Patents Represented by Attorney Robert F. Beers

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  • Dielectric air-interface plasma optical power limiter
    Patent number: 4597639
    Abstract: Optical devices which reduce the risk of damage by high energy laser pulses re made by applying particles to the surface of optical components. The particles serve as plasma initiation sites. The particles are made of material capable of producing large numbers of free electrons when illuminated above a preselected power level. Above the preselected power level, transmittance or reflectance of the optical component is limited by the plasma created by the free electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Steven C. Seitel, C. Denton Marrs
  • Test signal generator for coherent air-to-ground radars
    Patent number: 4598294
    Abstract: A test signal generator for on the ground testing of coherent air-to-ground adars has a rotating antenna for simulating aircraft motion when receiving return radar signals. An angular position sensor provides a signal which is proportional to the angular position of the rotating antenna. Correlation of these signals in the radar computer provides a radar test signal having realistic amplitude and doppler histories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Raymond A. Guhse
  • Radiative opacity and emissivity measuring device
    Patent number: 4597933
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the emissivity and opacity coefficients of a test plasma. The apparatus includes a target comprising a support structure of a carrier material with an asymmetrical sample of a test material disposed thereon, a driver for ionizing the test material into a test plasma and the carrier material into a carrier plasma, and spectrographs for measuring the intensity of photons traversing said test plasma. Embodiments including a separate photon source are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Barrett H. Ripin, Robert R. Whitlock
  • Chaff dispenser for atmospheric re-entry
    Patent number: 4597332
    Abstract: The invention proposes the launching or re-entry pods, individually or in oups, from a launching platform, so directed as to precede the entering body throughout the atmospheric trajectory, and containing therein chaff material or bundles to be dispensed therefrom at programmed intervals whereby the chaff material is scattered over a larger area ahead of the entering body so that receiving radar will track the chaff material rather than the body, thus confusing during the atmospheric re-entry of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1964
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Leonard M. Hoffman, John B. Kimball
  • Apparatus for determining the liquid water content of a gas
    Patent number: 4597666
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the liquid water content (LWC) of a sample gas aving water droplets suspended therein includes a light source for passing a collimated light beam through the sample gas, and a sensor for detecting the light scattered by the water droplets. The sensor includes a photodetector having a planar light sensitive surface positioned to receive scattered light. A light trap is also provided between the photodetector and the light source for blocking nonscattered light in the light beam from the photodetector. The light flux detected by the photodetector is proportional to LWC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Hermann E. Gerber, Bernard G. Ulfers
  • Torpedo cableless umbilical
    Patent number: 4597345
    Abstract: A communications link between a submarine and a torpedo secured within a nch tube flooded with seawater. A transmit/receive light beam pair propagating through the water provides the high bandwidth data channels between the tube wall and the adjacent torpedo hull for two-way communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Floyd H. Reeser, Francis G. Quinn
  • Spectrum analyzer and analysis method for measuring power and wavelength of electromagnetic radiation
    Patent number: 4598247
    Abstract: A spectrum analyzer for analyzing electromagnetic radiation which may be utilized to determine the radiation wavelength and power. The analyzer includes a gas filled chamber which has a collimating lens through which radiation is injected, and a reflective plate that reflects the radiation back toward the lens. A standing wave is created within the chamber having spatially periodic peaks. The chamber gas pressure is regulated to a pressure such that gas breakdown occurs, thereby generating a light pattern at each standing wave peak. The patterns are then photographed, and the patterns' diameters and spacing are measured from the resulting photograph. From the spacing and diameter obtained, wavelength and power may be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Frederick M. Mako, John A. Pasour, Charles W. Roberson
  • In-line, concurrent electromagnetic beam analyzer
    Patent number: 4596461
    Abstract: An in-line concurrent diagnostic analyzer for laser beams. An aperature mor splits the initial laser beam into two beams. The reflected portion of the initial beam follows path 1. Along path 1, an aliquot of the path 1 beam is reflected into a time history sensor. The majority of the path 1 beam ignites a plasma to mark beam arrival time at the target. The aperatured beam strikes and heats a calorimeter mirror, which records the energy of the incident beam. About 99 percent of the aperatured beam then passes to a specially designed (thin, with a short diffusion time) mirror attached to thermocouples to record the energy profile of the beam. The beam is reflected by the special mirror onto the target. A Third sensor detects any breakdown at the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John L. DeRosa, Terence J. Wieting
  • Sidelobe canceller with adaptive antenna subarraying using a weighted Butler matrix
    Patent number: 4596986
    Abstract: An apparatus for nulling signals from unwanted interference sources. The aratus includes an N element antenna array interconnected with a weighted Butler matrix. The outputs of the Butler matrix are applied to an adaptive reducing matrix having outputs (x.sub.2, . . . ,x.sub.L), with L<N, where is the main antenna channel signal, x.sub.1, and (x.sub.2, . . . ,x.sub.L) are the signals required to null the effects of jammer signals received in the sidelobes of the main antenna channel. The signals (x.sub.1, . . . ,x.sub.L) are directed to the inputs of a sidelobe canceller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Grealie A. Andrews, Karl Gerlach
  • Tactile bumper for a mobile robot or platform
    Patent number: 4596412
    Abstract: A tactile bumper is configured to obtain sensory information for impact dction and collision avoidance from the entire perimeter of an associated autonomous mobile robot or platform. The tactile bumper comprises a plurality of free-floating strips encased in a housing and is disposed in a spring-loaded fashion so as to normally be in an extended position. A plurality of microswitches are affixed to the housing and are arranged behind the plurality of free-floating strips in such a fashion so as to be activated by any displacement thereof. The most significant component(s) of the tactile bumper are a plurality of free-floating corner pieces, each of which is configured with an angled cut at its ends so as to mate with complementary angled cuts of juxtaposed ones of the plurality of free-floating strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Hobart R. Everett, Catherine S. Wright
