Patents by Inventor Steven M. Kim

Steven M. Kim 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).

  • Publication number: 20240264475
    Abstract: One example includes an optical isolator system. An optical isolator element transmits a first optical beam provided at a first port to be output from a second port and blocks a second optical beam provided at the second port from being output from the first port. The optical beams each include a first component and a second component that are orthogonally linearly polarized. The optical isolator element can provide optical isolation based on transverse shifting the first and second components of the optical beams relative to each other to provide propagation of the first optical beam from the first port to the second port and to prevent propagation of the second optical beam from the second port to the first port. At least one phase adjuster adjusts a relative phase of the first and second components of the first optical beam to align the components of the first optical beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: BIANCA CRUZ, DANIEL A. TAZARTES, GREGORY A. ZIMMERMAN, JONATHAN M. WHEELER, STEVEN M. KIM
  • Patent number: 11079230
    Abstract: One example includes a FOG assembly including a spool that includes a flattened portion corresponding to a flange comprising an axial center corresponding to a sensitive axis about which an associated FOG system is configured to measure rotation. The FOG assembly also includes a magnetic shield arranged as a capped concentric cover about the sensitive axis and coupled to the spool and the flange to create a toroidal cavity between the magnetic shield and the flange. A fiber coil is disposed within the toroidal cavity and coupled to the flange. The fiber coil includes an optical fiber which is counter-wound in first and second orientations. The fiber coil has an axial dimension along the sensitive axis that is less than or equal to approximately 160% of a radial width corresponding to a difference between an outer radius and an inner radius of the fiber coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Kim, Gregory A. Zimmerman, Daniel A. Tazartes, Brent Robert Bateman
  • Patent number: 11047688
    Abstract: One example includes fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) assembly. The FOG assembly includes a spool comprising a flange. The FOG assembly also includes an optical fiber comprising an optical fiber coil portion that is counter-wound in a first orientation and a second orientation opposite the first orientation. The optical fiber portion can be coupled to the flange. The optical fiber further includes a loopback portion with respect to the first orientation that is secured to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Kim, Stephan P. Lovstedt, Gregory A. Zimmerman, Wesley A. Snow, Ragini Saxena, Ricardo A. Rosete
  • Patent number: 10989535
    Abstract: One example includes a fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) system that includes a fiber coil. The coil includes an optical fiber wound around a spool of a FOG. The optical fiber includes a first input and a second input. The system also includes an optical beam controller comprising an optical switch that provides a first optical beam to the first input and a second optical beam to the second input during a first switching state, and provides the first optical beam to the second input and the second optical beam to the first input during a second switching state. The system further includes a controller that mitigates bias error in determining rotation of the FOG based on comparing the first and second optical beams output from the FOG during the first and second switching states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven M. Kim, Gregory A. Zimmerman, Daniel A. Tazartes
  • Publication number: 20200355501
    Abstract: One example includes a FOG assembly including a spool that includes a flattened portion corresponding to a flange comprising an axial center corresponding to a sensitive axis about which an associated FOG system is configured to measure rotation. The FOG assembly also includes a magnetic shield arranged as a capped concentric cover about the sensitive axis and coupled to the spool and the flange to create a toroidal cavity between the magnetic shield and the flange. A fiber coil is disposed within the toroidal cavity and coupled to the flange. The fiber coil includes an optical fiber which is counter-wound in first and second orientations. The fiber coil has an axial dimension along the sensitive axis that is less than or equal to approximately 160% of a radial width corresponding to a difference between an outer radius and an inner radius of the fiber coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEVEN M. KIM, GREGORY A. ZIMMERMAN, DANIEL A. TAZARTES, BRENT ROBERT BATEMAN
  • Patent number: 10337867
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a symmetrical wavelength multiplexor (SWM) that includes a first port that receives a depolarized beam of light of a first center wavelength for a first wavelength range. A second port of the SWM receives a second center wavelength of light for a second wavelength range that is greater than the first wavelength range. A third port of the SWM provides a substantially symmetrical wavelength output to drive a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) in accordance with the second center wavelength. The depolarized beam of light of the first center wavelength travels from the first port to the second port of the SWM and light of the second center wavelength travels from the second port to the third port of the SWM. The SWM mitigates spectral asymmetries between orthogonal axes of the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bassam S. Dimashkie, Steven M. Kim, Manfred Schiruska
  • Publication number: 20190113343
    Abstract: One example includes fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) assembly. The FOG assembly includes a spool comprising a flange. The FOG assembly also includes an optical fiber comprising an optical fiber coil portion that is counter-wound in a first orientation and a second orientation opposite the first orientation. The optical fiber portion can be coupled to the flange. The optical fiber further includes a loopback portion with respect to the first orientation that is secured to the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEVEN M. KIM, STEPHAN P. LOVSTEDT, GREGORY A. ZIMMERMAN, WESLEY A. SNOW, RAGINI SAXENA, RICARDO A. ROSETE
  • Patent number: 7655571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing volatile residues from a substrate are provided. In one embodiment, a method for volatile residues from a substrate includes providing a processing system having a load lock chamber and at least one processing chamber coupled to a transfer chamber, treating a substrate in the processing chamber with a chemistry comprising halogen, and removing volatile residues from the treated substrate in the load lock chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Naoshi Kawaguchi, Kin Pong Lo, Brett Christian Hoogensen, Sandy M. Wen, Steven M. Kim