Anthony John Eckhoff, Age 572795 Armadillo Trl, Titusville, FL 32780

6757641, Jun 29, 2004

Jun 28, 2002

10/185830

Christopher D. Immer - Merritt Island FL
John Lane - Melbourne FL
Anthony J. Eckhoff - Cocoa FL
Jose M. Perotti - Merritt Island FL

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

G06F 1500

702194, 702199

A multi-sensor transducer and processing method allow insitu monitoring of the senor accuracy and transducer âhealthâ. In one embodiment, the transducer has multiple sensors to provide corresponding output signals in response to a stimulus, such as pressure. A processor applies individual weight factors to reach of the output signals and provide a single transducer output that reduces the contribution from inaccurate sensors. The weight factors can be updated and stored. The processor can use the weight factors to provide a âhealthâ of the transducer based upon the number of accurate versus in-accurate sensors in the transducer.

6782753, Aug 31, 2004

Nov 9, 2001

09/994990

Christopher D. Immer - Merritt Island FL
Anthony Eckhoff - Cocoa FL
Pedro J. Medelius - Merritt Island FL
Richard T. Deyoe - NE. Palm Bay FL
Stanley O. Starr - Indialantic FL

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

G01L 700

73744, 73745, 73722, 73728

A device and procedure for checking the health of a pressure transducer in situ is provided. The procedure includes measuring a fixed change in pressure above ambient pressure and a fixed change in pressure below ambient pressure. This is done by first sealing an enclosed volume around the transducer with a valve. A piston inside the sealed volume is then driven forward, compressing the enclosed gas, thereby increasing the pressure. A fixed pressure below ambient pressure is obtained by opening the valve, driving the piston forward, sealing the valve, and then retracting the piston. The output of the pressure transducer is recorded for both the overpressuring and the underpressuring. By comparing this data with data taken during a preoperative calibration, the health of the transducer is determined from the linearity, the hysteresis, and the repeatability of its output. The further addition of a thermometer allows constant offset error in the transducer output to be determined.

6801868, Oct 5, 2004

Oct 15, 2002

10/283353

Pedro J. Medelius - Merritt Island FL
Carlos T. Mata - Rockledge FL
Anthony Eckhoff - Cocoa FL
Jose Perotti - Merritt Island FL
Angel Lucena - Orlando FL

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

G05B 2302

702107

A signal conditioning amplifier receives an input signal from an input such as a transducer. The signal is amplified and processed through an analog to digital converter and sent to a processor. The processor estimates the input signal provided by the transducer to the amplifier via a multiplexer. The estimated input signal is provided as a calibration voltage to the amplifier immediately following the receipt of the amplified input signal. The calibration voltage is amplified by the amplifier and provided to the processor as an amplified calibration voltage. The amplified calibration voltage is compared to the amplified input signal, and if a significant error exists, the gain and/or offset of the amplifier may be adjusted as necessary.

7274907, Sep 25, 2007

Dec 19, 2003

10/748915

Jose Perotti - Merritt Island FL, US
Angel Lucena - Orlando FL, US
Anthony Eckhoff - Cocoa FL, US
Carlos T. Mata - Titusville FL, US
Norman N. Blalock - Rockledge FL, US
Pedro J. Medelius - Merritt Island FL, US

Unites States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

H04B 7/15

455 111, 455 131, 455 134, 455 16, 455 7, 455522, 455517, 370328, 370338, 370349

A wireless instrumentation system enables a plurality of low power wireless transceivers to transmit measurement data from a plurality of remote station sensors to a central data station accurately and reliably. The system employs a relay based communications scheme where remote stations that cannot communicate directly with the central station due to interference, poor signal strength, etc. , are instructed to communicate with other of the remote stations that act as relays to the central station. A unique power management scheme is also employed to minimize power usage at each remote station and thereby maximize battery life. Each of the remote stations preferably employs a modular design to facilitate easy reconfiguration of the stations as required.

6462684, Oct 8, 2002

Mar 5, 2002

10/095344

Pedro J. Medelius - Merritt Island FL
Anthony J. Eckhoff - Cocoa FL
Lucena R. Angel - Orlando FL
Jose M. Perotti - Merritt Island FL

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

H03M 110

341120, 341155, 341121, 341126

An improved self-calibrating and self-repairing Data Acquisition System (DAS) for use in inaccessible areas, such as onboard spacecraft, and capable of autonomously performing required system health checks, failure detection. When required, self-repair is implemented utilizing a âspare parts/tool boxâ system. The available number of spare components primarily depends upon each components predicted reliability which may be determined using Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) analysis. Failing or degrading components are electronically removed and disabled to reduce power consumption, before being electronically replaced with spare components.