Patents by Inventor Nicholas D. Trail
Nicholas D. Trail 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).
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Patent number: 9690071Abstract: A method for configuring an alignment of a plurality of optical segments in a sparse aperture configuration of an optical device includes providing at least one beam of light from at least one light source located on the sparse aperture optical device, directing the at least one beam of light toward at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, detecting a reflection or transmission of the at least one beam of light off of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, determining a characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, and based on the characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, determining an alignment of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Nicholas D. Trail, David J. Markason
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Patent number: 9632166Abstract: A dual-mode active and passive gimbaled optical system including a mechanism for coupling an optical signal from an off-gimbal active-mode source into the on-gimbal passive-mode optical path. One example of the system includes a passive off-gimbal detector assembly configured to image emissive electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene, and a receiver-path optical assembly, including on-gimbal objective optics, that directs the electromagnetic radiation to the off-gimbal detector assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Nicholas D. Trail, Jim R. Hicks, Daniel W. Brunton
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Publication number: 20170082721Abstract: A dual-mode active and passive gimbaled optical system including a mechanism for coupling an optical signal from an off-gimbal active-mode source into the on-gimbal passive-mode optical path. One example of the system includes a passive off-gimbal detector assembly configured to image emissive electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene, and a receiver-path optical assembly, including on-gimbal objective optics, that directs the electromagnetic radiation to the off-gimbal detector assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Nicholas D. Trail, Jim R. Hicks, Daniel W. Brunton
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Patent number: 9574749Abstract: A system includes one or more lasers, a collimator, and a controller. The one or more lasers are configured to generate laser illumination. The collimator is configured to adjust at least one of a degree of collimation, a divergence, and an intensity of the laser illumination and to direct the laser illumination towards one or more targets. The controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator in order to adjust the laser illumination directed at the one or more targets, and the controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator differently in different operating modes. Example operating modes could include a spotlight mode, a single-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a multi-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a communication mode, and an infrared-based operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Nicholas D. Trail, Michael J. Aden, Gregory P. Hanauska, James P. Mills
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Patent number: 9482521Abstract: According to one aspect, a sparse optical system is provided. The sparse optical system includes optical segments, an optical source module to generate beams of light, a collimating module to direct the beams of light towards two adjacent optical segments, a detector to receive a reflection of the beams of light from the optical segments, and a processor. The processor instructs the optical source module to generate a first beam of light, determines a first measurement of an alignment of the two adjacent segments based on the reflection of the first beam, adjusts a position of an optical segment based on the first measurement, instructs the optical source module to generate a second beam of light, and determines a second measurement of the alignment of the two segments based on the reflection of the second beam.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Dylan William Rohyans Martin, Rigel Quinn Woida-O'Brien, Nicholas D. Trail
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Publication number: 20160231106Abstract: According to one aspect, a sparse optical system is provided. The sparse optical system includes optical segments, an optical source module to generate beams of light, a collimating module to direct the beams of light towards two adjacent optical segments, a detector to receive a reflection of the beams of light from the optical segments, and a processor. The processor instructs the optical source module to generate a first beam of light, determines a first measurement of an alignment of the two adjacent segments based on the reflection of the first beam, adjusts a position of an optical segment based on the first measurement, instructs the optical source module to generate a second beam of light, and determines a second measurement of the alignment of the two segments based on the reflection of the second beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Dylan William Rohyans Martin, Rigel Quinn Woida-O'Brien, Nicholas D. Trail
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Publication number: 20160216075Abstract: A gun-launched ballistically-stable spinning laser-guided munition is backward compatible with existing guns with rifled barrels as-deployed for unguided munitions of the same caliber, and will follow the same ballistic trajectory. This allows the laser-guided munitions to be used with the existing base of weapons systems and logistics.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventor: Nicholas D. Trail
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Publication number: 20160097914Abstract: A method for configuring an alignment of a plurality of optical segments in a sparse aperture configuration of an optical device includes providing at least one beam of light from at least one light source located on the sparse aperture optical device, directing the at least one beam of light toward at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, detecting a reflection or transmission of the at least one beam of light off of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, determining a characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, and based on the characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, determining an alignment of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Nicholas D. Trail, David J. Markason
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Patent number: 9287615Abstract: A multimode radiation source is disclosed. One embodiment includes a waveguide radiator and an orthomode transducer coupled to the waveguide radiator to provide a first signal to the waveguide radiator. The waveguide radiator is configured to receive the first signal and to radiate the first signal at a first location as a first spherical wave signal with a first phase center. The multimode source also includes transmission medium coupled to the waveguide radiator and configured to radiate a second signal and a third signal from the first location as a second spherical wave and a third spherical wave with substantially the first phase center.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: David C. Cook, Patrick L. McCarthy, John Okerson Crawford, David A. Faulkner, Dylan William Rohyans Martin, Nicholas D. Trail
