Patents by Inventor Michael A. Monahan

Michael A. Monahan 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: 4315258
    Abstract: A visual display has an increased readout capability due to its operation the transflective mode. A source of ambient light and light for radiation through the display from the backside together assure the increased readout capability. Heretofore, ambient light would degrade or washout a display making it nearly impossible for monitoring personnel to decipher alphanumeric or pictoral displays due to the decreased contrast. A pair of linear polarizers sandwich a twisted nematic liquid crystal and have their polarization axes either parallel or mutually orthogonally disposed so that the crystal will present bright or dark areas in response to applied potentials. Because a partially transmitting mirror is interposed between the sandwiched liquid crystal and the radiating light source, the ambient light augments the radiated light to enhance the visual display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William H. McKnight, Larry B. Stotts, Michael A. Monahan
  • Patent number: 4153917
    Abstract: Light energy data is generated in sequential interlaced field raster format y a sensor driven in azimuth to detect a panoramic scene. The light energy data is sequentially recorded together with an azimuth rate signal which is a function of the rate that the sensor is driven in azimuth. Because the sensor has been driven in azimuth, however, there is a delay in the sequential detection between first and second interlaced fields of any selected frame of the panoramic scene; consequently, when it is desired to retrieve and playback a "stop-action" image comprised of a selected frame, compensation must be made for the delay. The recorded azimuth rate signal is used to develop a commensurate delay between the two sequential first and second interlaced fields of light energy data comprising the selected frame of light energy data which is desired to playback in "stop-action" form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul S. Catano, Michael A. Monahan, Keith Bromley
  • Patent number: 4009380
    Abstract: An electro-optical system for performing matrix-vector multiplication includes a mask having a plurality of elements of substantially equal resolution area disposed in a matrix of M rows and N columns, each element containing recorded discrete information as defined by its degree of opacity which is representative of a predetermined mathematical value in a known matrix. A light source is positioned to illuminate the mask and has its intensity modulated as a function of the sequential values in a N X 1, vector. A multiple photo-responsive array including M elements disposed in a column is positioned to receive the light energy transmitted by the illuminated mask and generates signals at each element commensurate with the instantaneous photo energy received at its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard P. Bocker, Keith Bromley, Michael A. Monahan, Larry B. Stotts
  • Patent number: 3937942
    Abstract: A multi-channel optical correlation system employs a light source to illuminate a mask having a plurality of linearly disposed channels, each of which has recorded information defined by variations in opacity along its linear length. The light source is modulated as a function of an unknown input signal. A multiple element charge coupled device having its elements arrayed in linearly disposed groups along axes parallel to the linearly disposed channels of the illuminated mask is positioned to receive the light energy transmitted by the illuminated mask for developing a charge within each such element commensurate with the photo energy received at its discrete position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Keith Bromley, Michael A. Monahan, Richard P. Bocker