Patents Represented by Attorney Milton W. Lee
  • Patent number: 5528418
    Abstract: A day-night rifle sight, using separate parallel day and night sights comed by means of a beam splitter; is improved by: integrating the housings of the night sight and beam splitter, reducing the outer dimensions, sealing and strengthening the coupling between the from ends of the sights; adding a quick release clamp to the rear ends; reducing the image size of the night sight with a fiber optic taper to match the daysight image and reticule; reducing the size of image forming optics and thereby reducing the inner dimensions of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas R. Bowman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5525970
    Abstract: A safety system and technique for multi-aperture optical systems such as TOW missile system that protects against the inadvertent activation of system function and warning the user that the system function is not ready for activation. The electrical trigger for the TOW missile system sends a signal to the firing circuits to launch a TOW missile. A micro-switch is mounted on the barrel of the near infrared (IR) tracker optical system fore optics, activated by the presence of a lens cap. A light group including a green and red light is included in the visible optical system of the TOW missile system. If the lens cap is off, then a green light is visible and firing circuits may be activated by a trigger. If the lens cap was inadvertently left on near IR tracking fore optics then a red light is visible and no voltage flows to the firing circuit when the trigger is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Melvin H. Friedman, Lesley R. M. Condiff
  • Patent number: 5526039
    Abstract: An observation technique for observing relativistic phenomena by time-like eparated viewing, so as to achieve the enhanced perception as a relativistic phenomena, and its simulation technique. The observation technique includes placing two or more observation devices at time-like separated positions, obtaining data from each device, and viewing the data in stereo such that there is displayed the relativistic phenomena by time-like separated viewing. The simulation technique includes viewing a non-relativistic phenomena with at least one viewing device, obtaining a data vector stream at a set rate, dividing each data vector into slices, and generating two separate data vector streams for stereo viewing utilizing sequential slices of each data vector steam such that there is displayed a simulation of relativistic phenomena for time-like separated viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: J. Andrew Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 5525162
    Abstract: A technique for forming from staring precursors at the molecular level, a sultant thermoelectric material with a reduced thermal conductivity. All staring precursors are dissolved in solution, reduced to remove oxygen, and then combined into a single solution to yield specific stoichiometric ratios. A sol and then a gel is formed, which supercritical solvent extraction is performed upon so as to yield a material having two level porosity and a maximum of a factor of three reduction in thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of The Army
    Inventors: Stuart B. Horn, Elizabeth H. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5510618
    Abstract: An improved modular FLIR system is provided that fits in the same space elopes that were provided for the Army's GEN I FLIR's. The resolution is more than doubled by using a narrow two dimensional array of Hg-Cd-Te detectors with pn junctions as a time-delay-integration line sensor, improved optics and analog-digital conversion with image enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Bill A. Blecha, Thomas Coty, John J. Curry, Howard T. Graves, Robert C. Guckian, John M. Hall, Samuel B. McDowell, Steve H. Nguyen, Raemon N. Samuels, Thomas E. Smith, Joseph J. Wiedmann, Richard A. Wright
  • Patent number: 5508846
    Abstract: An objective lens assembly provides up to 60 degrees field of view for the NVIS image intensifier goggle. A first lens subassembly positioned on the focal axis faces a external view and substantially corrects pupil aberrations in an aperture stop located after the first subassembly. A second lens subassembly is then located after the aperature stop on the focal axis. Color and field aberration corrections is provided while maintaining substantially high quality focus by a third lens subassembly. A lens element after the third lens subassembly on the focal axis flattens the image plane over the intensifier image format such that there results a format of up to 25 mm with a photocathode resolution for up to a 60 degree field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: John M. Hall
  • Patent number: 5504764
    Abstract: A solid-state laser slab amplifier arrangement for the output of a laser m at optimal working conditions. Pump energy is applied to a solid state lasing material so as to irradiate the solid-state lasing material and effect a laser beam with resultant waste heat output. At least one micro-heatpipe bundle which includes multiple micro-heatpipes allows waste heat to be transported away by the working medium through an approximate center of an individual micro-heatpipe from the solid-state lasing material. After condensation, liquid working medium is returned substantially by capillary action through approximate off-center areas of the individual micro-heatpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Juergen L. W. Pohlmann, Richard B. Minch
  • Patent number: 5500729
    Abstract: The heterodyne detection efficiency of coherent laser radars is maximized coaxially aligning the local oscillator (LO) beam and the received laser beam when combined at the detector by preventing interference between the counterpropagating waves in the lasing rod within the lasing cavity by using optic polarization, magneto-optic polarization, and cavity end partial reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Brian C. Redman, Dallas N. Barr, John E. Nettleton
