Patents by Inventor David K. Hoffmaster

David K. Hoffmaster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6622629
    Abstract: A fuze for a submunition is miniaturized in size by forming the fuze of a micro-electromechanical systems (“MEMS”) velocity sensor (38, 32, 34 and 36), a MEMs shock detector (31), a DC power supply (30) and one of the MEMs arm-fire device (2, FIG. 1) or MEMs safe and arm device (2, FIG. 5). Multiple fuzes may be incorporated in a fuze to ensure detonation of the explosive charge, should one fuze fail. A millimeter-microwave (“MMW”) receiver-decoder may be included to permit remote detonation on command from a remote transmitter (52) and/or a microprocessor (54) may be included to time the detonation to the physical characteristics of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen F. Hodge, David K. Hoffmaster, William W. Mogan, Marion E. Fines, Daniel V. Haun
  • Publication number: 20030070571
    Abstract: A fuze for a submunition is miniaturized in size by forming the fuze of a micro-electromechanical systems (“MEMS”) velocity sensor (38, 32, 34 and 36), a MEMs shock detector (31), a DC power supply (30) and one of the MEMs arm-fire device (2, FIG. 1) or MEMs safe and arm device (2, FIG. 5). Multiple fuzes may be incorporated in a fuze to ensure detonation of the explosive charge, should one fuze fail. A MMW receiver-decoder may be included to permit remote detonation on command from a remote transmitter (52) and/or a microprocessor (54) may be included to time the detonation to the physical characteristics of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Kathleen F. Hodge, David K. Hoffmaster, William W. Mogan, Marion E. Fines, Daniel V. Haun
  • Patent number: 6178741
    Abstract: A synthesized divert propulsion system adapted to be utilized in various vehicles, including kill vehicles, interceptors, rockets, missiles and the like. The system is fabricated using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology which eliminates complex interconnections required for traditional divert propulsion systems by integrating all propulsion fluid functions and all controlled electronic functions onto a plurality of wafers. The wafers are integrated into a complete synthesized divert propulsion system by stacking and bonding the wafers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Nelson, William J. Sipes, David K. Hoffmaster
  • Patent number: 6091749
    Abstract: A laser controller (12) that has particular application for controlling a solid state diode laser (10) including a series of gain modules and associated diode arrays. The laser controller (12) includes a control console (44) including a touch screen (46) that allows a laser operator to interface with the controller (12) to control the laser (10) and laser parameters. The control console (44) includes a target monitor (50) that allows the operator to view the laser beam at a reduced beam intensity for alignment and beam quality purposes. The laser controller (12) further includes a computer (14) having a counter circuit (20) that outputs a signal to set the pulse width and pulse rate of the laser beam output. This control allows the laser beam output to be ramped from one beam intensity to another beam intensity during a laser operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hoffmaster, Terry L. Wetkowski