Michael D Horton

US Patent:

6421622, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Jun 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/326738

Inventors:

Michael A. Horton - Los Gatos CA
Jose A. Rios - Oakland CA
Jin Song - Saratoga CA

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01P 2100

US Classification:

702 95, 702151, 702155, 701 11, 701220

Abstract:

A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object. Attitude sensing is accomplished by measuring acceleration in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate about each such axis to compute attitude accurately relative to a vertical axis. The system includes accelerometers and angular rate sensors for sensing the acceleration and the angular rate, respectively, of the object. A processor updates a quarternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object and a corrective rate signal to obtain the attitude of the object. Temperature compensation and frequency compensation may also be performed to update the quarternion.

US Patent:

6647352, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/136955

Inventors:

Michael A. Horton - Los Gatos CA

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01C 1700

US Classification:

702151

Abstract:

A method and system attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object.

US Patent:

6853947, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Oct 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/684950

Inventors:

Michael A. Horton - Los Gatos CA, US

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F015/00

US Classification:

702151, 702150

Abstract:

A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object.

US Patent:

7176808, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

Nov 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/706225

Inventors:

Alan S. Broad - Palo Alto CA, US
Matt Miller - Grass Valley CA, US
Michael A. Horton - Los Gatos CA, US

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G08B 23/00

US Classification:

34087007, 707100, 370331

Abstract:

A method and system updates a network of sensors remotely through the use of a communication link. The sensors to be updated as well as data files to perform the updating are selected at a base station. The selected sensors are notified of the upcoming update by the base station and may accept or reject the update. The sensors that approve the update then receive data files through the communication link. The sensors notify the base station of any missing data files, which are then retransmitted to all sensors that may be missing data files from the first transmission. After the sensors receive all data files, the update is initiated.

US Patent:

7216055, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Dec 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/026256

Inventors:

Michael A. Horton - Santa Clara CA, US
Jose Rios - Lafayette CA, US

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/00

US Classification:

702153, 702150

Abstract:

A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.

US Patent:

7369047, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Mar 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/096098

Inventors:

Alan S. Broad - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael A. Horton - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G08B 13/14

US Classification:

3405721, 3405731, 340 101, 705 22, 235385, 370254, 370310

Abstract:

A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of radio-frequency identification signals, and indicative of proximity sensing at the module. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing inventory, pricing and customer responses to transmit through the adaptive network signals representative of information to be displayed at selectively-addresses modules in response to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming an adaptive network.

US Patent:

7418364, Aug 26, 2008

Filed:

Jun 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/446063

Inventors:

Michael A. Horton - Santa Clara CA, US
Jose Rios - Lafayette CA, US

Assignee:

Crossbow Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G06F 15/00

US Classification:

702153, 702151

Abstract:

A method and system senses the attitude of an accelerating object by measuring acceleration with accelerometers in three orthogonal axes and measuring angular rate with angular rate sensors disposed about each such axis to compute attitude of the object accurately relative to a vertical axis. A processor updates a quaternion representation of attitude based upon the angular rate of the object, and a corrective rate signal is determined from level frame acceleration as a reference for a Kalman filter in calculating the attitude of the object. When velocity or airspeed is available from an external source, an aiding algorithm is employed to provide accurate attitude representations throughout all flight regimes.

US Patent:

7705729, Apr 27, 2010

Filed:

Mar 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/095640

Inventors:

Alan S. Broad - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael A. Horton - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

MEMSIC, Inc. - Andover MA

International Classification:

G08B 13/00

US Classification:

340541, 3405391, 3405721, 3405731

Abstract:

A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network.