Irl W Smith

US Patent:

6545563, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Nov 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/963562

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

H01P 115

US Classification:

333103, 333104, 333139, 333164

Abstract:

A transmit/receive module including digitally controlled analog circuits is described. The digital circuits use a logic family adapted for use with analog monolithic integrated circuits. The disclosure also describes a preferred process to provide digital and analog microwave circuits on a common semiconductor substrate.

US Patent:

7215472, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Aug 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/916916

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US
Michael Karl Oskar Holz - Newton MA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G02B 27/44

US Classification:

359568, 359576

Abstract:

A beam steering system having first diffraction gratings, each one being associated with a corresponding one of a first plurality of grating vectors disposed substantially in a first plane. The gratings diffract optical energy from any one of a plurality of input directions of resonance to a corresponding one of a plurality of output directions. Second diffraction gratings are associated with a second plurality of grating vectors disposed substantially in a second plane. Each one of the second gratings diffracts optical energy from any one of a plurality of input directions of resonance to a corresponding one of a plurality of output directions. An arrangement directs a beam of optical energy to a selected one of the first gratings along a selected one of the plurality of input directions for the selected one of the first gratings, selected to provide the corresponding one of the output directions from the first gratings to be substantially equal to a selected one of the plurality of input directions for the selected one of the second gratings, thereby providing a selectable set of beam output directions.

US Patent:

7428100, Sep 23, 2008

Filed:

Feb 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/680091

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US
Michael Karl Oskar Holz - Newton Centre MA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G02B 27/44

US Classification:

359568, 359576, 359566

Abstract:

A beam steering system having first diffraction gratings, each one being associated with a corresponding one of a first plurality of grating vectors disposed substantially in a first plane. The gratings diffract optical energy from any one of a plurality of input directions of resonance to a corresponding one of a plurality of output directions. Second diffraction gratings are associated with a second plurality of grating vectors disposed substantially in a second plane. Each one of the second gratings diffracts optical energy from any one of a plurality of input directions of resonance to a corresponding one of a plurality of output directions. An arrangement directs a beam of optical energy to a selected one of the first gratings along a selected one of the plurality of input directions for the selected one of the first gratings, selected to provide the corresponding one of the output directions from the first gratings to be substantially equal to a selected one of the plurality of input directions for the selected one of the second gratings, thereby providing a selectable set of beam output directions.

US Patent:

8116632, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Nov 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/323715

Inventors:

William J. Miniscalco - Sudbury MA, US
Robert D. O'Shea - Harvard MA, US
Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US
Howard L. Waldman - Acton MA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H04B 10/00
H04B 7/212
H04J 14/08

US Classification:

398118, 398121, 398125, 398 98, 370347, 3703954, 4554041, 455427

Abstract:

A space-time division multiple-access (STDMA) laser communications (lasercom) system and related techniques. The STDMA system includes a plurality of remote nodes and an STDMA access node which uses precise electronic beam steering and beacons to provide access to each of a plurality of remote access nodes by means of both space and time-division multiple access.

US Patent:

8594511, Nov 26, 2013

Filed:

Nov 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/325241

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US
Kirk L. Fisher - Groton MA, US
Evelyn W. Kapusta - Cambridge MA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H04B 10/04

US Classification:

398182, 398192

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for accounting for phase differences in a transmit path of an optical system is provided. A transmit control system nullifies phase errors in signals propagating from a coherent source to phase samplers and back to a transmitter sensor. A small time-dependent length modulation is applied to a feed fiber of each aperture and this modulation enables a hill-climbing servo loop to increase, or in some cases even maximize, a detected intensity. This results in a particular relationship between the phases at all the phase-sampling points. The optical system is then calibrated so that this relationship corresponds to in-phase beams when the optical system is aimed at boresight.

US Patent:

20060262396, Nov 23, 2006

Filed:

May 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/132532

Inventors:

Irl Smith - Concord MA, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/28

US Classification:

359484000, 359498000, 349018000

Abstract:

An optical diplexer having a birefringent crystal for providing substantially a whole number of wavelength retardation to first optical energy having said first polarization type, and having a first wavelength, fed to a first end of said crystal, and exiting a second end of said crystal with said first polarization type and said first wavelength and for providing substantially an odd integer number of half wavelength retardation to second optical energy having said first polarization type, having a second wavelength, fed to said second end of said crystal and exiting said first end of said crystal with said second polarization type and said second wavelength. The system includes an electronically actuated polarization aligner for adjusting phase retardation of the second energy fed to the second end of the crystal prior to such second energy entering the second end of the birefringent crystal.

US Patent:

20080031627, Feb 7, 2008

Filed:

Aug 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/462569

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US
William J. Miniscalco - Sudbury MA, US
Terry A. Dorschner - Marlborough MA, US

International Classification:

H04J 14/02

US Classification:

398 83

Abstract:

An optical communication system having nodes that include add/drop units. The add/drop unit includes: a network input port for receiving optical energy having a plurality of different wavelengths from other nodes in the network; a network output port for coupling to destination nodes in the network; an add port for receiving optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths from a local source for transmission to other nodes in the network; and a drop node for receiving optical energy from other nodes in the network for local processing. A wavelength demultiplexer is included to separate the plurality of wavelengths received by the network input port so that the electronically controllable beam steerer can process them individually. A wavelength multiplexer is included to combine the plurality of wavelengths received from the electronically controlled beam steerer for delivery to the network output port for transmission to other nodes in the network. An electronically controllable beam steerer is provided for receiving the optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths at the network input port and the optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths from the add port for selectively: directing the optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths at the network input port to the network output port or to the drop port; and directing the optical energy having the plurality of different wavelengths from the add port to the network output port. The disclosed add/drop unit supports one or a plurality of add, input, output, and drop ports.

US Patent:

20080247026, Oct 9, 2008

Filed:

Jun 12, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/137930

Inventors:

Irl W. Smith - Concord MA, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/01

US Classification:

359256

Abstract:

An optical diplexer having a birefringent crystal for providing substantially a whole number of wavelength retardation to first optical energy having said first polarization type, and having a first wavelength, fed to a first end of said crystal, and exiting a second end of said crystal with said first polarization type and said first wavelength and for providing substantially an odd integer number of half wavelength retardation to second optical energy having said first polarization type, having a second wavelength, fed to said second end of said crystal and exiting said first end of said crystal with said second polarization type and said second wavelength. The system includes an electronically actuated polarization aligner for adjusting phase retardation of the second energy fed to the second end of the crystal prior to such second energy entering the second end of the birefringent crystal.