Patents by Inventor Frederick MacDougall

Frederick MacDougall 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: 20080067980
    Abstract: A capacitor based pulse forming network includes a plurality of inductors adapted to be coupled to a load, a plurality of capacitor units, and a plurality of switches. Each switch couples a respective capacitor unit to a respective inductor. Multiple capacitor units are coupled to each inductor by separate switches and are adapted to be switched to a closed position to discharge the respective capacitor unit for a time interval of less than about 50 milliseconds. The plurality of switches are adapted to non-simultaneously discharge at least some of the multiple capacitor units to provide non-simultaneous pulses through a given inductor to the load and not through other inductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Frederick MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20060290399
    Abstract: Capacitor based pulse forming networks and methods are provided which require fewer inductors are that pulsed more frequently to provide a smaller, lower mass, and lower inductance pulse forming network having better pulse shaping characteristics than conventional pulse forming networks. In one implementation, the invention can be characterized as a capacitor based pulse forming network comprising a plurality of inductors adapted to be coupled to a load, a plurality of capacitor units, and a plurality of switches. Each switch couples a respective capacitor unit to a respective inductor, wherein multiple capacitor units are coupled to each inductor by separate switches. The plurality of switches are adapted to non-simultaneously discharge at least some of the multiple capacitor units to provide non-simultaneous pulses through a given inductor to the load and not through other inductors. The non-simultaneous pulses form at least a portion of an output pulse waveform to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ATOMICS
    Inventors: Frederick MacDougall, Geoffrey Staines
  • Publication number: 20050168195
    Abstract: Capacitor based pulse forming networks and related methods are provided which require fewer inductors are that pulsed more frequently to provide a smaller, lower mass, and lower inductance pulse forming network having better pulse shaping characteristics than conventional pulse forming networks. In one implementation, the invention can be characterized as a capacitor based pulse forming network comprising a plurality of inductors adapted to be coupled to a load, a plurality of capacitor units, and a plurality of switches. Each switch couples a respective capacitor unit to a respective inductor, wherein multiple capacitor units are coupled to each inductor by separate switches. The plurality of switches are adapted to non-simultaneously discharge the multiple capacitor units to provide non-simultaneous pulses through a given inductor to the load and not through other inductors. The non-simultaneous pulses form at least a portion of an output pulse waveform to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: General Atomics
    Inventor: Frederick MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20050126381
    Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating platform on one deck of a naval ship. A pulse forming network which is generally cylindrical in shape provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun and is rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead located on, a lower deck of the ship. The pulse forming network rotates in unison with the gun barrel on the same axis, allowing unbroken cables to couple the pulse forming network to the gun. The pulse forming network includes wedge-shaped capacitor modules that, when juxtaposed, collectively form a substantially annular shape having generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventor: Frederick MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20050016373
    Abstract: An electromagnetic gun and rotating pulsed network system that includes a gun barrel coupled to a gun mount coupled on a rotating platform on one deck of a naval ship. A pulse forming network which is cylindrical in shape provides pulsed energy to the electromagnetic gun and is rotatable within a cylindrical bulkhead located on a lower deck of the ship. The pulse forming network rotates in unison with the gun barrel on the same axis, allowing unbroken cables to couple the pulse forming network to the gun. The pulse forming network includes wedge-shaped capacitor modules that, when juxtaposed, collectively form a substantially cylindrical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventor: Frederick MacDougall