Patents by Inventor Gary A. Frazier

Gary A. Frazier 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: 12091153
    Abstract: A window installation includes a phase-change filler material sealing an outer edge of the window, and coupling the window to a frame around the window. The filler material in a solid state rigidly holds the window in place. When the filler material is in a liquid state it allows the window to float in its coupling to the frame. There may be supports within the rigid material that contact the window, but allow the window to expand or contract by sliding along the supports. The installation may be useful in situations where the window is subjected to thermal shocks, or other sorts of heating. The installation may be used for a sensor window, and may be part of a hypersonic vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent, Kevin M. Chapla
  • Patent number: 11880018
    Abstract: An optical window for a hypersonic vehicle includes a window substrate and an optical coating on the window substrate, with the coating including multiple alternating layers of different materials. The coating may have many layers, for example having five or more alternating bi-layers and may be configured to still perform its optical function with some of the layers removed, such as by ablation of some of the layers through exposure to hypersonic flow. The different materials of the different layers may have different properties, for example with one of the materials being more resistant to ablation and/or chemical reaction than another of the layers. Coatings for anti-reflection additionally include a region of graded optical index between the sequence of bi-layers and the substrate. The hypersonic vehicle may include an optical sensor which operates by receiving light through the optical window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gary A. Frazier
  • Publication number: 20240008234
    Abstract: A method of controlling a temperature profile of an optical window comprising: measuring a temperature-dependent electrical property of a thermally sensitive material included in the optical window using an embedded electromagnetic interference shield in the optical window to determine the temperature profile of the optical window, the embedded electromagnetic interference shield including a two-dimensional array of electrically conductive wires; and based on the measurements, selectively biasing at least one wire of the two-dimensional array of electrically conductive wires to locally alter the temperature-dependent electrical property of the thermally sensitive material in at least one selected spatial region of the optical window to control the temperature profile of the optical window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent
  • Patent number: 11792967
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and optionally adjusting the temperature profile of an optical window. In one example, an optical window with integrated temperature sensing functionality includes a first window layer of an optically transparent material, a second window layer of the optically transparent material, an electromagnetic interference shielding grid disposed between the first and second window layers and including a first electrically conductive structure and a second electrically conductive structure, and a thermally sensitive material disposed between the first and second electrically conductive structures, the thermally sensitive material having an electrical property that varies as a function of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent
  • Patent number: 11677040
    Abstract: A photoconductor assembly includes a substrate formed of an undoped and single-crystal semiconductor material that is configured to absorb electromagnetic energy, a plurality of electrodes arranged normal to the substrate, and a power supply that applies a voltage to the electrodes for modulating the electromagnetic energy through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Kyle L. Grosse
  • Patent number: 11615900
    Abstract: A virtual adhesion method is provided. The virtual adhesion method includes increasing a magnetic characteristic of an initial structure, supporting the initial structure on a surface of a substrate, generating a magnetic field directed such that the initial structure is forced toward the surface of the substrate and forming an encapsulation, which is bound to exposed portions of the surface, around the initial structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier, Kyle L. Grosse
  • Patent number: 11579338
    Abstract: A unitary radome layer assembly is provided and includes a first nanocomposite formulation and a second nanocomposite formulation. The first and second nanocomposite formulations are provided together in a unitary radome layer with respective distribution gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier
  • Patent number: 11513072
    Abstract: A real-time ablation sensor uses an optical detector, such as a spectrometer or radiometer, to detect ablation of a material, for example by detecting a signal indicative of ablation of the material, which may be an engineered material. The optical detector may detect reflected light, either from the material being ablated, or from products of the ablation, such as in the vicinity of the material being ablated. A light source may be used to provide light that is reflected by the material and/or the ablation products, with the reflected light received by the detector. The light may be of a selected wavelength or wavelengths, with the selection made in combination with the selection/configuration of the material to be ablated, and/or the selection/configuration of the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, John J. Coogan
  • Patent number: 11451309
    Abstract: A dynamic aperture is disclosed. A dynamic aperture includes a base layer, a conductive structure disposed on the base layer, and a layer of a material having a dynamically controllable electrical conductivity that is disposed over the base layer and the conductive structure. A transmission profile of the dynamic aperture is determined by a combination of the conductive structure and the layer of the material. The transmission profile is dynamically alterable by controlling the electrical conductivity of the layer of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent, Ralph Korenstein
  • Publication number: 20220291125
    Abstract: A real-time ablation sensor uses an optical detector, such as a spectrometer or radiometer, to detect ablation of a material, for example by detecting a signal indicative of ablation of the material, which may be an engineered material. The optical detector may detect reflected light, either from the material being ablated, or from products of the ablation, such as in the vicinity of the material being ablated. A light source may be used to provide light that is reflected by the material and/or the ablation products, with the reflected light received by the detector. The light may be of a selected wavelength or wavelengths, with the selection made in combination with the selection/configuration of the material to be ablated, and/or the selection/configuration of the optical detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, John J. Coogan
  • Publication number: 20220291421
