Patents by Inventor Richard A. Funk

Richard A. Funk 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: 11579292
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200256994
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Blackmore Sensors & Analytics, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10670720
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200124727
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10534084
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20190033453
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8466407
    Abstract: Asymmetric rotating stray light baffles are provided for conformal dome two-axis seekers having arch corrector optics mounted on the outer gimbal. A pair of side skirt baffles are mounted on opposite sides of the arch corrector optics on the outer gimbal extending forward beyond the transparent arch adjacent but not touching the inner surface of the dome and extending aft beyond the forward most receiver optic for all fields of regard (FOR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Chadwick B. Martin, David J. Knapp, Richard A. Funk
  • Publication number: 20120085895
    Abstract: Asymmetric rotating stray light baffles are provided for conformal dome two-axis seekers having arch corrector optics mounted on the outer gimbal. A pair of side skirt baffles are mounted on opposite sides of the arch corrector optics on the outer gimbal extending forward beyond the transparent arch adjacent but not touching the inner surface of the dome and extending aft beyond the forward most receiver optic for all fields of regard (FOR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Chadwick B. Martin, David J. Knapp, Richard A. Funk