Patents by Inventor M. Alfred Akerman

M. Alfred Akerman 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: 5539705
    Abstract: A wireless communication system undetectable by radio frequency methods for converting audio signals, including human voice, to electronic signals in the ultrasonic frequency range, transmitting the ultrasonic signal by way of acoustical pressure waves across a carrier medium, including gases, liquids, or solids, and reconverting the ultrasonic acoustical pressure waves back to the original audio signal. The ultrasonic speech translator and communication system (20) includes an ultrasonic transmitting device (100) and an ultrasonic receiving device (200). The ultrasonic transmitting device (100) accepts as input (115) an audio signal such as human voice input from a microphone (114) or tape deck. The ultrasonic transmitting device (100) frequency modulates an ultrasonic carrier signal with the audio signal producing a frequency modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, which is transmitted via acoustical pressure waves across a carrier medium such as gases, liquids or solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Alfred Akerman, Curtis W. Ayers, Howard D. Haynes
  • Patent number: 5313325
    Abstract: A light emitting article comprises a composite of carbon-bonded carbon fibers, prepared by: blending carbon fibers with a carbonizable organic powder to form a mixture; dispersing the mixture into an aqueous slurry; vacuum molding the aqueous slurry to form a green article; drying and curing the green article to form a cured article; and, carbonizing the cured article at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. C. to form a carbon-bonded carbon fiber light emitting composite article having a bulk density less than 1 g/cm.sup.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Lauf, Clyde Hamby, Jr., M. Alfred Akerman, Alvin W. Trivelpiece
  • Patent number: 5243464
    Abstract: A light absorbing article comprised of a composite of carbon-bonded carbon fibers, prepared by: blending carbon fibers with a carbonizable organic powder to form a mixture; dispersing the mixture into an aqueous slurry; vacuum molding the aqueous slurry to form a green article; drying and curing the green article to form a cured article; and, carbonizing the cured article at a temperature of at least about 1000.degree. C. to form a carbon-bonded carbon fiber light absorbing composite article having a bulk density less than 1 g/cm.sup.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Lauf, Clyde Hamby, Jr., M. Alfred Akerman, Roland D. Seals
  • Patent number: 4254332
    Abstract: A laser pulse detector is provided which is small and inexpensive and has the capability of detecting laser light of any wavelength with fast response (less than 5 nanoseconds rise time). The laser beam is focused onto the receiving end of a graphite rod coaxially mounted within a close-fitting conductive, open-end cylindrical housing so that ablation and electric field breakdown of the resulting plasma occurs due to a bias potential applied between the graphite rod and housing. The pulse produced by the breakdown is transmitted through a matched impedance coaxial cable to a recording device. The cable is connected with its central lead to the graphite rod and its outer conductor to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Douglas N. Mashburn, M. Alfred Akerman