Patents by Inventor Rickey D. Akins

Rickey D. Akins 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: 7557769
    Abstract: A radome, and corresponding method of making, comprising an electro-optic transparent substrate, a semiconductor coating on the substrate, and a frequency selective surface embedded in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Picard, Rickey D. Akins
  • Patent number: 7161552
    Abstract: A radome, and corresponding method of making, comprising an electro-optic transparent substrate, a semiconductor coating on the substrate, and a frequency selective surface embedded in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Picard, Rickey D. Akins
  • Patent number: 5528249
    Abstract: An anti-ice radome having a frequency selective surface and a plurality of resistive heating elements is disclosed. The frequency selective surface prevents the resistive heating elements from disturbing the electromagnetic waves generated by an antenna within the radome. Thus, ice formation on the radome can be prevented without sacrificing the transmission characteristics of the radome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventors: George Gafford, Paul H. Gebert, Walter S. Arceneaux, Rickey D. Akins
  • Patent number: 5472828
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a printed circuit board on a doubly contoured or hemispherical substrate such as a radome, a coherent light source is used to form a plurality of elements of a predetermined pattern on the surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a bottom layer and a metallized layer. At least a first element of the pattern is formed by ablating the element into a resist coating or ablating the element into the metallized layer with the coherent light source. The coherent light source preferably includes an excimer laser. The substrate is then displaced relative to the coherent light source until all the elements of the predetermined pattern are formed over the entire surface of the substrate. When the pattern is ablated into the resist material, an etching technique is used to remove portions of the metallized layer from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventors: Rickey D. Akins, John Walvoord
  • Patent number: 5400043
    Abstract: An absorptive/transmissive structure is disclosed which can be used to fabricate antenna radomes to thereby reduce the electromagnetic signature of the radome and antenna without disrupting the electromagnetic waves generated by the antenna. An artificial dielectric material is placed on a frequency selective surface to absorb the energy of electromagnetic waves at a particular frequency or range of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventors: Walter S. Arceneaux, Rickey D. Akins, Walter B. May
  • Patent number: 5344729
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a reusable conformal photomask for a doubly contoured hemispherical substrate such as a radome or a three-dimensional printed circuit board, a light blocking material is deposited on a shell or tool corresponding to the shape of the radome or printed circuit board. A pattern is then formed in the light blocking material, and portions of the light blocking material corresponding to the pattern are removed. The resulting pattern corresponds to the pattern to be formed on the three-dimensional printed circuit board or radome. A light transmissive layer is then deposited over the light blocking layer for support. The light blocking material and the light transmissive material comprise the reusable conformal photomask which is then removed from the shell. The reusable conformal photomask can be used to form an image of the desired pattern on the three-dimensional printed circuit board or radome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventors: Rickey D. Akins, John Walvoord, James E. Foreman