Patents by Inventor Curtis Kyhl

Curtis Kyhl 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: 11852805
    Abstract: A wave scanning optic is formed to have an angular reflectance or refraction that produces a uniform line scan during rotation of the optic, such that the optic is operable for seamless multidirectional scanning. The wave scanning optic includes a rotatable body defining a central axis of rotation about which the rotatable body rotates during scanning, and an optical surface formed on the rotatable body and having a wavy pattern defined by one or more lobes that protrude outwardly from the rotatable body. The optical surface has a continuous pattern with an angular frequency that varies along a radial distance from the central axis of rotation. The optical surface is configured to emit and/or receive light in one or more incident directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Curtis Kyhl, Mark Noethen
  • Patent number: 11678056
    Abstract: A deroll control system includes an outer housing, a detector configured to capture an image, an annular torsional flexure, at least one drive and a controller configured to control the at least one drive. The annular torsional flexure has a rotatable inner mount surface to which the detector is mounted, a fixed outer mount surface fixed to the outer housing and spaced radially apart from the rotatable inner mount surface, and a flexure region having a plurality of flexures spaced radially between the inner mount surface and the outer mount surface. The at least one drive is coupled to the inner mount surface of the torsional flexure and is configured to cause a counter-rotation of the inner mount surface and the detector about a central rotational axis perpendicular to an image plane to correct a rotation of the image as the detector is capturing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Curtis Kyhl, Sean Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220408023
    Abstract: A deroll control system includes an outer housing, a detector configured to capture an image, an annular torsional flexure, at least one drive and a controller configured to control the at least one drive. The annular torsional flexure has a rotatable inner mount surface to which the detector is mounted, a fixed outer mount surface fixed to the outer housing and spaced radially apart from the rotatable inner mount surface, and a flexure region having a plurality of flexures spaced radially between the inner mount surface and the outer mount surface. The at least one drive is coupled to the inner mount surface of the torsional flexure and is configured to cause a counter-rotation of the inner mount surface and the detector about a central rotational axis perpendicular to an image plane to correct a rotation of the image as the detector is capturing the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Curtis Kyhl, Sean Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220214540
    Abstract: A wave scanning optic is formed to have an angular reflectance or refraction that produces a uniform line scan during rotation of the optic, such that the optic is operable for seamless multidirectional scanning. The wave scanning optic includes a rotatable body defining a central axis of rotation about which the rotatable body rotates during scanning, and an optical surface formed on the rotatable body and having a wavy pattern defined by one or more lobes that protrude outwardly from the rotatable body. The optical surface has a continuous pattern with an angular frequency that varies along a radial distance from the central axis of rotation. The optical surface is configured to emit and/or receive light in one or more incident directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Curtis Kyhl, Mark Noethen
  • Patent number: 11319985
    Abstract: An isolation joint with an integral angle measurement system. The isolation joint includes a suspension interface yoke, a payload support member, a spherical bearing, and an integral angle measurement system. The suspension interface yoke includes a suspension interface configured to couple the suspension interface yoke to one or more suspension bars. The payload support member includes a payload interface configured to couple a payload to the payload support member. The spherical bearing includes an inner race secured to one of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member and an outer race secured to the other of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member. The integral angle measurement system includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a change in position between the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl
  • Publication number: 20220034358
    Abstract: An isolation joint with an integral angle measurement system. The isolation joint includes a suspension interface yoke, a payload support member, a spherical bearing, and an integral angle measurement system. The suspension interface yoke includes a suspension interface configured to couple the suspension interface yoke to one or more suspension bars. The payload support member includes a payload interface configured to couple a payload to the payload support member. The spherical bearing includes an inner race secured to one of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member and an outer race secured to the other of the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member. The integral angle measurement system includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a change in position between the suspension interface yoke and the payload support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl
  • Patent number: 10802181
    Abstract: Laser energy has a non-uniform energy distribution in its profile such that at least one first portion of the laser energy is more intense than at least one second portion of the laser energy. The laser energy is absorbed using a beam dump having an absorbing surface, which converts the laser energy into thermal energy. A shape of the absorbing surface is based on the profile. At least one first portion of the absorbing surface has one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and receives the first portion(s) of the laser energy. At least one second portion of the absorbing surface has one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and receives the second portion(s) of the laser energy. The one or more first angles of incidence are larger than the one or more second angles of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl
  • Publication number: 20200041702
    Abstract: Laser energy has a non-uniform energy distribution in its profile such that at least one first portion of the laser energy is more intense than at least one second portion of the laser energy. The laser energy is absorbed using a beam dump having an absorbing surface, which converts the laser energy into thermal energy. A shape of the absorbing surface is based on the profile. At least one first portion of the absorbing surface has one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and receives the first portion(s) of the laser energy. At least one second portion of the absorbing surface has one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and receives the second portion(s) of the laser energy. The one or more first angles of incidence are larger than the one or more second angles of incidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl
  • Patent number: 10473828
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive laser energy and an absorbing surface within the cavity configured to absorb and convert the laser energy into thermal energy. A shape of the absorbing surface is based on a profile of the laser energy. At least one first portion of the absorbing surface has one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one first portion of the laser energy. At least one second portion of the absorbing surface has one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one second portion of the laser energy. The first angle(s) is/are larger than the second angle(s). The first portion(s) of the laser energy is/are more intense than the second portion(s) of the laser energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl
  • Publication number: 20190317252
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive laser energy and an absorbing surface within the cavity configured to absorb and convert the laser energy into thermal energy. A shape of the absorbing surface is based on a profile of the laser energy. At least one first portion of the absorbing surface has one or more first angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one first portion of the laser energy. At least one second portion of the absorbing surface has one or more second angles of incidence with respect to the laser energy and is configured to receive at least one second portion of the laser energy. The first angle(s) is/are larger than the second angle(s). The first portion(s) of the laser energy is/are more intense than the second portion(s) of the laser energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventor: Curtis Kyhl