Patents by Inventor William R. Owens

William R. Owens 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).

  • Publication number: 20120152725
    Abstract: A method of fabricating pillared graphene assembles alternate layers of graphene sheets and fullerenes to form a stable protostructure. Energy is added to the protostructure to break the carbon-carbon bonds at the fullerene-to-graphene attachment points of the protostructure and allow the bonds to reorganize and reform into a stable lower energy unitary pillared graphene nanostructure in which open nanotubes are conjoined between graphene sheets. The attachment points may be functionalized using tether molecules to aid in attachment, and add chemical energy to the system. The arrangement and attachment spacing of the fullerenes may be determined using spacer molecules or an electric potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, John Warren Beck
  • Publication number: 20120128574
    Abstract: Carbon nanostructures are synthesized from carbon-excess explosives having a negative oxygen balance. A supercritical fluid provides an environment that safely dissolves and decomposes the explosive molecules into its reactant products including activated C or CO and provides the temperature and pressure for the required collision rate of activated C atoms and CO molecules to form carbon nanostructures such as graphene, fullerenes and nanotubes. The nanostructures may be synthesized without a metal reactant at relatively low temperatures in the supercritical fluid to provide a cost-effective path to bulk fabrication. These nanostructures may be synthesized “metal free”. As the supercritical fluid provides an inert buffer that does not react with the explosive, the fluid is preserved. Once the nanostructures are removed, the other reaction products may be removed and the fluid recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, Mead M. Jordan, William R. Owens, John Warren Beck
  • Patent number: 8180213
    Abstract: In an embodiment of methods and systems for optical focusing for laser guided seekers using negative index metamaterial, the methods and systems comprise a light focusing system comprising: a lens comprising a negative index metamaterial to focus at least one selected wavelength while defocusing other wavelengths, and a sensor upon which the lens focuses the selected wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Abram G. Young, Delmar L. Barker, William R Owens
  • Publication number: 20120091345
    Abstract: In an embodiment of methods and systems for optical focusing For laser guided seekers using negative index metamaterial, the methods and systems comprise a light focusing system comprising: a lens comprising a negative index metamaterial to focus at least one selected wavelength while defocusing other wavelengths, and a sensor upon which the lens focuses the selected wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Abram G. Young, Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20120048181
    Abstract: Engineered defects are reproduced in-situ with graphene via a combination of surface manipulation and epitaxial reproduction. A substrate surface that is lattice-matched to graphene is manipulated to create one or more non-planar features in the hexagonal crystal lattice. These non-planar features strain and asymmetrically distort the hexagonal crystal lattice of epitaxially deposited graphene to reproduce “in-situ” engineered defects with the graphene. These defects may be defects in the classic sense such as Stone-Wales defect pairs or blisters, ridges, ribbons and metacrystals. Nano or micron-scale structures such as planar waveguides, resonant cavities or electronic devices may be constructed from linear or closed arrays of these defects. Substrate manipulation and epitaxial reproduction allows for precise control of the number, density, arrangement and type of defects. The graphene may be removed and template reused to replicate the graphene and engineered defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, Brian J. Zelinski, William R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20120006216
    Abstract: An acoustic crystal explosive, which gains its properties from both its periodic structure and its composition, may be configured to suppress or enhance the sensitivity of detonation of the explosive in response to an acoustic wave. An explosive material and a medium (explosive or inactive) are arranged in a periodic array that provides local contrast modulation of the acoustic index to define a band gap in the acoustic transmission spectrum of the explosive materials. At least one defect cavity in the periodic array creates a resonance in the band gap. The defect cavity concentrates energy from an incident acoustic (shock) wave to detonate the explosive. Multiple defect cavities may be configured to provide a desired shaped charge or volumetric detonations. Means may be provided to reprogram the defect cavity(ies) to reconfigure the explosive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, Kenneth L. Moore, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 8082844
    Abstract: An acoustic crystal explosive, which gains its properties from both its periodic structure and its composition, may be configured to suppress or enhance the sensitivity of detonation of the explosive in response to an acoustic wave. An explosive material and a medium (explosive or inactive) are arranged in a periodic array that provides local contrast modulation of the acoustic index to define a band gap in the acoustic transmission spectrum of the explosive materials. At least one defect cavity in the periodic array creates a resonance in the band gap. The defect cavity concentrates energy from an incident acoustic (shock) wave to detonate the explosive. Multiple defect cavities may be configured to provide a desired shaped charge or volumetric detonations. Means may be provided to reprogram the defect cavity(ies) to reconfigure the explosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, Kenneth L. Moore, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 8038795
