Patents by Inventor Roy A. Patience

Roy A. Patience 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).

  • Ambient-to-cold focus and alignment of cryogenic space sensors using uncooled auxillary detectors
    Patent number: 6833547
    Abstract: A system and method for focusing infrared detectors operable at cryogenic temperatures. The invention includes a sensor (10) for detecting electromagnetic energy comprising a first detector (14) operable over a first temperature range and a predetermined number of auxiliary detectors (12) operable over a second temperature range, wherein the auxiliary detectors (12) are adjacent to and in the same optical plane as the first detector (14). In the illustrative embodiment, the energy is infrared or visible light, the first temperature range is a range of cryogenic temperatures, and the second temperature range is a range of ambient temperatures. The first detector (14) is a focal plane array and the auxiliary detectors (12) are uncooled detector arrays. In the preferred embodiment, the focal plane array (14) and the uncooled detectors (12) are disposed on a common substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Roy A. Patience, Larry L. Cunningham, Ray D. Kroll, Lacy G. Cook
  • Ambient-to-cold focus and alignment of cryogenic space sensors using uncooled auxillary detectors
    Publication number: 20030230722
    Abstract: A system and method for focusing infrared detectors operable at cryogenic temperatures. The invention includes a sensor (10) for detecting electromagnetic energy comprising a first detector (14) operable over a first temperature range and a predetermined number of auxiliary detectors (12) operable over a second temperature range, wherein the auxiliary detectors (12) are adjacent to and in the same optical plane as the first detector (14). In the illustrative embodiment, the energy is infrared or visible light, the first temperature range is a range of cryogenic temperatures, and the second temperature range is a range of ambient temperatures. The first detector (14) is a focal plane array and the auxiliary detectors (12) are uncooled detector arrays. In the preferred embodiment, the focal plane array (14) and the uncooled detectors (12) are disposed on a common substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Roy A. Patience, Larry L. Cunningham, Ray D. Kroll, Lacy G. Cook