Patents by Inventor Thomas Kirk Dougherty

Thomas Kirk Dougherty 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: 8338556
    Abstract: A patterned composite ferroelectric layer, having ferroelectric electronic properties, on a substrate. Individual layers are each made of metal acrylate compounds, a photoinitiator compound and an acrylate crosslinking compound. The individual layers are stacked on the substrate to form a composite layer. A photomask is formed on the composite layer. Unmasked areas of the composite layer are irradiated with ultraviolet light. A solvent removes non-irradiated areas of the composite layer from the substrate. The patterned composite layer is heated in an oxygen atmosphere to cause a chemical reaction among the metal acrylate compounds and oxygen, a patterned composite ferroelectric layer being formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas Kirk Dougherty
  • Patent number: 8007989
    Abstract: A method for forming a patterned ferroelectric layer, having ferroelectric electronic properties, on a substrate. A composite layer, made of ferroelectric layer producing metal acrylate compounds, a photoinitiator compound and an acrylate crosslinking compound is formed on the substrate. A photomask is formed on the composite layer. Unmasked areas of the composite layer are irradiated with ultraviolet light. A solvent removes non-irradiated areas of the composite layer from the substrate. The patterned composite layer is heated in an oxygen atmosphere to cause a chemical reaction among the ferroelectric layer producing metal acrylate compounds and oxygen, a patterned ferroelectric layer being formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas Kirk Dougherty
  • Patent number: 6101102
    Abstract: Frequency regulating apparatus comprising a high power, voltage variable dielectric varactor or capacitor (or ferroelectric voltage variable dielectric capacitor) for use as a control element in the regulation circuit that actively tunes a resonant network to modulate power delivered to a load. The voltage variable dielectric capacitor comprises a substrate having a bottom electrode 33 formed thereon. A dielectric material is disposed on the substrate is a crystallized ceramic material that preferably comprises a barium, strontium, and titanium mixture. A top electrode is disposed on top of the crystallized ceramic material. Methods of fabricating the voltage variable dielectric varactor (capacitor) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael Brand, Thomas Kirk Dougherty, John J. Drab, Brian M. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5771567
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a porous ceramic composite having voltage-variable dielectric properties. The composite is made as follows. A polycrystalline ferroelectric powder, which is a ferroelectric perovskite such as barium strontium titanate, for example, is provided. The powder, a binder and a filler are then mixed in water to form a slurry. The powder-binder-filler slurry is then dried. The dried powder-binder-filler slurry is granulated. The granulated powder-binder-filler is pressed into a die. The binder and filler are then burned out to form a fragile porous ash-like structure. The porous structure is then sintered to form porous ceramic parts. The porous ceramic parts are then machined tiles. The machined porous tiles may then be tested for microwave properties. Fabrication methods for producing porous ferroelectric ceramic-polymer composite tiles or subaperture blanks and continuous transverse stub electronically scanned antenna plates or subapertures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brian M. Pierce, Norman H. Harris, Thomas Kirk Dougherty, William W. Chen, Florentino V. Lee