Patents by Inventor Gregory A. Needham

Gregory A. Needham 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).

  • Energy ratio sensor for laser resonator system
    Patent number: 9793678
    Abstract: A device includes a first sensor configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to an energy of a portion of a forward beam transmitted by a mirror of a laser resonator system. The device further includes a second sensor configured to generate a second output signal corresponding to an energy of a portion of a return beam transmitted by the mirror. A ratio of the energy of the portion of the forward beam and the energy of the portion of the return beam corresponds to a measurement of a feedback ratio of the laser resonator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Vytas T. Gylys, Andrea Koumvakalis, Gregory A. Needham, Dale A. Holmes
  • ENERGY RATIO SENSOR FOR LASER RESONATOR SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170117682
    Abstract: A device includes a first sensor configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to an energy of a portion of a forward beam transmitted by a mirror of a laser resonator system. The device further includes a second sensor configured to generate a second output signal corresponding to an energy of a portion of a return beam transmitted by the mirror. A ratio of the energy of the portion of the forward beam and the energy of the portion of the return beam corresponds to a measurement of a feedback ratio of the laser resonator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Vytas T. Gylys, Andrea Koumvakalis, Gregory A. Needham, Dale A. Holmes
  • Unstable disk resonator
    Patent number: 7813405
    Abstract: A configuration for an unstable, negative branch imaging resonator (NBIR) is disclosed in which coupling mirrors are added so that the Primary and Secondary mirrors are not in direct optical communication with the imaging systems which minimizes the occurrence of the NBIR experiencing magnification runaway and/or odd order aberrations by using coupling mirrors to provide indirect optical communication between the imaging systems and the Primary and Secondary end mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Charles Widen, Harry H. Wang, Gregory A. Needham
  • UNSTABLE DISK RESONATOR
    Publication number: 20100027572
    Abstract: A configuration for an unstable, negative branch imaging resonator (NBIR) is disclosed in which coupling mirrors are added so that the Primary and Secondary mirrors are not in direct optical communication with the imaging systems which minimizes the occurrence of the NBIR experiencing magnification runaway and/or odd order aberrations by using coupling mirrors to provide indirect optical communication between the imaging systems and the Primary and Secondary end mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Charles Widen, Harry H. Wang, Gregory A. Needham
  • Two-axis beam steering apparatus
    Patent number: 4961627
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for steering a light beam which utilizes the relative positioning of adjacently disposed semi-spherical windows to provide the desired steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Swain, Gregory A. Needham, Louis R. Fontana