Patents by Inventor David K. Mefford

David K. Mefford 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).

  • Publication number: 20240055826
    Abstract: Chip technology for fabricating ultra-low-noise, high-stability optical devices for use in an optical atomic clock system. The proposed chip technology uses diamond material to form stabilized lasers, frequency references, and passive laser cavity structures. By utilizing the exceptional thermal conductivity of diamond and other optical and dielectric properties, a specific temperature range of operation is proposed that allows significant reduction of the total energy required to generate and maintain an ultra-stable laser. In each configuration, the diamond-based chip is cooled by a cryogenic cooler containing liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anguel Nikolov, John R. Lowell, David K. Mefford, John Dalton Williams
  • Patent number: 11600963
    Abstract: Chip technology for fabricating ultra-low-noise, high-stability optical devices for use in an optical atomic clock system. The proposed chip technology uses diamond material to form stabilized lasers, frequency references, and passive laser cavity structures. By utilizing the exceptional thermal conductivity of diamond and other optical and dielectric properties, a specific temperature range of operation is proposed that allows significant reduction of the total energy required to generate and maintain an ultra-stable laser. In each configuration, the diamond-based chip is cooled by a cryogenic cooler containing liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anguel Nikolov, John R. Lowell, David K. Mefford, John Dalton Williams
  • Patent number: 11162863
    Abstract: A pressure sensing system and method for an engine of an aircraft include a transceiver assembly coupled to a portion of the engine, and a pressure sensor assembly coupled to a fan blade of the engine. The transceiver assembly is configured to transmit a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. The pressure sensor assembly is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and transmit a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency of the first signal and the second frequency of the second signal. The transceiver assembly is configured to receive the third signal at the third frequency. A pressure in relation to the engine is determined based on the third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John E. Rogers, David K. Mefford
  • Publication number: 20210336409
    Abstract: Chip technology for fabricating ultra-low-noise, high-stability optical devices for use in an optical atomic clock system. The proposed chip technology uses diamond material to form stabilized lasers, frequency references, and passive laser cavity structures. By utilizing the exceptional thermal conductivity of diamond and other optical and dielectric properties, a specific temperature range of operation is proposed that allows significant reduction of the total energy required to generate and maintain an ultra-stable laser. In each configuration, the diamond-based chip is cooled by a cryogenic cooler containing liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anguel Nikolov, John R. Lowell, David K. Mefford, John Dalton Williams
  • Publication number: 20200393319
    Abstract: A pressure sensing system and method for an engine of an aircraft include a transceiver assembly coupled to a portion of the engine, and a pressure sensor assembly coupled to a fan blade of the engine. The transceiver assembly is configured to transmit a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. The pressure sensor assembly is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and transmit a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency of the first signal and the second frequency of the second signal. The transceiver assembly is configured to receive the third signal at the third frequency. A pressure in relation to the engine is determined based on the third signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John E. Rogers, David K. Mefford
  • Patent number: 10852229
    Abstract: A method of detecting a compound in a material sample is presented. A transformation is generated from a set of IR spectra of a set of identified compounds, in which the compound is one of the set of identified compounds. The transformation is applied to an IR spectrum of the material sample to form a transformed IR spectrum. A decomposition is applied to the transformation. Results indicative of a presence or an absence of the compound are generated based on an output of the decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, Yuan-Jye Wu, David K. Mefford, Robert Alan Smith
  • Patent number: 10823616
    Abstract: A dual sensor, includes: one or more analyte detectors, each having an analyte-specific binding site for interacting with a specific analyte; an optical source generating a first frequency comb spectrum directed to an environment to be scanned, the first frequency comb spectrum having multiple optical frequencies at a first frequency range; an optical spectrum analyzer analyzing an optical spectrum resulting from interaction of the first frequency comb spectrum with the environment; and a controller that is configured, where an analyte detector indicates presence of a specific analyte, to adjust the first frequency comb spectrum to increase sensitivity for detecting the specific analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Smith, David K. Mefford
  • Patent number: 10809186
    Abstract: An optical detection method and device are provided. The optical detection method includes directing an optical beam toward a target; selecting a first test sensor from among a plurality of test sensors to compare with radiation received from the target, wherein the first test sensor comprises a first test chemical; receiving a reflected or scattered optical beam from the target; comparing a first spectrum from the first test chemical with a spectrum of the reflected or scattered optical beam that was received using a linear detector array; determining a likely chemical from the target based on the comparing using a hardware processor; and providing an output based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David K. Mefford, Robert A. Smith, John R. Lowell
