Patents by Inventor Steven Vincent Stearns

Steven Vincent Stearns 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: 8269971
    Abstract: A remote sensing system includes a transmitter for generating multiple beams of light; a combiner for combining the multiple beams of light and directing the combined multiple beams toward a target of multiple gases; and a receiver for receiving the combined multiple beams of light from the target. The first and second transmitted beams of light include, respectively, first and second sets of multiple distinct wavelengths that are simultaneously transmitted toward the target. The receiver receives the multiple distinct wavelengths, and simultaneously detects an intensity of each received wavelength. The first set of multiple distinct wavelengths is selected based on absorption characteristics of a first species of gas, and the second set of multiple distinct wavelengths is selected based on absorption characteristics of a second species of gas. The transmitter includes first and second mode-locked based lasers for generating, respectively, the first and second sets of distinct multiple wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Waverly Dickson Marsh, Steven Vincent Stearns
  • Patent number: 8121798
    Abstract: A system for obtaining emission flux of a gas plume, emanating from a source, includes an airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system for determining multiple concentration path length (CPL) values along a flight path; and an airborne wind measuring system (WMS) for determining a wind vector at the aircraft altitude. Also included is a processor for receiving the multiple CPL values determined by the DIAL system and the wind vector determined by the WMS. The processor uses the CPL values to compute either (a) an area-integrated concentration (AIC) value or (b) an average concentration value over a cross-plume extent, defined along the length dimension of the flight path. The processor also scales the wind vector to the near ground altitude level of the gas plume to obtain a scaled wind vector. The emission flux is obtained by multiplying either the AIC value or the average concentration value with a component of the scaled wind vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lawrence Lippert, Steven Vincent Stearns, Daniel Everett Brake, Caren M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8010300
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining emission rate of a gas from a source. The system includes a selector for designating an in-plume area extending across a plume of gas. The in-plume area includes a length dimension greater than a width dimension. The system also includes a processor for determining an area-integrated concentration value for the in-plume area. The system further includes a wind vector received by the processor. The processor determines the emission rate of the gas based on the area-integrated concentration value and a vector component of the wind vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Vincent Stearns, Joseph Lawrence Lippert
  • Publication number: 20100131207
    Abstract: A system for obtaining emission flux of a gas plume, emanating from a source, includes an airborne differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system for determining multiple concentration path length (CPL) values along a flight path; and an airborne wind measuring system (WMS) for determining a wind vector at the aircraft altitude. Also included is a processor for receiving the multiple CPL values determined by the DIAL system and the wind vector determined by the WMS. The processor uses the CPL values to compute either (a) an area-integrated concentration (AIC) value or (b) an average concentration value over a cross-plume extent, defined along the length dimension of the flight path. The processor also scales the wind vector to the near ground altitude level of the gas plume to obtain a scaled wind vector. The emission flux is obtained by multiplying either the AIC value or the average concentration value with a component of the scaled wind vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: JOSEPH LAWRENCE LIPPERT, Steven Vincent Stearns, Daniel Everett Brake, Caren M. Fisher