Patents by Inventor Scott B. Singer
Scott B. Singer 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).
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Patent number: 10930806Abstract: A thermal management system (“TMS”) for controlling the temperature of a selective reflective panel is disclosed. The TMS includes a solar concentrator array, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The solar concentrator array is located within the selective reflective panel and has a plurality of reflectors arranged in reflector groups. The temperature sensor monitors a temperature of the selective reflective panel at a location of the temperature sensor. The controller monitors the local temperature of the selective reflective panel utilizing the temperature sensor and, in response, produces a control signal that is sent to the solar concentrator array. The control signal directs the solar concentrator array to position a selected number of reflectors on the concentrator array into an off-pointing position in response to monitoring the temperature sensor, where the selected number of reflectors is determined to control the local temperature of the selective reflective panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Marc Louis Breen, Scott B. Singer, John W. Behrens
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Patent number: 10790776Abstract: A system and method for generating electrical power from a solar power supply using at least one concentrator array having a plurality of photovoltaic cells and corresponding reflector groups to direct light to the photovoltaic. A concentration ratio indicative of a portion of the electrical power capacity to generate to power a spacecraft is determined. The concentration ratio is communicated to a control module on the concentrator array. The control module selects a number of reflectors from the total number of reflectors to orient into a photovoltaic energizing position, where the selected number of reflectors corresponds to a concentration ratio of the total number of reflectors.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: John W. Behrens, Scott B Singer, Marc L Breen
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Patent number: 10693028Abstract: A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Nasser H. Karam, Dimitri D. Krut, Scott B. Singer
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Patent number: 10436904Abstract: A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array is provided. The LADAR array includes a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, and a central processing device communicatively coupled to the plurality of LADAR modules, the central processing device configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals of each LADAR module.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Robert Douglas Moss, Scott B. Singer, Alexander C. Standridge, Ping Yuan, Rengarajan Sudharsanan
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Patent number: 10164140Abstract: Technologies for a micro-concentrator modular array. The micro-concentrator modular array may include two or more micro-concentrator solar modules. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be removable from the micro-concentrator modular array. Micro-concentrator solar modules may be added to a micro-concentrator modular array. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to other micro-concentrator solar modules. To facilitate an electrical connection, a conductive connector may be used to connect an electrical output of one micro-concentrator solar module with an electrical input of another micro-concentrator solar module.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Nasser H. Karam, Scott B. Singer, Dimitri Krut
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Patent number: 10100998Abstract: In one aspect, apparatus are described herein. In some implementations, an apparatus comprises a housing disposed in or on an exterior surface of a vehicle, a light emitting diode disposed in the housing, and an electrically conductive layer disposed over the light emitting diode and in an optical path of the light emitting diode. Further, the electrically conductive layer and the housing together form a Faraday cage surrounding the light emitting diode. Additionally, in some cases, the electrically conductive layer has an optical transparency of at least 70% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventor: Scott B. Singer
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Publication number: 20180158966Abstract: A thermal management system (“TMS”) for controlling the temperature of a selective reflective panel is disclosed. The TMS includes a solar concentrator array, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The solar concentrator array is located within the selective reflective panel and has a plurality of reflectors arranged in reflector groups. The temperature sensor monitors a temperature of the selective reflective panel at a location of the temperature sensor. The controller monitors the local temperature of the selective reflective panel utilizing the temperature sensor and, in response, produces a control signal that is sent to the solar concentrator array. The control signal directs the solar concentrator array to position a selected number of reflectors on the concentrator array into an off-pointing position in response to monitoring the temperature sensor, where the selected number of reflectors is determined to control the local temperature of the selective reflective panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: MARC LOUIS BREEN, SCOTT B. SINGER, JOHN W. BEHRENS
