Patents by Inventor David Ralph Kimball

David Ralph Kimball 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: 9400337
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for measuring low levels of acceleration caused by low frequency seismic waves. For example, an omnidirectional beam accelerometer configured to measure low frequency waves is disclosed. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may include three beam acceleration sensors. Each beam acceleration sensor may include a respective mass and a respective beam. Each respective beam may be comprised at least in part of a piezoelectric material. Each beam acceleration sensor may have a ratio of mass density [kg/m3] to beam stiffness [N/m] of at least 4.5×10?5 kg/Nm2. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may also include a housing to ensure the sensors are operating in orthogonal directions and an interface circuit to interface between the sensor and external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sterling William Jones, David Ralph Kimball
  • Publication number: 20140269203
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for measuring low levels of acceleration caused by low frequency seismic waves. For example, an omnidirectional beam accelerometer configured to measure low frequency waves is disclosed. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may include three beam acceleration sensors. Each beam acceleration sensor may include a respective mass and a respective beam. Each respective beam may be comprised at least in part of a piezoelectric material. Each beam acceleration sensor may have a ratio of mass density [kg/m3] to beam stiffness [N/m] of at least 4.5×10?5 kg/Nm2. The omnidirectional beam accelerometer may also include a housing to ensure the sensors are operating in orthogonal directions and an interface circuit to interface between the sensor and external circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Sterling William Jones, David Ralph Kimball