Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Burbank

Kenneth A. Burbank 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).

  • Doped-germanium sensor for use in a system to control the alignment of a CO.sub.2 laser beam
    Patent number: 5168321
    Abstract: A photoconductive sensor responsive to a CO.sub.2 laser beam. The sensor comprises a silver-doped germanium semiconductor. The silver dopant changes the conductive characteristics of the semiconductor which results in the doped germanium semiconductor being responsive to a wavelength range it would not normally be responsive to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Otto J. Gregory, Kenneth A. Burbank
  • Thin-film quadrant temperature sensor for use in a system to control the alignment of a CO.sub.2 laser beam
    Patent number: 5141330
    Abstract: A thermoconductive sensor for aligning a laser beam which includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate to provide electrical insulation, an insulating layer interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and a reflective/refractive material embedded in the layer to reflect heat from the layer and to conduct heat through a plurality of fingers. A plurality of serially connected thermocouples communicate with the fingers to provide an output of the changes and the thermoconductivity to then realign the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Otto J. Gregory, Kenneth A. Burbank