Patents by Inventor Stephen R. Smith

Stephen R. Smith 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: 7124676
    Abstract: In systems embodying the invention, a battery powered collimated light source is located at the muzzle end of a cannon and is beamed back over the length ā€œLā€ of the cannon gun tube to the collecting aperture of an optical transceiver located near the breech end (or trunnion) of the cannon. The turn-on and turn-off of the collimated light source is under the control of the gunner of the tank or the tank's fire control computer system to ensure that the battery power/energy is used only when deemed necessary by the user so that battery power is conserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Princeton Scientific Instruments
    Inventors: John L. Lowrance, Vincent J. Mastrocola, George F. Renda, Stephen R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5663791
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for optically testing products such as condoms, gloves or any number of similar objects without contact and non-destructively. In testing for holes, a light source having a wavelength at which the product to be tested is relatively opaque is used to illuminate either the inner or outer wall of the product and a photo sensor sensitive to the particular wavelength is located to sense the amount of light passing through the wall of the product. In testing for embedded particles, a light source of visible light is used to illuminate the product to be tested and a photosensor senses any variation in the amount of light passing through the walls of the product.In the testing of products, such as condoms, for the presence of holes, the condom is mounted on a transparent mandrel or distended by inflating the condom with a jet of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Princeton Scientific Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Smith, John L. Lowrance
  • Patent number: 5513000
    Abstract: An autocollimator having particular utility in optical aiming systems for the cannons of battle tanks comprises a pair of light sources for directing two beams of light along different paths towards a light reflector mounted, for example, on the muzzle of a tank barrel. The two beams of light are thus reflected along different paths towards a position sensitive light detector suitable for providing an output electrical signal indicative of both the receipt thereon of one or both of the reflected light beams and the position of the light beams on the light detector. The light sources are alternately turned on and off in non-overlapping time periods to provide identification of which of the two beams is being detected by the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Princeton Scientific Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Smith, John L. Lowrance
  • Patent number: 5188216
    Abstract: A conveyor system for use in a continuous proofing and baking apparatus to convey ferromagnetic dough receptacles comprising an elongate track with a conveyor chain mounted in the track and a plurality of product supporting grid assemblies on the chain where each grid assembly includes a support frame mounted on the chain and a plurality of magnet units mounted on the support frame for selected movement between two positions to magnetically mount different types of the ferromagnetic dough receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventors: Stephen R. Smith, Geri G. Walker
  • Patent number: 5034882
    Abstract: A processor is described which is particularly useful in a cell which cell forms part of a network for sensing, communicating and controlling. The processor includes a plurality of sets of registers, each associated with a different processor. Each set of registers shares a single ALU. Data associated with each set of registers is simultaneously moved through a path which includes the registers, ALU, and memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce T. Eisenhard, Stephen R. Smith, Wendell B. Sander
  • Patent number: 4631029
    Abstract: A bakery oven, of the type employing a continuous spiral conveyor for carrying goods to be baked through an oven enclosure, employs an air distribution system to direct heated air from near the top wall of the oven enclosure to a plenum chamber, and from there through an air distribution network to at least certain ones of the tiers of the spiral conveyor. Preferably, heater elements are disposed beneath alternate ones of the tiers of the conveyor system within the oven enclosure, while the air distribution pipes are disposed beneath the remaining tiers. This arrangement serves to decrease fuel consumption for the burners, thereby increasing productivity, and further serves to decrease the stratification of heat layers within the oven enclosure, thereby providing uniform baking conditions throughout the oven enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Lanham Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lanham, Stephen R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4608961
    Abstract: A damper control is employed in the exhaust duct of a bakery oven to maintain constant air mass flow through the duct during a baking cycle to ensure even baking conditions. The damper control can include a pitot tube from which velocity pressure can be derived, and a pneumatic or electronic control loop to move an exhaust damper in the exhaust duct as necessary to keep the velocity pressure constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Lanham Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lanham, Jr., Stephen R. Smith
  • Patent number: 4544352
    Abstract: A bakery oven, of the type employing a continuous spiral conveyor for carrying the goods to be baked through the oven enclosure, employs an air distribution system to direct heated air from near the top wall of the oven enclosure to a plenum chamber, and from there through a pipe distribution network to at least certain ones of the tiers of the spiral conveyor. Preferably, heater elements are disposed beneath alternate ones of the tiers of the conveyor system within the oven enclosure, while the air distribution pipes are disposed parallel to and beneath the remaining tiers. This arrangement serves to decrease fuel consumption for the burners, thereby increasing productivity, and further serves to decrease the stratification of heat layers within the oven enclosure, thereby providing uniform baking conditions throughout the oven enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Lanham Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Lanham, Stephen R. Smith
  • Patent number: D377333
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Ping Liu, Haig Asdurian, Stephen R. Smith