Patents by Inventor Alan Rakes

Alan Rakes 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).

  • Patent number: 8946647
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying a pulsed radiation source may include an imaging sensor having a frame rate that is less than a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of the pulsed radiation source. A processing unit may be in communication with the imaging sensor, and be configured to (i) process a sequence of image data of a scene captured by the imaging sensor to determine whether radiation of the pulsed radiation source is detected, (ii) determine a PRF code of the pulsed radiation source from possible multiple different PRF codes based on the processed sequence of image data, and (iii) notify a user of the PRF code or information associated with the PRF code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: DRS RSTA, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene L. Cloud, Alan Rakes, John Bailey
  • Patent number: 8692889
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking a cooperative, non-incandescent source may include collecting scene images of a scene that includes the cooperative, non-incandescent source and background clutter. First and second scene images of the scene may be generated over distinct spectral bands. The first and second scene images may be imaged onto respective first and second focal plane arrays. In one embodiment, the imaging may be substantially simultaneous. The first and second scene image frame data respectively generated by the first and second focal plane arrays may be processed to produce resultant scene image frame data. The scene image frame data may result in reducing magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the background clutter more than magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the cooperative, non-incandescent source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: DRS RSTA, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan A. Rakes
  • Patent number: 8665427
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for testing the boresight of a gimbaled camera and laser system, such as an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system, in extreme environments. Light simulating a target is reflected through an optics system to the camera, with a portion of the light reflected back from a corner cube reflector through the optics system as a reference. A laser beam from the laser is received through the same optics system, and a position of the corner cube reflected reference and laser beam are compared in order to determine whether the camera and laser are properly aligned. A spherical shell adapted to position the camera at its geometric center keeps misaligned laser pulses from reflecting back into the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: DRS RSTA, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Young, Dharmesh G. Panchal, Alan A. Rakes
  • Patent number: 8400625
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for testing the boresight of a gimbaled camera and laser system, such as an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system, in extreme environments. Light simulating a target is reflected through an optics system to the camera, with a portion of the light reflected back from a corner cube reflector through the optics system as a reference. A laser beam from the laser is received through the same optics system, and a position of the corner cube reflected reference and laser beam are compared in order to determine whether the camera and laser are properly aligned. A spherical shell adapted to position the camera at its geometric center keeps misaligned laser pulses from reflecting back into the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: DRS RSTA, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Young, Dharmesh G. Panchal, Alan A. Rakes
  • Publication number: 20120211665
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying a pulsed radiation source may include an imaging sensor having a frame rate that is less than a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of the pulsed radiation source. A processing unit may be in communication with the imaging sensor, and be configured to (i) process a sequence of image data of a scene captured by the imaging sensor to determine whether radiation of the pulsed radiation source is detected, (ii) determine a PRF code of the pulsed radiation source from possible multiple different PRF codes based on the processed sequence of image data, and (iii) notify a user of the PRF code or information associated with the PRF code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: DRS RSTA, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene L. Cloud, Alan Rakes, John Bailey
  • Publication number: 20110228099
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking a cooperative, non-incandescent source may include collecting scene images of a scene that includes the cooperative, non-incandescent source and background clutter. First and second scene images of the scene may be generated over distinct spectral bands. The first and second scene images may be imaged onto respective first and second focal plane arrays. In one embodiment, the imaging may be substantially simultaneous. The first and second scene image frame data respectively generated by the first and second focal plane arrays may be processed to produce resultant scene image frame data. The scene image frame data may result in reducing magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the background clutter more than magnitude of scene image frame data representative of the cooperative, non-incandescent source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: DRS RSTA, INC
    Inventor: Alan A. Rakes