Thomas M Meyer

US Patent:

6641090, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Jan 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/041744

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Marilla NY

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01S 956

US Classification:

246122R, 246167 R, 701 19, 364449

Abstract:

A train location system and method of determining track occupancy utilizes inertial measurement inputs, including orthogonal acceleration inputs and turn rate information, in combination with wheel-mounted tachometer information and GPS/DGPS position fixes to provide processed outputs indicative of track occupancy, position, direction of travel, velocity, etc. Various navigation solutions are combined together to provide the desired information outputs using an optimal estimator designed specifically for rail applications and subjected to motion constraints reflecting the physical motion limitations of a locomotive. The system utilizes geo-reconciliation to minimize errors and solutions that identify track occupancy when traveling through a turnout.

US Patent:

7209810, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Nov 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/980191

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Marilla NY, US
Thomas R. Metzger - Wheatfield NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corp. - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01C 21/26

US Classification:

701 19, 701220, 246122 R

Abstract:

A locomotive location system and method utilizes inertial measurement inputs, including orthogonal acceleration inputs and turn rate information, in combination with wheel-mounted tachometer information and GPS/DGPS position fixes to provide processed outputs indicative of track occupancy, position, direction of travel, velocity, etc. Various navigation solutions are combined together to provide the desired information outputs using an optimal estimator designed specifically for rail applications and subjected to motion constraints reflecting the physical motion limitations of a locomotive. The system utilizes geo-reconciliation to minimize errors and solutions that identify track occupancy when traveling through a turnout.

US Patent:

7469585, Dec 30, 2008

Filed:

Nov 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/559378

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Marilla NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01V 7/14

US Classification:

73382R, 73382 G

Abstract:

A system for measuring differential gravity at two points is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses a pair of graspers which each repeatedly grasp, raise, and drop a test mass. The accelerations of the two free-falling test masses are monitored using optical interferometry. An output signal is provided that is based on a differential acceleration of the two test masses.

US Patent:

7610152, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

May 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/416069

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Corfu NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corp. - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01C 21/00

US Classification:

701213, 700 29, 700 33, 700 55, 700 78

Abstract:

The present invention provides a new set of algorithmic solutions to accommodate track inaccuracy information in track databases. Navigation and measurement aiding processes are defined by a stochastic mode relative to a moving rail frame defined so that it is aligned with the heading of the compensated track database at the current along track-position. Filtering generates long and short wavelength track alignment disturbances commensurate with track grade to compensate for track database errors; a stochastic error model is defined as the difference between the deterministic implementation and the actual stochastic processes Bayesian estimation of the error variables is implemented via a digital Kalman filter with the navigation, database, and measurement errors removed by subtracting the filter estimates.

US Patent:

8359920, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Apr 13, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/759095

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Corfu NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corp. - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01V 7/00

US Classification:

73382G

Abstract:

An instrument for determining the second and/or third-order components of the gravity tensor includes a group of six accelerometers arranged at an equal radius from a spin axis and positioned at 60 degree intervals about the spin axis with the sensing axis of each accelerometer aligned tangentially to the circle subscribed by the accelerometers as they rotate about the spin axis. A gyro-stabilized platform maintains the accelerometer arrangement at a preferred alignment relative to the local gravity vector. As the accelerometers orbit about the spin axis, each accelerometer outputs a sinusoidal signal that is offset by 60 degrees from its immediately adjacent leading and trailing accelerometers with the outputs thereof processed to provide the second-order component and the third-order tensor component. In another arrangement, a group of eight accelerometers arranged at an equal radius from a spin axis and positioned at 45 degree intervals about the spin axis can provide second, third, and fourth-order tensor components. The higher-order tensor components are of use in “de-cluttering” the lower-order tensor components.

US Patent:

8392103, Mar 5, 2013

Filed:

Mar 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/402706

Inventors:

Thomas J. Meyer - Marilla NY, US
Charles W. Morris - Manassas VA, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G05D 1/02
G08G 1/16

US Classification:

701300, 340903

Abstract:

A database schema is disclosed that can significantly reduce the quantity of data required to describe the geometry of a train track and the geo-locations of features (e. g. , grade crossings, mileposts, signals, platforms, switches, spurs, etc. ) along the track. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a railroad track is represented as a plurality of partitions, each of which has its geometry contained within unique track point elements. Multiple track partitions are then joined together by common track point elements at their boundaries to create continuous rail networks. A compact table schema is employed that enables continuous sections of three-dimensional track splines to be rendered accurately in the track database, irrespective of the location of vertical and horizontal curvature along track segments. The data representation scheme also enables efficient storage of the geo-locations of features along a track, as well as the direct reconstitution of accurate three-dimensional track splines.

US Patent:

20040140405, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Nov 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/700044

Inventors:

Thomas Meyer - Marilla NY, US

International Classification:

B61L023/34

US Classification:

246/12200R

Abstract:

A train location system and method utilizes inertial measurement inputs, including orthogonal acceleration inputs and turn rate information, in combination with wheel-mounted tachometer information and GPS/DGPS position fixes to provide processed outputs indicative of track occupancy, position, direction of travel, velocity, etc. Various navigation solutions are combined together to provide the desired information outputs using an optimal estimator designed specifically for rail applications and subjected to motion constraints reflecting the physical motion limitations of a locomotive. The system utilizes geo-reconciliation to minimize errors and solutions that identify track occupancy when traveling through a turnout.

US Patent:

20170299767, Oct 19, 2017

Filed:

Nov 22, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/358694

Inventors:

- Bethesda MD, US
Thomas J. Meyer - Marilla NY, US

International Classification:

G01V 7/00

Abstract:

A method for rebalancing a group of accelerometers in a gravity gradiometer instrument (GGI) includes the steps of defining and implementing a number of groupwise actuation constrainment modes based on a design of the gravity gradiometer instrument and its accelerometers. Implementing one constrainment mode comprises differentially scaling and distributing a single electrical current to multiple accelerometers' rebalance circuitry to cancel a specific acceleration effect experienced by the group of accelerometers or gradiometer as a whole. Superposition of a number of such modes enables rebalancing the full acceleration environment experienced by the group of accelerometers, given negligible local differential acceleration effects specific to, say, an individual accelerometer of the assembly. Mathematically, the multiple of constrainment modes are encapsulated by an actuation or constrainment modal influence matrix, arranged one mode per column of the matrix, and the electrical currents of respective modes are encapsulated in a vector listing of currents.