Patents by Inventor Don A. Gregory

Don A. Gregory 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: 9651348
    Abstract: A carpenter's tape has a housing into which a tape web may be retracted. Function indicia are provided on the tape web. The tape has a squaring function legend on either or both of the housing and the tape web. Squaring function indicia are found on one or both sides of the tape web. Length measurement indicia, header indicia and pre-cut stud indicia are provided on one side of the tape web. The opposite side of the tape web may have one or more of rough opening indicia and wall tee layout indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: FWD Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Willis M. French, Don Gregory French
  • Publication number: 20150168119
    Abstract: A carpenter's tape has a housing into which a tape web may be retracted. Function indicia are provided on the tape web. The tape has a squaring function legend on either or both of the housing and the tape web. Squaring function indicia are found on one or both sides of the tape web. Length measurement indicia, header indicia and pre-cut stud indicia are provided on one side of the tape web. The opposite side of the tape web may have one or more of rough opening indicia and wall tee layout indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FWD Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Willis M French, Don Gregory French
  • Patent number: 7059061
    Abstract: The Framer's Layout and Cutting Guide was designed to simplify the house framing process by creating easily recognizable icons, representing pre-measured for accuracy basic framing functions, for both layout and cutting, which, when superimposed on/integrated—with a standard tape measure, would clean up and speed up the framing process, making it easier for the professional carpenter, as well as for the do-it-yourself homeowner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Don Gregory French
  • Patent number: 6999176
    Abstract: A Real-Time Optical Correlating System produces holograms that contain both amplitude and phase information and have none of the time constraints of the traditional holographic methods. It has been demonstrated to operate at television field rates (60 Hz) employing currently available devices of moderate resolution. Using the System, the holographic matched filter of an input scene is calculated optically as an analog sum, captured by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and transmitted directly or through a computer to and displayed on a commercially available liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The correlation plane may be viewed immediately on a suitable screen because there is no film to process or computer calculations to be performed. Concurrently with the creation of the holographic matched filter of the input scene, a Fourier transform of a test scene is produced and both are imaged on another charge-coupled device camera for any correlation between the input and test scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Amy Sue Kransteuber, Don A. Gregory
  • Publication number: 20040074160
    Abstract: The Framer's Layout and Cutting Guide was designed to simplify the house framing process by creating easily recognizable icons, representing pre-measured for accuracy basic framing functions, for both layout and cutting, which, when superimposed on/integrated-with a standard tape measure, would clean up and speed up the framing process, making it easier for the professional carpenter, as well as for the do-it-yourself homeowner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Don Gregory French
  • Patent number: 6323972
    Abstract: A method is disclosed by which filters are created optically in real time—and tested. This technique is made possible by recent advances in Charge Couple Detector (CCD) detector array technology. Pixel (picture element) size has decreased to the point that real fringes can be detected and displayed. The fringes result from the interference of the optical Fourier transform of a displayed scene with a specified plane wave. Phase information is thus preserved. This is the critical information required in producing a hologram or a holographic matched filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Travis S. Taylor, Don A. Gregory, Peter S. Erbach
  • Patent number: 5650855
    Abstract: The off-axis joint transform correlator improves on the extant on-axis jo transform correlator by eliminating the requirement for a second laser frequency and the means for blocking the first laser frequency from propagating beyond a given point in the correlator. These eliminations are accomplished by using a beamsplitter and a mirror to bring a second portion of the first frequency at an angle to read the pattern information written onto a spatial light modulator by the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James C. Kirsch, Don A. Gregory
  • Patent number: 5606435
    Abstract: The fiber optic-based correlating and sensing system (the System) utilizes length of optical fiber through which the object beam travels prior to being incident on the holographic plate. First, a matched filter is created on the holographic plate of the initial condition of the environment. Then when the plate is re-placed in its original position in the System and the reference beam is blocked from reaching the plate, a correlation peak appears as the object beam passes through the holographic plate. To use the System as a correlator, the object beam is transmitted through an input scene prior to its travel through the optical fiber. The changes in the input scene from the initial scene causes broadening of the shape of and degradation of intensity of the correlation peak. To use the System as a sensor, the object beam travels through the optical fiber acquiring information regarding the environment surrounding the fiber, such as pressure, temperature, sound, electric and magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Amy S. Kransteuber, Don A. Gregory
