Patents Represented by Attorney Alva H. Bandy
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Patent number: 4242706Abstract: A visible light and near infrared imaging device is disclosed. The imaging device comprises X-Y addressing means, an array of opto-electronic semiconductor elements or cells, a multiplexer, a precharge switch, and an amplifier. The X-Y addressing means selectively addresses each cell of the array of opto-electronic semiconductor cells and corresponding multiplexer switch for connecting a reference voltage to each cell to charge each element to the reference voltage, then to isolate each element and vary its voltage in proportion to the intensity of the impinging light, and finally to read out selectively the voltage of each element to the amplifier for amplifying the electrical signals representative of the light intensity to a working level for processing into video signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1978Date of Patent: December 30, 1980Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kent McCormack, James E. Robinson, William M. Knight, Jr., Dana Dudley
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Patent number: 4208087Abstract: An optical flexure joint comprises first and second gimbal mounted lens doublets. The first doublet has a positive surface and the second a negative surface. Each lens doublet consists of two common glasses having index of refractions between about 1.4 and 1.9 that produce the same power as if they were a single lens having an index of refraction of 2.0. The first and second doublets when mounted with the positive and negative surfaces mating and the first doublet rotated with respect to the second form a wedge which has an optical deviation equal to the wedge angle; thus the optical flexure joint allows a small rotary motion to occur in an optical system perpendicular to the optical axis without any perceptable image motion.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1978Date of Patent: June 17, 1980Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Erwin E. Cooper, Samuel R. McKenney
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Patent number: 4205227Abstract: An apparatus for translating information in one form to electrical signals for driving a single junction emitter light source is disclosed. For example, a device for scanning radiant energy includes a detector array for converting detected invisible electromagnetic energy emanating from a body into electrical signals representative thereof, an electrical signal processing means coupled to the detector array for processing the electrical signals thereof for display, and a single junction emitter array for producing visible light indicative of the invisible electromagnetic energy emanating from the detected body.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1978Date of Patent: May 27, 1980Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Bruce S. Reed
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Patent number: 4186342Abstract: An improved marine radio telephone is disclosed which has a housing having an angular opening suitable for either above or below eye level installation and a chassis having printed wiring board support members including a tiltable front panel support member for adapting the front panel to correspond to the position of the housing when mounted therein and a rear support member for supporting the transmitter board and heat sink for improved heat dissipation. The front panel includes a keyboard having keys for selecting digits 0 to 9, an emergency channel, and weather channels, a display for displaying the channel selected, control knobs for volume and squelch control, and switches for power and U.S.A. or international channel selection. The printed wiring boards include a front panel board, a digital input/output and power board, a frequency synthesizer board, a receiver board and a transmitter board. The front panel board sends operating signals to and receives outputs from the other boards.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1977Date of Patent: January 29, 1980Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Robert R. Kyle
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Patent number: 4185287Abstract: A mechanically scanned antenna system having a multiport rotary switch for sector scanning is disclosed. The switch includes a stationary subassembly and a rotating subassembly. The stationary subassembly contains the input ports and the rotating subassembly contains the multiple output ports associated with each input port. Each of the multiple output ports of the switch is sequentially activated through its designed active sector to produce the desired antenna scan pattern. The stationary subassembly includes a barrier member which is rotatable to selectively orient and maintain orientation of the active region of the antenna system at any position through 360.degree..Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1977Date of Patent: January 22, 1980Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: James H. Hubing, Charles C. Liu
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Patent number: 4178612Abstract: A delta frame circuit is disclosed. The delta frame circuit is connected to the video output of, for example, an imaging system for the purpose of producing a moving target indication radar or, for example, a chopped imaging system for the purpose of removing fixed pattern or undesirable offset voltages. The delta frame circuit comprises a plurality of capacitors having top plates connected to the video output and lower plates connected to the drains of a first plurality of field effect transistors. The gates and sources of these field effect transistors are connected, respectively, to a Y address circuit and drains of a second plurality of field effect transistors. The gates and sources of these field effect transistors are connected, respectively, to a X address circuit and to the drains of a third plurality of field effect transistors whose gates and sources are connected, respectively, to the Y address circuit, and junction of a precharge reference voltage and output amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1978Date of Patent: December 11, 1979Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Dana Dudley, William M. Knight, Jr.
