Patents by Inventor Donald R. McCrary

Donald R. McCrary 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).

  • Passive thermal compensation method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5557474
    Abstract: Unwanted positional shifts between two objects, such as lenses, are precisely compensated during thermal changes by use of a passive mechanical system. Materials with differing coefficients of thermal expansion and angled interfaces transforms a longitudinal dimensional change into a fine transverse dimensional change to precisely control movement as a function of temperature thereby maintaining, e.g., lens focus. Compensation movement can be to reduce or increase the spacing between objects such as lenses during a thermal change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventor: Donald R. McCrary