Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Woolfolk

Thomas M. Woolfolk 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: 5148175
    Abstract: Range gate delay is effected by serially connected coarse and fine programmable delay lines. The radar transmit trigger pulse is propagated through the programmable delay lines to provide a delayed trigger pulse. The delayed trigger pulse triggers a range gate generator for generating the range gate. The delay effected by the coarse and fine programmable delay lines is controlled from the system CPU. The range gate generator comprises a D-type flip-flop with the Q output thereof connected as the input to a further programmable delay line. The delayed trigger pulse sets the flip-flop and the output of the further programmable delay line resets the flip-flop. The range gate is provided by the Q output of the flip-flop. The width of the range gate is determined by the delay set into the further programmable delay line by the system CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sperry Marine Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Woolfolk
  • Patent number: 5049887
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a target position within a selected range segment includes a range gate generator which provides a range gate signal that enables a detector for a time interval corresponding to the range segment and a signal generator, responsive to the range gate signal, which provides a signal having an amplitude which varies with time. The output signal of the signal generator is sampled by a sample and hold circuit. A control signal generator enabled during the range gate interval couples a switching signal to the sample and hold circuit which, upon the reception of a target reflected signal, causes the sample and hold circuit to switch from the sampling mode to the hold mode. The signal amplitude in the hold mode is a representation of the target position within the range gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Sperry Marine Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Henning, Thomas M. Woolfolk
  • Patent number: 4915481
    Abstract: A Kerr cell in an electro-optical shutter is coupled in a leg between "H connected" switches so as to reverse the polarity of the actuating potential applied across the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Sperry Marine Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence H. Gilligan, Thomas M. Woolfolk
  • Patent number: 4872057
    Abstract: Automatic light control apparatus for a television camera system utilizing a gated image intensifier wherein a pair of laser diodes illuminate, respectively, a pair of avalanche photodiodes to apply switching voltages to the image intensifier. Low-level gating signals are utilized to activate the laser diodes. The laser diodes are gated on and off in complementary fashion whereby the image intensifier is turned on for pulse intervals inversely proportional to the brightness of the scene being televised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Sperry Marine Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Woolfolk