    Abstract: A precursor chiral nanotube with a specified chirality is grown using an epitaxial process and then cloned. A substrate is provided of crystal material having sheet lattice properties complementary to the lattice properties of the selected material for the nanotube. A cylindrical surface(s) having a diameter of 1 to 100 nanometers are formed as a void in the substrate or as crystal material projecting from the substrate with an orientation with respect to the axes of the crystal substrate corresponding to the selected chirality. A monocrystalline film of the selected material is epitaxially grown on the cylindrical surface that takes on the sheet lattice properties and orientation of the crystal substrate to form a precursor chiral nanotube. A catalytic particle is placed on the precursor chiral nanotube and atoms of the selected material are dissolved into the catalytic particle to clone a chiral nanotube from the precursor chiral nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 8026496
    Abstract: An acoustic crystal structure includes defect cavities that concentrate the driving pressure from applied sound waves into the cavities to cavitate gas bubbles in a liquid to produce sonoluminescence. This device may be used to study sonoluminescence or cavitation or to perform sonochemistry, nuclear fusion etc. in the cavities. A waveguide may be operatively coupled to the acoustic crystal to extract, collect and route a band of electromagnetic (EM) radiation around a specified source wavelength to an output port for emission by an antenna to provide an EM source. The waveguide may, for example, be a photonic crystal defect waveguide, a photonic crystal optical fiber or Sommerfeld waveguide. The marriage of the sonoluminescence phenomena with an acoustic crystal and embedded waveguide provides for an efficient source of narrow or broad band IR or THz radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 7985965
    Abstract: A quantum computing device and method employs qubit arrays of entangled states using negative refractive index lenses. A qubit includes a pair of neutral atoms separated by or disposed on opposite sides of a negative refractive index lens. The neutral atoms and negative refractive index lens are selectively energized and/or activated to cause entanglement of states of the atoms. The quantum computing device enjoys a novel architecture that is workable and scalable in terms of size and wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, Ross D. Rosenwald
  • Publication number: 20110031104
    Abstract: Isotopically-enriched graphene and isotope junctions are epitaxially grown on a catalyst substrate using a focused carbon ion beam technique. The focused carbon ion beam is filtered to pass substantially a single ion species including a single desired carbon isotope. The ion beam and filtering together provide a means to selectively isotopically-enrich the epitaxially-grown graphene from given carbon precursor and to selectively deposit graphene enriched with different carbon isotopes in different regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, John Warren Beck
  • Publication number: 20110001063
    Abstract: An acoustic crystal structure includes defect cavities that concentrate the driving pressure from applied sound waves into the cavities to cavitate gas bubbles in a liquid to produce sonoluminescence. This device may be used to study sonoluminescence or cavitation or to perform sonochemistry, nuclear fusion etc. in the cavities. A waveguide may be operatively coupled to the acoustic crystal to extract, collect and route a band of electromagnetic (EM) radiation around a specified source wavelength to an output port for emission by an antenna to provide an EM source. The waveguide may, for example, be a photonic crystal defect waveguide, a photonic crystal optical fiber or Sommerfeld waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20100304218
    Abstract: Stone Wales defect pairs in a carbon nanostructure are used to store energy. Energy is released by a chain reaction of phonons disrupting the defect pairs to generate more phonons until the lattice returns to its original hexagonal form and the energy is released in the form of lattice vibrations. Devices may be configured as a battery to release electrical energy in a controlled manner or as an explosive to release energy in an uncontrolled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 7837813
    Abstract: Stone Wales defect pairs in a carbon nanostructure are used to store energy. Energy is released by a chain reaction of phonons disrupting the defect pairs to generate more phonons until the lattice returns to its original hexagonal form and the energy is released in the form of lattice vibrations. Devices may be configured as a battery to release electrical energy in a controlled manner or as an explosive to release energy in an uncontrolled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 7825366
