Patents by Inventor Larry B. Thompson

Larry B. Thompson 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).

  • Diaphragm deflection sensor for fused silica diaphragm module
    Patent number: 4600836
    Abstract: A high temperature pressure transducer and sensing apparatus to determine the deflection of the transducer diaphragm is disclosed. The pressure transducer utilizes a fused silica diaphragm (12) which is illuminated at selected locations by a coherent laser source (52) via optical fibers (38, 46). The light reflected by the diaphragm (12) forms interference fringe patterns which are focused by gradient index rod lenses (36) on the ends of optical fibers (40, 48) for transmission to a fringe counting circuit (54). By digital techniques, the fringe count is converted into a determination of diaphragm deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: John W. Berthold, III, Larry A. Jeffers, Larry B. Thompson