Patents by Inventor Gary L. Wood

Gary L. Wood 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: 5986828
    Abstract: A power limiter is provided consisting of two cells of optically transparent material having a low index of refraction, but a large third order susceptibility to electric polarization. The input cell has a positive susceptibility which self-focuses intense radiation beams (i.e., laser beams) and the output cell has a negative susceptibility which scatters the even more intense self-focused beam by self-defocussing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gary L. Wood, Edward J. Sharp, Richard R. Shurtz, II, Mary J. Miller
  • Patent number: 5784191
    Abstract: Combining a tristimulus filter, two lenses, and a crystalline colloidal ay filter in an arrangement resulting in a visible optical limiter without substantial color distortion that can be used for eye or sensor protection. Only three nonlinear colloidal arrays are needed to Bragg reflect over the pass bands of the tristimulus filter. The nonlinear colloidal array is arranged so that the band reflected (at the least) completely overlaps the pass band of the tristimulus filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Gary L. Wood
  • Patent number: 5739947
    Abstract: Incident radiation is focussed by a lens into a non-linear optical material whose index of refraction increases with increased radiation intensity. For normal radiation, the radiation freely passes through the nonlinear optical and an optically-switchable material to an other lens. This other lens directs the radiation onto a photodetector. High-intensity radiation, however, is self-trapped in the nonlinear material to form a columnar beam which falls on the optically-switchable material, causes this material to switch, and is reflected thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventors: Gary L. Wood, Edward J. Sharp, Richard R. Shurtz
  • Patent number: 5739950
    Abstract: A trilaminar semiconductor device is placed at an intermediate focus is an optical instrument having a sensitive photodetector. The layers of the device are successively in the form of a two-photon absorber, a sacrificial layer, and a multiple quantum well. The composition of the semiconductor is varied in the layers to achieve the desired bandgap and function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventors: Gary L. Wood, William W. Clark, III, Byong H. Ahn, Edward J. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5561541
    Abstract: In order to protect a delicate photodetector from high-intensity radiation, such as from a laser, a device for limiting optical power to the detector is interposed between the radiation and the detector. This device has an optical interface that totally reflects high-intensity radiation, but which freely transmits normal (low intensity) radiation to the detector. The interface is between two optical materials, one with a linear index of refraction with respect to radiation intensity, and the other with a non-linear index. At low intensity radiation levels, the two materials have the same indices of refraction, and such radiation is freely transmitted through the interface, but with high-intensity radiation, a mismatch of indices of refraction allows total reflection at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Gary L. Wood, Richard R. Shurtz, II, Juergen L. W. Pohlmann
  • Patent number: 5495101
    Abstract: A passive broadband sensor protection and enhancement system and technique. ncident light is focused with a cylindrical lens on the optical axis into an intense light strip onto the input face of a photorefractive crystal which may include optional anti-reflection coatings on the input and output face. A broadband high reflection coating proximate to the input face reflects all radiation from approximately 0.68 out to at least 1.5 micrometers wavelength and light exiting includes a transmitted beam and beam fan. A weak holographic grating is used to seed the beam fan, such that is fanned out of the optical path in a direction determined by the c-axis, dominant electro-optic coefficient, and charge carriers participating in the photorefractive process. The transmitted beam contains only incoherent radiation as input to a sensitive detector resulting in broadband multiline protection from the visible spectrum for substantially all pulsewidths and cw lasers, with enhanced time response and interaction length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Gregory J. Salamo, Gary L. Wood, John J. Shultz
  • Patent number: 5449904
    Abstract: A passive broadband sensor protection and enhancement system and technique. ncident light is focused with a cylindrical lens on the optical axis into an intense light strip onto the input face of a photorefractive crystal on the optical axis. The crystal includes optional anti-reflection coatings proximate to the input and output face. A broadband high reflection coating is proximate to the input face for reflection of all radiation from approximately 0.68 to at least out to 1.5 micrometers wavelength. Light exiting from the output face of the crystal results from a photorefractive process that includes a transmitted beam and beam fan. The beam fan is fanned out of the optical path in a direction determined by the c-axis, dominant electro-optic coefficient, and charge carriers participating in the photorefractive process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Mary J. Miller, Gregory J. Salamo, William W. Clark, III, Gary L. Wood, Edward J. Sharp, Brian D. Monson
  • Patent number: 5348688
    Abstract: A liquid crystal modified by the addition of an organic dye is used as a non-linear optical material in two devices which limit the optical radiations to sensitive photodetectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Gary L. Wood, Richard R. Shurtz, II, Juergen L. W. Pohlmann
  • Patent number: 5317454
    Abstract: (S) A first optical material with a linear index of refraction is distributed as particles in a second optical material with an index of refraction dependent on the incident radiation intensity. Below some threshold intensity level the combination of materials is transparent to incident radiation directed toward a sensitive optical detector. Above this level, high-intensity incident radiation induces a change in refractive index of the second material, and the combination is limiting to incident radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Gary L. Wood, Richard R. Shurtz, II
