Patents by Inventor Craig A. Rockenbauch

Craig A. Rockenbauch 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).

  • Device for impedance matching radio frequency open wire transmission lines
    Patent number: 7283015
    Abstract: An impedance matching device comprises a dielectric material having a ground plane affixed to one surface, a microstripline conductor disposed on an opposite surface, and a movable dielectric plate. The movable dielectric plate has a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material, a user-selectable shape, and a conductive coating on the top surface. The bottom surface of the movable dielectric plate engages a portion of the microstripline conductor, and is movable transversely to the microstripline conductor to increase or decrease the impedance of the microstripline conductor and linearly to change the phase of the microstripline conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the National Security Agency
    Inventor: Craig A. Rockenbauch
  • Timer circuit utilizing thermal effect
    Patent number: 6498770
    Abstract: A timer circuit that utilizes the thermal runaway effect, and includes a switch, a resistor, a transistor and a protective device. The temperature of the transistor rises due to a phenomenon known as the thermal runaway effect, which causes the temperature of the transistor to rise while increasing current flow. This will eventually cause the protective device to activate. The time it takes to activate the protective device is predictable for a given transistor, therefore the circuit operates as a timer. In an alternate embodiment, a heat source is used. This heat source rises in temperature as current flows in the circuit. A heat sensor located near the heat source rises in temperature along with the heat source. A comparator compares the temperature from this heat sensor with the temperature of a heat sensor located further from the heat source. When there is a user-definable difference in temperature due to thermal diffusion between the two heat sensors, power to the transistor is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency
    Inventors: Craig A. Rockenbauch, James F. Korenz
  • Device for and method of switching and monitoring batteries
    Patent number: 6144189
    Abstract: The present invention is a device for switching and monitoring batteries for powering a battery-operated device that includes an n-to-1 multiplexer; batteries; a sensor array; a controller; a receiver; a transmitter; and diodes for selectively connecting power for the multiplexer, the sensor array, the controller, the receiver, and the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency
    Inventor: Craig A. Rockenbauch