Patents by Inventor Larry L. Lai

Larry L. Lai 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: 9352820
    Abstract: An inflatable structure mount is used for mounting a device to an inflatable structure. An example is mounting of radar panels to an inflatable structure within an airship. The mount includes the device, and inserts coupled to the back side of the device, which mechanically couple to flexures mounted on the inflatable structure. Some of the flexures may have slotted holes, used in positioning the inserts on the inflatable structure at positions that will allow the flexures to mate with the inserts. A jig or tool may be used as part of the installation process, to locate the flexures at points where they will properly engage the inserts. The flexures may also each face a center point that is underneath the device to be mounted. The flexures may engage the inserts in ways that allow for quick installation and de-installation of devices, and may allow for visual inspection of proper installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert B. Williams, Kyle W. Maxhimer, Larry L. Lai, Thomas Brennan
  • Patent number: 8766875
    Abstract: An integrated stiffener and RF reflector (stiffener/reflector) (100) for a RF emitter which includes: a plurality of vertical ribs (102) constituting side walls of the stiffener/reflector; a plurality of horizontal ribs (104) formed in a width direction of the stiffener/reflector; a top cover (204) including metallization layer (308), the top cover being electrically coupled to a ground layer (312) of the RF emitter and configured in such a way to direct all of RF energy in an opposite direction to the top cover. Each of the vertical (102) and horizontal (104) ribs has a sandwich structure, which includes: a foam core layer (302) disposed on a layer of the RF emitter (314); a thin film layer (306) bonded to sides and top of the rib to form facesheets of the sandwich structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert Brett Williams, Kyle W. Maxhimer, Larry L. Lai, Thomas Brennan, Clifton Quan, Fangchou Yang
  • Publication number: 20130307754
    Abstract: An integrated stiffener and RF reflector (stiffener/reflector) (100) for a RF emitter which includes: a plurality of vertical ribs (102) constituting side walls of the stiffener/reflector; a plurality of horizontal ribs (104) formed in a width direction of the stiffener/reflector; a top cover (204) including metallization layer (308), the top cover being electrically coupled to a ground layer (312) of the RF emitter and configured in such a way to direct all of RF energy in an opposite direction to the top cover. Each of the vertical (102) and horizontal (104) ribs has a sandwich structure, which includes: a foam core layer (302) disposed on a layer of the RF emitter (314); a thin film layer (306) bonded to sides and top of the rib to form facesheets of the sandwich structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Brett Williams, Kyle W. Maxhimer, Larry L. Lai, Thomas Brennan, Clifton Quan, Fangchou Yang
  • Publication number: 20130299654
    Abstract: An inflatable structure mount is used for mounting a device to an inflatable structure. An example is mounting of radar panels to an inflatable structure within an airship. The mount includes the device, and inserts coupled to the back side of the device, which mechanically couple to flexures mounted on the inflatable structure. Some of the flexures may have slotted holes, used in positioning the inserts on the inflatable structure at positions that will allow the flexures to mate with the inserts. A jig or tool may be used as part of the installation process, to locate the flexures at points where they will properly engage the inserts. The flexures may also each face a center point that is underneath the device to be mounted. The flexures may engage the inserts in ways that allow for quick installation and de-installation of devices, and may allow for visual inspection of proper installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Robert B. Williams, Kyle W. Maxhimer, Larry L. Lai, Thomas Brennan
  • Patent number: 8482477
    Abstract: A transmission line structure for propagating electromagnetic energy includes a transmission line conductor trace, a first dielectric foam layer and a second dielectric foam layer. The conductor trace is sandwiched between the first foam layer and the second foam layer. A first ground plane layer and a second ground plane layer sandwich the first foam layer, the conductor pattern and the second foam layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Devon J. Price, Jose C. Melendez, Larry L. Lai
  • Patent number: 8274446
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lightweight antenna arrays and more particularly to an attachment mechanism for attaching a lightweight antenna array to a structure. In one embodiment, an antenna structure includes a platform having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; an antenna panel having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient, and having first and second opposite ends; and a support structure mounting the panel to the platform. The support structure includes a first spacer element with a first height at the first end of the panel, and a second spacer element with a second height less than the first height between the first and second ends of the panel; a first adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the platform; and a second adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the antenna panel. A yield strength of the adhesive layers is less than a yield strength of the spacer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kyle W. Maxhimer, David T. Winslow, Larry L. Lai, Derek Pruden
  • Publication number: 20110298687
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lightweight antenna arrays and more particularly to an attachment mechanism for attaching a lightweight antenna array to a structure. In one embodiment, an antenna structure includes a platform having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; an antenna panel having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient, and having first and second opposite ends; and a support structure mounting the panel to the platform. The support structure includes a first spacer element with a first height at the first end of the panel, and a second spacer element with a second height less than the first height between the first and second ends of the panel; a first adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the platform; and a second adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the antenna panel. A yield strength of the adhesive layers is less than a yield strength of the spacer elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle W. Maxhimer, David T. Winslow, Larry L. Lai, Derek Pruden
  • Publication number: 20110221649
    Abstract: A transmission line structure for propagating electromagnetic energy includes a transmission line conductor trace, a first dielectric foam layer and a second dielectric foam layer. The conductor trace is sandwiched between the first foam layer and the second foam layer. A first ground plane layer and a second ground plane layer sandwich the first foam layer, the conductor pattern and the second foam layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Devon J. Price, Jose C. Melendez, Larry L. Lai