Patents by Inventor Stephen D. Stearns

Stephen D. Stearns 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: 8017894
    Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging a distant light source at an enhanced resolution is provided. An evanescent field generator an evanescent field generator that receives an incident electromagnetic field representing at least one distant light source and restores high spatial frequency components to the incident electromagnetic field, resulting in an evanescent field. A negative refractive index lens assembly focuses the evanescent field onto a focal plane. A photodetector assembly located in the focal plane detects the focused evanescent field as an image of the at least one distant light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Jack May, Stephen D. Stearns
  • Patent number: 7570221
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the beamwidth of an antenna system are provided. An evanescent field generator generates an evanescent field representing a far field radio frequency (RF) signal received at the antenna system. A negative refractive index lens assembly focuses the evanescent field onto a focal plane. An RF detector assembly located in the focal plane detects the amplified evanescent field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Jack May, Stephen D. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20090079644
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the beamwidth of an antenna system are provided. An evanescent field generator generates an evanescent field representing a far field radio frequency (RF) signal received at the antenna system. A negative refractive index lens assembly focuses the evanescent field onto a focal plane. An RF detector assembly located in the focal plane detects the amplified evanescent field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jack May, Stephen D. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20090080070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging a distant light source at an enhanced resolution is provided. An evanescent field generator an evanescent field generator that receives an incident electromagnetic field representing at least one distant light source and restores high spatial frequency components to the incident electromagnetic field, resulting in an evanescent field. A negative refractive index lens assembly focuses the evanescent field onto a focal plane. A photodetector assembly located in the focal plane detects the focused evanescent field as an image of the at least one distant light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jack May, Stephen D. Stearns
  • Patent number: 7046987
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for locating a transmission signal from a radio transmission emitter device, such as a cell phone, in a rescue area. A pilot signal is employed to lock onto a transmission signal of one or more radio transmission devices located in a rescue area. A signal separation routine extracts desired transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area from other signals coexisting on similar frequency bands and interfering with the desired transmission signals. An estimated location of transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area is determined based on one or more transmission signal location techniques. The area is searched based on the estimated location of the transmission signal. If the emitter transmitting the transmission signal is not found, devices in the system are moved and the location estimation is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Neil G. Siegel, Stephen D. Stearns, Anthony G. Jennetti
  • Publication number: 20040198381
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for locating a transmission signal from a radio transmission emitter device, such as a cell phone, in a rescue area. A pilot signal is employed to lock onto a transmission signal of one or more radio transmission devices located in a rescue area. A signal separation routine extracts desired transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area from other signals coexisting on similar frequency bands and interfering with the desired transmission signals. An estimated location of transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area is determined based on one or more transmission signal location techniques. The area is searched based on the estimated location of the transmission signal. If the emitter transmitting the transmission signal is not found, devices in the system are moved and the location estimation is repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Neil G. Siegel, Stephen D. Stearns, Anthony G. Jennetti