Patents by Inventor Michael P. Nesnidal
Michael P. Nesnidal 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: 8831884Abstract: In one aspect, methods of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud comprises sampling a depth of the cloud with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, measuring a scattering signal of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the cloud over a range of field of view angles to provide a measured scattering curve [ptotal(?)], removing a portion of the measured scattering curve, replacing the removed portion with an extrapolation of the remaining measured scattering curve to provide an estimated scattering curve, and determining a first estimate droplet size distribution [n(1)(D)] from the estimated scattering curve.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.Inventors: Mark D Ray, Kaare J Anderson, Michael P Nesnidal
-
Publication number: 20130103316Abstract: In one aspect, methods of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud comprises sampling a depth of the cloud with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, measuring a scattering signal of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the cloud over a range of field of view angles to provide a measured scattering curve [ptotal(?)], removing a portion of the measured scattering curve, replacing the removed portion with an extrapolation of the remaining measured scattering curve to provide an estimated scattering curve, and determining a first estimate droplet size distribution [n(1)(D)] from the estimated scattering curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Kaare J. Anderson, Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Publication number: 20130103317Abstract: In one aspect, methods of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud comprises sampling a depth of a cloud with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, measuring echo intensities of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the cloud with a detector, determining a measured optical extinction coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a measured backscatter coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a lidar ratio from the measured optical extinction coefficient and the measured backscatter coefficient, determining from the lidar ratio a value pair comprising a shape parameter (?) and median volume diameter (DMVD) of the water droplets, and determining a size distribution of the water droplets using the value pair (?, DMVD).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Gary E. Halama, Kaare J. Anderson, Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Patent number: 8144325Abstract: An airborne multiple field-of-view water droplet sensor includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion includes a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam. The detection portion includes a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter, a multiple field of view subsystem having at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter, and a single field-of-view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter. The single field-of-view subsystem may include a dual channel circular polarization detector for distinguishing between liquid water droplets and ice crystals based on information in the single field-of-view.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Patent number: 8014070Abstract: A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc,Inventor: Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Patent number: 7986408Abstract: A device for optically detecting and distinguishing airborne liquid water droplets and ice crystals includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion outputs a circularly polarized illuminating beam. The detection portion receives circularly polarized backscattered light from moisture in the cloud, in response to the illuminating beam. The circularly polarized backscattered light is passed through a circular polarizer to convert it into linearly polarized backscattered light, which is split into two components. Each of the two components is optionally subject to further linear polarization to filter out any leakage-type orthogonal polarization. The two components are then optically detected and the resulting detection signals are used to calculate one or more parameters reflective of the presence or absence of airborne ice crystals and/or water droplets.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Michael P. Nesnidal, David M. Socha
-
Publication number: 20110019188Abstract: An airborne multiple field-of-view water droplet sensor includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion includes a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam. The detection portion includes a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter, a multiple field of view subsystem having at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter, and a single field-of-view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter. The single field-of-view subsystem may include a dual channel circular polarization detector for distinguishing between liquid water droplets and ice crystals based on information in the single field-of-view.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Ray, Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Publication number: 20100296162Abstract: A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Publication number: 20100110431Abstract: A device for optically detecting and distinguishing airborne liquid water droplets and ice crystals includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion outputs a circularly polarized illuminating beam. The detection portion receives circularly polarized backscattered light from moisture in the cloud, in response to the illuminating beam. The circularly polarized backscattered light is passed through a circular polarizer to convert it into linearly polarized backscattered light, which is split into two components. Each of the two components is optionally subject to further linear polarization to filter out any leakage-type orthogonal polarization. The two components are then optically detected and the resulting detection signals are used to calculate one or more parameters reflective of the presence or absence of airborne ice crystals and/or water droplets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Goodrich CorporationInventors: Mark D. Ray, Michael P. Nesnidal, David M. Socha
-
Publication number: 20080247043Abstract: A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventor: Michael P. Nesnidal
-
