Patents by Inventor Mark W. Knight

Mark W. Knight 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).

  • Multi-functional layer for stop etch in laser coating removal
    Patent number: 12036623
    Abstract: An aircraft skin coating assembly for an aircraft. The coating assembly includes a primer layer deposited on the aircraft skin, an optical stop-etch layer deposited on the primer layer that is reflective at a predetermined wavelength, a coating stack-up deposited on the optical etch-stop layer that provides performance features for the aircraft, and a sealant layer deposited on the stack-up. When a laser coating removal process employing a laser beam is used to remove the coating stack-up for replacement, the stop-etch layer reflects the laser beam to prevent it from penetrating and possibly damaging the aircraft skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark W. Knight, Patrick W. Shindo, Connor Limburg, Jesse Tice
  • MULTI-FUNCTIONAL LAYER FOR STOP ETCH IN LASER COATING REMOVAL
    Publication number: 20230113120
    Abstract: An aircraft skin coating assembly for an aircraft. The coating assembly includes a primer layer deposited on the aircraft skin, an optical stop-etch layer deposited on the primer layer that is reflective at a predetermined wavelength, a coating stack-up deposited on the optical etch-stop layer that provides performance features for the aircraft, and a sealant layer deposited on the stack-up. When a laser coating removal process employing a laser beam is used to remove the coating stack-up for replacement, the stop-etch layer reflects the laser beam to prevent it from penetrating and possibly damaging the aircraft skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mark W. Knight, Patrick W. Shindo, Connor Limburg, Jesse Tice