Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Obert

Thomas L. Obert 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: 10962335
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a capsule configured to be launched or carried towards an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus also includes a directed energy device within or carried by the capsule. The directed energy device includes a first inductor configured to generate an inductive magnetic field that is able to inductively couple into one or more electronics of the UAV in order to disable or destabilize the UAV. The capsule can be configured to be launched towards the UAV and can include a loiter mechanism (such as a rotor, umbrella, or parachute) configured to maintain a position of the capsule or to slow a descent of the capsule after launch. The capsule can also be configured to be carried towards the UAV by a different UAV, and the apparatus can further include a tether coupling the capsule to the different UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Holihan, Michael C. Prescott, David D. Crouch, David R. Sar, Thomas L. Obert
  • Publication number: 20190120600
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a capsule configured to be launched or carried towards an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus also includes a directed energy device within or carried by the capsule. The directed energy device includes a first inductor configured to generate an inductive magnetic field that is able to inductively couple into one or more electronics of the UAV in order to disable or destabilize the UAV. The capsule can be configured to be launched towards the UAV and can include a loiter mechanism (such as a rotor, umbrella, or parachute) configured to maintain a position of the capsule or to slow a descent of the capsule after launch. The capsule can also be configured to be carried towards the UAV by a different UAV, and the apparatus can further include a tether coupling the capsule to the different UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Holihan, Michael C. Prescott, David D. Crouch, David R. Sar, Thomas L. Obert
  • Patent number: 9078371
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying an electrical signal includes: a conductive pathway having a conductive material. The conductive material has a first edge and a second edge and is configured to convey the electrical signal. The apparatus also includes a resistive material in contact with at least a portion of the conductive pathway, covering an edge of the conductive pathway, and extending beyond the edge. The resistive material has a conductivity less than the conductivity of the conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew K. Brown, Thomas L. Obert, Michael J. Sotelo, Darin M. Gritters, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140102774
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying an electrical signal includes: a conductive pathway having a conductive material. The conductive material has a first edge and a second edge and is configured to convey the electrical signal. The apparatus also includes a resistive material in contact with at least a portion of the conductive pathway, covering an edge of the conductive pathway, and extending beyond the edge. The resistive material has a conductivity less than the conductivity of the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew K. Brown, Thomas L. Obert, Michael J. Sotelo, Darin M. Gritters, Kenneth W. Brown
  • Patent number: 6982678
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a microwave source that produces a microwave feed beam, and a first pair of microwave sensors that each intercept and receive a portion of the microwave feed beam. The two microwave sensors are spaced apart from each other along a first-pair axis. A first phase-comparison device has as it inputs the output signals of the two microwave sensors, and as an output a first phase comparison of the first-sensor output signal and the second-sensor output signal. A first geometrical calculator has as an input the first phase comparison and as an output a geometrical relationship of the first-pair axis to an other feature. This geometrical relationship output may be used to generate a control signal that is used to alter the geometrical relationship. There may be additional microwave sensors operating in a similar manner but spaced to provide information for other geometrical axes or allow improvements in geometrical measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Obert, Kenneth W. Brown, Alan A. Rattray, John Gerstenberg, James R. Gallivan
  • Patent number: 6636414
    Abstract: A high power slide tuning capacitor (200) integrated into a circuit board adapted to function at RF and microwave frequencies. The capacitor (200) includes a dielectric substrate (26) with a cavity (28) cut into a side of the substrate (26); a ground plane (24) mounted on a bottom surface of the dielectric substrate (26); a microstrip patch (22) mounted on a top surface of the dielectric substrate (26) and positioned above the cavity (28); and a movable dielectric stub (30) which engages the cavity (28) such that a variable length of the stub (30) is positioned beneath the microstrip patch (22). The microstrip patch (22) can be coupled to a desired circuit trace (20), effectively forming a shunt capacitor to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Obert, Kenneth W. Brown, Thomas A. Drake
  • Publication number: 20030128495
    Abstract: A high power slide tuning capacitor (200) integrated into a circuit board adapted to function at RF and microwave frequencies. The capacitor (200) is comprised of a dielectric substrate (26) with a cavity (28) cut into a side of the substrate (26); a ground plane (24) mounted on a bottom surface of the dielectric substrate (26); a microstrip patch (22) mounted on a top surface of the dielectric substrate (26) and positioned above the cavity (28); and a movable dielectric stub (30) which engages the cavity (28) such that a variable length of the stub (30) is positioned beneath the microstrip patch (22). The microstrip patch (22) can be coupled to a desired circuit trace (20), effectively forming a shunt capacitor to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas L. Obert, Kenneth W. Brown, Thomas A. Drake