Patents by Inventor David D. Jenkins

David D. Jenkins 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).

  • Co-boresighted dual-mode SAL/IR seeker including a SAL spreader
    Patent number: 8164037
    Abstract: In a co-boresighted SAL/IR seeker, the optical system and particularly the secondary lens and position of the SAL detector are configured to produce a well-corrected spot of laser energy at the SAL detector. A spreader is positioned between the secondary mirror/lens and the SAL detector, possibly on the secondary mirror, away from the aperture stop and not in the optical path to the IR detector. The spreader is configured to spatially homogenize the laser energy to increase the size of the spot of focused laser energy at the SAL detector to set the system transfer function to meet slope requirements. Spatial homogenization serves to reduce both boresight shift and slope non-linearities. This approach greatly simplifies the time and labor intensive calibration of the SAL detector's system transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David D. Jenkins, Byron B. Taylor, David J. Markason
  • CO-BORESIGHTED DUAL-MODE SAL/IR SEEKER INCLUDING A SAL SPREADER
    Publication number: 20110073704
    Abstract: In a co-boresighted SAL/IR seeker, the optical system and particularly the secondary lens and position of the SAL detector are configured to produce a well-corrected spot of laser energy at the SAL detector. A spreader is positioned between the secondary mirror/lens and the SAL detector, possibly on the secondary mirror, away from the aperture stop and not in the optical path to the IR detector. The spreader is configured to spatially homogenize the laser energy to increase the size of the spot of focused laser energy at the SAL detector to set the system transfer function to meet slope requirements. Spatial homogenization serves to reduce both boresight shift and slope non-linearities. This approach greatly simplifies the time and labor intensive calibration of the SAL detector's system transfer function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: David D Jenkins, Byron B. Taylor, David J. Markason