Christopher F Allen

US Patent:

6435286, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Sep 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/676730

Inventors:

Gregory S Stump - Oakland IL
Christopher T. Allen - Independence MO

Assignee:

Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Inc. - Pella IA

International Classification:

E21B 4400

US Classification:

175 26, 175 24, 175 40, 175 45, 324333, 324338, 3408531, 3408533, 3408534, 3408536

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for determining a location and an orientation of an underground boring tool by employment of a radar-like probe and detection technique. The boring tool is provided with a device which generates a specific signature signal in response to a probe signal transmitted from above the ground. Cooperation between the probe signal transmitter at ground level and the signature signal generating device provided at the underground boring tool results in accurate detection of the boring tool location and, if desired, orientation, despite the presence of a large background signal. Precision detection of the boring tool location and orientation enables the operator to accurately locate the boring tool during operation and, if provided with a directional capacity, avoid buried obstacles such as utilities and other hazards. The signature signal produced by the boring tool may be generated either passively or actively, and may be a microwave or an acoustic signal. Further, the signature signal may be produced in a manner which differs from that used to produce the probe signal in one or more ways, including timing, frequency content, information content, or polarization.

US Patent:

6781679, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Nov 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/299675

Inventors:

Douglas Lew Richards - Stilwell KS
Christopher Thomas Allen - Independence MO
Douglas C. Hague - Shawnee Mission KS

Assignee:

Sprint Communications Company, L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

356 731

Abstract:

A system identifies a polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) event in an optical fiber by determining error conditions in proximate wavelengths. The system includes an optical interface and a PMD identification system. The optical interface receives an optical signal from the optical fiber wherein the optical signal is wavelength division multiplexed with a plurality of wavelengths. The PMD identification system determines whether a first error condition exists in a first one of the wavelengths of the optical signal. The PMD identification system also determines whether a second error condition exists in a second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal wherein the second one of the wavelengths is proximate to the first one of the wavelengths. The PMD identification system also determines whether an acceptable condition exists in a third one of the wavelengths of the optical signal that is not proximate to the first one and the second one of the wavelengths of the optical signal. The PMD identification system then determines the presence of the polarization-mode dispersion event in the optical fiber based on the first error condition, the second error condition, and the acceptable condition.

US Patent:

6886644, May 3, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224205

Inventors:

Gregory S Stump - Oakland IL, US
Christopher T. Allen - Independence MO, US

Assignee:

Vermeer Manufacturing Company - Pella IA

International Classification:

E21B007/04

US Classification:

175 61, 3408534, 3408536

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for horizontally drilling provides for detecting subsurface features and avoiding such features during closed-loop control of an underground drilling machine. A horizontal drilling system includes a base machine capable of propelling a drill pipe rotationally and longitudinally underground. A cutting tool system is coupled to the drill pipe, and a control system controls the base machine. A detector is employed to detect a subsurface feature. A communication link is utilized for transferring data between the detector and the control system. The control system uses the data generated by the detector to modify control of the base machine in response to detection of the subsurface feature.

US Patent:

6999688, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Dec 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/027966

Inventors:

Rongqing Hui - Leneza KS, US
Christopher T. Allen - Independence MO, US
Kenneth Robert Demarest - Lawrence KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Communications Company L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

H04B 10/06

US Classification:

398205, 398206, 398209

Abstract:

A receiver system processes a received optical signal that carries user information. The receiver system includes a splitter, a first converter, a second converter, and a detection system. The splitter splits the received optical signal based on polarization into a first optical signal and a second optical signal. The first converter converts the first optical signal into a corresponding first electrical signal. The second converter also converts the second optical signal into a corresponding second electrical signal. The detection system applies radio frequency detection to the first electrical signal to generate a third electrical signal. The detection system applies radio frequency detection to the second electrical signal to generate a fourth electrical signal. The detection system then combines the third electrical signal and the fourth electrical signal to form a fifth electrical signal that carries the user information.

US Patent:

7182151, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

May 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/120755

Inventors:

Gregory S Stump - Oakland IL, US
Christopher T. Allen - Independence MO, US

Assignee:

Vermeer Manufacturing Company - Pella IA

International Classification:

E21B 47/024
E21B 7/04

US Classification:

175 45, 175 62, 1662551, 1662552, 1662541

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for horizontally drilling for detecting subsurface features and avoiding such features during closed-loop control of an underground drilling machine. A horizontal drilling system includes a base machine capable of propelling a drill pipe rotationally and longitudinally underground. A cutting tool system is coupled to the drill pipe, and a control system controls the base machine. A detector is employed to detect a subsurface feature. A communication link is utilized for transferring data between the detector and the control system. The control system uses the data generated by the detector to modify control of the base machine in response to detection of the subsurface feature.

US Patent:

7221871, May 22, 2007

Filed:

Jul 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/621858

Inventors:

Douglas Lew Richards - Stilwell KS, US
Christopher Thomas Allen - Lawrence KS, US
Douglas Charles Hague - Overland Park KS, US
Mark Loyd Jones - Overland Park KS, US

Assignee:

Sprint Communications Company L.P. - Overland Park KS

International Classification:

H04J 14/02

US Classification:

398 81, 398147, 398152

Abstract:

A monitoring system is described that is comprised of a processing system and a database system. The database system is configured to store identities for a plurality of channels in the communication network. The processing system identifies an error on a first channel of the plurality of channels. The processing system identifies a second channel of the plurality of channels that is adjacent to the first channel based on the database system and determines if an error occurs on the second channel. The processing system identifies a third channel of the plurality of channels based on database system and determines if an error occurs on the third channel. The processing system identifies polarization-mode dispersion based on determining the error occurs on the second channel and determining the error does not occur on the third channel.

US Patent:

20020071109, Jun 13, 2002

Filed:

Jul 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912729

Inventors:

Christopher Allen - Independence MO, US
Sivaprasad Gogineni - Lawrence KS, US

International Classification:

G01C003/08

US Classification:

356/005010

Abstract:

A laser radar system and method use a reference signal that is impressed on an optical carrier for transmission as a transmit signal. When the transmit signal is reflected or otherwise scattered by a target and returned to the laser radar system as a receive signal, the receive signal is received and processed to remove the optical carrier component of the receive signal to result in a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal. The RF carrier signal is processed to obtain an RF envelope. The RF envelope is processed with the reference signal to determine a difference frequency between the reference signal and the RF envelope. The resultant difference frequency is proportional to the delay period between the time the transmit signal was generated and the receive signal was received. By using the difference frequency, and thereby using the delay, the range between the laser radar system and the target can be determined.

US Patent:

20080131133, Jun 5, 2008

Filed:

May 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/750080

Inventors:

Shannon D. Blunt - Shawnee KS, US
Daniel D. Deavours - Lawrence KS, US
Christopher T. Allen - Lawrence KS, US

International Classification:

H04B 10/00

US Classification:

398128

Abstract:

A method and system for a device to embed a low signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) communications signal into the backscatter of an illuminating signal. The illuminating signal may be acoustic or electromagnetic (EM) such as radio frequency (RF), light, or infrared (IR). The embedded communications signal may be recovered at a desired receiver.