Patents by Inventor W. Lance Richards

W. Lance Richards 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).

  • Micrometeoroid and orbital debris impact detection and location using fiber optic strain sensing
    Patent number: 10267694
    Abstract: Various embodiments may provide a strain-sensing apparatus configured to be attached to a micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding layer and data collection equipment in communication with the strain-sensing apparatus configured to detect an occurrence, a time, a location, and/or a severity of a MMOD strike on the MMOD shielding layer. The various embodiments may enable detection and/or location of potentially harmful MMOD strikes on both human occupied and unmanned spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Steven L. Rickman, W. Lance Richards, Anthony Piazza, Eric L. Christiansen, Francisco Pena, Allen R. Parker, Jr.
  • Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris Impact Detection and Location Using Fiber Optic Strain Sensing
    Publication number: 20170205297
    Abstract: Various embodiments may provide a strain-sensing apparatus configured to be attached to a micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding layer and data collection equipment in communication with the strain-sensing apparatus configured to detect an occurrence, a time, a location, and/or a severity of a MMOD strike on the MMOD shielding layer. The various embodiments may enable detection and/or location of potentially harmful MMOD strikes on both human occupied and unmanned spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Steven L. Rickman, W. Lance Richards, Anthony Piazza, Eric L. Christiansen, Francisco Pena, Allen R. Parker, JR.
  • Cryogenic liquid level sensor apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9074921
    Abstract: The invention proposed herein is a system and method for measuring the liquid level in a container that employs an optic fiber sensor which is heated using a simple power source and a wire and making an anemometry measurement. The heater wire is cycled between two levels of heat and the liquid level is obtained by measuring the heat transfer characteristics of the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Allen R. Parker, Jr., W. Lance Richards, Anthony Piazza, Hon Chan Man, John A. Bakalyar