Abstract: A laser spectrometer includes a tunable laser assembly, a periodically-poled nonlinear optical crystal, with parallel polished input and output end faces, and a mechanism for controlling an entrance location of a pump input beam of the tunable laser on the input end face of the periodically-poled nonlinear optical crystal, such that the pump input beam traverses different grating periods of the periodically-poled nonlinear optical crystal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 27, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Inventors:
Kenji Numata, Haris Riris, Stewart T. Wu, Xiaoli Sun
Abstract: A microheater performs a self measurement of its own temperature. The microheater has an electrically resistive element which generates heat when a voltage has been applied across the resistive element. The resistive element has an electrical conductivity that is a function of its temperature. A measurement device is positioned within the microheater body and is configured to measure conductivity of the resistive element. An electronic processor, that may be incorporated into the microheater, controls brief interruption of the heating voltage and application of a lower voltage for measuring conductivity. The lower voltage is insufficient to increase the heat output of the microheater, and is applied for too short of a period to allow excessive cooling of the microheater. A microprocessor receives and processes the data obtained from measuring conductivity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 6, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 27, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: Provided is a method of estimating a speed of a vehicle includes obtaining time domain acoustic data from an acoustic storage apparatus when the vehicle passes over a horizontally grooved road; calculating frequency domain acoustic data from the time domain acoustic data by using Fourier transformation; calculating, from the frequency domain acoustic data, a resonance frequency of sound generated between tires of the vehicle and horizontal groovings in the road; and estimating the speed when the vehicle passes over the horizontally grooved road by multiplying the resonance frequency by an interval of the horizontal groovings.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 27, 2020
Assignee:
Republic of Korea (National Forensic Service Director Ministry of Public Administration and Security)
Inventors:
Jae Hyeong Lee, Young Nae Lee, Nam Kyu Park, Jong Chan Park, Jong Jin Park
Abstract: Coating-less nonplanar ring oscillator lasers are disclosed. Such lasers may eliminate the need for thin-film optical coatings from a laser cavity, solving the problem of optical damage to the coatings, and thus, providing a longer useful lifetime for the laser for space or terrestrial applications. Such lasers may be compact, ultra-stable, and highly reliable, enabling a low phase noise, single frequency laser in a compact package. Such lasers may be used in CW and/or in pulse mode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2019
Date of Patent:
October 27, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: Advanced environmental barrier coating bond coat systems with higher temperature capabilities and environmental resistance are disclosed. These bond coat systems can be applied to ceramic substrates such as SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite substrates, and can provide protection from extreme temperature, mechanical loading and environmental conditions, such as in high temperature gas turbines. Example bond coat systems can include either an advanced silicon/silicide component, an oxide/silicate component, or a combination thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 20, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract: Processes and precursors may be used to produce a highly porous, extremely large surface area polyimide aerogel with optical translucency and diminished heat transfer. The resulting material maintains or exceeds structural integrity and low thermal conductivity seen in the high opacity polyimide aerogels of similar porosity and density. The formulations used for fabrication of aerogels may include combinations of fluorinated dianhydride and diamine fractions and non-fluorinated dianhydrides and diamines with various aliphatic and aromatic bridgehead components as precursors to the condensation polymerization of polyimide aerogels with polyamide crosslinks.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 13, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventors:
Stephanie L. Vivod, Mary Ann B. Meador, Andrew Shinko, Sadan C. Jana, Coleen Pugh
Abstract: Disclosed is a berthing system to receive a client module, including a plurality of berthing posts, a plurality of clamping mechanisms each mounted to a respective berthing post, the plurality of clamping mechanisms movable along a berthing post to clamp a received module, wherein the plurality of clamping mechanisms are configured to assert a radial force upon the received module, wherein the plurality of clamping mechanisms each include a rotary clamping jaw that includes drawdown portion and a radial contact portion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 16, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Inventors:
Kelvin R. Garcia, Thomas J. Hanyok, Matthew S. Ashmore
Abstract: Polyamide aerogels and methods of making the same are discussed. One example method can include the act of creating a mixture of at least one diamine with at least one diacid chloride in a first solvent. The mixture can comprise a plurality of amine capped polyamide oligomers. Such a method can also include the acts of adding a cross-linking agent to the mixture to create a gel and performing one or more solvent exchanges to remove the first solvent. Additionally, such a method can include the act of subjecting the gel to supercritical drying to polyamide aerogel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract: There is provided an aerodynamic control apparatus for an air vehicle comprising a flap system including a first spanwise flap segment to be arranged on a first side of an air vehicle, a second spanwise flap segment to be arranged on the first side of the air vehicle, and a controller to actuate the first spanwise flap segment to a first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment to a second flap deflection, wherein the first spanwise flap segment at the first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment at the second flap deflection form a piecewise continuous trailing edge.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 5, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: Disclosed are a dental barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration using a silk matrix and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the dental barrier membrane is configured such that a silk matrix having a cross-section with a first thickness, produced from silkworms, is subjected to planar division into two or more silk matrix pieces having a predetermined shape with the first thickness. This dental barrier membrane is biocompatible, has superior tensile strength and porosity, and promotes the formation of new bone in bone defects, unlike existing dental barrier membranes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
Republic of Korea (Management: Rural Development Administration)
Inventors:
Hae-Yong Kweon, You-Young Jo, Kwang-Gill Lee, Kee-Young Kim
