Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm William G. Auton
  • Patent number: 7068413
    Abstract: An optical element having characteristics suitable for use in a Faraday rotator has bonded to each of the adjacent radiation-receiving surfaces thereof with a chamber or water conducting conduit affixed therein includes a water cooled Faraday rotator element having: a base magnet plate substrate; a flowing water filled conduit fixed on the top surface of the base magnet plate substrate; a ferrite waffle iron grid with a binary top surface which reflects radiation and which has a bottom surface; and a fused copper layer fixed between the bottom surface of the ferrite waffle iron grid and the flowing water filled conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: William D. Fitzgerald, David S. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7061447
    Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna is presented that uses MEMs shutters to reconfigure a Fresnel zone plate antenna. It can be used to either point a main beam in different directions or to point multiple beams in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force.
    Inventors: Carl O. Bozler, Mark A. Gouker, Sean M. Duffy
  • Patent number: 7058092
    Abstract: The present invention includes a design for a 20-gigabit per second two to one multiplexor, that uses: first and second input amplifiers that respectively provide output signals by respectively receiving and amplifying first and second ten-gigabit per second input signals; first and second power dividers that each produce two output data streams by respectively splitting the output signals of the first and second input amplifiers; first and second mixers that produce output signals by respectively mixing output signals of the first and second power dividers with a 10 GHz local oscillator signal; a second means for combining signals that produces an output signal by combining the output signal of the second mixer with an output data stream of the second power divider; a T/2 delay line that produces an output signal by delaying the output signal of the second combining means; and an output combiner means that outputs a 20-gigabit per second data stream by combining the output signal of the T/2 delay line with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Daniel T. Moriarty
  • Patent number: 7030370
    Abstract: A microchip ring trap for cold atoms or neutral molecules consists of a particular multi-layer layout of wires on a microchip. These conductive wires may be produced by photolithography on a substrate (e.g. gold on sapphire). There are four wires crucial to the design, essentially a pair of “two-wire waveguides”. These wires are laid out on concentric circles with the inner and outer most wires on lower level of the chip, and the middle pair of wires on the top layer (the chip surface).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Matthew Crookston, Michael Robinson, Paul Baker
  • Patent number: 7002673
    Abstract: The structure of the device consists of a light transparent or light absorbing hollow tube having inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of an optical fiber that is threaded through the tube. The space between the fiber and the tube is filled with a low vapor pressure fluid selected for refractive index that will promote light leaking out of the fiber through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventor: Everett E. Crisman
  • Patent number: 6996345
    Abstract: Changing the phrases when mixing of optical modes gives rise to intensity effects. This occurs in multi-mode interferometer (MMI) or arrayed waveguide gratings (AWG). Here we use an electro-arefractive modulator, with a quadratic electro-optic effect that has an optical transfer function (Or power vs voltage (L-V) curve) given by is Pout=Pin (1+? cos ?)/2 where asymmetry factor ? measures the extinction ratio and the phase difference ? between arms is ? ? ? V 2 V ? 2 ? ? ? V 2 V ? 2 . In turn, the voltage V is expressed as a sum of the DC bias and RF drive V=VDC+VRF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Jerry C. Chen
  • Patent number: 6975802
    Abstract: A method for fabricating electromagnetic waveguides. The primary expected application is for the formation of dielectric type waveguides suitable for the confinement and guidance of intra-red and visible wavelengths. A secondary application is the formation of waveguides which can be filled with liquids or gases. The method uses standard microelectronic processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul A. Maki, Susan C. Palmateer
  • Patent number: 6965341
    Abstract: A stepped-frequency chirped waveform improves SAR groundmapping for the following reasons. Range resolution in SAR image is inversely proportional to the transmitted signal bandwidth in nominal SAR systems. Since there is a limit in the transmitted bandwidth that can be supported by the radar hardware, there is a limit in range resolution that can be achieved by processing SAR data in conventional manner. However, if the frequency band of the transmitted signal is skipped within a group of sub-pulses and received signal is properly combined, the composite signal has effectively increased bandwidth and hence improvement in range resolution can be achieved. The proposed new and practical approach can effectively extend the limit in range resolution beyond the level that is set by the radar hardware units when conventional method is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Kwang Myung Cho, Leo H. Hui
  • Patent number: 6958664
    Abstract: A variable permittivity structure is proposed based on composition of two different dielectrics in a transmission line. The composition is adjusted through a thermally-actuated MEMS structure, and this compositional adjustment alters the relative permittivity at least at a macro level. Adjusting the permittivity leads to tune-able impedances in the associated transmission line. The proposed invention can also be used as a variable capacitor, and it can be used to create variable capacitor, and it can be used to create variable couplers and other structures. Since the approach does not alter any conducting surfaces in the transmission line, it is believed to lead to a superior technique for impedance matching to reduced physical discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: James C. Lyke
  • Patent number: 6952499
    Abstract: An automatic endmember classification algorithm for hyperspectral data cubes. This algorithm is an improved version of a pattern recognition technology which was developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The MIT algorithm is called the Extended Cross Correlation (XCC) technique, and it was designed to separate patterns from time resolved spectroscopic data. ASPIRE uses XCC as one of its core algorithms, but it features many improvements. These include: the use of Principle Components Analysis (PCA) to preprocess the data, and automatic endmember searching algorithm, and a Bayesian algorithm which is used to unmix the end-members. This invention also represents a new use of the XCC technology, because it had never before been used to identify spatial targets and patterns in hyperspectral data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: David L. Vititoe
