Patents by Inventor Robert D. Washburn

Robert D. Washburn 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: 5438167
    Abstract: Ferrimagnetic structures formed of ferrimagnetic vias in a unitized multilayer microcircuit structure that is formed of a plurality of co-fired insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn, Hal D. Smith, Andrew Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5396397
    Abstract: Unitized multilayer circuit structures including basic substrate insulating layers and dielectric field control layers having dielectric constants different from the dielectric constant of the basic substrate insulating layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5384515
    Abstract: A shrouded pin electrode structure including an elongated pin that extends into the volume of a gas containment structure of an RF excited gas discharge light source and is physically isolated from the discharge gas contained in the volume of the gas containment structure by a shroud structure made for example of a gas impermeable dielectric coating or closed end tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: David A. Head, Robert D. Washburn, Robert F. McClanahan
  • Patent number: 5382879
    Abstract: A fluorescent lighting system that includes a gas containment vessel having an internal phosphor coating and containing an ionizable gas, field concentrator electrodes supported inside or outside the gas containment vessel, and an RF power source coupled directly or capacitively to the field concentrator electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: William J. Council, Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5354599
    Abstract: An array of dielectric vias formed in the insulating layers of a unitized multilayer circuit structure wherein the dielectric vias have a dielectric constant different from the dielectric constant of the insulating layers in which they are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5312674
    Abstract: A ferromagnetic material (18,20) in ink or tape form is sinterable using a same firing profile as and has approximately the same thermal shrinkage characteristics as low-temperature-cofired-ceramic (LTCC) tape, and is chemically non-reactive therewith. The ferromagnetic material (18,20) is applied to the surfaces of LTCC tape sheets (12,14,16) to form desired elements such as cores for inductors (22) and transformers and magnetic shields. Ferromagnetic vertical interconnects (vias) (54) can be formed by punching holes (56) through tape sheets (46) and filling them with ferromagnetic ink. The tape sheets (12,14,16) and ferromagnetic elements (18,20) are laminated together and cofired to form an integral structure (10). Ferromagnetic and non-magnetic components (114) can be fabricated separately and inserted into cavities (104a, 106a,108a) in tape sheets (104,106,108) prior to cofiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Carol Haertling, Andrew A. Shapiro, Charles A. Goodman, Ramona G. Pond, Robert D. Washburn, Robert F. McClanahan, Carlos H. Gonzalez, David M. Lusher
  • Patent number: 5220236
    Abstract: A fluorescent lighting structure having an inner glass envelope and an outer glass envelope surrounding the inner glass envelope, an ionizable gas contained within the volume between the inner and outer glass envelopes, an electrode structure disposed on the inside surface of the inner glass envelope, a phosphor coating disposed on the outside surface of the inner glass envelope, and an ultraviolet reflective coating on the inside surface of the outer glass envelope. Excitation of the electrode structure causes discharge of the ionizable gas that produces ultraviolet radiation, which in turn excites the phosphor coating to emit visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Washburn, Robert F. McClanahan, David A. Head
  • Patent number: 5184288
    Abstract: A power rectifying circuit (10) for converting an AC power signal to DC which includes a plurality of rectifiers (20) that receive power from a single AC power source (12). The AC power signal is power split amongst the plurality of rectifiers (20). Each power split signal is phase shifted by an incremental amount of phase shift and provided to on of the rectifiers (20). The rectified DC output of each rectifier is summed together and provided to a load (22) as DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Washburn, Robert S. Wedeen, Robert F. McClanahan, William J. Council, David M. Lusher
  • Patent number: 5162963
    Abstract: A power supply including a source of AC power, a filter including inductive elements, and rectifying circuitry. Where the AC source comprises a sinewave source, the filter includes inductive and capacitive elements; and where the AC source comprises a square wave source, the filter includes only inductive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Washburn, Jerry C. Sze, David M. Lusher, Carlos H. Gonzalez, Robert F. McClanahan
  • Patent number: 5121084
    Abstract: A balance circuit for an amplifier circuit having 2.sup.M amplifiers serially biased across a supply potential node and a common potential node, where M is an integer greater than 0, and having respective 2.sup.M -1 interstage bias nodes and voltages between the amplifiers which are driven by respective input drive signals provided by 2.sup.M -1 2-way power splitters. A voltage reference circuit provides as to each power splitter first and second reference potentials respectively associated therewith. A plurality of control circuits are associated with respective power splitters and interstage nodes. Each control circuit is responsive to the associated first and second reference potentials and the interstage bias node for controlling the signal levels of the first and second drive signals provided by the associated 2-way splitter as a function of the associated interstage bias potential relative to the first and second reference potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: James A. Anderson, deceased, Carlos H. Gonzalez, Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4999583
