Patents by Inventor W. Dale Cotten

W. Dale Cotten 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: 7400384
    Abstract: A LADAR apparatus, a method of use associated therewith, and a method for remotely sensing targets in a field of view are disclosed. In the method, a target in a field of view is remotely sensed using a LADAR signal whose pixel spatial resolution is varied to achieve a desired pixel spatial resolution for the transmitted LADAR signal on the target. One way to do this is by rolling a LADAR signal to achieve the desired pixel spatial resolution at a given range then de-rolling the received reflection. This could involve, for instance, rolling the LADAR signal from a first angle at which it is generated to a second angle at which it is transmitted, and then receiving the reflection at that second angle and de-rolling it to the first angle again for detection. The LADAR apparatus could include a number of means for implementing this functionality. One particular apparatus that is suitable includes a LADAR signal transmitter; a transmission path; a receive path; a receiver; and an optical roll/de-roll mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno J. Evans, W. Dale Cotten