John F Ackerman

US Patent:

6351118, Feb 26, 2002

Filed:

Jan 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/233390

Inventors:

John F. Ackerman - Ramsey MN
Erik H. Lange - Anoka MN

Assignee:

Honeywell Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G01B 7004

US Classification:

32420717, 702153

Abstract:

Helmet trackers include transmitters to transmit information regarding the orientation and position of the helmet, receivers to receive the information, and processors to process the information to determine the position and orientation of the helmet. An apparatus, connected to the transmitter, is used to attain a faster response time for the transmitter to transmit. Such apparatus may include an amplifier, a plurality of capacitors connected to the amplifier, a plurality of transistors each connected to a respective capacitor, and a controller connected to each transistor to control when a transistor turns on. The capacitors can store charge while the transistors are âoff,â and once the transistors are turned âonâ, an instant charge will exist to supply energy to the transmitter.

US Patent:

7257512, Aug 14, 2007

Filed:

Apr 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/399909

Inventors:

John F. Ackerman - Mounds View MN, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

G06P 15/00

US Classification:

702141, 73488

Abstract:

A method for reducing effects of vibropendulous errors within a sensor device having three orthogonal sensors is described. The method includes calculating compensation terms for each sensor, the compensation terms associated with an angle between a pendulous axis for the sensor and a cross axis of the sensor, and subtracting the compensation terms for each sensor from data received from that sensor.

US Patent:

20160109239, Apr 21, 2016

Filed:

Oct 21, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/520019

Inventors:

- Morristown NJ, US
John F. Ackerman - Mounds View MN, US

International Classification:

G01C 19/66
H02J 1/00

Abstract:

A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) assembly comprises an RLG block comprising: a first anode; a second anode; a cathode; and a cavity. The RLG assembly further comprises a current supply circuit coupled to the RLG block. The current supply circuit comprises a high voltage power supply to provide a high voltage signal; a first current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the first anode to provide a first current to the first anode; and a second current path coupled between the high voltage power supply and the second anode to provide a second current to the second anode. The second current path is configured to mirror the first current such that the second current approximately matches the first current. Each component in the second current path is configured to operate based on power derived only from the high voltage signal.

US Patent:

20160010994, Jan 14, 2016

Filed:

Jul 8, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/325674

Inventors:

- Morristown NJ, US
John F. Ackerman - Mounds View MN, US

International Classification:

G01C 19/5776

Abstract:

A motor drive loop circuit for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope is provided. The motor drive loop circuit includes a motor configured to drive a proof mass in the MEMS gyroscope and a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter. The motor is configured to cause the proof mass to oscillate at a primary-proof-mass mode. The a minus-90-degree phase-shift twin-tee notch filter is configured to: provide a minus 90 degree phase at a motor resonance frequency equal to the primary-proof-mass mode; suppress resonance at undesired mechanical modes of the motor during a startup of the motor; and provide gain at the motor resonance frequency.