Patents by Inventor David A. Kapp

David A. Kapp 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).

  • Method and apparatus for sensing strain in a waveguide
    Patent number: 5189299
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a strain sensor. The strain sensor is comprised of an optical wave guide, a device for providing optical pulses to the optical wave guide and a device for sensing localized strain in the optical waveguide. The sensing device determines shifts in arrival times of the optical pulses at the sensing device that correspond to the localized strain. The apparatus includes a light source, a light detector, and a waveguide connecting the source with the detector. The apparatus also includes means for generating light pulses from the source through the waveguide and means for repeatedly propagating at least one of the light pulses in a closed loop. The light source detects arrival times of the light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignees: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Center for Innovative Technology
    Inventors: Bernd D. Zimmermann, Richard O. Claus, Kent A. Murphy, David A. Kapp