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting energy from a heat source using photonic crystals with defect cavities generally comprise a photonic crystal, a cavity, and a converter. The photonic crystal is responsive to a heat source and generates an electromagnetic beam in response to incidence with the heat source. The photonic crystal exhibits a band gap such that wavelengths within the band gap are substantially confined within the photonic crystal. The cavity is substantially within the crystal and is responsive to the electromagnetic beam such that the cavity transmits the electromagnetic beam to a specified location. The converter is substantially collocated with the specified location and extracts energy in response to incidence with the electromagnetic beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, Abram G. Young
  • Publication number: 20100139289
    Abstract: A heat transfer device exploits the properties of photonic crystal solids with resonant defect cavities to execute a thermodynamic cycle to accomplish the conversion between heat flow and useful energy in the form of a heat engine or heat pump. The device comprises a photonic crystal having at least one and preferably several resonant defect cavities that radiate electromagnetic energy in an emission band. In a heat pump or refrigerator configuration, work means perform work on the photonic crystal to cycle the photonic crystal between a first state to permit the crystal to collect thermal energy from a cold region to heat the crystal and a second state to permit the photonic crystal to radiate electromagnetic energy to a hot region to cool the photonic crystal. The efficient collection of heat energy and radiation of electromagnetic energy in the cycle is accomplished by cycling the heat transfer into the photonic crystal and/or the crystal's emission band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, William R. Owens
  • Patent number: 7724420
    Abstract: A system and method for modulating the frequency of electromagnetic radiation utilizes a frozen shockwave in a photonic band gap structure. The structure provides a discontinuity in lattice constant that functions as a shockwave, and that does not shift its position within the structure. In addition the modulation device or structure includes an acoustic pulse generator, such as a piezoelectric transducer coupled to one end of the photonic band gap structure. The acoustic pulse generator may be driven to produce a periodic pulse in the photonic band gap structure. The frozen shockwave, a defect or discontinuity in the photonic band gap structure, is used to hold incoming electromagnetic radiation in place. The acoustic pulse passing through the photonic band gap structure Doppler shifts the frequency of the radiation. The frequency-shifted radiation is then ejected out of the frozen shockwave portion of the photonic band gap structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, Abram G. Young
  • Publication number: 20100108916
    Abstract: A thermally powered source of IR or THz radiation combines low dimension nano-scale oscillators such as nano-wires and nano-tubes with micro-scale photonic crystal resonant defect cavities for efficient generation, coupling and transmission of electromagnetic radiation. The oscillators have M=0, 1 or 2 resonant dimensions on a micro-scale (approximately 1 um to approximately 1 mm) to emit radiation having a local peak at a desired wavelength in the IR or THz regions. The oscillators have at least one non-resonant dimension on a nano-scale (less than approximately 100 nm) to suppress vibration modes in that dimension and channel more thermal energy into the local peak. The photonic crystal defect cavities have N=1, 2 or 3 (N>M) resonant dimensions on the microscale with lengths comparable to the length of the oscillator and the desired wavelength to exhibit a cavity resonant that overlaps the local peak to accept and transmit emitted radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, William R. Owens, Patrick O. Kano
  • Publication number: 20100012021
    Abstract: A precursor chiral nanotube with a specified chirality is grown using an epitaxial process and then cloned. A substrate is provided of crystal material having sheet lattice properties complementary to the lattice properties of the selected material for the nanotube. A cylindrical surface(s) having a diameter of 1 to 100 nanometers are formed as a void in the substrate or as crystal material projecting from the substrate with an orientation with respect to the axes of the crystal substrate corresponding to the selected chirality. A monocrystalline film of the selected material is epitaxially grown on the cylindrical surface that takes on the sheet lattice properties and orientation of the crystal substrate to form a precursor chiral nanotube. A catalytic particle is placed on the precursor chiral nanotube and atoms of the selected material are dissolved into the catalytic particle to clone a chiral nanotube from the precursor chiral nanotube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: DELMAR L. BARKER, William R. Owens
  • Publication number: 20090071529
    Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting energy from a heat source using photonic crystals with defect cavities generally comprise a photonic crystal, a cavity, and a converter. The photonic crystal is responsive to a heat source and generates an electromagnetic beam in response to incidence with the heat source. The photonic crystal exhibits a band gap such that wavelengths within the band gap are substantially confined within the photonic crystal. The cavity is substantially within the crystal and is responsive to the electromagnetic beam such that the cavity transmits the electromagnetic beam to a specified location. The converter is substantially collocated with the specified location and extracts energy in response to incidence with the electromagnetic beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Delmar L. Barker, William R. Owens, Abram G. Young