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Patent number: 4162402Abstract: An improved ferroelectric imaging system comprises a chopper, lens system, ferroelectric detector matrix, switching matrix, temperature controlled heat sink, drive and read out electronics, video processor and display. The chopper interrupts infrared energy emanating from a scene, and the lens system focuses the chopped infrared energy on the ferroelectric detector matrix which produces electrical signals representative of the infrared energy impinging thereon. The signals are read out by the drive and read out electronics whose action is synchronized with the chopper action, processed in the video processor and displayed by the display. The ferroelectric detector matrix comprises a plurality of detector capacitor elements whose top plates are formed by conductor stripes longitudinally disposed on a dielectric of ferroelectric material and whose lower plates are a plurality of metal pads formed on the dielectric.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1977Date of Patent: July 24, 1979Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: George S. Hopper
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Patent number: 4143378Abstract: A pendulum antenna for a microwave landing system is disclosed. The antenna is an elevation scanning antenna of the phased array type. The aperture, phase shifters, drivers and power distribution manifolds form a column-like structure. The column is suspended like a pendulum inside a fiberglass radome and windshield. The column has a degree of freedom limited by stops, damping means, and lock member. The stops set the allowable pitch angle, the damping means prevents the antenna from swinging back and forth from wind gust effects, and the lock member is used to constrain the antenna during transportation. The radome is freely mounted in a base support having adjustable legs for antenna leveling.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1977Date of Patent: March 6, 1979Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of TransportationInventor: John L. Darrouzet
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Patent number: 4143269Abstract: An improved ferroelectric imaging system comprises a chopper, lens system, ferroelectric detector matrix, anistropic heat sink, switching matrix, temperature controlled heat sink, drive and read out electronics, video processor, and display. The chopper interrupts infrared energy emanating from a scene, and the lens system focuses the chopped infrared energy on the ferroelectric detector matrix which produces electrical signals representative of the infrared energy impinging thereon. The signals are read out by the drive and read out electronics whose action is synchronized with the chopper action, processed in the video processor and displayed by the display. The ferroelectric detector matrix is a plurality of detector capacitor elements whose lower plates are metal pads formed on the lower surface of the dielectric which is a wafer of ferroelectric material.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1977Date of Patent: March 6, 1979Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kent McCormack, Dane A. McNeill
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Patent number: 4142207Abstract: An improved ferroelectric imaging system comprises a chopper, lens system, ferroelectric detector matrix, switching matrix, drive and readout electronics, video processor and display. The chopper interrupts infrared energy emanating from a scene, and the lens system focuses the chopped infrared energy on the ferroelectric detector matrix which produces electrical signals representative of the impinging infrared energy. The signals are read out by the drive and read out electronics whose action is synchronized with the chopper action, processed in the video processor and displayed by the display. The ferroelectric matrix comprises a plurality of detector capacitor elements fabricated by forming a metal surface on the upper surface of a dielectric of ferroelectric material and a plurality of metal pads arranged in rows and columns on its lower surface. Said metal plate forming the upper plates for the capacitors and the metal pads forming the lower plates. The upper plate is connected to busbars for biasing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1977Date of Patent: February 27, 1979Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kent McCormack, William M. Knight, Jr.
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Patent number: 4134117Abstract: A Loran C receiver is disclosed which has a scanned type keyboard including data entry, primary function and special function keys. The primary function keys include an automatic key for selecting automatic operation. A microprocessor is controlled by the keyboard, a timing means, a real time interrupt, a counter, a groundwave phase and envelope sample strobe generator, a delayed phase channel sample strobe generator and a latches and multiplexer. The timing means orients the microprocessor as to time and triggers the counter. The counter provides the proper count to the groundwave phase and envelope strobe generator and delayed phase channel sample strobe generator for producing a plurality of sampling signals for the latches and multiplexer. The real time interrupt produces a data ready or cycle done signal for the microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1977Date of Patent: January 9, 1979Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Eugene A. Robinson, Jerry L. Setliff
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Patent number: 4126882Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device package for a multielement electro-optical device. The package includes a base structure, a cover and an environmental seal. The cover is secured with screws to the base structure and sealed at this interface to provide an environmentally protected package. The base structure includes a base member and a fine geometry lead pattern substrate loosely attached to the base member internal to the package. Connector pins are mounted either in retainer blocks or in the substrate attached to the base. The multielement electro-optical device is mounted upon a support member and its elements electrically coupled to leads to provide for testing prior to incorporation into the package. The device and support member or members constitute a subassembly which is electrically coupled to the lead pattern of the package substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1976Date of Patent: November 21, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Kent R. Carson, Charles M. Hess
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Patent number: 4120085Abstract: An improved planar (flat plate) array antenna system and method of fabrication is disclosed. A planar array antenna or array is mounted in a support for stabilization against roll and pitch movements with a rotary joint providing uninterrupted radar operation. The array is scanned in azimuth up to 120 rpm with elevation or tilt control. The support arrangement is a four gimbal arrangement providing for a high r-f gain to swept volume ratio for a forward looking radar with fast azimuth scan. The array comprises a front plate and a back plate attached to spaced flanged beams and end shorts for forming a plurality of RF energy cavities. The front plate has radiation output ports (shunt slots) covered with a Kapton layer for closing the array cavities against moisture and to permit pressurization to prevent arcing. The back plate has power divider slots (series slots) over which a manifold is disposed for distributing RF energy into the array.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1976Date of Patent: October 17, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Robert K. Peterson
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Patent number: 4121248Abstract: An improved a.c. coupled forward looking infrared (FLIR) system is disclosed. In a.c. coupled FLIR systems utilizing an array of detectors, the video signals produced when scanning "hot targets" are distorted toward the dark end of the display dynamic range. This distortion produces dark image obliterating streaks which are substantially reduced by a streak reduction system. In one embodiment video signals for each scan line are delayed in a delay line; while, the mean voltage is determined in an integrator, the mode voltage calculated from the probability density curve and the two summed in an adder to provide a video correction voltage. A sample and hold circuit then applies the video correction signal to the video voltage output of the delay line to produce video signals absent any streaking voltage. In another embodiment the video signals are connected to a first integrator to determine the mean voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1977Date of Patent: October 17, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Cecil R. Coale, Jr.
