Patents by Inventor Michael Sean Watson

Michael Sean Watson 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: 8556501
    Abstract: A method for on-orbit calibration of the temperature sensors of a blackbody is disclosed. The method may include selecting a blackbody traveling in a micro-gravity environment and comprising a sensor, a container positioned proximate the sensor and containing a material, and a heat transfer device positioned proximate the at least one container. The heat transfer device may transition the material through a phase change. The temperature sensor may monitor the temperature of the material during the phase change. Additionally, the state of the material may be measured by displacement of the container to improve the accuracy of the plateau temperature measurement. A correction may be calculated to correct any disparity between the temperature reported by the temperature sensor during the phase change and the known plateau temperature, measured at a threshold state of the material, corresponding to that phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Utah State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Troy Shane Topham, Gail Bingham, Harri Latvakoski, Michael Sean Watson, Vern Alan Thurgood