Paul Dexter Ray

US Patent:

7197381, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Dec 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/728869

Inventors:

Suneel Ismail Sheikh - College Park MD, US
Darryll John Pines - Clarksville MD, US
Kent S. Wood - Chevy Chase MD, US
Paul Shelton Ray - Alexandria VA, US
Michael N. Lovellette - Seabrook MD, US

Assignee:

University of Maryland - College Park MD

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

701 13, 701 3, 2502031, 2505781, 33268, 33269

Abstract:

A system and method for navigation utilizing sources of pulsed celestial radiation are provided. A spacecraft, satellite, or other vehicle () has a pulse sensor () mounted thereto for detecting signal pulses () generated by a plurality of pulsars or other celestial objects (). The detected signal pulses () are synchronously averaged at the known period of the pulsar or other celestial object () with respect to a timer (). Timer () measures the pulse time of arrival at the pulse sensor () by comparing the pulse signal () with a pulse shape template (), and a processing means () calculates the offset time between the measured pulse time of arrival at sensor () with a calculated pulse time of arrival at the solar system barycenter (SSBC). The positions and pulse profile characteristics of the pulsars () are stored in a digital memory () and combining the calculated time offset with the known positions of pulsars (), the navigational position, velocity, attitude and time of spacecraft () with respect to the SSBC can be calculated.

US Patent:

20140184463, Jul 3, 2014

Filed:

Nov 5, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/072715

Inventors:

Brian C. Hicks - Alexandria VA, US
Kenneth P. Stewart - Upper Marlboro MD, US
Tracy Clarke - Glenn Dale MD, US
Nagini P. Dalal - Torrance CA, US
Henrique Schmitt - Greenbelt MD, US
Paul S. Ray - Alexandria VA, US
Stephen J. Burns - Hollis NH, US
Namir E. Kassim - Annandale VA, US
Emil J. Polisensky - Alexandria VA, US

Assignee:

The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Arlington VA

International Classification:

H01Q 21/06

US Classification:

343797

Abstract:

An active antenna system for receiving electromagnetic radiation at frequencies below 100 MHz. The system includes a vertical support mast; a front end electronics unit including an active balun, the front end electronics unit affixed to the support mast; two crossed-dipole antennas affixed oriented at about 90 degrees to each other, each crossed-dipole antenna having two arms formed of electrically conductive material, each arm having an isoceles triangular frame with an apex of the frame electrically connected to a feedpoint of the front end electronics unit, each arm also having a longitudinal member extending from the apex to the center of the base of the triangular shape and a cross member extending between sides of the triangular frame. The system can operate independently or as part of a long wavelength array for astronomical radio telescope applications.