David A Shepard

US Patent:

7109598, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Oct 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/967896

Inventors:

Bryan William Roberts - Epping, NSW 2121, AU
David Hammond Shepard - Coronado CA, US

International Classification:

F03D 7/00

US Classification:

290 44, 290 55

Abstract:

One or more tethered platforms, each having three or more; mill rotors, are operated at altitudes in relatively high winds to generate electricity. These windmill kites use one or more electro-mechanical tethers on each platform. Their position, attitude and orientation are monitored by one or more GPS receivers and/or gyros and controlled through differential thrusts and torque-reactions produced by the mill rotors. The kites can be electrically powered from a ground supply during relatively calm periods, or landed if desired. During windy periods the kites may be used to generate electricity by tilting the rotors at an angle, or incidence to the on-coming wind. In this generate mode the mill rotors simultaneously develop thrust while generating electricity.

US Patent:

7183663, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

Aug 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/919543

Inventors:

Bryan William Roberts - Epping, NSW, AU
David Hammond Shepard - Coronado CA, US

International Classification:

F03D 7/00

US Classification:

290 44, 290 55

Abstract:

One or more tethered platforms, each having three or more, mill rotors, are operated at altitudes in relatively high winds to generate electricity. These windmill kites use one or more electro-mechanical tethers on each platform. Their position, attitude and orientation are monitored by one or more GPS receivers and/or gyros and controlled through differential thrusts and torque-reactions produced by the mill rotors. The kites can be electrically powered from a ground supply during relatively calm periods, or landed if desired. During windy periods the kites may be used to generate electricity by tilting the rotors at an angle, or incidence to the on-coming wind. In this generate mode the mill rotors simultaneously develop thrust while generating electricity.

US Patent:

20030006615, Jan 9, 2003

Filed:

Aug 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/064806

Inventors:

Bryan Roberts - Epang, AU
David Shepard - Coronado CA, US

Assignee:

Sky WindPower Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

F03D009/00
H02P009/04

US Classification:

290/055000

Abstract:

Tethered wind supported flying electric generators (FEGS) capable of deriving power from high altitude winds are held stable in precisely controlled positions in spite of wind fluctuations and temporary wind absence. FEGs are windmill-like rotorcraft, somewhat resembling helicopters, which are raised to a strong wind altitude using electric motors driving the rotors, each craft powered through tether(s) from a corresponding single point on the ground. Then the rotorcraft is tilted at an angle, the wind turns the rotors, and thus keeps the craft aloft and sends power back to the ground, now using the motors as generators. Precise craft geographic position, altitude and attitude are determined by various sensing means. Computer logic, provided with this information and wind and other weather data, command individual craft control functions and thus may also command arrays of these FEGs to maintain precise geographic and altitude locations or be grounded under tether winch control when necessary.

US Patent:

55264476, Jun 11, 1996

Filed:

Jul 26, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/097131

Inventors:

David H. Shepard - Coronado CA

Assignee:

Cognitronics Imaging Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06K 903

US Classification:

382311

Abstract:

Character recognition processing wherein each of a batch of documents is scanned to produce corresponding scan data signals forming a rectilinear data array of binary bits at the intersections of a rectangular coordinate grid. These signals are stored and processed by a recognition algorithm to produce identity signals for recognized characters. Groups of non-recognized characters are presented simultaneously to permit rapid identification by inspection. The identification of recognized characters is verified at high speed by simultaneously presenting the character images as respective groups sorted to have the same recognized identities.

US Patent:

51401398, Aug 18, 1992

Filed:

Jul 30, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/737695

Inventors:

David H. Shepard - Coronado CA

Assignee:

Cognitronics Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K 714
G06K 920

US Classification:

235456

Abstract:

A "mark read" document is prepared with a pattern of boxes within which marks may selectively be entered, together with printed characters for instructions or other informational purposes. The characters and boxes both are formed on the sheet with printing material having an optical spectrum capable of detection by the optical sensing device to be used for scanning the document. A template sheet then is prepared to present only the pattern of boxes as they appear on the original sheet, without any characters. This template sheet is passed through a computer-controlled optical scanner which examines the pattern of boxes and stores in the computer memory numbers representing coordinates identifying the location of each box. Later, completed (marked) sheets of the original type are passed through the optical scanner which produces and stores in the computer memory a set of rectilinear scan data in the form of binary bits representing pixels (picture elements) defining the entire image presentation on the sheet, i. e. the characters and the boxes.

US Patent:

58526854, Dec 22, 1998

Filed:

Nov 15, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/558830

Inventors:

David H. Shepard - Coronado CA

Assignee:

Cognitronics Imaging Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06K 903
G06K 962

US Classification:

382311

Abstract:

Character recognition processing wherein each of a batch of documents is scanned to produce corresponding scan data signals forming a rectilinear data array of binary bits at the intersections of a rectangular coordinate grid. These signals are stored and processed by a recognition algorithm to produce identity signals for recognized characters. Groups of non-recognized characters are presented simultaneously to permit rapid identification by inspection. The identification of recognized characters is verified at high speed by simultaneously presenting the character images as respective groups sorted to have the same recognized identities. High accuracy recognition is assured by including with the stored characters to be verified a number of images of purposely-incorrectly-identified characters, i. e. , bogus errors. At the end of predetermined processing segments, such as one batch of documents, the results of verification are examined to determine how many bogus errors were caught by the operator.

US Patent:

56968540, Dec 9, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/477921

Inventors:

David H. Shepard - Coronado CA

Assignee:

Cognitronics Imaging System, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G06K 903

US Classification:

382311

Abstract:

Character recognition processing wherein each of a batch of documents is scanned to produce corresponding scan data signals forming a rectilinear data array of binary bits at the intersections of a rectangular coordinate grid. These signals are stored and processed by a recognition algorithm to produce identity signals for recognized characters. Groups of non-recognized characters are presented simultaneously to permit rapid identification by inspection. The identification of recognized characters is verified at high speed by simultaneously presenting the character images as respective groups sorted to have the same recognized identities.