Gregory R Nichols

US Patent:

6647754, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Jul 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/918747

Inventors:

Ernest Bodnar - Toronto, CA
Joseph A. Ruckauf - Chicago IL
Gregory C. Nichols - Plainfield IL

Assignee:

Formtek, Inc. - Westfield MA

International Classification:

B21D 508

US Classification:

72181

Abstract:

A variable width roll forming apparatus forms a web and includes a first side plate extending substantially an entire length of the roll forming apparatus and a second side plate extending substantially an entire length of the roll forming apparatus, the first side plate and the second side plate being oriented substantially equidistant from one another. A plurality of roller die assemblies are disposed in apertures formed in the first side plate and the second side plate. An adjusting apparatus is utilized to selectively change a separation width between predetermined roller die assemblies in the first side plate and the second side plate, wherein the roll forming apparatus defines at least two differing widths between roller die assemblies disposed in the first side plate and the second side plate while maintaining the substantially equidistant spacing between the first side plate and the second side plate.

US Patent:

7088794, Aug 8, 2006

Filed:

Feb 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/077730

Inventors:

Gregory M. Nichols - Alexandria VA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H03D 3/24

US Classification:

375345, 341139, 375316, 455138

Abstract:

An automatic gain control RF signal processor for receiver systems, such as radar intercept receivers, includes an attenuator having an input for receiving an analog RF input signal, an amplifier coupled to the attenuator, a bandpass filter coupled to the amplifier output, a single ADC coupled to the bandpass filter, a digital logic circuit, and a FIFO buffer. The digital logic circuit has an input for receiving the ADC output signal, a first output coupled to a variable gain control input of the attenuator, and a second output. The logic circuit includes signal detection logic for detecting the presence of a pulse within the ADC signal, determining a peak amplitude value of the pulse, and based on the peak amplitude value generating an attenuation value at the first output that is applied to the variable gain control input of the attenuator. The sampling logic averages a number of ADC data samples to determine a moving average pulse amplitude, and compares this moving average pulse amplitude to a processing threshold value to determine a delta value with which to adjust an attenuation value for the attenuator, and to determine when to terminate a pulse and reset the attenuation value to zero. The averaging is carried out to determine whether an assigned number m of n samples is above the processing threshold value or whether the pulse should be terminated.