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Patent number: 9213190Abstract: A method for configuring an alignment of a plurality of optical segments in a sparse aperture configuration of an optical device includes providing at least one beam of light from at least one light source located on the sparse aperture optical device, directing the at least one beam of light toward at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, detecting a reflection or transmission of the at least one beam of light off of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, determining a characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, and based on the characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, determining an alignment of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Nicholas D. Trail, David J. Markason
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Publication number: 20150184835Abstract: A system includes one or more lasers, a collimator, and a controller. The one or more lasers are configured to generate laser illumination. The collimator is configured to adjust at least one of a degree of collimation, a divergence, and an intensity of the laser illumination and to direct the laser illumination towards one or more targets. The controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator in order to adjust the laser illumination directed at the one or more targets, and the controller is configured to control the one or more lasers and the collimator differently in different operating modes. Example operating modes could include a spotlight mode, a single-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a multi-color dazzler or pulsating mode, a communication mode, and an infrared-based operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Nicholas D. Trail, Michael J. Aden, Gregory P. Hanauska, James P. Mills
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Publication number: 20140266934Abstract: A multimode radiation source is disclosed. One embodiment includes a waveguide radiator and an orthomode transducer coupled to the waveguide radiator to provide a first signal to the waveguide radiator. The waveguide radiator is configured to receive the first signal and to radiate the first signal at a first location as a first spherical wave signal with a first phase center. The multimode source also includes transmission medium coupled to the waveguide radiator and configured to radiate a second signal and a third signal from the first location as a second spherical wave and a third spherical wave with substantially the first phase center.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: David C. Cook, Patrick L. McCarthy, John Okerson Crawford, David A. Faulkner, Dylan William Rohyans Martin, Nicholas D. Trail
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Publication number: 20140218749Abstract: A method for configuring an alignment of a plurality of optical segments in a sparse aperture configuration of an optical device includes providing at least one beam of light from at least one light source located on the sparse aperture optical device, directing the at least one beam of light toward at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, detecting a reflection or transmission of the at least one beam of light off of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments, determining a characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, and based on the characteristic of the reflected or transmitted light, determining an alignment of the at least one segment of the plurality of optical segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Nicholas D. Trail, David J. Markason
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Patent number: 8421003Abstract: An optical transceiver is provided with a light pipe that intercepts, offsets and redirects a portion of the collimated transmit beam to create a virtual object in the receiver field-of-view to perform the BIT. The light pipe comprises an input face and first reflective surface in the transmitter FOV to intercept a portion of the beam along a first axis and re-direct the beam, a second reflective surface and output face in the receiver FOV that re-directs the portion of the beam along a second axis towards the receiver to create the virtual object in the receiver FOV and an optical channel that guides the redirected portion of the beam from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface to offset the second axis from the first axis. The same detector used during normal operation of the transceiver is used to perform the BIT, which may include a simple “on/off” test or a radiometry test.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Eric C. Fest, James P. Mills, Nicholas D. Trail, Jim R. Hicks
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Publication number: 20110268453Abstract: An optical transceiver is provided with a light pipe that intercepts, offsets and redirects a portion of the collimated transmit beam to create a virtual object in the receiver field-of-view to perform the BIT. The light pipe comprises an input face and first reflective surface in the transmitter FOV to intercept a portion of the beam along a first axis and re-direct the beam, a second reflective surface and output face in the receiver FOV that re-directs the portion of the beam along a second axis towards the receiver to create the virtual object in the receiver FOV and an optical channel that guides the redirected portion of the beam from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface to offset the second axis from the first axis. The same detector used during normal operation of the transceiver is used to perform the BIT, which may include a simple “on/off” test or a radiometry test.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Eric C. Fest, James P. Mills, Nicholas D. Trail, Jim R. Hicks
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Publication number: 20100260454Abstract: A missile defense system (20) for aircraft includes a laser (12) for generating infrared light, a turret (22) that can direct the light toward a missile to blind its infrared sensors, and an optical fiber (14) for delivering the light to the turret (22). The system (20) includes a coupling device (10) for directing the light from the laser (12) into the optical fiber (14). The coupling device (10) includes a light-guiding assembly (24) with one or more lenses or other optical devices to direct the light into the optical fiber (14). The coupling device (10) also isolates the input end of the optical fiber (14) from the environment with an optically-transparent window (26) and provides a way to use a different light-guiding assembly (24) with different lasers (12). The window (26) isolates the end of the fiber (14) from any contaminants in the environment to keep the optical fiber (14) relatively clean, and thereby provide a suitable surface for the light to enter the fiber (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: James P. Mills, Anthony Vinson Damommio, Michael P. Schaub, Eero H. Ala, Nicholas D. Trail, Gregory P. Hanauska, Clifton J. Charlow