Theodore L Harwood

Title: The Innovations of Theodore L. Harwood

Introduction

Theodore L. Harwood is a notable inventor based in Hollywood, MD (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of decoding methods and apparatuses, holding a total of 4 patents. His work focuses on enhancing the reliability and efficiency of data transmission through innovative decoding techniques.

Latest Patents

Harwood's latest patents include a "Fault Tolerant Decoding Method and Apparatus." This invention involves a bit quality evaluator that receives a sequence of bits. The bit sequence is processed by a decoding device that performs soft decision convolutional decoding. An off-track event detector identifies changes in the trellis decode path during the decoding operation. It also identifies a first symbol corresponding to the change, which is then marked for erasure by an erasure decision circuit. The output from the first decoder and the erasure decision circuit is sent to a second decoder, which decodes the output after erasing the identified symbols. This method may also identify additional symbols for erasure based on performance measures and quality assessments of the bit sequence.

Another patent by Harwood is a similar "Fault Tolerant Decoding Method and Apparatus Including Use of Quality Information." This invention also utilizes a bit quality evaluator and assigns quality measures to each bit in the sequence. The decoding device employs these quality measures during the soft decision convolutional decoding process. The off-path detector and erasure decision circuit function similarly to his previous patent, ensuring that the decoding process is both efficient and reliable.

Career Highlights

Harwood is currently employed at Sentel Corporation, where he continues to innovate in the field of decoding technologies. His work has been instrumental in advancing methods that improve data integrity and transmission reliability.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Harwood has collaborated with notable colleagues, including John P. Smith and William G. Duff. Their combined expertise has contributed to the development of cutting-edge technologies in the field.

Conclusion

Theodore L. Harwood's contributions to decoding methods have significantly impacted the field of data transmission. His innovative patents reflect a commitment to enhancing the reliability of communication technologies.