Patents by Inventor Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr.

Ronald Steven McNabb, 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: 11327102
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc Steven Weinberg, John J. Le Blanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, Jr., Daniel K. Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., William A. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20200386803
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc Steven Weinberg, John J. Le Blanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, JR., Daniel K. Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., William A. Lenk
  • Patent number: 10859620
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc S. Weinberg, John J. LeBlanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, Jr., Daniel Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., William A. Lenk
  • Patent number: 10564200
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments are generally directed to electric field detector systems and methods. In one example, an electric field detector system includes a proof-mass including a source of concentrated charge, a plurality of supports, each individual support of the plurality supports being coupled to the proof-mass, a plurality of sensors, each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors positioned to measure a resonant frequency of a corresponding support of the plurality of supports, and a controller coupled to each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to measure a characteristic of an electric field imparted on the proof-mass based on at least a first resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Marc S. Weinberg, John Shattler Fullford, Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180292470
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise magnetic field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, a magnetic field detector includes a proof mass, a magnetic dipole source coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The magnetic field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and positioned proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received magnetic field at the magnetic dipole source. The magnetic field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the magnetic field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc S. Weinberg, John J. LeBlanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, JR., Daniel Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., William A. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20180284175
    Abstract: Aspects are generally directed to a compact and low-noise electric field detector, methods of operation, and methods of production thereof. In one example, an electric field detector includes a proof mass, a source of concentrated charge coupled to the proof mass, and a substrate having a substrate offset space defined therein, the proof mass being suspended above the substrate offset space. The electric field detector further includes a sense electrode disposed on the substrate within the substrate offset space and proximate the proof mass, the sense electrode being configured to measure a change in capacitance relative to the proof mass from movement of the proof mass in response to a received electric field at the source of concentrated charge. The electric field detector includes a control circuit coupled to the sense electrode and configured to determine a characteristic of the electric field based on the measured change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Stephanie Lynne Golmon, Paul A. Ward, William D. Sawyer, Marc S. Weinberg, John J. LeBlanc, Louis Kratchman, James S. Pringle, JR., Daniel Freeman, Amy Duwel, Max Lindsay Turnquist, Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., William A. Lenk
  • Publication number: 20170097382
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments are generally directed to electric field detector systems and methods. In one example, an electric field detector system includes a proof-mass including a source of concentrated charge, a plurality of supports, each individual support of the plurality supports being coupled to the proof-mass, a plurality of sensors, each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors positioned to measure a resonant frequency of a corresponding support of the plurality of supports, and a controller coupled to each individual sensor of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to measure a characteristic of an electric field imparted on the proof-mass based on at least a first resonant frequency of the measured resonant frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: James A. Bickford, Marc S. Weinberg, John Shattler Fullford, Ronald Steven McNabb, JR.
  • Patent number: 9348040
    Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Publication number: 20150219775
    Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Patent number: 9031196
    Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Publication number: 20130003929
    Abstract: An imaging system exposes an object within a region to a beam of penetrating radiation. The beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the beam. An attenuation of the beam caused by passing the beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of the imaging system is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Publication number: 20110261929
    Abstract: An object within a region is exposed to a first beam of penetrating radiation. The first beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the first beam. An attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of a second of beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Patent number: 8023619
    Abstract: An object within a region is exposed to a first beam of penetrating radiation. The first beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the first beam. An attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of a second of beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, Jr., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Publication number: 20090279664
    Abstract: An object within a region is exposed to a first beam of penetrating radiation. The first beam of penetrating radiation is sensed on a side opposite the region from a source of the first beam. An attenuation of the first beam caused by passing the first beam through the object is determined, the attenuation is compared to a threshold attenuation. If the attenuation exceeds the threshold attenuation, a parameter of a second of beam of penetrating radiation is adjusted based on the determined attenuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., Nicholas Danvers Penrose Gillett
  • Publication number: 20090278050
    Abstract: A representation of an amount of energy incident on a radiation sensor formed from multiple sensing elements coupled together along a direction parallel to a direction of propagation of the incident radiation is received. The radiation sensor has an adjustable border positioned between any two of the multiple sensing elements. From the representation, an amount of energy incident on the radiation sensor is determined. A position of the border is selected based on the amount of energy incident on the radiation sensor. After selecting the position of the border, an absorption characteristic of a region imaged by the radiation sensor is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Steven McNabb, JR., Richard F. Eilbert