Patent number: 6944373Abstract: An optical device (10) including a first semiconductor layer (12) on which is deposited a dielectric layer that is patterned and etched to form dielectric strips (14) as part of a diffraction grating layer. Another semiconductor layer (16) is grown on the first semiconductor layer (12) between the dielectric strips (14), resulting in alternating dielectric sections (14) and semiconductor sections. In an alternate embodiment, a dielectric layer is deposited on a first semiconductor layer (64), and is patterned and etched to define dielectric strips (66). The semiconductor layer (64) is etched to form openings (68) between the dielectric strips (66). Another semiconductor material (70) is grown within the openings (68) and then another semiconductor layer (72) is grown over the entire surface after removing the dielectric strips (66). Either embodiment may be modified to provide diffraction grating with air channels (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, David V. Forbes
-
Patent number: 6893891Abstract: An optical device including a first semiconductor layer on which is deposited a dielectric layer that is patterned and etched to form dielectric strips that are part of a diffraction grating layer. A second semiconductor layer is grown on the first semiconductor layer between the dielectric strips to provide alternating dielectric sections and semiconductor sections. Via channels can be patterned and etched through the second semiconductor layer so that dielectric strips can be removed to form dielectric air channels.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, David V. Forbes
-
Patent number: 6845116Abstract: As edge-emitting semiconductor laser incorporating a narrow waveguide design is disclosed. The narrow waveguide expands the lateral mode size, creates a large modal spot size, and insures higher-order modes are beyond cutoff. Separate current confinement allows the current injection region to match the mode size. The resulting device exhibits single-mode operation with a large spot-size to high output powers.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Luke J. Mawst, Nelson Tansu, Michael P. Nesnidal, Steven Meassick, Eric W. Stiers, Darren M. Hansen, Troy J. Goodnough
-
Publication number: 20040081214Abstract: An edge-emitting semiconductor laser incorporating a narrow waveguide design is disclosed. The narrow waveguide expands the lateral mode size, creates a large modal spot size, and insures higher-order modes are beyond cutoff. Separate current confinement allows the current injection region to match the mode size. The resulting device exhibits single-mode operation with a large spot-size to high output powers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Luke J. Mawst, Nelson Tansu, Michael P. Nesnidal, Steven Meassick, Eric W. Stiers, Darren M. Hansen, Troy J. Goodnough
-
Publication number: 20040082152Abstract: An optical device including a first semiconductor layer on which is deposited a dielectric layer that is patterned and etched to form dielectric strips that are part of a diffraction grating layer. A second semiconductor layer is grown on the first semiconductor layer between the dielectric strips to provide alternating dielectric sections and semiconductor sections. Via channels can be patterned and etched through the second semiconductor layer so that dielectric strips can be removed to form dielectric air channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, David V. Forbes
-
Publication number: 20040022489Abstract: An optical device (10) including a first semiconductor layer (12) on which is deposited a dielectric layer that is patterned and etched to form dielectric strips (14) as part of a diffraction grating layer. Another semiconductor layer (16) is grown on the first semiconductor layer (12) between the dielectric strips (14), resulting in alternating dielectric sections (14) and semiconductor sections. In an alternate embodiment, a dielectric layer is deposited on a first semiconductor layer (64), and is patterned and etched to define dielectric strips (66). The semiconductor layer (64) is etched to form openings (68) between the dielectric strips (66). Another semiconductor material (70) is grown within the openings (68) and then another semiconductor layer (72) is grown over the entire surface after removing the dielectric strips (66). Either embodiment may be modified to provide diffraction grating with air channels (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, David V. Forbes
-
Patent number: 6649439Abstract: An optical device (10) including a first semiconductor layer (12) on which is deposited a dielectric layer that is patterned and etched to form dielectric strips (14) as part of a diffraction grating layer. Another semiconductor layer (16) is grown on the first semiconductor layer (12) between the dielectric strips (14) to provide alternating dielectric sections (14) and semiconductor sections. In an alternate embodiment, a dielectric layer is deposited on a first semiconductor layer (64), and is patterned and etched to define dielectric strips (66). The semiconductor layer (64) etched to form openings (68) between the dielectric strips (66). A semiconductor material (70) is grown within the openings (68) and then another semiconductor layer (72) is grown over the entire surface after removing the dielectric strips. Either embodiment may be modified to provide a diffraction grating with air channels (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, David V. Forbes
-
Patent number: 6364541Abstract: An optical receiver may include a photodector defined on a multilayer semiconductor structure. A first electrode may be formed by at least two substantially concentric conductive rings electrically coupled to one another and to a portion of a first layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure. A second electrode may be coupled to a second layer of the multilayer semiconductor structure and configured to transfer current generated by the photodetector in response to optical emissions. A method of fabricating such an optical receiver is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: New Focus, Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Nesnidal, Robert A. Marsland, Robert S. Williamson, III
-
Patent number: 6366598Abstract: A waveguide (10) is provided having a two-dimensional optical wavelength Bragg grating (20) embedded within a semiconductor laser medium (16). More particularly, the waveguide (10) includes an active region (16) sandwiched between n-doped and p-doped cladding layers (14, 22). The two-dimensional Bragg grating (20) is formed in the active region (16). Upper and lower electrodes (24, 26) are defined on opposite sides of the cladding layers (14, 22) to complete the waveguide structure (10). The two-dimensional grating (20) provides simultaneous frequency selective feedback for mode control in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Doyle T. Nichols, Srinath Kalluri, Michael G. Wickham, Timothy A. Vang, Michael P. Nesnidal, Robert W. Lodenkamper