Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Block

Kenneth A. Block 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: 4309946
    Abstract: Broadly, the disclosure is directed to a range-measuring detonating system comprising an air-driven scanning mirror which cooperates with fixed mirrors to project the output of a laser toward a target, the laser being modulated at a given frequency by a local oscillator and modulator circuit. Adjacent the laser is a detecting means which feeds a receiver, the receiver output being in turn delivered to a detector which feeds a phase comparator to which is also applied the output of the local oscillator. The phase comparator output is coupled to an AND circuit to which is also applied the output of the detector. When the light energy returned by a target in the vicinity of the system achieves a given phase and amplitude, the phase comparator output is gated through the AND circuit to ignite a squib, booster and warhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1967
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Block
  • Patent number: 4307665
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to countermeasure systems, particularly to systems for providing a protective cover against homing and/or fire control devices operating upon infrared, sonar, or microwave reflected energy or for confusing search and tracking devices, and more particularly to decoy rounds and their method of fabrication. The decoy rounds include at least one load of energy generating material, means for propelling the load, a burst charge for shattering the load, the burst charge being constructed so as to cause a line type explosion, and means for igniting the burst charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1967
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Block, William M. Carter, George H. Schillreff
  • Patent number: 4286498
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to countermeasure systems, particularly to systems for providing a protective cover against homing and/or fire control devices operating upon infrared, sonar, or microwave reflected energy or for confusing search and tracking devices, and more particularly to decoy rounds and their method of fabrication. The decoy rounds include at least one load of energy generating material, means for propelling the load, a burst charge for shattering the load, the burst charge being constructed so as to cause a line type explosion, and means for igniting the burst charge. The decoy rounds are fabricated by a process which includes a novel method of producing the line type explosion and includes a novel assembly operation which allows the round to be exploded in such a way that birdnesting of the decoy material is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1965
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Block, William M. Carter, George H. Schillreff
  • Patent number: 4130059
    Abstract: A harmonic converting or generating material, particularly adapted for use as chaff in decoy rounds, and a method of fabricating the same. The material is formed from metallic foil to have the characteristics of a dipole and which by the addition to the midpoint thereof of semiconductor or other polarizable material has the capability of reradiating incident frequencies along with radiating harmonics thereof or undesirable noise. Thus, the passive material, when activated by an active source, such as a radar unit, serves to convert or generate spurious frequencies, harmonics and noise, in addition to reradiating the fundamental frequency of the active energy source, thus giving the illusion of a plurality of independent energy sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1966
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Block, Leon J. Lader