Abstract: A black molecular adsorber coating (MAC-B) composition is provided that exhibits adsorptive capabilities and reduces the effects of optical path degradation and system performance degradation when formed into a black coating having low reflectivity. The coating can be used in stray light control applications or within light paths between optical systems to absorb light and reduce the effects of optical path degradation. The coating can be used in vacuum systems to adsorb molecular contaminants and to reduce vacuum pressure levels. The coating composition can be sprayed onto interior surfaces, such as optical cavities of cameras, telescopes, lasers, baffles, detectors systems, and electronics boxes to control performance degradation due to outgassed molecular contaminants.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Inventors:
Nithin S. Abraham, Mark M. Hasegawa, Sharon A. Straka, John C. Petro
Abstract: A system, apparatus, composition and method employing a dust mitigation coating that also mitigates or repels water, ice, and other liquids. Techniques to coat the surfaces of equipment and items with these dust, liquid, and ice mitigation coatings, minimizing or eliminating mission problems caused by dust, liquid, or ice accumulation, particularly in outer space or on another planetary body or moon. Further, the dust mitigation coatings should exhibit a Lotus-like effect, making the coated surfaces ultra-hydrophobic. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the functioning of terrestrial-based equipment and systems where dust, liquid, or ice accumulation is a problem, such as in hospitals and other health contexts to prevent contamination.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 10, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America by the Administrator of NASA
Inventors:
Sharon A. Straka, Mark M. Hasegawa, Kenneth M. O'Connor, Victoria J. Stotzer
Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of calculating a formation time of a perimeter stain is performed by a device for calculating a formation time of a perimeter stain, and includes obtaining a captured image of an analysis target by using a camera, extracting an image of a perimeter stain included in the analysis target, by analyzing the obtained captured image, calculating a major axis length and a width of the perimeter stain, estimating a formation time of the perimeter stain by using the major axis length and the width of the perimeter stain, and outputting the image of the perimeter stain and the formation time of the perimeter stain.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
Republic of Korea (National Forensic Service Director Ministry of Public Administration and Security)
Inventors:
Nam Kyu Park, Jae Mo Goh, Jin Pyo Kim, Young Il Seo, Eun Ah Joo, Je Hyun Lee, Sang Yoon Lee, Dong A Lim, Ki Hwan Kim
Abstract: A dual-band patch antenna includes a first patch antenna for operation at a first frequency and a second patch antenna for operation at a second frequency that is an integer multiple of the first frequency. A dielectric support is provided on which the first and second patch antennas are mounted. A nearest distance defined between the first and second patch antennas is a function of the second frequency and a dielectric constant of the dielectric support. The dielectric support has a feed point adapted to have a transmission line electrically coupled thereto. Electrically-conducting paths are coupled to the dielectric support for electrically coupling the feed point to the first and second patch antennas where at least one such electrically-conducting path has an insertion loss that is greater than 0 dB and less than or equal to 3 dB.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract: Modification of pigments may be performed using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to provide custom-tailored thermal protection characteristics. More specifically, ALD may be used to encapsulate pigment particles with controlled thicknesses of a thermal protective layer, such as VO2. ALD may allow films to be theoretically grown one atom at a time, providing angstrom-level thickness control.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: A process for forming a single crystal superalloy wave spring is provided. In one embodiment, the process may include machining a wave spring from a single crystal superalloy slab after optimizing its orientation using diffraction techniques so that the wave spring will exhibit optimal spring properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 3, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventors:
Jeffrey J. DeMange, Frank J. Ritzert, Michael V. Nathal, Patrick H. Dunlap, Jr., Bruce M. Steinetz
Abstract: A frequency division multiplexing system includes a processor, a first digital to analog converter (DAC) for generating a local oscillator signal, a second DAC for generating a chirp signal, and a plurality of electronic elements, each having a transmit signal mixer for combining the local oscillator and chirp signals, and a transceiver configured to transmit the combined local oscillator and chirp signals, where the processor may be configured to operate the first DAC and second DAC to vary frequencies of the local oscillator and chirp signals such that the combination of the local oscillator and chirp signals results in a constant center frequency with a varying phase.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 5, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent optical transistor device including: first and second coherent optical laser beams from a laser source; wherein the first beam has a relatively higher power/energy than the second beam of at least 2:1; and a permanent sub-wavelength structure in a unitary section into which the first and second beams enter, which permanently modifies a refractive index in both transverse and longitudinal directions; wherein every transverse spatial grating Fourier component in the sub-wavelength structure is phase-shifted by 90 degrees (pi/2) from each of corresponding Fourier components of a spatial interference of the first and second optical beams; and a refractive index profile in the unitary structure in the longitudinal direction is permanently modified, leading to a complete transfer of energy from the first to the second optical beam, resulting in a gain mechanism that results in an amplified signal beam and an inverted signal beam.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
Abstract: Advanced environmental barrier coating bond coat systems with higher temperature capabilities and environmental resistance are disclosed. These bond coat systems can be applied to ceramic substrates such as SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite substrates, and can provide protection from extreme temperature, mechanical loading and environmental conditions, such as in high temperature gas turbines. Example bond coat systems can include either an advanced silicon/silicide component, an oxide/silicate component, or a combination thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 21, 2013
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignee:
The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeromautics and Space Administration
Abstract: Disclosed are a vascular patch using a silk matrix and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein the vascular patch is configured such that a silk matrix having a cross-section with a first thickness, produced from silkworms, is subjected to planar division into two or more silk matrix pieces having a predetermined shape with the first thickness. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is relatively simple, thus reducing the manufacturing cost compared to when manufacturing typical vascular patches, and also, the vascular patch can exhibit outstanding cell culture capacity and is biocompatible.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignee:
Republic of Korea (Management: Rural Development Administration)
Inventors:
Hae-Yong Kweon, You-Young Jo, Kwang-Gill Lee, Kee-Young Kim