Patents by Inventor Alan F. Stewart
Alan F. Stewart 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).
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Patent number: 10029330Abstract: A hybrid laser machining and metrology method that enables one-up assembly of a work piece is disclosed. The hybrid machining and metrology method may include interleaving a first laser output to remove material from the work piece with a second laser output to measure material removed from the work piece.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John R. Lowell, Gary A. Lipczynski, Alan F. Stewart
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Publication number: 20180042094Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the active initiation of incident energy-dissipating material from a structure surface coating as a counter measure response for the protection of a structure surface. The active initiation is triggered at a predetermined area or areas on a targeted structure surface in response to incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Mark J. Clemen, JR., Alan F. Stewart, John R. Hull, Keith J. Davis
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Patent number: 9835914Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electrically switchable mirror includes: a first electrically switchable layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material, the first electrically switchable layer having a first state in which right-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is reflected and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is transmitted and a second state wherein right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon are transmitted; a second electrically switchable layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material, the second electrically switchable layer having a first state in which left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is reflected and right-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is transmitted and a second state wherein right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon are transmitted; and a first electrically switchable wave plate disposed between the first and second electrically switchable layers.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark J. Clemen, Jr., John R. Hull, Philip E. Johnson, Rick L. McGann, George A. Perry, Alan F. Stewart, Mark S. Wilenski, Donald V. Drouin, Jr., Le Li, Yongxin Tang, Haiping Yu, Jiangbin Zhao, Jie Yang, Shenggang Wang
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Patent number: 9832850Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the active initiation of incident energy-dissipating material from a structure surface coating as a counter measure response for the protection of a structure surface. The active initiation is triggered at a predetermined area or areas on a targeted structure surface in response to incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2013Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Mark J. Clemen, Jr., Alan F. Stewart, John R. Hull, Keith J. Davis
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Patent number: 9820367Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the passive initiation and release of incident energy-dissipating material from locations on an incident energy target surface as a counter measure response for the protection of a platform. The response is activated over a predetermined area or areas on an incident energy target surface in response to an incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Mark J. Clemen, Jr., Alan F. Stewart, John R. Hull, Keith J. Davis
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Publication number: 20170307516Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus, for shielding light generated by a laser during non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes a light shield at least partially enveloping the laser and defining a first opening through which light generated by the laser passes from the laser to the object. The light shield is opaque and includes at least one first biasing mechanism. The apparatus also includes at least one first light seal coupled to the light shield about the first opening of the light shield. The at least one first biasing mechanism is configured to urge resilient deformation of the at least one first light seal against the object. When the at least one first light seal is resiliently deformed against the object, light generated by the laser is constrained within a light containment space defined between the light shield, the at least one first light seal, and the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, William P. Motzer, Jeffry J. Garvey, Scott W. Lea, James C. Kennedy, Steven K. Brady, Alan F. Stewart, Jill P. Bingham
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Publication number: 20170248551Abstract: A method of detecting inconsistencies in a structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the structure. A plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure. The plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is detected to form data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Ivan Pelivanov, William P. Motzer, Matthew O'Donnell, Steven Kenneth Brady, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, Jill Paisley Bingham, Alan F. Stewart, James C. Kennedy
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Publication number: 20170248811Abstract: According to an embodiment, an electrically switchable mirror includes: a first electrically switchable layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material, the first electrically switchable layer having a first state in which right-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is reflected and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is transmitted and a second state wherein right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon are transmitted; a second electrically switchable layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material, the second electrically switchable layer having a first state in which left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is reflected and right-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon is transmitted and a second state wherein right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized light incident thereon are transmitted; and a first electrically switchable wave plate disposed between the first and second electrically switchable layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark J. Clemen, JR., John R. Hull, Philip E. Johnson, Rick L. McGann, George A. Perry, Alan F. Stewart, Mark S. Wilenski, Donald V. Drouin, JR., Le Li, Yongxin Tang, Haiping Yu, Jiangbin Zhao, Jie Yang, Shenggang Wang
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Patent number: 9725159Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for mitigating undesired effects of a vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle. Ultraviolet energy is generated using a plurality of ultraviolet energy sources associated with an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle. The ultraviolet energy is transported from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle. A plasma is created around the selected location to mitigate the undesired effects of the vehicle traveling at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Mark Joseph Clemen, Jr., Donald V. Drouin, Jr., Alan F. Stewart
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Publication number: 20170176393Abstract: A method of detecting material changes in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data comprises a number of ultrasonic A-scans. The data is processed to identify a plurality of frequency measurements for each of the number of ultrasonic A-scans. A frequency image is displayed using the plurality of frequency measurements. The material changes are represented in the frequency image.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Matthew O'Donnell, Ivan Pelivanov, Steven Kenneth Brady, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, Jill Paisley Bingham, Alan F. Stewart, James C. Kennedy