  • Publication number: 20200256789
    Abstract: A method of detecting a compound in a material sample is presented. A transformation is generated from a set of IR spectra of a set of identified compounds, in which the compound is one of the set of identified compounds. The transformation is applied to an IR spectrum of the material sample to form a transformed IR spectrum. A decomposition is applied to the transformation. Results indicative of a presence or an absence of the compound are generated based on an output of the decomposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, Yuan-Jye Wu, David K. Mefford, Robert Alan Smith
  • Publication number: 20200191708
    Abstract: An optical detection method and device are provided. The optical detection method includes directing an optical beam toward a target; selecting a first test sensor from among a plurality of test sensors to compare with radiation received from the target, wherein the first test sensor comprises a first test chemical; receiving a reflected or scattered optical beam from the target; comparing a first spectrum from the first test chemical with a spectrum of the reflected or scattered optical beam that was received using a linear detector array; determining a likely chemical from the target based on the comparing using a hardware processor; and providing an output based on the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: David K. Mefford, Robert A. Smith, John R. Lowell
  • Patent number: 10557787
    Abstract: A method of detecting a compound in a material sample is presented. A transformation is generated from a set of IR spectra of a set of identified compounds, in which the compound is one of the set of identified compounds. The transformation is applied to an IR spectrum of the material sample to form a transformed IR spectrum. A decomposition is applied to the transformation. Results indicative of a presence or an absence of the compound are generated based on an output of the decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Hong Hue Tat, Yuan-Jye Wu, David K. Mefford, Robert Alan Smith
  • Publication number: 20190368935
    Abstract: A dual sensor, includes: one or more analyte detectors, each having an analyte-specific binding site for interacting with a specific analyte; an optical source generating a first frequency comb spectrum directed to an environment to be scanned, the first frequency comb spectrum having multiple optical frequencies at a first frequency range; an optical spectrum analyzer analyzing an optical spectrum resulting from interaction of the first frequency comb spectrum with the environment; and a controller that is configured, where an analyte detector indicates presence of a specific analyte, to adjust the first frequency comb spectrum to increase sensitivity for detecting the specific analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Smith, David K. Mefford
  • Patent number: 10296790
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coded visual markers in a surveillance system. An exemplary system includes a camera to capture images of a secure area, memory to store identifiers for persons that are authorized to be in the secure area, and a processor communicatively coupled with the camera and the memory. The processor analyzes the images to detect a person in the secure area and detects a pattern of a light source at the person. The processor then decodes the pattern of the light source and authorizes the person in the secure area based on a match between the decoded pattern of the light source and an identifier stored in the memory of one of the persons authorized to be in the secure area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David K. Mefford, Aaron Y. Mosher
  • Publication number: 20190034721
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coded visual markers in a surveillance system. An exemplary system includes a camera to capture images of a secure area, memory to store identifiers for persons that are authorized to be in the secure area, and a processor communicatively coupled with the camera and the memory. The processor analyzes the images to detect a person in the secure area and detects a pattern of a light source at the person. The processor then decodes the pattern of the light source and authorizes the person in the secure area based on a match between the decoded pattern of the light source and an identifier stored in the memory of one of the persons authorized to be in the secure area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: David K. Mefford, Aaron Y. Mosher
  • Patent number: 8358403
    Abstract: Remote platform enhanced munitions detection can support improved detection of munitions by separating the signal source platform from a detector on a remote mobile platform. The source platform may support a large, complex, or expensive optical laser or radio frequency source. The source platform may also support a remote signal processing system. The electromagnetic source may be used to illuminate munitions or threat material from a standoff distance. The mobile platform may be maneuvered and positioned closer to the measurement target. The mobile platform may be equipped with an appropriate electromagnetic detector to obtain measurement data at different ranges and positions around the measurement target. The mobile platform may also provide an articulating arm with a mirror or reflector to support non-line-of-sight measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Smith, Steve B. Pickard, David K. Mefford, Aaron Frost Markowitz