    Abstract: An optical window for a hypersonic vehicle includes a window substrate and an optical coating on the window substrate, with the coating including multiple alternating layers of different materials. The coating may have many layers, for example having five or more alternating bi-layers and may be configured to still perform its optical function with some of the layers removed, such as by ablation of some of the layers through exposure to hypersonic flow. The different materials of the different layers may have different properties, for example with one of the materials being more resistant to ablation and/or chemical reaction than another of the layers. Coatings for anti-reflection additionally include a region of graded optical index between the sequence of bi-layers and the substrate. The hypersonic vehicle may include an optical sensor which operates by receiving light through the optical window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Gary A. Frazier
  • Patent number: 11428708
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting first optical energy towards a space being scanned. The method also includes detecting one or more instances of a first material in the space using first return optical energy, where the first return optical energy is based on the transmitted first optical energy. The method further includes, for each of the one or more instances of the first material, transmitting second optical energy towards a portion of the space in which the instance of the first material was detected. The method also includes detecting one or more instances of a second material in the space using second return optical energy, where the second return optical energy is based on the transmitted second optical energy. In addition, the method includes identifying a presence of at least one type of device in the space based on instances of the first and second materials detected in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Randy L. Gann
  • Publication number: 20220033053
    Abstract: A window installation includes a phase-change filler material sealing an outer edge of the window, and coupling the window to a frame around the window. The filler material in a solid state rigidly holds the window in place. When the filler material is in a liquid state it allows the window to float in its coupling to the frame. There may be supports within the rigid material that contact the window, but allow the window to expand or contract by sliding along the supports. The installation may be useful in situations where the window is subjected to thermal shocks, or other sorts of heating. The installation may be used for a sensor window, and may be part of a hypersonic vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent, Kevin M. Chapla
  • Publication number: 20220018871
    Abstract: A method includes transmitting first optical energy towards a space being scanned. The method also includes detecting one or more instances of a first material in the space using first return optical energy, where the first return optical energy is based on the transmitted first optical energy. The method further includes, for each of the one or more instances of the first material, transmitting second optical energy towards a portion of the space in which the instance of the first material was detected. The method also includes detecting one or more instances of a second material in the space using second return optical energy, where the second return optical energy is based on the transmitted second optical energy. In addition, the method includes identifying a presence of at least one type of device in the space based on instances of the first and second materials detected in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Randy L. Gann
  • Publication number: 20220003222
    Abstract: A conduit is placed between a vacuum system and the open air or other gaseous environment. A laser or other excitation source is used to ionize the air on the air-side of the conduit. An axial applied electric field is used to repel positive ions from traversing the tube and reaching the region of the vacuum. Electrons are collected in the vacuum region and disposed of using a Faraday cup. The repelled ions assist in creating a counter pressure to sweep neutral atoms out of the tube and back into the ambient air. As a result, a hollow tube can connect an evacuated volume to the open air without compromising the vacuum. This is a “windowless window.” An array of such tubes can be assembled together to increase the area of the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent
  • Publication number: 20210212244
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and optionally adjusting the temperature profile of an optical window. In one example, an optical window with integrated temperature sensing functionality includes a first window layer of an optically transparent material, a second window layer of the optically transparent material, an electromagnetic interference shielding grid disposed between the first and second window layers and including a first electrically conductive structure and a second electrically conductive structure, and a thermally sensitive material disposed between the first and second electrically conductive structures, the thermally sensitive material having an electrical property that varies as a function of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent
  • Patent number: 11054549
    Abstract: An optical window is provided and includes a core layer, a cladding layer and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) layer interposed between the core and cladding layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Catherine Trent, Gary A. Frazier, Kyle L. Grosse
  • Publication number: 20210159357
    Abstract: A photoconductor assembly includes a substrate formed of an undoped and single-crystal semiconductor material that is configured to absorb electromagnetic energy, a plurality of electrodes arranged normal to the substrate, and a power supply that applies a voltage to the electrodes for modulating the electromagnetic energy through the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Kyle L. Grosse
  • Patent number: 10939596
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and optionally adjusting the temperature profile of an optical window. In one example, an optical window with integrated temperature sensing functionality includes a first window layer of an optically transparent material, a second window layer of the optically transparent material, an electromagnetic interference shielding grid disposed between the first and second window layers and including a first electrically conductive structure and a second electrically conductive structure, and a thermally sensitive material disposed between the first and second electrically conductive structures, the thermally sensitive material having an electrical property that varies as a function of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent
  • Publication number: 20210044364
    Abstract: A dynamic aperture is disclosed. A dynamic aperture includes a base layer, a conductive structure disposed on the base layer, and a layer of a material having a dynamically controllable electrical conductivity that is disposed over the base layer and the conductive structure. A transmission profile of the dynamic aperture is determined by a combination of the conductive structure and the layer of the material. The transmission profile is dynamically alterable by controlling the electrical conductivity of the layer of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kyle L. Grosse, Gary A. Frazier, Catherine Trent, Ralph Korenstein