Patents by Inventor Clay K. Kirkendall

Clay K. Kirkendall 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).

  • Advantages of spatial demodulation in interferometric optical sensing applications
    Patent number: 10564042
    Abstract: A method of interferometric optical sensing via spatial demodulation includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an interrogation beam; converting a desired signal into a change in the optical path of the interrogation beam via an optical sensor; and capturing the reference beam and the interrogation beam via a camera, wherein the interrogation beam is incident to the camera at a first angle and the reference beam is incident to the camera at a second angle different from the first angle, thereby causing an interference pattern at the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brandon F. Redding, Allen R. Davis, Clay K. Kirkendall, Anthony Dandridge
  • Fiber optic cantilever acoustic vector sensor
    Patent number: 9513432
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rigid support and a first cantilever including a first optical fiber and a first rigid ribbon. The first optical fiber and the first ribbon, together include a first neutral surface. The first optical fiber is connected to the rigid support. The first optical fiber includes at least one first wave-guiding core running parallel to the first neutral surface. Each of the at least one first wave-guiding core includes at least one first reflector. The first rigid ribbon is affixed to the first optical fiber and to said first rigid support. The apparatus further includes a first membrane surrounding the first cantilever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Cranch, Clay K. Kirkendall
  • Fiber optic cantilever acoustic vector sensor
    Patent number: 9116304
    Abstract: A planar or cylindrical, cantilever-type apparatus including a rigid support. The apparatus further includes a first optical fiber connected to the rigid support, the first optical fiber including a first neutral axis and at least one first wave-guiding core running parallel to the first neutral axis and located at a distance from the first neutral axis, each of the at least one first wave-guiding core including at least one first reflector. The apparatus further includes a first membrane surrounding the first optical fiber; and a first liquid inside the first membrane and surrounding the first optical fiber, the first liquid including a Reynolds number less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Cranch, Clay K. Kirkendall
  • FIBER OPTIC CANTILEVER ACOUSTIC VECTOR SENSOR
    Publication number: 20150233739
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rigid support and a first cantilever including a first optical fiber and a first rigid ribbon. The first optical fiber and the first ribbon, together include a first neutral surface. The first optical fiber is connected to the rigid support. The first optical fiber includes at least one first wave-guiding core running parallel to the first neutral surface. Each of the at least one first wave-guiding core includes at least one first reflector. The first rigid ribbon is affixed to the first optical fiber and to said first rigid support. The apparatus further includes a first membrane surrounding the first cantilever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Cranch, Clay K. Kirkendall
  • FIBER OPTIC CANTILEVER ACOUSTIC VECTOR SENSOR
    Publication number: 20130272645
    Abstract: A planar or cylindrical, cantilever-type apparatus including a rigid support. The apparatus further includes a first optical fiber connected to the rigid support, the first optical fiber including a first neutral axis and at least one first wave-guiding core running parallel to the first neutral axis and located at a distance from the first neutral axis, each of the at least one first wave-guiding core including at least one first reflector. The apparatus further includes a first membrane surrounding the first optical fiber; and a first liquid inside the first membrane and surrounding the first optical fiber, the first liquid including a Reynolds number less than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Cranch, Clay K. Kirkendall