Patents by Inventor Richard C. Mayer

Richard C. Mayer 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: 7738798
    Abstract: A system and method for demodulating an optical differential-phase-shift-keyed (DPSK) input signal using a Fabray-Perot etalon filter. In one embodiment the system receives a transmitted wavefront from the etalon filter and uses a detector to generate an electrical waveform from the transmitted wavefront. A comparator is used to receive an output from the detector and to generate a signal in accordance with each phase shift (i.e., bit transition) in the optical DPSK input signal. A latching flip-flop receives an output from the comparator and generates a digital signal representative of the bit pattern of the DPSK input signal. The system and method does not require the precisely matched dual optical paths of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and therefore is substantially less susceptible to thermal effects that could influence the operation of a conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer in DPSK demodulation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Mayer, Chester L. Balestra
  • Publication number: 20080226300
    Abstract: A system and method for demodulating an optical differential-phase-shift-keyed (DPSK) input signal using a Fabray-Perot etalon filter. In one embodiment the system receives a transmitted wavefront from the etalon filter and uses a detector to generate an electrical waveform from the transmitted wavefront. A comparator is used to receive an output from the detector and to generate a signal in accordance with each phase shift (i.e., bit transition) in the optical DPSK input signal. A latching flip-flop receives an output from the comparator and generates a digital signal representative of the bit pattern of the DPSK input signal. The system and method does not require the precisely matched dual optical paths of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and therefore is substantially less susceptible to thermal effects that could influence the operation of a conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer in DPSK demodulation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Richard C. Mayer, Chester L. Balestra
  • Patent number: 5001717
    Abstract: There is provided by this invention a controller for cavity dumping a laser which maintains a consistent output pulse energy level. The constant output pulse energy level is due to the clipping of the circulating power within the laser's cavity upon its reaching a threshold level. In order to further insure that the output pulses are of equal energy even within a laser that is pulse interval modulated, the threshold level for the circulating power within the laser's cavity is adjusted according to a predetermined ratio of the number of times the circulating power is clipped to the number of times the circulating power is not clipped so that the predetermined ratio is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Mayer, John A. Haack, William E. Heafner, Steve E. Thielker
  • Patent number: D392407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, Rupert O. Yantz, Mark T. Dane, Richard C. Mayer