Patents by Inventor Joseph Nathan Mitchell

Joseph Nathan Mitchell 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: 20220299645
    Abstract: A remote 3D measurement and visualization apparatus which comprises a borescope, comprising a shaft; a time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera having a plurality of pixels; an illumination source to emit illumination source light; wherein an illumination transmission portion of the shaft is operatively arranged to transmit the illumination source light distally along the shaft and emit the illumination source light from a distal end of the borescope to illuminate a target volume; wherein an image transmission portion of the shaft is operatively arranged to receive reflected illumination source light from the target volume and transmit the reflected illumination source light proximally along the shaft to the TOF depth camera; and wherein the TOF depth camera is operatively arranged to transmit intensity and phase data of the reflected illumination source light from the pixels to a processor and/or a computer to generate a digital, three-dimensional, spatial representation of the target volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Nathan MITCHELL, Albert Joseph PARVIN, JR.
  • Patent number: 8085301
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include an unstablized laser and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of gas that absorbs at least some of the wavelength of operation of the unstablized laser. The devices can be operated at a low-power density for safety and/or may be configured to mitigate wavelength hopping associated with unstablized laser light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ralph Henry Hill, Jr., Joseph Nathan Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100231722
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include an unstablized laser and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of gas that absorbs at least some of the wavelength of operation of the unstablized laser. The devices can be operated at a low-power density for safety and/or may be configured to mitigate wavelength hopping associated with unstablized laser light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ralph Henry Hill, JR., Joseph Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6608714
    Abstract: A thermal actuator includes a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a second arm, parallel to the first arm, having a proximal end and a distal end, and a third arm arranged between and parallel to the first and second arms, the third arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The third arm has at least one portion at the distal end of the third arm having a width that is substantially larger than a width of the first arm and a width of the second arm. The distal ends of the first, second and third arms are coupled together to form a distal end of the thermal actuator, and the first, second and third arms preferably are made of a single material. A number of thermal actuators can be arranged in an array. The thermal actuator or array of thermal actuators can be coupled to an applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Heather Shannon Hanson, Joseph Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6587612
    Abstract: A thermally actuated spectroscopic optical switch including reflective surfaces which are selectively moved into a position intersecting a beam of light by applying electrical or heat energy to a selected composite cantilever beam on which the reflective surface is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph Nathan Mitchell, Martin Peter Wüest
  • Publication number: 20030002133
    Abstract: A thermal actuator includes a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a second arm, parallel to the first arm, having a proximal end and a distal end, and a third arm arranged between and parallel to the first and second arms, the third arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The third arm has at least one portion at the distal end of the third arm having a width that is substantially larger than a width of the first arm and a width of the second arm. The distal ends of the first, second and third arms are coupled together to form a distal end of the thermal actuator, and the first, second and third arms preferably are made of a single material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: SOUTH WEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Heather Shannon Hanson, Joseph Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: RE39833
    Abstract: A thermally actuated spectroscopic optical switch including reflective surfaces which are selectively moved into a position intersecting a beam of light by applying electrical or heat energy to a selected composite cantilever beam on which the reflective surface is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph Nathan Mitchell, Martin Peter Wuest