Donald G Polvani

US Patent:

7505364, Mar 17, 2009

Filed:

Jun 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/472413

Inventors:

Donald Polvani - Arnold MD, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04B 11/00

US Classification:

367131

Abstract:

The present invention provides a navigation system for an unmanned underwater vehicle that includes at least two navigation sensors that provide latitude and longitude measurements of unequal accuracy, a processor and a memory. The memory stores a machine-readable set of instructions executable by the processor to process the latitude and longitude measurements received from the navigation sensors, and to estimate vehicle latitude and longitude with approximately equal accuracy.

US Patent:

54446694, Aug 22, 1995

Filed:

Dec 10, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/625241

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

F41F 500

US Classification:

367 96

Abstract:

A torpedo relative position measuring system, including an active sonar system and a passive magnetic system, is coupled to computing apparatus which operates in response to a set of stored computer programs, all located in the torpedo for homing in on a ferrous target. At long ranges and mid ranges, the torpedo is directed to the target by the sonar system, while at near ranges the magnetic system determines the x, y, z, relative position coordinates between the target and the torpedo in accordance with a calibrated stored magnetic model of the target and numerical solution of the non-linear equations linking the target's magnetic field, as measured at the torpedo, with the target's relative position. Guidance information derived therefrom is then fed to the torpedo's guidance system. With the magnetic system providing the relative position of the target at close range, the torpedo's normal guidance system can readily steer the torpedo to a desired hit point on the target.

US Patent:

47663855, Aug 23, 1988

Filed:

Sep 8, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/094187

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01V 3165

US Classification:

324345

Abstract:

A magnetometer system carried aboard a tethered underwater vehicle for confirming the existence of a buried naval mine which then may be neutralized by an explosive charge dropped by the vehicle. The vehicle carries two or more scaler magnetometers and is operated to obtain vertical and two orthogonal horizontal spatial gradients of the magnetic field above the mine location. The vertical distance to the mine is obtained, and this information, along with the known dip angle of the earth's magnetic field at the location, is utilized in conjunction with the spatial gradients for obtaining three mutually orthogonal components of the magnetic moment of the mine, from which the magnitude of the magnetic moment may be calculated. If the magnitude falls between upper and lower predetermined limits, a positive mine classification signal is provided.

US Patent:

53574370, Oct 18, 1994

Filed:

Jul 1, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/907086

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G06F 1550

US Classification:

364449

Abstract:

A magnetic marker position fixing and resetting system for vehicles searching an area on the floor of a body of water. The vehicle has an inertial navigation system for determining its position and angular orientation with respect to a set of cartesian axes fixed in the earth. The vehicle deploys at least one magnetic marker in the search area. The positions of the markers in the earth-based axes and the magnitude of their magnetic moments are determined and are stored in a computer in the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a triaxial vector magnetometer in which the magnetic sensors are mutually orthogonal. When the vehicle's navigation system requires a position reset, the triaxial vector magnetometer on the vehicle detects the marker's magnetic induction components along x, y and z cartesian axes fixed in the vehicle. Algorithms are exercised in the vehicle's computer which use the measured x, y and z components of the marker's magnetic induction to provide a precise estimate of the vehicle's position with respect to the fixed magnetic marker in the vehicle-based axes. This relative position is transformed to components along the earth-based axes.

US Patent:

57620644, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Jan 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/376988

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A61B 505

US Classification:

1286531

Abstract:

A medical magnetic positioning system and method for determining the position of a magnetic probe inside a body of an individual in which at least two spaced magnetometers are fastened to an area on an external portion of an individual's body proximate to the desired location of the probe inside of the body, the magnetic probe is inserted inside the body of the individual to be spaced from the at least two magnetometers, the three-dimensional magnetic field of the probe is detected at the at least two magnetometers, and the location of the probe is determined in accordance with the location of the detected three-dimensional field. Preferably the magnetometers are triaxial magnetometers adapted to be mounted on an external portion of the body proximate to the inserted location of the probe so that the magnetometers measure the three-dimensional magnetic field of the probe. A computer is used for calculating and storing information relative to the position of said probe by using a non-linear computer algorithm.

US Patent:

53312767, Jul 19, 1994

Filed:

Sep 16, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/945474

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD
David G. Ellerbrake - Severna Park MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01P 350
G08G 1052

US Classification:

324160

Abstract:

A passive velocity measuring system which includes first and second biaxial fluxgate magnetometers separated by a known distance and oriented precisely with respect to one another and with respect to the path of travel of a ferrous vehicle whose velocity is to be determined. An indication of the velocity of the vehicle is obtained from the ratio of the time derivative of the magnitude of the vehicle's magnetic induction to the negative of the spatial derivative of this same quantity.

US Patent:

54250013, Jun 13, 1995

Filed:

Jun 7, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/255863

Inventors:

Donald G. Polvani - Arnold MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01V 3165

US Classification:

367131

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for navigating underwater a killer vehicle towards a mine emitting a magnetic field by using measurements of the mine's magnetic field, by two magnetic sensors affixed to the killer vehicle, in calculating the relative position of the killer vehicle with respect to the mine.