  • 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: 5485012
    Abstract: A support-measure to pinpoint and neutralize electro-optical viewing devi or systems is provided which utilizes blind optical augmentation. The counter-measure uses a light source to which current viewers are blind and a combination of visible and far infrared viewing or detection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Wilbur Liebson
  • Patent number: 5478425
    Abstract: The invention is related to electronic and more specifically to photo-electronic devices manufactured by means of thin film layering techniques. The invention proposes the use of polymer, copolymer, polyamide and similar organic casting materials, in layers 500 to 10,000 angstroms thick, as protective barriers between layers where the processing of one layer would be adversely affected by or would damage an adjacent previously formed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Elizabeth H. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5479016
    Abstract: A GEN II FLIR kit having two assemblies mounted on a common platform, the rst comprising a dewar, integral cooler, and imaging optics with scanner folded into a compact unit and the second assembly comprising a set of afocal optics with wide and narrow fields of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John J. Curry, Robert C. Guckian, John M. Hall, Hendrik K. Sijgers
  • Patent number: 5471055
    Abstract: A test system for completely characterizing all known types of infrared and ar-infrared detector arrays for FLIR imagers, which utilizes a number of different radiation sources, array supports, radiation filters, and radiation stops all remotely controlled and positioned by a computer which performs the test, sorts the data collected the results and presents it in a variety of formats. Also an automatic test method for characterizing infrared detectors using remote controlled radiation sources and dewar mounting devices under computer control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher R. Costanzo, David R. Kaplan, Khoa V. Dang
  • Patent number: 5460528
    Abstract: A hybrid simulation system that provides realistic indoor starlight and mlight simulation. At least two light sources provides light where each is coupled to an aperture so that the light source is focused. At least one variable aperture control is provided for one of the apertures so that variability of that aperture area size can be performed. Fiber optic bundles coupled for each aperture which receives the focused light where each bundle contains at least one fiber optic which provides a light conduit. Each bundle is coupled to an overhead position so that there is directed in a substantially downward direction from the overhead position the bundle. The area is illuminated with a simulated constant starlight and a simulated moonlight that may be varied by varying aperture size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Edwin W. Wentworth
  • Patent number: 5460529
    Abstract: A target simulator device for the simulation of infrared targets as input to entrance optics. A voice coil of an audio loud speaker including a cone portion and two electrical input connections has a physical projection one end of which is coupled to the cone portion and the other end approximate to and in front of a shield aperture. A black body radiation source is placed behind the aperture and a frequency compensated amplifier electrically coupled to the input connections such that collimated signal-modulated black body energy that is proportional to the total range of frequencies input is observed by an infrared sensitive detector aligned with the radiation emanating from the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Thomas E. Moyers
  • Patent number: 5457577
    Abstract: An optical holder for mounting and orienting a lens or lens subassembly by se of a removable retaining lens within a mount ring. Two adjustment set screws and a pressure pin mechanism hold the retaining lens. A constant pressure is applied against the set screws which is releasable. The retaining lens ring can then be removed and replaced without loss of alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Walter L. Wilson
  • 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: 5448842
    Abstract: Enclosure sign device for unavoidable viewing of a sign before manipulation f an entryway opening device. An enclosure of an entryway opening device includes at least one side surface extending out at least as far as the entryway opening device, a back surface coupled to the side surface to accommodate the entryway opening device through the back surface, and a front surface releasably coupled to the side surface which can be releasably opened or closed over the entryway opening device. The enclosure is coupled to a surrounding surface of the entryway opening device and includes a display for releasably holding a sign attached to the outside surface of the front surface so that sign viewable when the front surface is closed. Access is obtained to an entryway opening device by releasably opening the latching so that there is unavoidable viewing of a sign before manipulation of the entryway opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Jaime Sonstroem
  • Patent number: 5447091
    Abstract: A dynamic rotating ballistic shield for protecting an enclosed viewing dee. A rotating inner armor sleeve around the device includes a sleeve opening. When the sleeve aligned with a cap opening of an outer armor cap which concentrically surrounds the rotatable inner armor sleeve, a substantially unobstructed field-of-view for the objective window is obtained, with substantial ballistic shield protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: James C. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5440134
    Abstract: A test target for thermal and similar rifle sights including a target, comating lens in a housing with a mandrel type boresighting attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Lewis E. Lough, Donald A. Ferrett