William D Mcneill

US Patent:

42661625, May 5, 1981

Filed:

Mar 16, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/021125

Inventors:

William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA
Alfred E. Feuersanger - Framingham MA
Paul O. Haugsjaa - Acton MA
Robert J. Regan - Needham MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01J 746
H01J 1180

US Classification:

315 39

Abstract:

An electromagnetic discharge apparatus has a power coupling fixture which couples power to both ends of an electrodeless discharge vessel and produces a substantially uniform arc. Power can be coupled to the fixture from two high frequency power sources or can be coupled from a single high frequency power source by using a power divider. If power is coupled to the electrodeless discharge vessel from a single source, power transfer to the vessel is optimized when the electrical length of the circuit is an integral number of wavelengths. In an alternative embodiment, a second coupler is utilized in a conventional electrodeless light source to shape the electric fields and produce a more uniform arc.

US Patent:

44511230, May 29, 1984

Filed:

Dec 20, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/451647

Inventors:

William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA
Yung J. Chen - Weston MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G05D 2502

US Classification:

350386

Abstract:

An electrooptic device for controlling the intensity of a monochromatic light beam comprises a first transparent element such as a triangular prism or hemicylindrical prism having a planar surface. A thin layer of a material such as a metal is in contact with the planar surface of the transparent element and a semiconductor material is adjacent to the metal layer. A voltage source provides a potential difference between the metal layer and the semiconductor material to alter the charge density in the semiconductor material to affect the degree of coupling between the light beam entering the device and surface plasmon waves generated within the device to correspondingly control the intensity of the light beam exiting the device.

US Patent:

40016315, Jan 4, 1977

Filed:

Nov 17, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/632328

Inventors:

William McNeill - Carlisle MA
Joseph Lech - Westford MA
Paul Haugsjaa - Acton MA
Robert Regan - Newton MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01J 746
H01J 1980

US Classification:

315 39

Abstract:

A light source includes a source of high frequency power, an electrodelsss lamp and a termination fixture for coupling power to the lamp, the fixture having an outer conductor and an inner conductor whose length is adjustable for providing dynamic matching of the impedance of the lamp during the operating mode to the output impedance of the source. Variations in the power level from the source, such as is desirable in providing lamp brightness selectivity, vary both the real and imaginary components of the lamp impedance, and corresponding adjustments of the inner conductor length provide a tuning technique to compensate for these variations.

US Patent:

40631320, Dec 13, 1977

Filed:

Aug 4, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/711743

Inventors:

Joseph M. Proud - Wellesley Hills MA
Richard A. Bessett - Derry NH
William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H05B 4116
H05B 4124

US Classification:

315248

Abstract:

A half wavelength resonant cavity having inner and outer coaxial conductors is coupled at one end to a dc power source, and a gas discharge electrodeless lamp is disposed in the region between the conductors at the other end of the cavity. Repetitive bursts of radio frequency oscillations occur within the cavity, the oscillations causing breakdown of the fill material within the lamp to produce light.

US Patent:

40413527, Aug 9, 1977

Filed:

Jul 14, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/705323

Inventors:

William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA
Paul O. Haugsjaa - Acton MA
Joseph Lech - Westford MA
Robert J. Regan - Needham MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H05B 4116
H05B 4124

US Classification:

315248

Abstract:

A starting assist control circuit for an electrodeless light source in which a UV source for assisting in starting an electrodeless lamp is coupled in series with the dc supply for a microwave power source for the lamp so that a reduced dc voltage is supplied to the microwave power source at lamp starting. At staring, a capacitive impedance element is coupled across the inner and outer conductors of the fixture to provide an additional starting assist by creating a condition of resonance in the fixture. A heat responsive bimetallic switch element associated with both the capacitor and the UV source automatically shorts out the UV source and decouples the capacitor after the lamp has started thereby permitting full dc power to the microwave power source during the operating condition of the lamp.

US Patent:

41785347, Dec 11, 1979

Filed:

Jul 7, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/922625

Inventors:

William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA
Joseph M. Lech - Westford MA
Paul O. Haugsjaa - Acton MA
Robert J. Regan - Needham MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

H01J 746

US Classification:

315 39

Abstract:

A light source includes an electrodeless lamp having a generally cylindrically shaped envelope made of a light transmitting substance. A volatile fill material, enclosed within the envelope, emits light upon breakdown and excitation. A termination fixture has an outer conductor disposed around its inner conductor, both conductors having a first end which couples power to the lamp and a second end coupled to an alternating current power source. A first end of conductive means is coupled to the first end of the inner conductor, a second end of the conductive means being open-circuited. The conductive means has an electrical length whereby axial electric field maxima and minima occur thereon. The envelope is oriented centrally and axially within the conductive means so that an axial, non-toroidal arc occurs within the envelope, but does not attach to its interior walls, thereby enhancing the life of the lamp. The conductive means can be formed in a helical or spiral configuration.

US Patent:

45838186, Apr 22, 1986

Filed:

Aug 8, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/521512

Inventors:

Gary M. Carter - Lexington MA
William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G02B 634

US Classification:

350 9619

Abstract:

An optical device used as an optical switch or bistable device, with surface plasmons, is comprised of a semiconductor base material forming a non-linear dielectric layer along with a metal layer, with an interface between the metal and semiconductor layers including a submicron grating. The device is optically excited from a light source of given intensity. In accordance with the invention, dispersion relation of surface plasmons may be changed by varying the intensity of an input laser so as to provide bistable or hysteresis effect switching. The concepts of the invention may be implemented in either an unadorned device as set forth, or may be fabricated in an optical waveguide.

US Patent:

44326149, Feb 21, 1984

Filed:

Dec 20, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/451646

Inventors:

William H. McNeill - Carlisle MA
Yung J. Chen - Weston MA

Assignee:

GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA

International Classification:

G05D 2502

US Classification:

350386

Abstract:

An electrooptic device for controlling the intensity of a monochromatic light beam comprises a transparent element having opposed planar surfaces operable to reflect a collimated light beam alternately from the two surfaces. A plurality of semiconductor structures contact one surface of the device at regions where the collimated light beam reflects from that surface. Each semiconductor structure includes a thin layer of a material such as a metal in contact with the planar surface of the transparent element and a semiconductor material adjacent to the metal layer. A voltage source provides a potential between the metal layer and the semiconductor material of each structure to separately alter the charge density in the semiconductor material of each structure to affect the degree of coupling between the light beam entering the device and surface plasmon waves generated within each structure. The device is operable as a signal mixer or an optical logic switching device.