Patents by Inventor Kenneth W. Brown

Kenneth W. Brown 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: 9030268
    Abstract: A power combiner/divider having a waveguide, a plurality of amplifiers disposed on a supporting structure, a plurality of probes, each one having a first end electrically coupled to an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and a second end projecting outwardly from the supporting structure and into the waveguide. The probes are disposed in a common region of the waveguide. The region has a common electric field maximum within the waveguide. A first portion of the probes proximate the sidewalls have lengths different from a second portion of the probes disposed in a region distal from the sidewalls of the waveguide. The waveguide is supported by the support structure. The power combiner is a monolithic microwave integrated circuit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Kolias, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8963790
    Abstract: A universal joint comprising a pair of circular waveguide ball-joints and a slip-joint allows for simultaneous 3-axis rotation and 3-dimensional translation between an antenna and a stationary source. As such, the universal joint does not have to be physically aligned with the azimuth, and elevation, rotation axis of the antenna and mounted on the gimbal support, greatly simplifying the antenna steering mechanism. The universal joint allows the antenna to be mass-balanced in relation to the azimuth and elevation axis without adding any additional counter weights, thus reducing the size and power requirements of the azimuth and elevation rotation drive systems. Additional ball-joints may be provided to increase the allowed range of motion of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8896701
    Abstract: An active infrared sensor may include an imaging infrared sensor to provide an output signal conveying time-sequential infrared images of a scene which includes a subject, a beam generator to generate a millimeter wave energy beam, and a processor. An initial infrared image of the scene may be stored in a memory. After storing the initial infrared image, the beam generator may illuminate the subject with the millimeter wave energy beam. A temperature change across the subject due to the millimeter wave energy beam may be estimated based on the output signal and the stored initial infrared image. The beam generator may stop illuminating the subject when a highest temperature change across the subject is at least equal to a predetermined temperature change limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ratheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, David R. Sar, James R. Gallivan, Wilkie M. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20140102774
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying an electrical signal includes: a conductive pathway having a conductive material. The conductive material has a first edge and a second edge and is configured to convey the electrical signal. The apparatus also includes a resistive material in contact with at least a portion of the conductive pathway, covering an edge of the conductive pathway, and extending beyond the edge. The resistive material has a conductivity less than the conductivity of the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew K. Brown, Thomas L. Obert, Michael J. Sotelo, Darin M. Gritters, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140049435
    Abstract: A universal joint comprising a pair of circular waveguide ball-joints and a slip-joint allows for simultaneous 3-axis rotation and 3-dimensional translation between an antenna and a stationary source. As such, the universal joint does not have to be physically aligned with the azimuth, and elevation, rotation axis of the antenna and mounted on the gimbal support, greatly simplifying the antenna steering mechanism. The universal joint allows the antenna to be mass-balanced in relation to the azimuth and elevation axis without adding any additional counter weights, thus reducing the size and power requirements of the azimuth and elevation rotation drive systems. Additional ball-joints may be provided to increase the allowed range of motion of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8628433
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a crown that extends over the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130324308
    Abstract: Golf club and golf club head structures include a ball striking face, a frame member and a perimeter stiffening element. The frame member may extend rearwardly from a perimeter of the ball striking face. The perimeter stiffening element may extend along at least a portion of the perimeter of the ball striking face and further may extend from the ball striking face to the frame member. The thickness of the ball striking face may be less than or equal to 2.0 mm. The cross-sectional area of the perimeter stiffening element may be greater than or equal to 10 mm2. The golf club head may be a wood-type club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8552813
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel printed antenna that provides a low-loss transition into waveguide. The antenna is integrated with a heat spreader and the interconnection between the antenna and the output device (such as a power amplifier) is a simple conductive connection, such as (but not limited to), a wirebond. Integrating the antenna with the heat spreader in accordance with the concepts, circuits, and techniques described herein drastically shortens the distance from the output device to the waveguide, thus reducing losses and increasing bandwidth. The transition and technique described herein may be easily scaled for both higher and lower frequencies. Embodiments of the present apparatus also eliminate the complexity of the prior art circuit boards and transitions and enable the use of a wider range of substrates while greatly simplifying assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Darin M. Gritters, Kenneth W. Brown, Andrew K. Brown, Michael A. Moore, Patrick J. Kocurek, Thomas A. Hanft
  • Publication number: 20130184099
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Nike,Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry Jones, Frank Fujita
  • Publication number: 20130127563
