Patents by Inventor Patrick J. Serna

Patrick J. Serna 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: 5604431
    Abstract: The Integrated Grid Particle Impact Detector (IGMID) uses an integrated semiconductor grid system to detect hypervelocity article impacts on space vehicles and to indirectly determine article diameter of impacting particles. The detector consists of multiple sets of parallel aluminum electrical paths. The first set of parallel aluminum electrical paths is located on the top surface of the detector. The second and subsequent sets are located some distance below the top surface of the detector with the paths being perpendicular and/or parallel to the first set of paths. When a particle traveling at hypervelocity impacts the detector one or more detector paths will be vaporized, resulting in an electrically open path. This in turn will result in the output of the n-type and p-type CMOS circuits to change state. Using standard CMOS VLSI design techniques, specific electrically open grid paths can be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Patrick J. Serna