Patents by Inventor Charles B. Willingham

Charles B. Willingham 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: 7790072
    Abstract: A method of treating zinc sulfide transmissive bodies includes using the same metal layer to treat multiple transmissive bodies, catalyzing the recrystallization of the bodies to remove defects from the bodies and forming multispectral zinc sulfide. The metal layer is brought into contact with one of the transmissive bodies. The transmissive body and the metal layer are then subjected to elevated temperature and pressure. The metal layer may include any of a variety of suitable metals, such as platinum, cobalt, silver, nickel, and/or copper. The metal layer may be a foil that is wrapped around the transmissive body. Alternatively the metal layer may be a rigid metal piece, for example being machined to fit the shape of the transmissive bodies. The reuse of the metal layer to treat multiple transmissive bodies reduces the cost of treating the transmissive bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ralph Korenstein, Patrick K. Hogan, John S. McCloy, Charles B. Willingham
  • Publication number: 20090155162
    Abstract: A method of treating zinc sulfide transmissive bodies includes using the same metal layer to treat multiple transmissive bodies, catalyzing the recrystallization of the bodies to remove defects from the bodies and forming multispectral zinc sulfide. The metal layer is brought into contact with one of the transmissive bodies. The transmissive body and the metal layer are then subjected to elevated temperature and pressure. The metal layer may include any of a variety of suitable metals, such as platinum, cobalt, silver, nickel, and/or copper. The metal layer may be a foil that is wrapped around the transmissive body. Alternatively the metal layer may be a rigid metal piece, for example being machined to fit the shape of the transmissive bodies. The reuse of the metal layer to treat multiple transmissive bodies reduces the cost of treating the transmissive bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Korenstein, Patrick K. Hogan, John S. McCloy, Charles B. Willingham
  • Patent number: 6707017
    Abstract: A microwave window structure for a low-pressure chamber is provided. The window structure enables microwave energy to be introduced into the chamber from a source external to the chamber. The window structure includes a fixture having electrically conductive walls. Inner portions of the walls provide a peripheral region of an aperture within such fixture. The fixture is adapted for mounting to a sidewall portion of the chamber. A solid, microwave energy transparent dielectric window is included. The window includes: a periphery portion affixed to the fixture; and, an inner region disposed within the aperture of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Rayth on Company
    Inventors: Weldon Stoddard Williamson, Robert B. Hallock, Charles B. Willingham, Richard M. Alexy
  • Publication number: 20030213800
    Abstract: A microwave window structure for a low-pressure chamber is provided. The window structure enables microwave energy to be introduced into the chamber from a source external to the chamber. The window structure includes a fixture having electrically conductive walls. Inner portions of the walls provide a peripheral region of an aperture within such fixture. The fixture is adapted for mounting to a sidewall portion of the chamber. A solid, microwave energy transparent dielectric window is included. The window includes: a periphery portion affixed to the fixture; and, an inner region disposed within the aperture of the fixture. A first surface of the inner region is disposed in the chamber and a second, opposite surface of the inner region widow being disposed external to the chamber. The window has a sidewall portion with a first end thereof terminating in the first surface and a second end thereof terminating at the periphery portion. The sidewall portion of the window is spaced from the walls of the fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Weldon Stoddard Williamson, Robert B. Hallock, Charles B. Willingham, Richard M. Alexy
  • Patent number: 5281465
    Abstract: A technique for increasing the strength of long wavelength infrared material, such as zinc sulfide and zinc selenide includes diffusing species which are applied to the materials as thin films into the zinc sulfide and zinc selenide material. Portions of the thin film material are thermally diffused to substantial depths of up to 100 microns below the depth of flaws formed in the body using one of two diffusion techniques. One diffusion technique uses hot isostatic pressure and the other uses a heat treatment carried out at or near ambient pressure in an inert atmosphere, such as argon or other suitable inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Wahl, Randal W. Tustison, Thomas Y. Wong, Charles B. Willingham
  • Patent number: 5126081
    Abstract: Articles of polycrystalline zinc sulfide and zinc selenide achieve substantially improved optical quality by a treatment of heat and isostatic pressure by means of an inert working fluid. The treated specimens are transparent and have substantial transmission in the infrared and visible range of the spectrum. Additional improvement in the transmission characteristics is achieved by wrapping the specimens in a foil of an inert material prior to treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Willingham, James Pappis
  • Patent number: 4944900
    Abstract: Articles of polycrystalline zinc sulfide and zinc selenide achieve substantially improved optical quality by a treatment of heat and isostatic pressure by means of an inert working fluid. The treated specimens are transparent and have substantial transmission in the infrared and visible range of the spectrum. Additional improvement in the transmission characteristics is achieved by wrapping the specimens in a foil of an inert material prior to treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Willingham, James Pappis
  • Patent number: 3965444
    Abstract: A temperature compensated surface acoustic wave device having an SiO.sub.2 film layer upon a substrate of piezoelectric material. The positive temperature coefficient of delay of the piezoelectric substrate is counterbalanced by the negative temperature coefficient of the SiO.sub.2 layer. The thickness and shape of the SiO.sub.2 layer are chosen to give a zero first order temperature coefficient for the composite device. Lithium niobate and lithium tantalate are preferred piezoelectric materials for the substrate. A high degree of temperature stability is thereby obtained with coupling coefficients much greater than were previously obtained by prior temperature compensated surface acoustic wave devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Willingham, Thomas E. Parker, Frank H. Spooner