  • Patent number: 5317442
    Abstract: A universal IFF technique and system utilizes a real-time communication l established between both parties allowing the approximate immediate transferral of digital information with positive direction and identification of both parties achieved. A pump laser emits a first signal at a first position and a remote laser beacon emits a second signal at a second position, both signals at nominally the same wavelength. A MPPCM receives the first signal which establishes a beam fan. The MPPCM and first signal scans about a region of interest to intercept the second signal. The second signal provides a second input signal into the MPPCM so that a two-way phase conjugation signal builds up and lock-on is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Gary L. Wood, William W. Clark, III, Gregory J. Salamo
  • Patent number: 5301069
    Abstract: The present invention provides layered polymeric media to control the spatial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high intensity, broadband, multi-line laser beams. This structure is an improved version of prior art thin-film (vaccum deposited) interference filters and "rugate" structure filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gary L. Wood, Wolfgang Elser, Edward J. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5073705
    Abstract: This is a new use for known photorefractive crystals. If input radiation taining both non-coherent and multiple-line coherent radiation is directed into such a crystal from a predetermined range of directions with respect to the C axis of the crystal, rainbow scattering of the coherent radiation occurs, whereas normal scattering of the non-coherent radiation occurs. A detector toward which input radiation is directed through the crystal is thus protected from high-power, multiple-line coherent radiation such as that provided by a threat laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Mary J. Miller, William W. Clark, III, Gary L. Wood, Gregory J. Salamo
  • Patent number: 4920589
    Abstract: A kinetic therapeutic table 10 having a frame 12, a planar patient support 14 mounted to the frame 12 for rotation about an elongate axis substantially aligned therewith and adjustable vertically at its foot 20 and head 18 ends. Symmetrical lateral support packs 114 at opposite sides of the patient's torso have laterally offset mountings for adjustment of the width therebetween by reversing their locations. Outer lateral leg supports 110 are mounted to the frame 12 and have a track 184 at their top surface fo slideable mounting of both knee restraints 182 and foot supports 202 at selected positions therealong. The patient support 14 comprises a planar frame with a plurality of panels 88 removably mounted thereto by means of pins 96 actuated by a lever arm 100. A patient support 14 drive motor 28 provides rotary drive to the patient support 14 through a worm gear 40 locked to a gear linkage, so that it may be stopped and held by the worm gear 40 in any angular position by switching power off to the motor 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Thomas J. Ring
    Inventors: Richard E. LaVelle, Gary L. Wood, Kevin P. Morrey, Clayton E. Bossert
  • Patent number: 4913934
    Abstract: The present invention provides layered polymeric devices to control the sial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high-intensity laser beams. These devices include improved versions of prior art thin-film (vacuum-deposited) interference filters, rugate structure anti-reflection coatings, Q-switches, pulse shapers, modulators, optical bistable devices and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Richard R. Shurtz, II, Wolfgang Elser, Gary L. Wood
  • Patent number: 4866796
    Abstract: A kinetic therapeutic table 10 having a frame 12, a planar patient support 14 mounted to the frame 12 for rotation about an elongate axis substantially aligned therewith and adjustable vertically at its foot 20 and head 18 ends. Symmetrical laterl support packs 114 at opposite sides of the patient's torso have laterally offset mountings for adjusting of the width therebetween by reversing their locations. Outer lateral leg supports 110 are mounted to the frame 12 and have a track 184 at their top surface for slideable mounting of both knee restraints 182 and foot supports 202 at selected positions therealong. The patient support 14 comprises a planar frame with a plurality of panels 88 removably mounted thereto by means of pins 96 actuated by a lever arm 100. A patient support 14 drive motor 28 provides rotary drive to the patient support 14 through a worm gear 40 locked to a geat linkage, so that it may be stopped and held by the worm gear 40 in any angular position by switching power off to the motor 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Thomas J. Ring
    Inventors: James N. Robinson, Gary L. Wood, Kevin P. Morrey, Clayton E. Bossert
  • Patent number: 4819239
    Abstract: The present invention provides layered devices to control the spatial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high-intensity laser beams. These devices include improved versions of prior art thin-film (vacuum-deposited) interference filters, rugate structure anti-reflection coatings, Q-switches, pulse shapers, modulators, optical bistable devices and the like. Control is provided using materials with large second and third order susceptibilities to electric field polarization and, if necessary, means to apply appropriate electric fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edward J. Sharp, Richard R. Shurtz, II, Wolfgang Elser, Gary L. Wood
  • Patent number: 4625530
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus to preform wire into helical configurations wherein the wire will be used in flexible wire reinforced rubber hose. The apparatus includes a wire shaping mechanism that utilizes a grooved rotatable cylindrical preform roller which is capable of preforming a plurality of wires into a desired helical shape. Thereafter, the helically shaped wires are wound onto a motor driven windup creel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Wood