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Publication number: 20170222597Abstract: A system and method for generating electrical power from a solar power supply using at least one concentrator array having a plurality of photovoltaic cells and corresponding reflector groups to direct light to the photovoltaic. A concentration ratio indicative of a portion of the electrical power capacity to generate to power a spacecraft is determined. The concentration ratio is communicated to a control module on the concentrator array. The control module selects a number of reflectors from the total number of reflectors to orient into a photovoltaic energizing position, where the selected number of reflectors corresponds to a concentration ratio of the total number of reflectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: JOHN W. BEHRENS, SCOTT B. SINGER, MARC L. BREEN
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Publication number: 20170125621Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed, and includes a first sub-cell generating a first electrical current, a second sub-cell generating a second electrical current, and at least one power converter. The first sub-cell and the second sub-cell are electrically coupled to one another in series. The power converter is electrically coupled to both the first sub-cell and the second sub-cell. The power converter introduces a compensating current into at least one of the first sub-cell and the second sub-cell to balance the first electrical current and the second electrical current to be substantially equal to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Douglas R. Jungwirth, Scott B. Singer
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Publication number: 20160348867Abstract: In one aspect, apparatus are described herein. In some implementations, an apparatus comprises a housing disposed in or on an exterior surface of a vehicle, a light emitting diode disposed in the housing, and an electrically conductive layer disposed over the light emitting diode and in an optical path of the light emitting diode. Further, the electrically conductive layer and the housing together form a Faraday cage surrounding the light emitting diode. Additionally, in some cases, the electrically conductive layer has an optical transparency of at least 70% in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventor: Scott B. Singer
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Publication number: 20160306043Abstract: A laser distance and ranging (LADAR) array is provided. The LADAR array includes a plurality of LADAR modules, each LADAR module configured to scan a laser beam through a field of view (FOV) and output a signal indicative of a distance between each LADAR module and objects in the FOV that the laser beam is incident upon, and a central processing device communicatively coupled to the plurality of LADAR modules, the central processing device configured to generate an output based at least in part on the signals of each LADAR module.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Robert Douglas Moss, Scott B. Singer, Alexander C. Standridge, Ping Yuan, Rengarajan Sudharsanan
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Patent number: 9431261Abstract: Technologies for a process used to reduce the height of a raised profile of a device. One or more raised profiles on one or more layers of a device are removed using a combined chemical-mechanical polishing/etching process. In some implementations, a protective layer is applied to a top layer of a device grown on a substrate. A combined chemical-mechanical polishing/etching process may commence whereby one or more raised profiles of the protective layer are removed through a planarization process, exposing at least a portion of a raised profile of a layer below the protective layer. Material may be removed using an etchant to reduce the height of the raised profile.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Scott B. Singer, Joseph C. Boisvert, Daniel C. Law, Christopher M. Fetzer
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Publication number: 20160155644Abstract: Technologies for a process used to reduce the height of a raised profile of a device. One or more raised profiles on one or more layers of a device are removed using a combined chemical-mechanical polishing/etching process. In some implementations, a protective layer is applied to a top layer of a device grown on a substrate. A combined chemical-mechanical polishing/etching process may commence whereby one or more raised profiles of the protective layer are removed through a planarization process, exposing at least a portion of a raised profile of a layer below the protective layer. Material may be removed using an etchant to reduce the height of the raised profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Scott B. Singer, Joseph C. Boisvert, Daniel C. Law, Christopher M. Fetzer
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Publication number: 20150243819Abstract: A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Nasser H. Karam, Dimitri D. Krut, Scott B. Singer
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Publication number: 20150243822Abstract: Technologies for a micro-concentrator modular array. The micro-concentrator modular array may include two or more micro-concentrator solar modules. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be removable from the micro-concentrator modular array. Micro-concentrator solar modules may be added to a micro-concentrator modular array. One or more of the micro-concentrator solar modules may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to other micro-concentrator solar modules. To facilitate an electrical connection, a conductive connector may be used to connect an electrical output of one micro-concentrator solar module with an electrical input of another micro-concentrator solar module.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Nasser H. Karam, Scott B. Singer, Dimitri Krut