    Abstract: An amplifier drive control circuit having a power combiner for combining an RF input signal with a feedback signal to provide a composite RF signal, a power control circuit for providing a selectively attenuated replica of the composite RF signal to the input of the amplifier, and feedback circuitry connected between the output of the amplifier and the power combiner for providing a level controlled portion of the output of the amplifier as the feedback signal. The power control circuit selectively attenuates the replica of the composite RF signal when the power of the composite RF signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, while the feedback circuitry controls the level of the feedback signal as a function of the gain of the amplifier as determined by the level of the composite RF signal and the level of the amplifier output. The feedback circuitry includes a feedback phase control circuit for controlling the phase of the feedback signal relative to the input to the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Washburn, Robert F. McClanahan, Robert S. Wedeen
  • Patent number: 4980810
    Abstract: A DC to DC power supply including an RF driver circuit for providing an RF output drive signal having a frequency greater than about 50 MHz, power amplifier circuitry responsive to the RF output drive signal and a DC voltage supply for providing an amplified AC output, and an impedance transforming circuit such as a balun transformer for transforming the AC amplified output to an impedance transformed AC signal. The transformed AC signal is provided to a rectifying circuit which provides a DC output. A feedback regulation control circuit provides for regulation of the power supply output voltage. The DC to DC power supply is advantageously implemented with printed microstrip or stripline passive components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn, Carlos H. Gonzalez, James A. Anderson, deceased, by Roger K. Anderson, administrator, George Biner, David M. Lusher, William J. Council, Earl H. Martin
  • Patent number: 4841429
    Abstract: A rectifying power supply having circuitry for providing AC power, a plurality of capacitors responsive to the AC power for providing DC isolation and for providing capacitively coupled AC power, and a plurality of rectifying circuits responsive to the capacitively coupled AC power for providing respective DC outputs. The outputs of the rectifying circuits are coupled in series or in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert F. McClanahan, Robert D. Washburn, Carlos H. Gonzalez, Jerry C. Sze, David M. Lusher
  • Patent number: 4841428
    Abstract: A magnetic amplifier including a magnetic core having a primary leg, a secondary leg, and a control leg. A primary winding is wound about the primary leg of the magnetic core for generating a non-saturating magnetic AC flux in the magnetic core, and a secondary winding is wound about the secondary leg of the magnetic core. A control winding for conducting DC current is wound about the control leg of the magnetic core for controlling as a function of the DC current, without saturating the magnetic core, the reluctance of the control leg relative to the reluctance of the secondary leg. By controlling the relative reluctance, the amount of magnetic AC flux coupled to the secondary winding is controlled, thereby relative reluctance, the amount of magnetic AC flux econtrolling the output voltage provided by the secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Washburn, Robert F. McClanahan
  • Patent number: 4044281
    Abstract: A high voltage glow discharge power source providing a plurality of glow discharges by gas ignition within at least one elongated electrically insulating member having a central bore along the axis of elongation of the member. Electrodes are positioned along the outer surface along the length of the member to which current sources and sinks are connected in alternation. A DC power supply provides the energy for the current sources and sinks. End plates covering the bore are transparent to optical frequencies. Glow discharges occur within the bore so that when a laser generator beam is diverted into the bore through the end plates, the gas in the bore being ignited to provide the glow, discharges and effects a power gain in the laser signal at the other end of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Washburn
  • Patent number: 4025818
    Abstract: A high voltage glow discharge power source providing a plurality of glow discharges by gas ignition within an first elongated member, which member has a central bore along the axis of elongation of the member. A second member used in an E-gun application having a cavity with a soft vacuum in the cavity, and a third similar member parallel to the second member and a common interface boundary between the second and third members. Electrodes are positioned along the outer surface along the length of the first member to which current sources and sinks are connected in alternation. The second member has a common wire running its length with auxiliary wires connected to the common wire which are connected in turn to the sources and sinks. A DC power supply provides the energy for the current sources and sinks used with the first member. End plates covering the bore of the first member are transparent to optical frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Giguere, Robert D. Washburn, George Wakalopulos
  • Patent number: 3931528
    Abstract: A pulse generator adapted for providing electrical pulses to a reactive load circuit. First and second energy storage circuits are coupled to the reactive load circuit and to each other by means of switching devices such that energy initially stored within the first energy storage circuit is sequentially circulated to the reactive load, then to the second energy storage circuit and back to the first energy storage circuit. In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention which is especially adapted for high repetition rate applications, a plurality of the above described pulse producing circuits are coupled in parallel and are controlled to operate in multiphase operational cycles so that each section produces one output pulse during each operational cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Farnsworth, Robert D. Washburn