Thomas M Mclean

US Patent:

6462824, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Mar 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/538932

Inventors:

Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA
Eric L. Goldner - Valencia CA
Michael J. Tweedy - Sim Valley CA

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G01C 1972

US Classification:

356459, 356465

Abstract:

Interconnection mechanisms for a laser gyroscope assembly ( ) enable it to be rapidly and non-harmfully assembled and disassembled prior to a more durable interconnection, to facilitate repair and rework. The assembly includes a fiber optic spool ( ), an inner shield ( ) and an outer shield ( ), which are formed of a stress-annealed magnetic and generally malleable material. The outer shield comprises upper and lower portions or parts ( ) whose first and second end segments ( ) respectively terminate the portions. Segment ( ) has angled intersecting conical surfaces ( ) which engage surfaces ( ) on segment ( ). Stops ( ) are formed respectively on the ends of the segments so that a distal end ( ) contacts an interior ledge surface ( ) of outer shield ( ), thereby to limit the mutual engagement and to center the segment configuration interfit. The position and location of the stop allows the intersecting edges of surface ( ) of outer shield ( ) to precisely contact reverse taper segment ( ) of surface ( ) at a point beneath intersection ( ) to ensure positive retention and mechanical locking of the upper and lower portions of outer shield ( ). A plurality of notches ( ) are positioned evenly about the periphery of the lower portion of the outer shield at its intersection of the upper portion.

US Patent:

6486960, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Feb 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/795813

Inventors:

Amado Cordova - Venice CA
Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA
Thomas Meloeny - Woodland Hills CA

Assignee:

Litton Systems, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G01B 902

US Classification:

356464, 356350

Abstract:

A tool for forming a sensor coil that may be employed, for example, in a fiber optic gyroscope with reduced Shupe effect-induced bias. The tool includes a takeup reel having a cylindrical mandrel with inner flanges fixed to its opposed ends sandwiched between two outer flanges. Each of the inner flanges includes a pair of radially-directed apertures that form a radially-directed wedge therebetween. A recess in the planar portion of each of the outer flanges that contacts an inner flange is aligned with the apertures. This permits the winding of the sensor coil to form climbing turns at the ends of wound layers that lie outside an encapsulated fiber pack. Such turns, which join layers with overlying layers, avoid crossovers and the resultant stress that contributes significantly to Shupe effect-induced bias. A sensor coil having reduced internal stress is thus also provided.

US Patent:

6496263, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Jul 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/626511

Inventors:

John R. Hall - Woodland Hills CA
David F. Libman - Moorpark CA
Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA

Assignee:

Litton Systems, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G01C 1972

US Classification:

356465

Abstract:

A system and method for providing a rotation sensor for use in a fiber optic gyroscope including a centrally-located cylindrical hub having an improved slip interface positioned there around. The central hub has a substantially planar mounting flange extending from one of its ends, where the axis of rotation of the central hub is orthogonal to the plane of the mounting flange. A sensor coil comprising a plurality of layers of coaxial turns of optical fiber embedded in a potting material is formed around an outer surface of the interface. The interface allows the potted coil to expand or contract along the axial direction of the central hub due to thermal expansion while maintaining a constant thermal and mechanical connection between the interface and the potted coil. In this manner, the present invention maintains the integrity of the potted coil and its connection to the interface during thermal expansion of the potted coil, thus minimizing temperature-induced Shupe bias errors in the rotation sensor.

US Patent:

6898364, May 24, 2005

Filed:

Aug 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/228974

Inventors:

Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA, US
John Phillip Rahn - West Hills CA, US
Manfred Schiruska - Woodland Hills CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G02B006/00

US Classification:

385137, 385 12, 385 27, 385 31, 385128, 385136, 385123

Abstract:

An apparatus in one example comprises a buffer layer located on a face that serves as a primary support for an optical fiber winding along a first general direction. The face is coupled with a body that serves as a primary support for the optical fiber winding along a second general direction. The optical fiber winding comprises an optical fiber wound about the body. The buffer layer serves to promote a decrease of one or more strain gradients among a plurality of portions of the optical fiber winding.

