James Scott Lockett

US Patent:

6763006, Jul 13, 2004

Filed:

Sep 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/665733

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX

Assignee:

Sola Communications, Inc. - Scott LA

International Classification:

H04B 7185

US Classification:

370318, 370 3, 370332, 455 121, 455 10, 455 134

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for controlling uplink transmission power in a satellite communication system is disclosed. The satellite communication system includes a satellite and one or more earth stations, one of which serving as a control station. The satellite can receive uplink signals from any one of the earth stations and retransmits the uplink signals as downlink signals, along with a beacon signal. The control station measures the power of the downlink signals and the beacon signal received from the satellite, and also measures the noise power near the beacon signal. From these measurements, the control station determines an appropriate gain value of the power for uplink transmissions for each of the earth stations.

US Patent:

42719682, Jun 9, 1981

Filed:

May 5, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/903058

Inventors:

Thomas O. Mehrkam - Houston TX
James F. Lockett - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209564

Abstract:

A sorting apparatus for sorting a stream of articles and for ejecting unacceptably classified articles therefrom is characterized by an ejector dwell controller operative to control the duration of operation of an ejector element in accordance with the length of the article being ejected. The ejector is initiated when a predetermined lead-point on an article classified as unacceptable enters into an ejection zone proximal to the ejector and continues until a predetermined cut-off point thereon enters the ejection zone. An ejecting force is thus directed toward the same predetermined portion of each article being ejected without regard to the location of the defect causing the unacceptable classification.

US Patent:

43445390, Aug 17, 1982

Filed:

May 5, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/903050

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209564

Abstract:

A sorting apparatus universally applicable to any article sorting task without the necessity of changing a background member for each article type is characterized by first and second optically imposed "backgrounds" against which light reflected from the same portion of each article passing within a predetermined viewed area as defined by an optical frame is detected. Photodetectors associated with each "background" are operative to generate first and second electrical signal representations of the reflected light detected against each background. An electrical signal representative of the portion of the viewed area occupied by the article and functionally related to the difference between first and second signal representations is used to scale one of the first or second signals to provide a signal representation of the full-frame percentage reflectivity of the article. Additionally, a nulling circuit is operative while the articles are passing through the viewer to provide drift compensation.

US Patent:

40882276, May 9, 1978

Filed:

Jul 12, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/704652

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

2091116

Abstract:

A sorting apparatus wherein a plurality of first and second electrical color signals from a predetermined number of viewer elements are sampled by a time multiplexer, classified on the basis of the ratio of the color signals sampled from each viewer, and demultiplexed to actuate an ejector associated with each viewer if a comparison of the ratio classification signal with predetermined references indicates an unacceptably colored product or foreign object is characterized by circuitry for testing the digital logic elements associated with the sorting apparatus, and for sampling and displaying signal outputs from predetermined test points within the sorter circuitry at predetermined multiplex times.

US Patent:

42079853, Jun 17, 1980

Filed:

May 5, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/903057

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX
Thomas O. Mehrkam - Houston TX
Richard R. M. Braham - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209564

Abstract:

Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a circuit arrangement responsive to first and second electrical signals representative of the light reflected from the same portion of the article to be sorted as detected against a first and a second background, the first background having a reflectivity characteristic greater than the reflectivity characteristic of the second background, to generate an electrical signal representation of the portion of the viewing zone occupied by the article. This signal is used to scale both the first and second signals to provide an electrical signal representation of the reflectivity of the article at the first and second color wavelengths. The apparatus is further characterized by an article classifier which classifies the article on the basis of the intensity of light reflected at the first and second color wavelengths, the classifier including a memory element having a plurality of storage locations therein which are utilized to define a profile of acceptable articles and to generate an article-reject signal if the reflected intensities of the first and second colors define a point outside of the profile. An ejector is responsive to an ejector dwell control arrangement which initiates operation thereof to apply an ejecting force toward the same predetermined portion of each article being ejected without regard to the presence of the predetermined physical characteristics on the portion of the article toward which the ejecting force is directed.

US Patent:

42391180, Dec 16, 1980

Filed:

Feb 3, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/874780

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209581

Abstract:

Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a nulling arrangement which corrects for amplifier offset and drift as the sort occurs. The nulling arrangement samples the amplifier output during a predetermined sample time period to detect the lowest signal output from the amplifier during the sample period. An electrical signal representative of the difference between the lowest detected signal and a predetermined reference signal representative of the light reflected from the background is generated for application as a correction signal to the amplifier. A memory stores the largest correction signal detected during the previous sample period for application to the amplifier during the present sample period. The memory also stores the largest correction signal detected during the present sample period. This present sample is updated if a comparison between the instantaneous correction signal and the stored correction signal are such that the instantaneous correction signal magnitude is larger than the stored correction signal value.

US Patent:

42600626, Apr 7, 1981

Filed:

Aug 31, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/829485

Inventors:

James F. Lockett - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342
G01J 346

US Classification:

209582

Abstract:

A sorting apparatus for sorting articles randomly disposed in an article stream includes a viewer for viewing a predetermined area through which the article stream is passed and for generating an electrical characteristic signal functionally related to the presence of a physical characteristic of the article passing within the viewed area. The electrical characteristic signal is compared to a range of signal values representative of a foreign object. The amount of time during which the characteristic signal falls within the range of signal values during a reference time interval is measured and compared with a time reference standard. An article reject signal is generated if the characteristic signal falls within the predetermined range of signal values for an amount of time exceeding the predetermined time reference standard. The reference time interval is measured from the occurrence of an article-detect signal generated by an article-detect signal generator which signal is representative of the presence of an article within the viewed area. The invention may be implemented in digital or analog format and in a multiplexed or non-multiplexed environment.

US Patent:

43089593, Jan 5, 1982

Filed:

May 30, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/043694

Inventors:

Michael C. Hoover - Houston TX
Charles R. Brazell - Houston TX
Shyam B. Mehta - Houston TX
James F. Lockett - Houston TX
Elias H. Codding - Houston TX

Assignee:

Geosource Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209563

Abstract:

An apparatus for sorting articles based upon the presence of defects on the surface thereof is characterized by a roller conveyor carrying a random array of articles in transverse channels defined between adjacent rollers. As the conveyor is advanced through a viewed area the articles are simultaneously rotated such that electrical images are formed of the portions of the surface of each article within a viewing zone defined in each channel during a given time frame. The viewing zones advance a predetermined distance through the viewed are in synchronization with the scanning of the electrical images. A characteristic signal for the portion of the electrical image corresponding to each article is developed and output to a processor. The processor generates a classification signal representative of the acceptability of each article based upon the percentage of total surface of area or number of defects on the surface each article.