Patrick R Heenan

Title: Innovations by Patrick R Heenan

Introduction

Patrick R Heenan is a notable inventor based in Boulder, CO. He has made significant contributions to the field of wireless communications and electrical power transmission. With a total of 2 patents, his work showcases innovative methods that enhance the efficiency and reliability of these technologies.

Latest Patents

One of Heenan's latest patents is titled "Media access control method with time-coherence and deterministic scheduling for wireless communications network." This invention focuses on synchronizing the transmission and receipt of messages by radios within a wireless communications network. The method assumes that the radios are equipped with chip scale atomic clocks, which are synchronized externally, such as by GPS, at the beginning of a mission. Each radio operates in a sleep mode, where its circuitry remains inactive until it is time to transmit. The radios store a channel plan of predetermined base transmit times and calculate the worst-case time drift between clocks and propagation delay values. This allows for precise timing in message transmission and reception.

Another significant patent by Heenan is "Electrical power transmission line length measurement and average temperature estimation." This system and method measure the length of an electrical power transmission line and estimate its average temperature over the measured length. By applying a signal to the line and reflecting it from a reflection point, the current length of the line can be determined. A modified catenary equation utilizes this length measurement along with other variables to estimate the average temperature. This information is crucial for determining the safe power-carrying capacity of the line.

Career Highlights

Patrick R Heenan is currently employed at the Southwest Research Institute, where he continues to develop innovative solutions in his field. His work has had a significant impact on the advancement of technologies related to wireless communications and electrical power systems.

Collaborations

Heenan has collaborated with notable coworkers, including Travis R Thompson and Michael S Moore, contributing to various projects and innovations within the institute.

Conclusion

Patrick R Heenan's contributions to the fields of wireless communications and electrical power transmission demonstrate his innovative spirit and dedication to advancing technology. His patents reflect a commitment to improving the efficiency and safety of these essential systems.