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David A. Whelan

David A. Whelan, New Port Coast, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090105890Automated Safe Flight Vehicle - Control systems and methods of use provide for fully automated phases of flight of an aircraft. Such fully automated phases include takeoff, cruising flight, and landing without the need for operator input or other operator intervention. Control systems and methods also provide for self-limited compliance with an operators desired deviation from a predetermined flight path, as well as automatic contingency response to non-normal conditions. Onboard and/or ground-based operators may cooperate with the control system in order to control the associated aircraft. Furthermore, an operator need not have any flight skill in order to affect changes in the flight path or other aspects of flight control.04-23-2009
20090105891VARIABLY MANNED AIRCRAFT - In accordance with an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of subsystems cooperatively configured to control an aircraft in accordance with a plurality of manning modes, the system configured to perform fully automated control of the aircraft while operating in any of the plurality of manning modes, wherein the plurality of manning modes include: two onboard operators; one onboard operator; and no onboard operator, wherein the system receives input from a remotely located operator by way of wireless signals.04-23-2009
20100220007LEO-BASED POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR INDOOR AND STAND-ALONE NAVIGATION - A method for estimating a precise position of a user device from signals from a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes receiving at least one carrier signal at a user device, each carrier signal being transmitted a distinct LEO satellite. The user device processes the carrier signals to obtain a first carrier phase information. The user device recalls an inertial position fix derived at an inertial reference unit. The user device derives a position of the user device based on the inertial position fix and the first carrier phase information.09-02-2010

Patent applications by David A. Whelan, New Port Coast, CA US

David A. Whelan, Newport Coast, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090189802SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING IRIDIUM SATELLITE SIGNALS FOR METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS - A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth's atmosphere between a mobile platform traversing over a predetermined surface portion of the Earth, and at least one Iridium satellite from the Iridium satellite constellation. The method involves modifying at least one Iridium satellite from a constellation of Iridium satellites to include time and location information in wireless signals that are transmitted in real time by the one satellite. The mobile platform receives the wireless signals from the one Iridium satellite. An occultation system carried on the mobile platform analyzes the time and position information, in addition to location information pertaining to a real time location of the mobile platform, and to derive real time atmospheric weather related information for a geographic area between the mobile platform and the one Iridium satellite.07-30-2009
20090303126MULTICODE APERTURE TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER - Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments provide for a multicode transmitter/receiver that acts like a high power array when a correlated receiver is used, but acts as a collection of small low gain transmitters when an uncorrelated receiver is used. In one embodiment, a method of transmitting and receiving signals comprises splitting a signal into more than one portion for feeding the signal into separate elements of an array; coding each portion of the signal for transmission through each separate element of the array with a different code respectively; transmitting each coded portion of the signal through a corresponding separate element of the array; receiving the coded portions of the signal by at least one element on a receiver side; decoding the coded portions of the signal; and adding decoded portions of the signal to form a complete received signal.12-10-2009
20090315764PRECISE ABSOLUTE TIME TRANSFER FROM A SATELLITE SYSTEM - Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for obtaining a precise absolute time using a satellite system. The precise absolute time may be used, for example, as an aid for positioning systems including navigation in attenuated or jammed environments. A method of obtaining precise absolute time transfer from a satellite according to an embodiment comprises: receiving a precision time signal from a satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code; determining a timing phase of the code; receiving additional aiding information; and using the timing phase and the additional aiding information to determine a precise absolute time.12-24-2009
20090315769INTERNET HOTSPOTS LOCALIZATION USING SATELLITE SYSTEMS - Systems and methods according to various embodiments provide for navigation in attenuated environments by integrating satellite signals with Internet hotspot signals. In one embodiment, a receiver unit adapted to perform geolocation comprises an antenna adapted to receive a precision time signal from a satellite and receive additional aiding information from a wireless network station, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code. The receiver unit also comprises a processor and a memory adapted to store a plurality of computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor are adapted to cause the receiver unit to: use the precision time signal and the aiding information to determine a precise absolute time, determine positioning information associated with the receiver unit, use the positioning information to request location information of the wireless network station, and determine an absolute geolocation of the receiver unit using the positioning information and the location information.12-24-2009
20100171652LOCAL CLOCK FREQUENCY CALIBRATION USING LOW EARTH ORBIT (LEO) SATELLITES - Various techniques are provided for calibrating a frequency of a local clock using a satellite signal. In one example, a method of transferring frequency stability from a satellite to a device includes receiving a signal from the satellite. The method also includes determining a code phase from the satellite signal. The method further includes receiving aiding information. In addition, the method includes calibrating a frequency of a local clock of the device using the code phase and the aiding information to substantially synchronize the local clock frequency with a satellite clock frequency.07-08-2010
20110148701Precise Absolute Time Transfer From A Satellite System - Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for obtaining a precise absolute time using a satellite system. The precise absolute time may be used, for example, as an aid for positioning systems including navigation in attenuated or jammed environments. A method of obtaining precise absolute time transfer from a satellite according to an embodiment comprises: receiving a precision time signal from a satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code; determining a timing phase of the code; receiving additional aiding information; and using the timing phase and the additional aiding information to determine a precise absolute time.06-23-2011

Patent applications by David A. Whelan, Newport Coast, CA US