Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Warnagiris

Thomas J. Warnagiris 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: 7420195
    Abstract: Methods for remotely detecting a gun muzzle flash, using frequency-optimized detection methods. Small explosive charges are best detected at I/R and visible wavelengths, using optical detectors, whereas large explosive charges may also be detected with antennas. Details of the time course and spectral properties of the flash can be used to distinguish gun muzzle flashes from other radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen A. Cerwin, Thomas C. Untermeyer, David Bing Jue Chang, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Publication number: 20080121827
    Abstract: Methods for remotely detecting a gun muzzle flash, using frequency-optimized detection methods. Small explosive charges are best detected at I/R and visible wavelengths, using optical detectors, whereas large explosive charges may also be detected with antennas. Details of the time course and spectral properties of the flash can be used to distinguish gun muzzle flashes from other radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen A. Cerwin, Thomas C. Untermeyer, David Bing Jue Chang, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 7126557
    Abstract: A wideband multi-mode antenna having low VSWR operating characteristics. The antenna element is formed from a right-triangularly shaped piece of conductive material, which is rolled along the base dimension. Operational characteristics may be modified by spacing the antenna element from a ground plane using dielectric spacers, and the antenna element may be shorted to the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 6802262
    Abstract: A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having its dielectric made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile either carries contact wires or is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 6802261
    Abstract: A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Publication number: 20040089187
    Abstract: A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 6679180
    Abstract: A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile either carries contact wires or is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 6595102
    Abstract: A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a destructive object as it approaches a designated personnel target along an intersecting path. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive object and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from polyethylene material or other anti-ballistic materials, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force of the object and thereby protect the designated target from attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: David J. Stevens, Kirk A. Marchand, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Publication number: 20030094113
    Abstract: A neuromuscular disrupter gun and associated projectile. The projectile contains a capacitor, having either its dielectric or its plates made from liquid. The gun charges the projectile prior to discharge from the gun of the projectile. The projectile holds the charge in flight and discharges on impact. To provide appropriate contact points, the projectile either carries contact wires or is designed to open and emit the liquid upon impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Publication number: 20020152881
    Abstract: A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a destructive object as it approaches a designated personnel target along an intersecting path. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive object and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from polyethylene material or other anti-ballistic materials, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force of the object and thereby protect the designated target from attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: David J. Stevens, Kirk A. Marchand, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 6412391
    Abstract: A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a destructive object as it approaches a designated personnel target along an intersecting path. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive object and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from polyethylene material or other anti-ballistic materials, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force of the object and thereby protect the designated target from attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: David J. Stevens, Kirk A. Marchand, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 6339409
    Abstract: A wideband multi-mode antenna having low VSWR operating characteristics. The antenna is has a shape similar to a helical antenna, but is formed from a right-triangularly shaped piece of conductive material. The result is a rolled planar antenna having a height and diameter predetermined to provide optimum VSWR for a given frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 6298787
    Abstract: A non-lethal kinetic energy system comprises a propellant means in mechanical communication with the combination of a personnel target proximity detection means, an air bag carried in an uninflated condition, and a means to inflate the air bag responsive to a signal provided by the proximity detection means as the system approaches a personnel target. The system may include a delay element for selective adjustment of the kinetic energy delivered to the personnel target. The invention also provides a method of operating a non-lethal kinetic energy system comprising the steps of deploying the system toward a personnel target, sensing the proximity of the target, sending a signal to an air bag inflation means at a predetermined distance from the target, and inflating the air bag before impacting the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 6029558
    Abstract: A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a concussive shock wave or ballistic projectile as it approaches a designated personnel target. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive force and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force and thereby protect the designated target from attack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: David J. Stevens, Kirk A. Marchand, Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 5754143
    Abstract: An electrically-short meandered-slot antenna having a plurality of switch-selected resonant frequencies is described. Meander slot sections are substantially parallel, closely coupled, electrically significant, and substantially equal in length to the overall monopole length of the antenna. Switching among resonant frequencies is accomplished with shunt switches across the antenna slot, the switches preferably being powered inductively and selectively at individual frequencies outside the operating band of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, Thomas J. Minardo, Donald R. Bannon
  • Patent number: 5542118
    Abstract: A remote, unpowered passive transmitter has a tank circuit, a coil and capacitor. The capacitor is variable to vary the frequency of the tank. This is coupled to a receiver having a hybrid splitter. With four ports, two balanced, opposing ports connect to two lines terminating in line impedance. The tank couples into one of the two line so that a difference signal is formed and output. Line loading forms a signal indicating tank frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 5367310
    Abstract: A system for switching an antenna formed of multiple connected segments is set forth. The various segments are connected together by a switch means having, in the preferred embodiment, one or more FETs; a gate controlled terminal is connected with a bias circuit which is biased on or off by a bias circuit triggered to switch by light. The light is coupled through an optical fiber which directs light onto a portion of the bias circuit to cause operation. The bias circuit preferably includes a photo voltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 4903324
    Abstract: The communications system of the present invention defines a complete feedback path consisting of first and second transceivers and an appropriate signal path. Each transceiver comprises a detector and a signal source capable of generating a signal at one of two frequencies. The detector in each of the transceivers is a two state device tuned to respond only to a predetermined desired difference frequency. If the desired difference frequency signal is present, the detector provides and output signal in a first state; if the desired difference signal is not present, the detector provides an output signal which is in a second state. The signal source can be a voltage controlled oscillator, a pair of single frequency oscillators, a synthesizer, or any signal source capable of being electrically switched between two frequencies. Data can be exchanged between the transceiver pair only when the desired difference frequency is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Colin Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris
  • Patent number: 4697166
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently coupling a transceiver to an AC power line transmission system. The preferred embodiment of the coupling system comprises a line coupling network and first and second filter ports. The first filter port is connected to a resonant circuit having bandpass filtering characteristics adapted to the specific needs of the transmitter portion of the transceiver. The second filter port is isolated from the low impedance of the AC power line and is connected to a high quality factor filter having bandpass filtering characteristics adapted to the specific needs of the receiver portion of the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Colin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Warnagiris, William H. McGinnis
  • Patent number: RE40129
    Abstract: A wideband multi-mode antenna having low VSWR operating characteristics. The antenna is has a shape similar to a helical antenna, but is formed from a right-triangularly shaped piece of conductive material. The result is a rolled planar antenna having a height and diameter predetermined to provide optimum VSWR for a given frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Southwest Research Insitute
    Inventor: Thomas J. Warnagiris