Patents by Inventor VanWinkle T. Townsend

VanWinkle T. Townsend 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).

  • Distributed contaminant optical monitoring system
    Patent number: 6879398
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting particles in a sample of gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a single optical radiation source, a sensor head, and detection electronics. The sensor head comprises a housing having an elliptical cross section. The sensor head receives optical radiation from the source through a fiber optic line at the first focus, and a detector is located at the second focus. The detector receives radiation scattered and emitted by particles in the light beam at the first focus. The detection electronics determine the presence, and in one embodiment the identity, of particles based on the radiation incident on the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: VanWinkle T. Townsend, Robert H. Fleming
  • Optical-signal coupler and related method
    Patent number: 6782160
    Abstract: An optical coupler includes a housing, and includes first and second optical terminals and a prism disposed in the housing. One terminal is moveable with respect to the other, and the prism maintains an optical alignment between the terminals. Because it includes a prism instead of a more complex and delicate optical assembly, such an optical coupler can often be less expensive and more rugged, and can often have a higher connection density, than prior optical couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: VanWinkle T. Townsend, Robert J. Varley
  • Distributed contaminant optical monitoring system
    Publication number: 20030218748
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting particles in a sample of gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a single optical radiation source, a sensor head, and detection electronics. The sensor head comprises a housing having an elliptical cross section. The sensor head receives optical radiation from the source through a fiber optic line at the first focus, and a detector is located at the second focus. The detector receives radiation scattered and emitted by particles in the light beam at the first focus. The detection electronics determine the presence, and in one embodiment the identity, of particles based on the radiation incident on the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: LockheedMartin Corporation
    Inventors: VanWinkle T. Townsend, Robert H. Fleming
  • Optical-signal coupler and related method
    Publication number: 20030194176
    Abstract: An optical coupler includes a housing, and includes first and second optical terminals and a prism disposed in the housing. One terminal is moveable with respect to the other, and the prism maintains an optical alignment between the terminals. Because it includes a prism instead of a more complex and delicate optical assembly, such an optical coupler can often be less expensive and more rugged, and can often have a higher connection density, than prior optical couplers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: VanWinkle T. Townsend, Robert J. Varley