Patents by Inventor Christopher Roper

Christopher Roper 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).

  • Publication number: 20250214720
    Abstract: A radio frequency surface-aperture, including: a mechanical support structure configured for maintaining mechanical stiffness and strength at a selected temperature; thermal insulation having at least a single layer; one or more through-thickness waveguides located through a thickness of the mechanical support structure and thermal insulation; a cold-side mode coupler arranged to connect a designated cold side of the one or more through-thickness waveguides to an electronic subsystem device; and one or more surface-wave waveguides arranged as an RF antenna on a surface of the mechanical support structure in operative communication with the through-thickness waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan QUARFOTH, Christopher ROPER, Jacob HUNDLEY
  • Patent number: 12344406
    Abstract: A radio frequency surface-aperture, including: a mechanical support structure configured for maintaining mechanical stiffness and strength at a selected temperature; thermal insulation having at least a single layer; one or more through-thickness waveguides located through a thickness of the mechanical support structure and thermal insulation; a cold-side mode coupler arranged to connect a designated cold side of the one or more through-thickness waveguides to an electronic subsystem device; and one or more surface-wave waveguides arranged as an RF antenna on a surface of the mechanical support structure in operative communication with the through-thickness waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Quarfoth, Christopher Roper, Jacob Hundley
  • Publication number: 20250210441
    Abstract: A three-dimensional heterogeneous integrated (3DHI) package includes: a plurality of electrically interconnected active layers stacked on each other and a cooling block at a lower end of the active layers. Each of the active layers includes a semiconductor element, and at least one of the active layers includes an embedded heat spreader. The cooling block has a plurality of cooling channels formed therein, and the cooling channels do not extend through any of the active layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher Roper, Souheil Nadri, Christina M. Seeholzer, Adam Gross, John H. Martin
  • Publication number: 20250071936
    Abstract: A microchannel cooling block includes: a base plate; a microchannel array including a plurality of thermally conductive plates connected to and extending from a surface of the base plate, the thermally conductive plates being aligned so that a highest or second highest thermally conductive axis thereof extends away from the surface of the base plate, adjacent ones of the thermally conductive plates being spaced apart from each other to form a plurality of microchannels between the thermally conductive plates, one of the microchannels being between each adjacent two of the thermally conductive plates; and a manifold connected to the thermally conductive plates, an interior of the manifold being in fluid communication with the microchannels in the microchannel array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: John H. Martin, David A. Smith, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: 12199357
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method are disclosed for compensation of an antenna and/or an antenna array located at a surface that experiences environmental conditions. The apparatus can include: an embedded compensation and/or calibration structure configured to be interrogated by an electromagnetic wave, to dynamically compensate for surface erosion, thermal expansion, and/or dielectric constant changes of a surface scattering antenna; and a processor configured to: receive measurements of the compensation and/or calibration structure to determine beam pointing for dynamically varying surface conditions and perform sensing and/or seeking observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Quarfoth, Christopher Roper, Jacob Hundley
  • Publication number: 20240399457
    Abstract: Some variations provide an additively manufactured article comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is a solid region or a porous region, wherein the second region has a pore size larger than the first-region pore size, and wherein the first-region average permeability is lower than the second-region average permeability. Some variations provide a co-sintering method of making an architected material with regions having different permeabilities, in which different additive-manufacturing process parameters are applied to distinct regions of the structure. Other variations provide a wall-pinning method of making an architected material with regions having different permeabilities, in which additive-manufacturing process parameters are selected to sinter pinned feedstock powder between solid walls. Engineered structures with controlled permeability, integrated manifolds, and arbitrary geometries are disclosed, without the requirement of complex manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: John H. MARTIN, Brennan YAHATA, Darby LAPLANT, Christopher ROPER
  • Patent number: 12103074
    Abstract: Some variations provide an additively manufactured article comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is a solid region or a porous region, wherein the second region has a pore size larger than the first-region pore size, and wherein the first-region average permeability is lower than the second-region average permeability. Some variations provide a co-sintering method of making an architected material with regions having different permeabilities, in which different additive-manufacturing process parameters are applied to distinct regions of the structure. Other variations provide a wall-pinning method of making an architected material with regions having different permeabilities, in which additive-manufacturing process parameters are selected to sinter pinned feedstock powder between solid walls. Engineered structures with controlled permeability, integrated manifolds, and arbitrary geometries are disclosed, without the requirement of complex manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Martin, Brennan Yahata, Darby Laplant, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: 12009568
    Abstract: A thermal protection system includes: an outer skin; a thermally insulating material under the outer skin; and a high temperature radio frequency (RF) aperture. The RF aperture includes a plurality of waveguides separated from each other and extending through the outer skin and the thermally insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Quarfoth, Walter Wall, Shanying Cui, Christopher Roper, Jonathan Lynch
  • Patent number: 11929186
    Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms; a collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the neutral atoms; one or more probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the neutral atoms. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming a collimated beam of neutral atoms; illuminating the neutral atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe laser and second probe laser using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S?D transition of the neutral atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the neutral atoms with another laser. The interferometric frequency-reference apparatus may provide an optical frequency reference or a microwave frequency reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Travis Autry, Ian Counts, Jennifer Ellis, Danny Kim, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: 11869679
    Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms to be ionized; an ionizer configured to excite the neutral atoms to form ionized atoms; an ion collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the ionized atoms; probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the ionized atoms, wherein the atom source, the ionizer, and the ion collimator are disposed within a vacuum chamber. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming ionized atoms from an atomic vapor; forming a collimated beam of ionized atoms; illuminating ionized atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe and second probe lasers using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S?D transition of ionized atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the ionized atoms with another laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Travis Autry, Ian Counts, Jennifer Ellis, Danny Kim, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: 11862653
    Abstract: An imaging sensor package includes: an imaging sensor; and an architected substrate coupled to a bottom surface of the imaging sensor. The architected substrate has local stiffness variations along an in-plane direction of the architected substrate, and the imaging sensor and the architected substrate are curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark O'Masta, Jacob Hundley, Eric Clough, Christopher Roper, Geoffrey McKnight
  • Publication number: 20230253431
    Abstract: An imaging sensor package including: an imaging sensor; and a patterned substrate coupled to a surface of the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor and the patterned substrate being curved. The patterned substrate having a petal-shaped patterned area having a first thickness and a base substrate having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Mark O'Masta, Jacob Hundley, Jensen Severance, Brian Hempe, Christopher Roper
  • Publication number: 20230215593
    Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms; a collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the neutral atoms; one or more probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the neutral atoms. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming a collimated beam of neutral atoms; illuminating the neutral atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe laser and second probe laser using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S?D transition of the neutral atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the neutral atoms with another laser. The interferometric frequency-reference apparatus may provide an optical frequency reference or a microwave frequency reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Travis AUTRY, Ian COUNTS, Jennifer ELLIS, Danny KIM, Christopher ROPER
  • Patent number: 11680756
    Abstract: A hierarchical heat exchanger manifold includes: first and second fluid passages respectively open to an inlet and an outlet in a first level of the heat exchanger manifold; a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a second level of the heat exchanger manifold; and a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a third level of the heat exchanger manifold. A number of the first fluid passages in the third level is greater than a number of the first fluid passages in the second level. Each of the first fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the inlet and at least one of the first fluid passages in the third level, and each of the second fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the outlet and at least one of the second fluid passages in the third level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Roper, John Martin, Randall Schubert
  • Publication number: 20230076629
    Abstract: In some variations, an interferometric frequency-reference apparatus comprises: an atom source configured to supply neutral atoms to be ionized; an ionizer configured to excite the neutral atoms to form ionized atoms; an ion collimator configured to form a collimated beam of the ionized atoms; probe lasers; and a Doppler laser configured to determine a ground-state population of the ionized atoms, wherein the atom source, the ionizer, and the ion collimator are disposed within a vacuum chamber. Other variations provide a method of creating a stable frequency reference, comprising: forming ionized atoms from an atomic vapor; forming a collimated beam of ionized atoms; illuminating ionized atoms with first and second probe lasers; adjusting the frequencies of the first probe and second probe lasers using Ramsey spectroscopy to an S?D transition of ionized atoms; and determining a ground-state population of the ionized atoms with another laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Travis AUTRY, Ian COUNTS, Jennifer ELLIS, Danny KIM, Christopher ROPER
  • Publication number: 20210313374
    Abstract: An imaging sensor package includes: an imaging sensor; and an architected substrate coupled to a bottom surface of the imaging sensor. The architected substrate has local stiffness variations along an in-plane direction of the architected substrate, and the imaging sensor and the architected substrate are curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Mark O'Masta, Jacob Hundley, Eric Clough, Christopher Roper, Geoffrey McKnight
  • Publication number: 20210116188
    Abstract: A hierarchical heat exchanger manifold includes: first and second fluid passages respectively open to an inlet and an outlet in a first level of the heat exchanger manifold; a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a second level of the heat exchanger manifold; and a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a third level of the heat exchanger manifold. A number of the first fluid passages in the third level is greater than a number of the first fluid passages in the second level. Each of the first fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the inlet and at least one of the first fluid passages in the third level, and each of the second fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the outlet and at least one of the second fluid passages in the third level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Roper, John Martin, Randall Schubert
  • Patent number: 9938623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-lattice and, more particularly, to an ultra-light micro-lattice and a method for forming the same. The micro-lattice is a cellular material formed of interconnected hollow tubes. The cellular material has a relative density in a range of 0.001% to 0.3%, and a density of 0.9 mg/cc has been demonstrated. The cellular material also has the ability to recover from a deformation exceeding 50% strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias A. Schaedler, Alan J. Jacobsen, William Carter, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: 9415562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-lattice and, more particularly, to an ultra-light micro-lattice and a method for forming the same. The micro-lattice is a cellular material formed of interconnected hollow tubes. The cellular material has a relative density in a range of 0.001% to 0.3%, and a density of 0.9 mg/cc has been demonstrated. The cellular material also has the ability to recover from a deformation exceeding 50% strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias A. Schaedler, Alan J. Jacobsen, William Carter, Christopher Roper
  • Patent number: D759981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: William Christopher Roper