  • N-bit propagatary analog-to-digital converter system
    Patent number: 4595909
    Abstract: The application of peristaltic charge-coupled-devices to an analog delay e provides an ultra high speed n-bit propagatory analog-to-digital converter system. The system also includes somewhat unconventional ECL weighted current source digital-to-analog converters. The analog delay line comprised of the peristaltic charge-coupled-devices is clocked in exact synchronism with a digital delay line. Operation at conversion rates above 100 MHz are made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Bobby R. Jarrett
  • Altitude determining radar using multipath discrimination
    Patent number: 4595925
    Abstract: A height-determining radar utilizing both direct and multipath signals coising a radar transmitter and receiver and means for measuring the variation of the pulse widths of the received radar signal, the variation being caused by fluctuating multipath contribution to the received signal, and further comprising means for calculating the target height h from the equation h=cR.tau..sub.B /4e, where c is the speed of light, R is the target range, .tau..sub.B is the pulse width variation and e is the radar height. The multipath variation may be enhanced by varying the linear polarization of the emitted radar signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James P. Hansen
  • Combination frangible nose cap EMI shield
    Patent number: 4593637
    Abstract: An improved frangible nose cap is presented which in addition to providing echanical protection to the torpedo nose also provides electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection to the torpedo electronics systems. The improved nose cap is made up of a frangible material which may be impregnated, or coated, by methods well known in the prior art, with a conductive layer that can be electrically connected to the torpedo's electronic circuit ground for the EMI shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Harvey J. Klee
  • Solid state, high-low resistance monitor
    Patent number: 4594542
    Abstract: A resistance monitoring solid state circuit distinguishes between a minimum high resistance condition and a maximum low resistance condition by current mode switching of a pair of transistors the switching control voltages of which are established by bias resistor networks forming legs of a bridge, with the monitored resistance in one leg, the transistors switching current flow into one or the other of two logic signal generating paths that include opto-isolators for electrical isolation from utilization circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Franklin H. Fish
  • Potting techniques for fiber optical couplers
    Patent number: 4593968
    Abstract: A coupler for coupling light from one single mode optical fiber to another. Two or more optical fibers are provided in twisted or braided adjacency so that the evanescent field of one optical fiber is coupled into at least one other fiber for dividing the power therebetween. Means are provided for coextensively supporting and encapsulating the optical fibers to stabilize and protect them under demanding environmental conditions resulting from temperature variations, physical shock and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas G. Giallorenzi
  • Moving scene display for passive radiation-wave imaging system
    Patent number: 4593317
    Abstract: A system which processes analog signals from millimeter wave sensing system nto digital words in an organized manner which are then stored into a data memory representing the pixels in the wave images. The pixels are read out at a rate and format to a standard television monitor thus providing a real time display of the sensed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Bruce M. Heydlauff
  • Real-time polar controlled video processor
    Patent number: H84
    Abstract: The real-time polar controlled video processor electronically rotates scene nformation in a real-time video processor. By dynamically specifying the origin of each desired consecutive output line from subpixel space, and by specifying the delta "X" and delta "Y" inputs (of X-Y Cartesian coordinates) to a real-time coefficient generator, a subpixel generator can sweep through a stored image database at any arbitrary angle and scale factor. Subpixels which are generated sequentially describe any image size, orientation, and position. This scheme allows dynamic line-by-line accommodation of dynamically rotating sensor outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Jon H. Bumgardner
  • Generalized adaptive MTI system
    Patent number: H92
    Abstract: An adaptive N-pulse MTI processor for obtaining optimum clutter cancellation with a minimum of hardware, comprising a first input pulse line; first delay means for providing an interpulse delay T to pulses on this first input line; a first adaptive canceller with its auxiliary input connected directly to take pulses from the first input line, and with its main input connected to take delayed pulses from the first delay means; and N-2 series-connected canceller circuits, with each canceller circuit associated with a different level of pulses. The nth canceller circuit, where 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventors: Frank F. Kretschmer, Jr., Bernard L. Lewis
  • High stability fiber optic magnetic field sensor with enhanced linear range using magnetic feedback nulling
    Patent number: H94
    Abstract: A fiber optic interferometer-type magnetic field sensor which uses an automatic feedback system to limit the range of the magnetic field experienced by the sensor element. A high frequency bias field is mixed with the external magnetic field to be measured and the resulting interferometer output signal is converted to an electric output signal. The electric output signal is mixed with a reference signal having the same frequency as the bias signal to form a baseband negative feedback signal which is converted to a magnetic field and mixed with the bias and external fields to provide automatic feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventor: Kee P. Koo
  • Heterojunction D.sup.- (or A.sup.+) millimeter and submillimeter wave detector
    Patent number: H95
    Abstract: A solid state detector for use in detecting submillimeter and millimeter wave radiation. The solid state detector comprises a semiconductor superlattice of alternating thin epitaxial layers of GaAs and AlGaAs doped with impurities having the same conductivity type. Because of the transfer of charge carriers in order to obtain thermal equilibrium, the charge carriers in the higher energy doped layer transfer to the adjacent lower energy doped layer and form a predetermined number of either D.sup.- or A.sup.+ centers in this layer. This D.sup.- or A.sup.+ center formation is obtained without the use of an optical bias. The ionization energy for these D.sup.- or A.sup.+ centers is small enough that photons from millimeter or submillimeter wave radiation is sufficient to ionize these carriers and yield a measurable conductivity in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventors: Benjamin V. Shanabrook, William J. Moore