Patents by Inventor Robert L. Murrer, Jr.

Robert L. Murrer, Jr. 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: 7084405
    Abstract: A high-speed, high-resolution, broadband dynamic infrared scene generator based on semiconductor transducer conversion of visible spectrum scene images into infrared spectrum images. Wavelength conversion is accomplished in the semiconductor material through absorption of visible spectrum energy by valence electrons in a subsurface layer of the semiconductor material and photogeneration by valence band to conduction band electron transfer occurring within about one diffusion length of the semiconductor material surface. The semiconductor material used, for example Germanium or Silicon provides a band gap energy value that is smaller than the quantum energy level of the optical emission. Temperature of the semiconductor material may be maintained at a selected level above or below that of the infrared scene. Infrared images of higher frequency content than are achievable with conventional thermal heating infrared converters are accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Volodymyr K. Malyutenko, James R. Kircher, Robert L. Murrer, Jr., Donald R. Snyder, III, Oleg Y. Malyutenko, Vyacheslav V. Bogatyrenko