Patents by Inventor Dennis C. Richman

Dennis C. Richman 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: 6879419
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to ladar and more particularly to a tilted primary clamshell lens laser scanner for transmitting a generally collimated beam of radiation at a first frequency such that the beam rotates about a central axis so as to form a conical scanning pattern suitable for lidar applications. In addition, the ladar includes a system for transmitting at least one additional collimated beam of radiation at a second frequency at a wider angle then the first collimated beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis C. Richman, Susan Raffensperger
  • Publication number: 20040114205
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to ladar and more particularly to a tilted primary clamshell lens laser scanner for transmitting a generally collimated beam of radiation at a first frequency such that the beam rotates about a central axis so as to form a conical scanning pattern suitable for lidar applications. In addition, the ladar includes a system for transmitting at least one additional collimated beam of radiation at a second frequency at a wider angle then the first collimated beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Dennis C. Richman, Susan Raffensperger
  • Patent number: 5675661
    Abstract: An aircraft docking system is installed at a point of convenience within the dock in full view of the approaching aircraft and in view of the pilot, and has a display which is readily seen by the pilot through the cockpit windshield as the aircraft proceeds along a taxiway and during a turning of the aircraft from the taxiway into the dock. Operation of the docking system is based on the use of feature extraction templates of three-dimensional images of candidate aircraft for the dock. An image of the approaching aircraft is obtained by use of ranging circuitry of an optical laser radar. By comparing the image with the rotated and scaled model, the image can be interpreted to show the present location and orientation of the approaching aircraft. As the image is updated by the radar, the aircraft travel path, as represented by successive locations and orientations of the aircraft, is determined and is compared with the required travel path for the specific aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis C. Richman, Daniel C. Lorti, Bradley D. Ostman, Rolf Krumes, Eden Y. Mei, Gilberto Di Benedetto
  • Patent number: 5465142
    Abstract: A system for sensing objects in the flight path of an aircraft and alerting the pilot to their presence includes a laser radar subsystem for emitting a beam of laser energy, receiving returns from objects, and processing the returns to produce range data related to the range of the objects from the aircraft. A scanning subsystem scans the beam and produces directional information related to the instantaneous direction of the beam relative to the aircraft. Processor circuitry controls operation, processes the range data and directional information with instrumentation data from the avionics system, produces video information related to the range, direction, and type of the objects, and interfaces the video information to the video display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Krumes, Dennis C. Richman, Carl L. Bose