Patents by Inventor Todd Harding Tomkinson

Todd Harding Tomkinson 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: 12726272
    Abstract: A laser beam transmission system comprises a laser beam system and a controller that controls the laser beam system. The controller is configured to direct a laser beam at a location nearest to a maximum of an uncertainty area in which a satellite is expected to be located. The controller is configured to move the laser beam from the location to a next location nearest to the maximum of the uncertainty area in response to not receiving a confirmation that the satellite is at the location. The next location becomes a current location for the laser beam. The controller is configured to continue to move the laser beam from the current location to the next location nearest to the maximum of the uncertainty area from the current location in response to not receiving the confirmation that the satellite has received the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nathan D. Hiller, Stephen Lambert, Todd Harding Tomkinson, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Patent number: 12505753
    Abstract: A flight path clearing system comprising a laser beam system in an aircraft and a controller. The controller is configured to select a number of characteristics for a laser beam based on an object type. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to emit the laser beam with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to move the laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type to scan an area using a pattern that is based on a sequence of locations in the pattern being nearest to a center of the area, wherein a number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nathan D. Hiller, Stephen Lambert, Todd Harding Tomkinson, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Publication number: 20250265937
    Abstract: A flight path clearing system comprising a laser beam system in an aircraft and a controller. The controller is configured to select a number of characteristics for a laser beam based on an object type. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to emit the laser beam with the number of characteristics in a direction relative to a flight path of the aircraft. The controller is configured to control the laser beam system to move the laser beam with the number of characteristics selected for the object type to scan an area using a pattern that is based on a sequence of locations in the pattern being nearest to a center of the area, wherein a number of objects of the object type hit by the laser beam is cleared from the flight path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan D. Hiller, Stephen Lambert, Todd Harding Tomkinson, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Publication number: 20250264611
    Abstract: A laser beam scanning system comprises a lidar system in an aircraft and a controller. The lidar system is configured to emit a laser beam into an atmosphere during flight of the aircraft; receive backscatter light generated in response to emitting the laser beam; and generate backscatter data using the backscatter light. The controller is configured to control the lidar system to move the laser beam to scan an area using a pattern that is based on a sequence of locations in the pattern being nearest to a center of the area. The controller is configured to control the lidar system to generate measurements of the area using the backscatter data generated from scanning the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan D. Hiller, Stephen Lambert, Todd Harding Tomkinson, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Publication number: 20250266907
    Abstract: A laser beam transmission system comprises a laser beam system and a controller that controls the laser beam system. The controller is configured to direct a laser beam at a location nearest to a maximum of an uncertainty area in which a satellite is expected to be located. The controller is configured to move the laser beam from the location to a next location nearest to the maximum of the uncertainty area in response to not receiving a confirmation that the satellite is at the location. The next location becomes a current location for the laser beam. The controller is configured to continue to move the laser beam from the current location to the next location nearest to the maximum of the uncertainty area from the current location in response to not receiving the confirmation that the satellite has received the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan D. Hiller, Stephen Lambert, Todd Harding Tomkinson, Steven Fulton Griffin
  • Patent number: 11270167
    Abstract: A hyperspectral analysis computer device is provided. The hyperspectral analysis computer device includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The hyperspectral analysis computer device is configured to store a plurality of spectral analysis data, receive at least one background item and at least one item to be detected from a user, generate one or more spectral bands for analysis based on the at least one background item, the at least one item to be detected, and the stored plurality of spectral analysis data, receive one or more mission parameters from the user, and determine a probability of success based on the one or more mission parameters and the generated one or more spectral bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William Thomas Garrison, Mark A. Rivera, David Roderick Gerwe, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Publication number: 20200334503
    Abstract: A hyperspectral analysis computer device is provided. The hyperspectral analysis computer device includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The hyperspectral analysis computer device is configured to store a plurality of spectral analysis data, receive at least one background item and at least one item to be detected from a user, generate one or more spectral bands for analysis based on the at least one background item, the at least one item to be detected, and the stored plurality of spectral analysis data, receive one or more mission parameters from the user, and determine a probability of success based on the one or more mission parameters and the generated one or more spectral bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: William Thomas Garrison, Mark A. Rivera, David Roderick Gerwe, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Patent number: 10657422
    Abstract: A hyperspectral analysis computer device is provided. The hyperspectral analysis computer device includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The hyperspectral analysis computer device is configured to store a plurality of spectral analysis data, receive at least one background item and at least one item to be detected from a user, generate one or more spectral bands for analysis based on the at least one background item, the at least one item to be detected, and the stored plurality of spectral analysis data, receive one or more mission parameters from the user, and determine a probability of success based on the one or more mission parameters and the generated one or more spectral bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William Thomas Garrison, Mark A. Rivera, David Roderick Gerwe, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Publication number: 20180307949
    Abstract: A hyperspectral analysis computer device is provided. The hyperspectral analysis computer device includes at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The hyperspectral analysis computer device is configured to store a plurality of spectral analysis data, receive at least one background item and at least one item to be detected from a user, generate one or more spectral bands for analysis based on the at least one background item, the at least one item to be detected, and the stored plurality of spectral analysis data, receive one or more mission parameters from the user, and determine a probability of success based on the one or more mission parameters and the generated one or more spectral bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: William Thomas Garrison, Mark A. Rivera, David Roderick Gerwe, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Patent number: 8270058
    Abstract: Techniques for producing higher fidelity interferometer measurements by reducing sensitivity to spurious sources include reducing the coherence length of an electromagnetic beam. In addition, multiple surfaces within an optical system may be measured by electronically tuning the position of a coherence plane along the optical paths of an interferometer. A phase modulator is used in conjunction with a long coherence length electromagnetic source to generate beams for each leg of an interferometer. Providing a controlled broadband RF signal to the phase modulator increases the bandwidth of the beam and thereby reduces the coherence length of the beam. This reduces the spurious contributions to the output interference fringes from undesired surfaces along the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven Edward Muenter, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Patent number: 8045251
    Abstract: Techniques for producing higher fidelity interferometer measurements by reducing sensitivity to spurious sources include reducing the coherence length of an electromagnetic beam. In addition, multiple surfaces within an optical system may be measured by electronically tuning the position of a coherence plane along the optical paths of an interferometer. A phase modulator is used in conjunction with a long coherence length electromagnetic source to generate beams for each leg of an interferometer. Providing a controlled broadband RF signal to the phase modulator increases the bandwidth of the beam and thereby reduces the coherence length of the beam. This reduces the spurious contributions to the output interference fringes from undesired surfaces along the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven Edward Muenter, Todd Harding Tomkinson
  • Publication number: 20090147341
    Abstract: Techniques for producing higher fidelity interferometer measurements by reducing sensitivity to spurious sources include reducing the coherence length of an electromagnetic beam. In addition, multiple surfaces within an optical system may be measured by electronically tuning the position of a coherence plane along the optical paths of an interferometer. A phase modulator is used in conjunction with a long coherence length electromagnetic source to generate beams for each leg of an interferometer. Providing a controlled broadband RF signal to the phase modulator increases the bandwidth of the beam and thereby reduces the coherence length of the beam. This reduces the spurious contributions to the output interference fringes from undesired surfaces along the beam path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Edward Muenter, Todd Harding Tomkinson