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel printed antenna that provides a low-loss transition into waveguide. The antenna is integrated with a heat spreader and the interconnection between the antenna and the output device (such as a power amplifier) is a simple conductive connection, such as (but not limited to), a wirebond. Integrating the antenna with the heat spreader in accordance with the concepts, circuits, and techniques described herein drastically shortens the distance from the output device to the waveguide, thus reducing losses and increasing bandwidth. The transition and technique described herein may be easily scaled for both higher and lower frequencies. Embodiments of the present apparatus also eliminate the complexity of the prior art circuit boards and transitions and enable the use of a wider range of substrates while greatly simplifying assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Darin M. Gritters, Kenneth W. Brown, Andrew K. Brown, Michael A. Moore, Patrick J. Kocurek, Thomas A. Hanft
  • Publication number: 20130106649
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a first radar system having a transmitter and a receiver and a reflector to provide a synthetic aperture radar relationship. The signal return is processed to generate an image of targets in the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, David R. Sar, Michael J. Sotelo, Elbert H. Ko, David D. Crouch
  • Publication number: 20130109501
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130102410
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd, Eric A. Larson, Kenneth W. Brown, Sherry L. Jones
  • Patent number: 8305280
    Abstract: A transition for coupling a microwave signal between a transmission line formed on a planar dielectric substrate and a hollow waveguide may include a half-notch antenna formed on a portion of the dielectric substrate extending into an open end of the hollow waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, Andrew K. Brown, Darin M. Gritters, Michael J. Sotelo, Thanh C. Ta
  • Patent number: 8286798
    Abstract: The cob cleaning conveyor system provides a capability for positively removing or cleaning lighter crop residue from a flow of cobs. The system can be incorporated with a cob collection device, such as on a trailer, and can be adjustable in several ways for accommodating varying corn varieties, conditions and the like. The system includes a first conveyor which propels the flow into a gap or passage toward a second conveyor, while a flow of air is directed downwardly through the passage to remove or clean the lighter residue material from the cobs. The angle of attack of the air flow can be selectable, and optionally be directed downwardly along the second conveyor to the passage, and upwardly along the second conveyor to travel with or follow the residue flow, to suit present conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, John J. Borsdorf, Kenneth W. Brown, Joshua D. Werning, Tyler Nelson
  • Patent number: 8206241
    Abstract: A body member has a face plate and a first engaging member. A sole plate has a second engaging member, the first and second engaging members being interlocked with one another. A layer of resilient material is disposed between the first engaging member and the second engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Boyd, Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 8182103
    Abstract: A millimeter wave power source module may include N submodules, each of which includes M circuit devices, where M and N are greater than one. Each circuit device may have an output connected to a corresponding radiating element. Each submodule may include a power divider having K input ports and M output ports, where K is a factor of M. Each input port may be coupled to a corresponding receiving element, and each output port may be coupled to an input of a corresponding circuit device. Each submodule may include a heat spreader for removing heat from the circuit devices. The power source module may include a combination RF feed network and heat sink. The combination RF feed network and heat sink may include a wavefront expander to expand the RF input wavefront along at least one axis, and to direct the expanded wavefront to the receiving elements of the N submodules. The combination RF feed network and heat sink may also include a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the heat spreaders of the N submodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Brown, Andrew Kent Brown, William Earl Dolash, Darin Michael Gritters, Thomas Lee Obert, Michael John Sotelo
  • Patent number: 8178792
    Abstract: A combined environmental and electromagnetic rotary seal. The invention is adapted for use between two mutually rotating components of an electromagnetic energy transmission system and provides simultaneous protection against contamination from the environment and unwanted electromagnetic leakage. In the illustrative embodiment, a first set of grooves is cut into the exterior of a first conductive cylindrical component whose interior contains a portion of a millimeter-wave beam waveguide energy transmission system, the grooves comprising the electromagnetic portion of the seal and a second set of grooves is cut into the interior of the conductive housing enclosing the first conductive cylindrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David Crouch, Vincent Giancola, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120072127
    Abstract: A system for detecting explosive materials. The system includes electromagnetic radiation at more than one frequency in the millimeter wave spectrum to stimulate the sample. The system also includes at least one electromagnetic radiation sensor to measure emissions at frequencies and characteristics unique to each high explosive (HE) sample. The system also includes a processor to collate and maintain a lookup table to identify specific HE types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Jack E. White, Kenneth W. Brown, Steven L. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8107894
    Abstract: A modular solid-state MMW power source based on a topology of the lens array amplifier provides both the flexibility to scale output power and effective thermal management. The modular power source includes a single submodule that uses one or more power dividers and one or more solid-state amplification stages to divide and amplify an RF input signal into R amplified RF signals. The submodule is mounted (suitably in the X-Y plane) on the surface of a heat sink, suitably coupled to a cold backplane, to remove heat. R 1:N low loss power dividers route the amplified RF signals to R*N radiating elements. Each of the 1:N power dividers suitably reside in the X-Z plane and are stacked in the Y direction to provide a planar output of the R*N radiating elements in the Y-Z plane. Placement of the amplifier chips on the single submodule decouples the number of amplifier chips, hence output power, from the number of radiating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Reid F. Lowell, Kenneth W. Brown, Darin M. Gritters, Andrew K. Brown, Michael J. Sotelo, William E. Dolash, Travis B. Feenstra