Patents by Inventor Robert P. M. Craven

Robert P. M. Craven 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: 6631989
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject for medical conditions includes causing light to impinge on at least one eye of the subject, directing reflected light from such light beam to photosensors, converting the received reflected light to corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a processor. Processing the signals by effecting a comparison between stored information regarding the medical condition and the data provided by the monitoring to determine if an undesired medical condition exists and, if so, communicating such result. The cycle is repeated at predetermined intervals which may be short or prolonged. The stored information may be information relating to the specific subject or general information regarding normal and abnormal conditions of the eye representative of toxicity. The eyes may be monitored sequentially or simultaneously. Related apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James V. Odom, James E. Smith, Robert P. M. Craven
  • Patent number: 6621916
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying the authenticity of a document relative to a previously programmed document are disclosed. The method provides a broadband light source; illuminates a document with the light source; collects reflected light; converts it into a corresponding electrical signal or signals; digitizes the electrical signals; and prepares a spectral signature of the document for further analysis. The spectral signature can also be normalized to account for variations in analyzed documents caused by soiling and fading. The method also provides for comparing a previously programmed and stored spectral signature to the spectral signature of a test document using a matching value to indicate whether the test document is authentic or not. The apparatus provides a device for application of the method for verifying document authenticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Robert P. M. Craven, Kenneth E. Vance, Curtis Duhn, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 6593900
    Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna for a non-planar surface includes a flexible printed circuit board having three or four conductive levels. The flexible printed circuit board is adapted to conform to the non-planar surface and includes a plurality of electrical connections between the conductive levels and a plurality of electrical traces on the conductive levels. The electrical connections and the electrical traces form a first helix having a first helical pitch sense from a first node to a second node, and also form a second helix having a second helical pitch sense, which is opposite from the first helical pitch sense, from a third node to a fourth node. The first and second helices are contrawound relative to each other. First and second signal terminals are provided and are electrically connected with at least one of the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Robert P. M. Craven, James E. Smith, Joffre J. Rolland, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020171805
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a subject for medical conditions includes causing light to impinge on at least one eye of the subject, directing reflected light from such light beam to photosensors, converting the received reflected light to corresponding electrical signals which are delivered to a processor. Processing the signals by effecting a comparison between stored information regarding the medical condition and the data provided by the monitoring to determine if an undesired medical condition exists and, if so, communicating such result. The cycle is repeated at predetermined intervals which may be short or prolonged. The stored information may be information relating to the specific subject or general information regarding normal and abnormal conditions of the eye representative of toxicity. The eyes may be monitored sequentially or simultaneously. Related apparatus is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: James V. Odom, James E. Smith, Robert P.M. Craven
  • Patent number: 6437751
    Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna includes a multiply connected surface, such as a toroidal surface; first and second insulated conductors; and first and second signal terminals. The first insulated conductor extends around and over the surface with a first pitch or winding sense from a first node to a second node. The second insulated conductor also extends around and over the surface with a second pitch or winding sense, which is opposite from the first pitch or winding sense, from a third node to a fourth node. The first and second insulated conductors are contrawound relative to each other around and over the surface. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the nodes is open. In other embodiments of the invention, the signal terminals are structured for connection to a cooperative antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Robert P. M. Craven, James E. Smith, Larry Hawks, Roy S. Nutter, Jr., Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 6425553
    Abstract: A dynamic fluid control surface, e.g., a rotor blade of a helicopter, having a blowing slot extending the entire length of the leading and trailing edges of the dynamic fluid control surface, an internal chamber containing a pressurized fluid, e.g., air, and one or more piezoelectric actuators positioned along the length of the blowing slots and connected to the internal chamber. The piezoelectric actuators are controlled by a computer system to regulate the flow of fluid released through the blowing slot. There may be one or more blowing slots on either just the trailing edge of a dynamic fluid control surface or on both the leading edge and the trailing edge of the dynamic fluid control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, John L. Loth, Robert P. M. Craven, Robert Bond
  • Patent number: 6300920
    Abstract: An electromagnetic antenna includes a multiply connected surface, such as a toroidal surface; a first conductive loop proximate to the toroidal surface; a second conductive loop proximate to the toroidal surface; first and second signal carrying terminals electrically or magnetically connected to the first and second conductive loops, respectively; and a plurality of conductive transceiver elements, such as plural pairs of contrawound insulated conductor windings. Each pair of the contrawound insulated conductor windings has a first end, a plurality of turns, and a second end, and extends around and at least partially about the toroidal surface. Each pair of these windings is electrically connected to the first and second conductive loops. The first end of the windings is electrically connected to one of the first and second conductive loops, and the second end of the windings is electrically connected to the other of the first and second conductive loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Franz A. Pertl, Robert P. M. Craven, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5654723
    Abstract: An antenna is disclosed that has windings that are contrawound in segments on a toroid form and that have opposed currents on selected segments. An antenna is disclosed that has one or more insulated conductor circuits with windings that are contrawound around and over a surface, such as a spherical surface, a generally spherical surface, a multiply connected surface, a toroidal surface, or a hemispherical surface. The insulated conductor circuits may form one or more endless conductive paths around and over the surface. The windings may have a helical pattern, a generally helical pattern, a partially helical pattern, a poloidal peripheral pattern or may be constructed from a slotted conductor on the toroid. Poloidal loop winds are disclosed with a toroid hub on a toroid that has two plates that provides a capacitive feed to the loops, which are selectively connected to one of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Robert P. M. Craven, Michael T. Prinkey, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5495429
    Abstract: A method for measuring color of objects comprises storing in a computer memory values representative of measurements of the color of an object over a range of angular positions with respect to a photosensor, selecting a measurement area of the object, determining a geometrical structure of the measurement area, and adjusting the measured color in response to the stored values. An associated apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Robert P. M. Craven, William K. Preece, James E. Smith