  • Patent number: 6911933
    Abstract: The present invention includes an application of a dynamic logic algorithm to detect slow moving targets. Show moving targets are going to be moving in the range from 0-5 mph. This could encompass troop movements and vehicles or convoys under rough terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Christopher W. Mutz, Leonid I. Perlovsky, Robert J. Linnehan
  • Patent number: 6909395
    Abstract: A method for preventing the discovery of military aircraft and missiles by enemy and infrared detectors. The method involves applying a coating of a ferrite containing glass composition to the surfaces of those metal or ceramic substrates that are susceptible to detection through their radar or infrared signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Harry W. Carpenter
  • Patent number: H2120
    Abstract: This Interactive/Inoperable ID Card is a personal Bio related Positive Identification Credential System (PICS), which due to its nature could only be activated by the individual to whom it was originally issued. The PICS prior to use, would be activated by more than one of the individual's Bio characteristics, (i.e., Breath, perspiration, fingerprint, IR Imaging, DNA, etc.), which would be pre-stored in the PICS Memory for matching identification. The PICS would then be activated for a given length of time so that its Transponder could receive and respond to queries by an RF Reader with specific information stored in the card/memory. The information obtained by the RF Reader would be matched with the computer record which could respond instantly with a positive, personalized clearance, (or rejection), of the carrier. The PICS is positively personal, non-transferable and is subject to being disabled by the RF Reader if the Computer is programed to eliminate that particular card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Stephen Cudlitz
  • Patent number: H2130
    Abstract: A laser difference frequency discriminator that detects the difference between two laser frequencies and outputs a voltage near baseband that is related to the difference frequency. This discriminator power splits a laser beam containing the two laser frequencies into two paths, one which is sent down a delay line to a photo detector while the other is sent directly to a photodiode; there may be an optional phase shifter in either path. The relative phases of the heterodyne signals from the photo detectors are compared in a phase detector, its output voltage is related to the phase difference, which is, in turn, related to the difference frequency. This discriminator has applications in microwave generation, laser radar, and optical communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Tso Yee Fan
  • Patent number: H2137
    Abstract: An insulated elastic cover that slips snuggly over interior or exterior door knob. It is constructed in a manner that allows locking and unlocking actions, as well as the ability to turn the door knob. Invention takes advantage of state-of-the-art materials to maximize insulating properties while minimizing bulk. Additionally, material is impregnated with anti-bacteriological medium that destroys hand-borne bacteria transferred from hand to door knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: George H. Newman, Audree D. Newman
  • Patent number: H2172
    Abstract: Pitch-synchronous speech processing invention involves two main steps: 1) divide the speech into pitch periods, or into pseudo pitch periods for unvoiced speech, where the breaks occur, for example, at the first zero-crossing preceding each glottal pulse for voiced speech and at any arbitrary point for unvoiced speech, and 2) compute the log-magnitude of the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of each pitch-period waveform, and interpolate each log-magnitude spectrum to a common regular grid which can accommodate the spectrum of a waveform having the longest pitch period anticipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: David H. Staelin, Carlos R. Cabrera-Mercader
  • Patent number: H2175
    Abstract: This new wheel compressor has a spring loaded, shaft with a foot operated torque brace, that when stepped on moves the shaft down. The shaft has an ACME threaded collar welded to the inside that has an ACME bolt threaded T-bar that has a compressor wing that when inserted through the center axel of the wheel threaded to the shaft compresses the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Kelly Touchstone
  • Patent number: H2179
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for compression and reconstruction of digital images taking advantage of information entropy properties to reconstruct image data from minimal information. The algorithm yields the possibility of achieving image compression factors of 10,000 to 100,000, thus decreasing the necessity of high bandwidth transmission modes for image data. The algorithm also has cryptographic properties which offer secure transmission of image data over non-secure data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Michael P. Egan
  • Patent number: H2190
    Abstract: Analog information is modulated onto a high repetition rate optical pulse stream. This modulated pulse stream is transmitted over optical medium, such as long distances of fiber, and is then detected. The pulses are removed leaving only the original analog signals. The sampled encoding onto pulses allows transmission of very broad band signals and mitigates the deleterious effects of self phase modulation, dispersion and Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Jerry Chen
  • Patent number: H2222
    Abstract: This invention addresses the problem of radar target detection in severely heterogeneous clutter environments. Specifically, we present the performance of the normalized matched filter test in a background of disturbance consisting of clutter having a covariance matrix with known structure and unknown scaling plus background white Gaussian noise. It is shown that when the clutter covariance matrix is low rank, the (LRNMF) test retains invariance with respect to the unknown scaling as well as the background noise level and has an approximately constant false alarm rate (CFAR). Therefore, a technique known as self-censoring reiterative fast maximum likelihood/adaptive power residue (SCRFML/APR) is developed to treat this problem and its performance is discussed. The SCRFML/AP method is used to estimate the unknown covariance matrix in the presence of outliers. This covariance matrix estimate can then be used in the LRNAMF or any other eigen-based adaptive processing technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Muralidhar Rangaswamy, Freeman Lin