Patents by Inventor Tommy W. Lee

Tommy W. Lee 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).

  • Systems, methods and devices for actuating a moveable miniature platform
    Patent number: 8035876
    Abstract: Presented herein are systems, methods and devices relating to miniature actuatable platform systems. According to one embodiment, the systems, methods, and devices relate to controllably actuated miniature platform assemblies including a miniature mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Bernstein, Fran J. Rogomentich, Tommy W. Lee, Mathew Varghese, Gregory A. Kirkos
  • Microfabricated tuning fork gyroscope and associated three-axis inertial measurement system to sense out-of-plane rotation
    Patent number: 6257059
    Abstract: A micromechanical tuning fork gyroscope has an input axis out of the plane of the structure. In one embodiment, capacitor plates are provided in parallel strips beneath two apertured, planar proof masses suspended from a substrate by a support structure. The proof masses are paired and set in opposed vibrational motion by an electrostatic comb drive. In response to an input angular rate about the out-of-plane input axis, the proof masses translate with respect to the striped capacitors, thereby varying the capacitance between the capacitor strips and the proof masses as a function of the input rate. In another embodiment, proof mass combs of a comb drive are meshed between fixed drive combs which are electrically excited in pairs 180° out of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc S. Weinberg, Jonathan J. Bernstein, Gregory A. Kirkos, Tommy W. Lee, Anthony Petrovich
  • Method and apparatus for automated handling of cut material
    Patent number: 5496021
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Bellio, Edward Bernardon, Mark J. Condon, Robert S. Flory, Donald C. Fyler, Mitchell L. Hansberry, Tommy W. Lee, James F. Mueller
  • Method and apparatus for automated handling of cut material
    Patent number: 5463921
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Bellio, Edward Bernardon, Mark J. Condon, Robert S. Flory, Donald C. Fyler, Mitchell L. Hansberry, Tommy W. Lee, James F. Mueller