Patents by Inventor Gerald Laib
Gerald Laib 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).
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Patent number: 8522682Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for explosive systems such as grenades with novel micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) fuze and novel placement of the MEMS fuze providing increased performance, reliability, and safety. The MEMS fuze is disposed towards a rear portion of the explosive system providing superior performance and design flexibility. Further, the explosive system includes electronics configured to implement a launch timer and to sense impact or when the system stops spinning. The present invention includes an operational method improving safety and reliability by preventing detonation until after the launch timer expires, upon impact, or when the explosive system stops spinning.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Kevin Genson, Daniel Jean, John Hendershot, Gerald Laib, David Olson, Ezra Chen, Veronica Badescu, Anthony Mansfield, Troy Caruso
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Patent number: 8181576Abstract: A projectile for safe standoff destruction of explosive devices. The projectile's casing encloses a chamber containing combustible material located opposite a roughened surface on the chamber. The combustible material is mounted so upon the projectile impacting the explosive device, the combustible material flies onto the roughened surface, heating the material by shear forces and igniting the material. This creates pressure bursting the chamber, injecting combustion gases into the explosive fill within the device, thereby igniting the fill locally at the impact, and along cracks in the fill. This arrangement prevents a coherent detonation wavefront from forming within the fill, and a slower burn of the fill, whereby a rifleman has little chance of receiving a concussive shock, or shrapnel, from the device.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Brian T. Amato, Steven Kim, Gerald Laib, Carl Gotzmer
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Patent number: 7913623Abstract: A MEMS fuze having a moveable slider with a microdetonator at an end for positioning adjacent an initiator. A setback activated lock and a spin activated lock prevent movement of the slider until respective axial and centrifugal acceleration levels have been achieved. Once these acceleration levels are achieved, the slider is moved by a V-beam shaped actuator arrangement to position the microdetonator relative to a secondary lead to start an explosive train in a munitions round.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Lawrence Fan, Michael Beggans, Ezra Chen, Gerald Laib, David Olson, Daniel Jean, John Hendershot
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Patent number: 7808158Abstract: An electrical generator includes a fluid-flow driven impeller including at least one impact arm; and at least one cantilevered beam disposed such that the impact arm strikes the cantilevered beam as the impeller rotates. The cantilevered beam at least partially includes a piezoelectric film.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Michael Deeds, Veronica Valeriano, Gerald Laib, John Hendershot, David Olson
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Patent number: 7762190Abstract: A MEMS mechanical initiator having a striker arm extending from a striker body. The tip of the striker arm is adjacent to, but does not touch, the side of a microdetonator. A cocking and release mechanism moves the striker body such that the striker arm pulls away from the side of the microdetonator against the action of a set of springs connected to the striker body. Thereafter the cocking and release mechanism releases the striker body such that the tip of the striker arm swipes the side of the microdetonator causing initiation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Gerald Laib, Daniel Jean, David Olson, Michael Beggans
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Patent number: 7739953Abstract: A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Gerald Laib
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Patent number: 7597046Abstract: A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Gerald Laib
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Patent number: 7552681Abstract: A MEMS fuze having a moveable slider with a microdetonator at an end for positioning adjacent an initiator. A setback activated lock and a spin activated lock prevent movement of the slider until respective axial and centrifugal acceleration levels have been achieved. Once these acceleration levels are achieved, the slider is moved by a V-beam shaped actuator arrangement to position the microdetonator relative to a secondary lead to start an explosive train in a munitions round.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Gerald Laib, David Olson, Daniel Jean, John Hendershot, Lawrence Fan, Michael Beggans, Ezra Chen
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Patent number: 7497164Abstract: A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Gerald Laib
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Patent number: 7490552Abstract: A MEMS apparatus having a substrate layer, a device layer and an intermediate oxide layer joining them. A slider is formed in the device layer and includes an enlarged end portion. A walled chamber having a hollow interior in which is positioned a microdetonator is formed in the substrate layer beneath the enlarged end portion and is secured to it by the oxide layer. A drive is operable to move the slider, and with it, the walled chamber, from an initial position to a final position. When in the final position an initiator is operable to initiate the microdetonator.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Daniel Jean, Michael Beggans, Gerald Laib, David Olson
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Patent number: 7322294Abstract: A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Gerald Laib