David R Donovan

US Patent:

6580450, Jun 17, 2003

Filed:

Mar 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/532737

Inventors:

Bernard C Kersting - Chattanooga TN
David J Donovan - Hixson TN
Robert M. Pap - Chattanooga TN
Melvin P. Kocher - Ringgold GA
Timothy W. Robinson - Glen Burnie MD

Assignee:

Accurate Automation Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

348148, 348144, 348153

Abstract:

A vehicle imaging surveillance and recording system adapted to monitor conditions prevailing during the course of a trip and provided for this purpose cameras are placed in the control station of the vehicle and about the vehicle. At least two recording devices record the output of the cameras. One device records a thirty minute high resolution image. The second device records a two hour lower resolution image. Both devices compress the data that is to be recorded in storage. The output signals yielded from storage are fed into an on-board transmitter to modulate a carrier that is radiated from the vehicle and intercepted by an active communications satellite. These output signals are being transmitted only under certain conditions. One condition is to provide a switch under the control of a crew member in the control station of the vehicle. The other condition provides for automatically switching on the transmission to the satellite when certain parameters occur.

US Patent:

20040039497, Feb 26, 2004

Filed:

Jun 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/458309

Inventors:

Thomas Wood - Signal Mountain TN, US
David Donovan - Hixson TN, US
Chadwick Cox - Chattanooga TN, US
Robert Pap - Chattanooga TN, US

Assignee:

Accurate Automation Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

G05D001/00
G06F007/00

US Classification:

701/004000, 701/008000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus to record and process operations information from aircraft for the purpose of improving maintenance processes, improving security, and accident investigation is described. Information recorded from aircraft operations includes equipment operational data, images of people and equipment, and sound information. This digital information that is recorded is a result of, in some cases, sampling an analog signal. In other cases, the digital information is a result of many information processing steps to improve the usefulness of the information while using a minimum quantity of data. This invention includes steps to compress the quantity of data while producing the most useful information. The digital information may be recorded aboard the aircraft in any of several data storage media, or the information may be transmitted from the aircraft, or a combination of storage aboard the aircraft and transmission may be used. The processes to reduce the quantity of data required to accurately represent the original signals and information are required to use transmission means that include limited bandwidth, and to use data storage aboard the aircraft where the storage is limited in size. The invention includes processes to encrypt or “hide” the digital information from an unauthorized individual or agency that comes into possession of the storage module aboard the aircraft or that receives the transmission from the aircraft. This invention includes processes that may be used to modify recorded images so that individuals or equipment that is deemed private are digitally removed from the digital image that is recorded.

US Patent:

58506250, Dec 15, 1998

Filed:

Mar 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/819980

Inventors:

Alianna J. Maren - Hixson TN
Richard M. Akita - Carlsbad CA
Bradley D. Colbert - Oakton VA
David J. Donovan - Hixson TN
Charles W. Glover - Knoxville TN
Karl Mathia - Chattanooga TN
Robert M. Pap - Chattanooga TN
Kevin L. Priddy - Signal Mountain TN
Timothy W. Robinson - Chattanooga TN
Richard E. Saeks - Chattanooga TN

Assignee:

Accurate Automation Corporation - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

H04N 5272

US Classification:

702 93

Abstract:

The invented apparatus fuses two or more sensor signals to generate a fused signal with an improved confidence of target existence and position. The invented apparatus includes gain, control and fusion units, and can also include an integration unit. The integration unit receives signals generated by two or more sensors, and generates integrated signals based on the sensor signals. The integration unit performs temporal and weighted spatial integration of the sensor signals, to generate respective sets of integrated signals supplied to the gain control and fusion units. The gain control unit uses a preprogrammed function to map the integrated signals to an output signal that is scaled to generate a gain signal supplied to the fusion unit. The fusion unit uses a preprogrammed function to map its received integrated signals and the gain signal, to a fused signal that is the output of the invented apparatus. The weighted spatial integration increases the fused signal's sensitivity to near detections and suppresses response to detections relatively distant in space and time, from a detection of interest.