Patents by Inventor Ralph A. Layer

Ralph A. Layer 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).

  • Electronic exposure control system for a solid state imager
    Patent number: 5233428
    Abstract: A system and method for electronically controlling charge coupled device (CCD) light sensitivity. The present invention controls CCD light sensitivity by electrically controlling a CCD such that the CCD discharges charge for a percentage of a field integration period. In other words, the present invention electronically varies the CCD's exposure time. The present invention operates as follows. First, the present invention calculates a new exposure time for a field integration period. Second, the present invention electrically causes the CCD to discard charge accumulated by the CCD during the field integration period except during a portion of the field integration period defined by the new exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Loral Fairchild Systems
    Inventors: Steven M. Alford, Ralph A. Layer, Thomas H. Traynor