US Patent:

7868983, Jan 11, 2011

Filed:

Jul 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/777117

Inventors:

Steven E. Havelka - Los Angeles CA, US
Ragini Saxena - Simi Valley CA, US
Thomas Loo - Calabasas CA, US
Thomas McLean - West Hills CA, US
Ban S. Bong - Calabasas CA, US

Assignee:

Litton Systems, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G02F 1/1343
H05K 5/02

US Classification:

349140, 349 56, 349 61, 349 58, 349 64, 349161, 361681

Abstract:

The invention relates generally to a modular display panel for enclosing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (“COTS”) display technologies. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular display panel for housing COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassemblies such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) for military and other severe environments. The modular display assembly can comprise a base plate, a first frame, a window, a second, a circuit located, and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board. The COTS light emitting or transmitting display subassembly can be connected to the second frame.

US Patent:

20020037147, Mar 28, 2002

Filed:

Jul 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/921623

Inventors:

Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA, US
Eric Goldner - Valencia CA, US

International Classification:

G02B006/00

US Classification:

385/135000

Abstract:

Single and multi-level structures provide neatly organized, secure and easily repairable optical fiber connections between a pump source laser diode () and optical fiber coils represented by x-axis coil (), y-axis coil () and z-axis coil (). The structures employ specially organized trays () for supporting such components as a fiber optic coupler (), an optical isolator (ISO) (), a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) (), a doped fiber coil () and a tap coupler (), and for holding and routing the optical fibers coupled to and between the components. Routing and secure holding of the fibers are facilitated by a built-in optical fiber holder (), integral with tray (), and individual optical fiber holders (), which are stackable upon the built-in holder or upon each other. Each tray includes internal guides, such as a guide post (), and segmented internal and external walls which provide optical fiber routing paths () and wall separations and/or openings () to permit ingress and/or egress of fibers or attachment points, similar to wall separations () in the stackable holders. Special resilient clam-shell holders () safely hold the fragile components, and are incorporated within the trays to facilitate inter-structural and exterior coupling.

US Patent:

57423903, Apr 21, 1998

Filed:

Nov 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/751984

Inventors:

Amado Cordova - West Hills CA
Robert J. Hoover - Newbury Park CA
Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA
Ralph A. Patterson - Moorpark CA
John P. Rahn - West Hills CA

Assignee:

Litton Systems, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G01C 1964

US Classification:

356350

Abstract:

A potted sensor coil for a fiber optic gyroscope includes an inter-layer stress relief layer of lubricating material. The coil is wound into a known pattern. Various coil configurations can be realized in which a coating layer of lubricant relieves stressing at the interface between the outer jacket of the fiber and the coil potting material.

US Patent:

6259849, Jul 10, 2001

Filed:

Apr 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/302705

Inventors:

Thomas McLean - Woodland Hills CA
Eric L. Goldner - Valencia CA
Michael J. Tweedy - Simi Valley CA

Assignee:

Litton Systems, Inc. - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385134

Abstract:

A temporary latchable or clasping interengageable interconnection mechanism is provided for an optical gyroscope assembly (10) to enable it to be rapidly and non-harmfully assembled and disassembled prior to a more durable interconnection, to facilitate repair and rework. The assembly includes a fiber optic spool (12), an inner shield (16) and an outer shield (18), which are formed of a stress-annealed magnetically permeable, and generally malleable material. Should the assembly be dropped, bent or dented, their magnetic shielding properties will be compromised, which is the harm to be avoided by the temporary interconnection. Accordingly, the fiber optic spool (12) and the inner shield (16) are temporarily interconnectable with the outer shield (18) and its spacer ring (38) by interengageable elements having the ability to latch or clasp the shield and the spacer ring together to prevent or, at a minimum, resist disassembly therebetween. The temporary interconnection includes grooves (44, 46) respectively in a tubular wall (36) of the spool and in a corresponding element in the spacer ring. An O-ring (48) is positioned in the grooves, and provides easy assembly and disassembly.