Patents by Inventor Mark W. Gaddis

Mark W. Gaddis 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: 5808226
    Abstract: A conventional grenade shell launcher contains a laser generator shell thin which directs a blinding flash of light at an adversary to temporarily induce blindness of the adversary carrying out unlawful or dangerous actions such as pointing a weapon at police officers or others. The laser generator shell can be rapidly removed from the launcher, and conventional tear gas grenades or the like can be fired by the grenade launcher at the adversary to induce his surrender. This mode of operation is enabled by detachably coupling a laser triggering transmitter to the launcher. The wide angle light beam directed at the adversary also eliminates the need to accurately aim the device to disable the adversary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael S. Allen, Andreas G. Keipert, John D. German, Jr., Mark W. Gaddis
  • Patent number: 5748657
    Abstract: A constant current laser driver circuit that will drive a laser diode in a constant current mode from a 6 to 12 volt battery supply. The laser driver consists of two main sections. The first section converts the 12 volt input to a 2 volt output using ultra-low resistance power mosfets and an inductor. The current sensing amplifier senses the current flowing through the laser and sends a feedback signal to the switching section, which causes it to adjust the output voltage to keep the laser driving current constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Mark W. Gaddis
  • Patent number: 5689958
    Abstract: A switching thermal regulator for efficiently and accurately regulating the temperature of an attached device, which includes a constant current supply, a thermistor, a signal processing amplifier, and a switching power supply. The thermistor, which is attached to the device to be regulated, senses the temperature of the device, and signals this temperature to the constant current supply, and signals this temperature to the signal processing amplifier which, in turn, signals this temperature to the switching power supply. Based on this voltage signal, the switching power supply adjusts the output voltage sent to a cooler, which allows the device to maintain a constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Mark W. Gaddis, Peter S. Durkin, Charles E. Moeller
  • Patent number: 5319190
    Abstract: A method of providing near simultaneous night vision and communication including directing a narrow voice modulated IR laser beam at a distant receiver/demodulator during communication periods, causing the IR laser beam to diverge substantially during scene viewing periods, other than the data communication periods, for illuminating a darkened scene which includes the laser beam receiver, and viewing the darkened scene with an IR viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael S. Allen, Andreas G. Keipert, Mark W. Gaddis