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Publication number: 20170176321Abstract: A method of detecting inconsistencies in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by a surface of the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected over a duration of time to form data. The data comprises an ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The data is processed to identify a structure signal in a frequency domain of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The structure signal of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum is compared to a structure signal of a composite structure standard to determine whether the inconsistencies are present in the number of composite materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Gary Ernest Georgeson, William P. Motzer, Jill Paisley Bingham, Alan F. Stewart, Steven Kenneth Brady, James C. Kennedy
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Publication number: 20170176322Abstract: A method of detecting local material changes in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data is processed to identify a local frequency value for the composite structure. The local frequency value is used to determine if local material changes are present in the number of composite materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: William P. Motzer, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Jill Paisley Bingham, Steven Kenneth Brady, Alan F. Stewart, James C. Kennedy, Ivan Pelivanov, Matthew O'Donnell, Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard
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Publication number: 20170129592Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for mitigating undesired effects of a vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle. Ultraviolet energy is generated using a plurality of ultraviolet energy sources associated with an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle. The ultraviolet energy is transported from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle. A plasma is created around the selected location to mitigate the undesired effects of the vehicle traveling at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Mark Joseph Clemen, JR., Donald V. Drouin, JR., Alan F. Stewart
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Publication number: 20160368083Abstract: A hybrid laser machining and metrology method that enables one-up assembly of a work piece is disclosed. The hybrid machining and metrology method may include interleaving a first laser output to remove material from the work piece with a second laser output to measure material removed from the work piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: John R. Lowell, Gary A. Lipczynski, Alan F. Stewart
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Patent number: 9464965Abstract: A method for creation of a non-destructive inspection (NDI) standard employs a coupon of bonded layers or a composite structure having a predetermined thickness. A predetermined pulse width is defined. The coupon and a laser source are positioned with respect to one another and the laser source is used to create a laser pulse having the predetermined pulse width to create a disbond or delamination in the bond layer at a predetermined location. The coupon may then be used as a standard for calibration of NDI inspection tools by scanning the coupon with the tool to provide an inspection output. The output is then examined to confirm that the disbond or delamination in the coupon is properly identified in the output.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard H. Bossi, Alan F. Stewart, Marc J. Piehl
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Patent number: 9415745Abstract: A high intensity light source blocking system for a vehicle operated by a crew member within a cockpit includes an crew member position or eye-position detection system, a transparent dynamic-darkening display covering a window in the crew member cockpit, and a scene imager configured to detect a presence of a high intensity light source and an emanation direction relative to the crew member cockpit. A computing device is connected to the position or eye-position detection system, the transparent dynamic-darkening display and the scene imager, and controls the darkening of a portion of the dynamic-darkening display upon the occurrence of either the high intensity light source having an intensity value equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, or the crew member position or eye-position being subject to either a direct portion of the high intensity light source or a substantial reflection thereof off a surface within the crew member cockpit.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark Joseph Clemen, Jr., Alan F. Stewart, Keith John Davis, Mark Stewart Wilenski
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Publication number: 20160165706Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the active initiation of incident energy-dissipating material from a structure surface coating as a counter measure response for the protection of a structure surface. The active initiation is triggered at a predetermined area or areas on a targeted structure surface in response to incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Mark J. Clemen, JR., Alan F. Stewart, John R. Hull, Keith J. Davis
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Publication number: 20160165707Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the passive initiation and release of incident energy-dissipating material from locations on an incident energy target surface as a counter measure response for the protection of a platform. The response is activated over a predetermined area or areas on an incident energy target surface in response to an incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Mark J. Clemen, JR., Alan F. Stewart, John R. Hull, Keith J. Davis
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Publication number: 20160131557Abstract: A method for creation of a non-destructive inspection (NDI) standard employs a coupon of bonded layers or a composite structure having a predetermined thickness. A predetermined pulse width is defined. The coupon and a laser source are positioned with respect to one another and the laser source is used to create a laser pulse having the predetermined pulse width to create a disbond or delamination in the bond layer at a predetermined location. The coupon may then be used as a standard for calibration of NDI inspection tools by scanning the coupon with the tool to provide an inspection output. The output is then examined to confirm that the disbond or delamination in the coupon is properly identified in the output.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Richard H. Bossi, Alan F. Stewart, Marc J. Piehl
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Publication number: 20150128709Abstract: A method for determining the presence of damage in a structure includes applying energy to the structure to induce tension shockwaves in the structure. The method also includes detecting sound waves caused by the tension shockwaves using at least one acoustic emission sensor on the surface of the structure. Additionally, the method includes determining the presence of damage in the structure due to the applied energy based on detected sound waves.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Alan F. Stewart, Hong H. Tat, Richard H. Bossi