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Patent number: 4111383Abstract: A laser beam rider guidance system having an improved launcher based laser transmitter subsystem for illuminating a laser beam receiver subsystem on board a moving carrier is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1976Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: John B. Allen, Cecil R. Coale, Jr.
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Patent number: 4112372Abstract: An improved spread spectrum communication system having a transmitter subsystem and a receiver subsystem is disclosed. The transmitter subsystem comprises a data source of 50 bps rate which is modulo-2 added to a C/A (clear/acquisition) code of 1,023K chips/sec in an EXCLUSIVE OR gate, phase modulated on a carrier signal at about 154 f.sub.o where f.sub.o = 10.23 MHz in a phase shift keying modulator and transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1977Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Jerry D. Holmes, Charles R. Johnson, Allen S. Jones, Charles R. Hewes
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Patent number: 4111384Abstract: A laser beamrider guidance system having an improved launcher based laser transmitter subsystem for illuminating a laser beam receiver subsystem on-board a moving carrier is disclosed. The improved launcher based laser transmitter subsystem includes a boresight compensation mechanism having L-shaped x and y scan diode lasers and a synchronization laser, a rotating scanning means for producing two rotations of the laser beam images for each rotation of the scanning means, a zoom lens in the optical path of the x and y scan rotating lasers for focusing the laser beams within the maximum target range, a first beamsplitter for reflecting a portion of the x and y scan laser beams to a telescopic sight mechanism adapted to determine when the x and y scan laser beams cross the line of sight to target and activate a signal for activating the synchronization laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1976Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Erwin E. Cooper
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Patent number: 4111385Abstract: A laser beam rider guidance system having a launcher based electro-optical subsystem illuminating a light receiver subsystem on board a moving carrier is disclosed. A launcher based laser beam transmitter assembly transmits a synchronization beam, an x scan beam, and a y scan beam to the laser beam receiver subsystem along a line of sight established by a sighting means. The synchronization beam, x scan beam, and y scan beam when received by the receiver subsystem are used in a timing mechanism to measure the x and y scan times from the missile's position to the line of sight; each of these times are multiplied by the scan rate in a microprocessor to determine x and y coordinate direction correction signals necessary to position the carrier on the line of sight to target.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1976Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: John B. Allen
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Patent number: 4100548Abstract: A bifocal pillbox antenna system is disclosed comprising a controller means providing control voltages and sequential switching signals to scan circuits. The scan circuits provide RF energy selectively to feed elements of a contoured feed array for radiation in a waveguide means. The waveguide means includes a waveguide and a pair of reflectors specially shaped to provide a pair of spaced focal points. The energy radiating from the feed elements with a non-linear phase distribution is guided to the specially shaped reflectors and reflected with a nearly linear phase distribution for transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1976Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of TransportationInventors: Christian Otto Hemmi, Oren Byrl Kesler, Richard Thomas Dover
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Patent number: 4097708Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state power source which combines the power of a plurality of negative resistance transistor packages in a circular cavity to form an oscillator producing a resonant source of microwave energy for radar or microwave energy oven applications. The power of the plurality of negative resistance transistor packages is fed to the cavity through a plurality of gapped coaxial cable antennae selectively positioned adjacent the circular cavity wall. The antennae terminate in an microwave energy termination and dc base biasing circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1976Date of Patent: June 27, 1978Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Samuel H. Bickel