Patents by Inventor Lewis G. Minor

Lewis G. Minor 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).

  • Dual mode semi-active laser/laser radar seeker
    Patent number: 6262800
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for guiding a weapon to a target using an optical seeker having dual semi-active laser (SAL) and laser radar (LADAR) modes of operation. The dual mode seeker incorporates a laser light source, an optical package including a quadrant detector for operating in SAL mode and a LADAR receiver for operating in LADAR mode. The seeker further includes a high speed scanning mirror for switching between modes to guide the weapon to the target. The method for guiding a weapon to a target includes receiving radiation from the target and tracking the radiation to guide the weapon; monitoring the detected radiation such that if the radiation falls below a predetermined level, a laser system on-board the weapon continues guiding the weapon by generating a laser beam; reflecting the laser beam off the target so that the reflected laser radiation is received from the target to track the radiation and guide the weapon to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Lewis G. Minor
  • Improved laser radar transceiver
    Patent number: 5285461
    Abstract: A gimballed optical system within a seeker head includes a relatively low power laser coupled to a relatively higher power laser by way of a flexible fiber optic cable to reduce the mass that must be oscillated in a scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Loral Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Krasutsky, Lewis G. Minor
  • Guidance and targeting system
    Patent number: 5275354
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for recognizing physical objects, such as targets, through three dimensional image sensing. A three dimensional sensor, such as a solid-state LADAR sensor, is utilized to establish a three dimensional image of an object or target. The target will be identified or recognized in reference to a two dimensional digital representation of the object taken from a first eye point. A sensor field of view anticipated to include the object will be transformed such that sensed data is viewed from the perspective of the eye point from which the reference image was established. Selected surfaces or contours of the two dimensional image and the transformed image are then compared to identify the object or target in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Loral Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Lewis G. Minor, Robert T. Kitahara
  • Laser radar transceiver
    Patent number: 5224109
    Abstract: A gimballed optical system within a seeker head includes a relatively low power laser coupled to a relatively higher power laser by way of a flexible fiber optic cable to reduce the mass that must be oscillated in a scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: LTV Missiles and Electronics Group
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Krasutsky, Lewis G. Minor
  • Laser radar scanning system
    Patent number: 5200606
    Abstract: An apertured mirror permits an outgoing, transmitted laser beam to pass and reflects a return, reflected beam onto a detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: LTV Missiles and Electronics Group
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Krasutsky, Lewis G. Minor, Edward M. Flowers