Patents by Inventor Donald N. Williams

Donald N. Williams 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: 6485150
    Abstract: A tunable spectral source includes an enclosure having first and second apertures; an optical dispersive element positioned in the enclosure; and multiple pixel source elements that are individually controllable for selectively directing one or more broadband light signals through the first aperture to irradiate the optical dispersive element. Each of the broadband light signals irradiates the optical dispersive element at a unique angle of incidence. The optical dispersive element disperses the broadband light signals into spectral component signals at dispersion angles that are dependent upon the angle of incidence of each broadband light signal that irradiates the optical dispersive element. The portions of the spectral component signals that are emitted through the second aperture are determined by selecting one or more particular pixel source elements to irradiate the optical dispersive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ronald G. Driggers, Ellis E. Burroughs, Jr., Donald N. Williams, Charles S. Bendall
  • Patent number: 3981592
    Abstract: A system for locating breaks in fiber optic filaments employs light energy ulses which are controlled to be emitted at determinable times and directed along the light path of the fiber optic filaments under test. A pulse detector is positioned to receive any reflected pulse light energy from the fiber optic filaments and an indicator is responsive for indicating the elapsed time between the emission of the pulses and the reception of the reflected pulse light energy, preferably calibrated in terms of distance to establish the location of breaks in the fiber optics line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Donald N. Williams
  • Patent number: 3952290
    Abstract: An improved read-only optical memory system is provided comprising a mask ving a plurality of discrete increments of recorded information defined by variations in opacity and a suitable light source positioned to illuminate the mask so that the mask transmits recorded information in the form of light energy in accordance with the opacity of the illuminated discrete increments. A multiple element photo responsive charge coupled device is positioned to receive the light energy transmitted by the illuminated mask and has its elements arrayed for developing a charge at each element position commensurate with the photo energy transmitted by an optically aligned discrete increment of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Donald N. Williams