  • Patent number: 5319214
    Abstract: The mirror elements mirror device spatial light modulator are selectively deflected. Such deflection causes incident infrared radiation to be reflected in selected directions. The number of deflected mirror elements as well as the degree of deflection determines the amount of reflected radiation which travels through an aperture and is collimated by suitable imaging optics, thus creating an infrared image that appears to be at infinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Don A. Gregory, David J. Lanteigne, Joseph J. Booth, Scottie B. Mobley
  • Patent number: 5235461
    Abstract: An optical correlator system for encoding a complex optical image onto a erent beam of light such as a laser and comparing it with a reference complex image. One embodiment of the invention encodes phase only information of the complex image onto the coherent beam of light by means of a liquid crystal television receiver. The light beam is passed through the liquid crystal television receiver, whose pixels are manipulated to provide phase information concerning the image. A second embodiment of the invention encodes both phase and amplitude components of a complex image onto the coherent beam of light such as a laser beam. Either or both encodings are utilized in the optical correlator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James C. Kirsch, Don A. Gregory
  • Patent number: 4743097
    Abstract: Incoherent optical processing techniques are shown which demonstrate image intensity normalization and contour enhancement. A new type of incoherent optical correlator which combines a model of the human neural system with an intensity image convolver. The processor's principal element is a Hughes liquid crystal light valve (LCLV). All components are commercially available and used without modification except for a liquid crystal television (LCLV). In operation the invention can be used as either a pre-processor to intensity normalize and edge enhance video scenes for use in pattern recognition applications or as a real-time pattern recognition device within itself, with the addition of an LCTV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John L. Johnson, Don A. Gregory, James C. Kirsch
  • Patent number: 4715683
    Abstract: The spatial light modulator utilizes a modified liquid crystal television for modulating a laser beam so as to produce a transformed hologram image on a film plate which is identical with the video information being fed into the liquid crystal TV. Once a image film has been produced the film is developed and placed back in the system so that the system will now act as a comparator and tracking device. With the reference beam blocked and a new video input fed into the liquid crystal TV the system now will have an output only when the scene on the TV is identical to the scene recorded on the film. Indicator means give a signal output from this comparison that is identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Don A. Gregory, Bob D. Guenther
  • Patent number: 4455532
    Abstract: The apparatus 11 according to the present invention effectively eliminates losses to reflection and/or secondary emission of the charged particle beam 13 being measured. It comprises a sense cup (17) with an interior chamber and an entry opening (25) through which the charged particle beam (13) enters. A sense cone (19) forms the rear wall of the interior chamber with the cone apex adjacent the entry opening (25). An outer case (21) surrounds the sense cup (17) and is electrically insulated therefrom. Charged particles entering the interior chamber are trapped and are absorbed by the sense cup and cone and travel through a current measuring device (15) to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Don A. Gregory, Charles D. Stocks
  • Patent number: 4040896
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and the chemical solutions (a blend of H.sub.2 SO..4 and CH.sub.3 COOH) employed for producing high quality crystal surfaces on CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2 by a chemical polishing cycle that follows a multistage mechanical polishing cycle. The high quality crystal surfaces on CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2, which otherwise are of the quality for field of use, makes these crystals ideally suited for applications as windows for HF/DF laser since the chemically polished crystal surface has fewer irregularities which reduce the amount of surface scattering of the HF/DF radiation, thus allowing a more predictable output. The high quality surfaces achieved from chemical polishing are of particular value in the study of optical absorption of very low loss materials, where the scattered radiation produces heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James A. Harrington, Don A. Gregory
  • Patent number: H331
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for acousto-optically addressed pattern recognition using Vander Lugt matched filtering. In optical correlation a beam of light containing an image to be examined is directed to fall on a matched filter array that contains a representation of an object of interest. Critical alignment between the beam and a matched filter of the array is achieved by acousto-optical deflection of the light beam. A large number of matched filters can be addressed sequentially at very high sampling rates, thereby providing a large memory capability for coherent optical image processing. In the system an object beam containing an image of interest is directed to a plane of interest where the matched filter is located. An acousto-optical device located in the object beam path is driven by a signal generator at megahertz frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Don A. Gregory, Joseph G. M. Duthie, Laura L. Huckabee