Patents by Inventor Kenneth G. Sewell

Kenneth G. Sewell 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).

  • Method and system for recognizing targets at long ranges
    Patent number: 5408541
    Abstract: An improved method and system (30) for recognizing targets (16) at long-ranges permits target recognition at or near the ranges at which the targets are initially detected. The method includes the steps of detecting (32) the target (16) relative to a sensor platform (12), and, in response to the detection, determining a set of range parameters (40) from the sensor platform (12) to the target (16). After transferring the set of range parameters to a gated television sensor (44) that serves as an imaging device, the method next involves illuminating the target area associated with the range parameters with a laser pulse (42) to generate reflected energy (48) from the target (16). The reflected energy (48) is then highly magnified and imaged (46) using the gated television sensor (44). The image (46) may be sent to an automatic target recognizor system (70) or displayed for operator recognition (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Sewell
  • Apparatus for enhancing the long wavelength response of photodetectors
    Patent number: 3971932
    Abstract: A photodetection device includes a photosensor usefully responsive to electromagnetic energy of a first band of wavelengths. An energy conversion unit is optically coupled to the photosensor for receiving incident electromagnetic energy of different, longer wavelength and emitting, in response, electromagnetic energy within the band of first wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: Varo, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Sewell, William B. Volz
  • Quantum counter with temporal discrimination
    Patent number: 3971941
    Abstract: A radiation detecting system for direct viewing and imaging comprises a quantum mechanical substance that is arranged both to receive target radiation and to fluoresce for a predetermined lifetime. A source of pulsed pump radiation is coupled to the quantum mechanical substance, and the pump radiation is selected to possess a predetermined pulse duration less than the fluorescent lifetime of the quantum mechanical substance. A detector unit is optically coupled to the output of the quantum mechanical substance for readout purposes, and means are provided for selectively decoupling the detector and the quantum mechanical substance for the duration of a pulse of the pump radiation whereby to eliminate "noise" signals associated with the pump radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: Varo, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Sewell, James R. Herrington, William B. Volz