Gary Edward Halama

US Patent:

7106424, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Mar 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/386334

Inventors:

Clinton T. Meneely - Burnsville MN, US
Mark D. Ray - Burnsville MN, US
Gary E. Halama - Burnsville MN, US

Assignee:

Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01C 3/08

US Classification:

356 501, 356 405, 356 408

Abstract:

A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point. A light detector is included for receiving and converting the focused reflections into electrical signals representative thereof.

US Patent:

7342647, Mar 11, 2008

Filed:

Jul 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/460699

Inventors:

Clinton T. McNeely - Burnsville MN, US
Mark D. Ray - Burnsville MN, US
Gary E. Halama - Burnsville MN, US

Assignee:

Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01C 3/08
G02B 23/10

US Classification:

356 401, 356 408, 359399

Abstract:

A laser-based altimeter for use on-board an aircraft comprises: a first housing including a hollow cavity and an exit aperture, and a second housing including a hollow cavity and an entrance aperture. A laser source and a plurality of first optical elements are fixedly supported in a compact configuration within the hollow cavity of the first housing. The plurality of first optical elements directs laser beams generated by the laser source from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first housing through the exit aperture. At least one second optical element is configured within the hollow cavity of the second housing to form a telescope with a predetermined field of view. The telescope receives at the entrance aperture reflections of the pulsed laser beams from objects within the field of view thereof and focuses the received reflections substantially to a focal point. A light detector is included for receiving and converting the focused reflections into electrical signals representative thereof.

US Patent:

7379166, May 27, 2008

Filed:

Jan 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/329443

Inventors:

Clinton T. Meneely - Burnsville MN, US
Gary E. Halama - Burnsville MN, US

Assignee:

Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01P 3/36
G02B 27/14

US Classification:

356 285, 356 28, 356454, 359629

Abstract:

A fiber optic filter edge detector of Doppler shifted light comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser light substantially over a first fiber optic path; an optical lens for directing laser light emitted from the first fiber optic path to free-space and for receiving laser light returns from free-space and focusing the laser light returns to the first fiber optic path; an edge filter optical element fiber coupled to the first fiber optic path for receiving the laser light returns, the edge filter optical element operative to transmit a first portion of the laser light returns through a second fiber optic path and to reflect a second portion of the laser light returns through a third fiber optic path; and at least one light detector optically coupled to the second and third fiber optic paths.

US Patent:

7400386, Jul 15, 2008

Filed:

May 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/443820

Inventors:

James R. Jamieson - Savage MN, US
Gary E. Halama - Burnsville MN, US
Clinton T. Meneely - Burnsville MN, US

Assignee:

Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01P 3/64
G01C 3/20

US Classification:

356 285, 356 408, 356 28

Abstract:

Combined laser-based apparatus for determining both altitude and ground velocity of an aircraft comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser beams substantially at a predetermined wavelength; a plurality of first optical elements for directing the laser beams from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first optical elements; a plurality of second optical elements configured to form a telescope, the second optical path and telescope field of view being fixedly co-aligned; an optical scanner for directing the second optical path and telescope field of view to desired ground positions while maintaining the co-alignment thereof; the telescope for receiving Doppler wavelength shifted reflections of the pulsed laser beams and directing the received ground reflections substantially over a third optical path; an optical filter element for separating the ground reflections of the third optical path into first and second portions that are dependent on the Doppler wavelength shift of the ground reflections; and processing means for determining altitude and ground velocity of the aircraft based on the first and second portions.

US Patent:

20050231710, Oct 20, 2005

Filed:

Apr 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/825062

Inventors:

James Jamieson - Savage MN, US
Gary Halama - Burnsville MN, US
Clinton Meneely - Burnsville MN, US

International Classification:

G01P003/36
G01N021/00

US Classification:

356028000, 356028500

Abstract:

Combined laser-based apparatus for determining both altitude and ground velocity of an aircraft comprises: a laser source for emitting pulsed laser beams substantially at a predetermined wavelength; a plurality of first optical elements for directing the laser beams from a first optical path to a second optical path which exits the first optical elements; a plurality of second optical elements configured to form a telescope, the second optical path and telescope field of view being fixedly co-aligned; an optical scanner for directing the second optical path and telescope field of view to desired ground positions while maintaining the co-alignment thereof; the telescope for receiving Doppler wavelength shifted reflections of the pulsed laser beams and directing the received ground reflections substantially over a third optical path; an optical filter element for separating the ground reflections of the third optical path into first and second portions that are dependent on the Doppler wavelength shift of the ground reflections; and processing means for determining altitude and ground velocity of the aircraft based on the first and second portions.

US Patent:

20070097350, May 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/261957

Inventors:

Gary Halama - Burnsville MN, US

Assignee:

Rosemount Aerospace Inc. - Burnsville MN

International Classification:

G01C 3/08

US Classification:

356004070, 356004010

Abstract:

A laser transmitting system includes a laser source configured to transmit a laser beam at an original transmit intensity. The system also includes a laser intensity adjusting mechanism positioned in the path of the transmitted laser beam. The laser intensity adjusting mechanism is controllable to reduce the intensity of the laser beam from the original transmit intensity. The system also includes a controller coupled to the laser intensity adjusting mechanism. The controller is configured to automatically control the laser intensity adjusting mechanism based upon a safety criteria. Methods of controlling a laser transmitting system are also provided.

US Patent:

20130103317, Apr 25, 2013

Filed:

Oct 25, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/280922

Inventors:

Mark D. Ray - Burnsville MN, US
Gary E. Halama - Burnsville MN, US
Kaare J. Anderson - Farmington MN, US
Michael P. Nesnidal - Shakopee MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 15/02
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 3

Abstract:

In one aspect, methods of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of determining a size distribution of water droplets in a cloud comprises sampling a depth of a cloud with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, measuring echo intensities of the electromagnetic radiation returned from the cloud with a detector, determining a measured optical extinction coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a measured backscatter coefficient from the measured echo intensities, determining a lidar ratio from the measured optical extinction coefficient and the measured backscatter coefficient, determining from the lidar ratio a value pair comprising a shape parameter (μ) and median volume diameter (D) of the water droplets, and determining a size distribution of the water droplets using the value pair (μ, D).

US Patent:

20220404266, Dec 22, 2022

Filed:

Jun 17, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/350715

Inventors:

- Burnsville MN, US
Gary Halama - Rosemount MN, US

International Classification:

G01N 21/15
B64D 43/00

Abstract:

A contamination sensor for an optical sensor observation window includes a source, two prisms, a detector, and a controller. The source can emit a collimated light beam at an incident angle that is greater than a critical angle of an interface between a fluid and the window. The window has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the fluid. The prisms can direct the collimated light beam within the window such that the collimated light beam reflects within a contamination detection zone of the window. The detector can receive the collimated light beam. The controller can communicate with the source and detector. The controller can calculate an emission/detection ratio defined by a difference between an amount of light emitted by the source and an amount of light that passes from the source to the detector by a total internal reflectance of the window.