Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corpoation

Other

Frank B Winter

Ian Robinson

Matthew C Davis

William R Goyette

Harry S Harberts

Victor Tung

Hardik M Patel

Michael Chester Walsh

Walter DeMore

Julius G Tolan

Jack Macek

Eric C Johnston

Alexander Saal

Wesley Koga

Rhonda Epstein

Brandon Loye

Ethan Epstein

Sean Colford

A portable system is provided for sensing and training a user to maintain correct posture while seated in a chair with a seat portion and a back portion. The system includes a first pad attachable to the seat portion of a chair, said first pad having a front area and a rear area, and a second pad attachable to the back portion of a chair and having a lower area and an upper area. There is a first sensor located in the first pad capable of sensing that a user is seated in the seat portion of the chair, a second sensor located in the first pad capable of sensing whether the lower posterior portion of the user's body is in contact with the rear area of the first pad, a third sensor operably attached to the lower area of the second pad capable of sensing whether the user's lumbar region is in contact with the second pad, a fourth sensor operably attached to the upper area of the second pad capable of sensing the distance between the user's upper back and the upper area of the second pad and a neck-position sensor operably attached to the second pad and capable of sensing the distance between the neck-position sensor and the user's neck. The system also includes a microprocessor operably connected to the first sensor, second sensor, third sensor, fourth sensor and neck-position sensor and capable of collecting data from each of the first sensor, second sensor, third sensor, fourth sensor and neck position sensor. The system also includes software for a personal computer, which configures the personal computer to receive the data from the microprocessor and to display the data received from the microprocessor, so that the user can utilize the ergonomic seat pad to receive feedback regarding his posture and over time, improve his posture.

Ergonomic sensor pad with feedback to user and method of use

A communication system and method is provided that modifies a signal for transmission at a transmitter to reduce peaks associated with the signal. The signal can be modified employing signal shaping, signal clipping, signal decomposition or other techniques to remove peaks associated with the signal. The communication system can also correct the modified signal at a receiver to reconstruct the originally wanted signal.

Communication system and method for improving efficiency and linearity

A multilayer passive circuit topology is disclosed. In one embodiment, a multilayer circuit is provided. The multilayer circuit comprises a multilayer inductor comprising a first set of parallel conductive traces formed on a first layer, a second set of parallel conductive traces formed on a second layer spaced apart from the first layer; and a plurality of vias that connect respective parallel conductive traces from the first and second layer to form inductor windings. The multilayer circuit further comprises a multilayer capacitor connected to an end of the inductor by a coupling via, the capacitor comprising a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate being spaced apart from one another and being formed on different layers.

Multilayer passive circuit topology

Systems and methods for signal conversion are provided. Signals are spread in a continuous spectrum by a spread spectrum signal, such as a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal. The signals are then processed, which may include but is not limited to analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, frequency conversion, clipping, filtering or a plurality of processes. The processed signal is then despread using substantially the same spreading signal that was used to spread the signal.

Systems and methods for signal conversion

Systems and methods are provided for providing high dynamic range operation over a variable range of frequencies. A delta-sigma modulator, having associated frequency characteristics, produces a digital output signal. A digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog signal. A clock circuit provides a clock signal to the delta-sigma modulator and the digital-to-analog converter. A frequency control controls one or more of the clock circuit, the delta-sigma modulator, and the digital-to-analog converter to alter the frequency characteristics of the delta-sigma modulator. A filter circuit can provide one or more passbands to one or more downstream amplifiers ensuring that out of band quantization noise is removed before amplification.

Frequency agile exciter

A highly compact inductor formed on opposite faces of a dielectric substrate. Sets of parallel spaced conductive traces formed on the opposite faces of the substrate are interconnected by metallized vias through the substrate, in such a way as to form a continuous spiral conductive path. The inductor is preferably formed as two closely adjacent segments, each with conductive traces on each face of the substrate and each having metallized vias interconnecting the conductive traces. The segments are electrically connected in series and produce a magnetic field that extends through each segment in opposite directions and is closely coupled from one segment to the other. The inductor is, therefore, electromagnetically similar to a wire-wound toroidal inductor, providing high inductance and contourable Q values, but is highly compact, especially in the z-axis direction normal to the substrate.

Embedded duo-planar printed inductor

An amplifier system is provided that switches between a linear mode of operation, an envelope tracking mode of operation and a polar mode of operation. The amplifier system switches between modes of operation based upon a characteristic of an input signal relative to a first threshold level and a second threshold level. A mode selector selects the operation mode by transmitting an amplitude modulated signal plus a variable headroom voltage to a supply terminal of a power amplifier during the envelope tracking mode, an amplitude modulated signal to the supply terminal and phase modulated input signal during the polar mode and a substantially constant amplitude signal to the supply terminal during the linear mode.

Multi-mode amplifier system

An amplifier system is provided that switches between operation in a polar mode and a signal restoration mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. The system includes a correction path that mitigates distortion and out-of-band (OOB) emissions in the polar mode and provides at least a substantial portion of the amplified output signal in the signal restoration.

Modified polar amplifier architecture

Systems and methods are provided for determining and providing an appropriate variable voltage supply to a power amplifier. A power amplifier is operative to amplify an input signal. A digital buffer stores a copy of the input signal representing a predetermined interval of time. An envelope profiler analyzes the buffered interval of the input signal and determines an appropriate supply signal profile for the power amplifier over the predetermined time interval. A supply control provides a supply signal according to the determined profile.

Variable supply amplifier system

An amplifier system is provided that switches between operation in a polar mode and a linear mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. The system operates as a polar amplifier in the polar mode, and as a linear amplifier in the linear mode. A mode selector controls whether polar components of the input signal are sent to a power amplifier or whether a composite signal is amplified.

Polar and linear amplifier system

A supply voltage and/or bias of a switching amplifier is modified based on at least one characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level. A binary waveform converter converts the input signal into a binary waveform for inputting into the switching amplifier. The switching amplifier amplifies the input signal, while the supply voltage and/or bias is modified in response to changes of the at least one characteristic of the input signal.

Switching amplifier architecture

Systems and methods are provided for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. A digital-to-analog converter assembly comprises a delta-sigma modulator, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog filter, and a comb filter. The delta-sigma modulator processes a digital input signal to produce a digital output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The associated high dynamic range bands have respective frequency characteristics. An analog filter assembly filters the analog signal. The analog filter has at least one passband. A comb filter assembly attenuates the analog signal output of the filter assembly to improve signal to noise ratio.

Delta-sigma digital-to-analog converter assembly

An amplification architecture or system is provided having a multiple amplifier system that switches modes of operation between operation in a component mode and a composite mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. In the component mode, the components of the input signal are employed to different terminals of the multiple amplifier system that provide a reconstructed amplified representation of the input signal. In the composite mode, the input signal is amplified to provide an amplified representation of the input signal.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Frank B Winter