drive being isolated from any circuit common or system ground. Because of the "floating" differential drive and the identical source impedances of the two outputs, errors from common mode voltages are eliminated.

US Patent:

20140098523, Apr 10, 2014

Filed:

Oct 5, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/646137

Inventors:

JOHN A. SUTTON - Jacksonville FL, US

International Classification:

F21V 21/08
F21V 31/00
F21V 5/04

US Classification:

362103

Abstract:

A lighted safety belt to provide path lighting for the wearer and to signal presence of the wearer on approaching traffic. The safety belt comprises a band of flexible nylon material having a front segment and a rear segment, a series of light emitting diodes in the front segment to provide path lighting in a direction of movement of the wearer, a light diffusing strip coextensive with a portion of the rear segment of the band to scatter light emitted from a series of light-emitting diodes associated therewith, a battery, a wiring harness to provide electrical power to path-lighting diodes and the diffusing strip, and a controller to control on-off switching of power to or blinking pattern for the path-lighting diodes and the diffusing strip.