| NASA Headquarters Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100296077 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL RANGE IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A three-dimensional range imager includes a light source for providing a modulated light signal, a multiplexer, an optical fiber connecting the light source to the multiplexer, a plurality of optical fibers connected at first ends to the multiplexer and at second ends to a first fiber array, and a transmitter optic disposed adjacent the first fiber array for projecting a pixel pattern of the array onto a target. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100097058 | STRAIN-BASED CARBON NANOTUBE MAGNETOMETER - A carbon nanotube magnetometer including a system and method of making the same that includes a single-walled carbon nanotube network formed on a substrate. Electrodes are deposited on opposite ends of the network and a magnetic needle is deposited on the network between the electrodes. A trench is formed under the network in the substrate to facilitate movement of the needle. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100053634 | DIRECT SOLVE IMAGE BASED WAVE-FRONT SENSING - A method of aligning an array of mirrors and computer program product therefor. The method may be used to align mirrors in a sparse aperture telescope system, e.g., a spaced based imaging interferometer. An image projected onto mirrors in an array of mirrors is reflected onto a sensor, where a point spread function (PSF) is collected from a pair of mirrors. A spatial image is extracted from PSF sidebands and a difference (e.g., piston difference) is determined for the pair of mirrors from the spatial image. Tip and tilt are determined for the pair of mirrors from spatial image characteristics. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20090078929 | NANOWIRE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING A NANOWIRE DEVICE - A method of making nanowires includes providing a silicon substrate having a silicon dioxide insulation on the surface thereof. The silicon dioxide is etched to form one or more pillars, each having a plurality of sidewalls. A thin film of gold is deposited on a sidewall and is subjected to an annealing process. The annealing process causes the gold film to form a globular catalyst particle. The structure is placed in an LPCVD furnace into which is introduced silane gas. Silicon from the gas migrates through the catalyst particle and grows a nanowire from the sidewall of the pillar to a desired length. Electrical contacts are provided at each end of the nanowire to create an active component useable in an electronic circuit. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090078900 | Miniaturized Double Latching Solenoid Valve - A valve includes a generally elongate pintle; a spacer having a rounded surface that bears against the pintle; a bulbous tip fixed to the spacer; and a hollow, generally cylindrical collar fixed to the pintle, the collar enclosing the spacer and the tip and including an opening through which a portion of the tip extends, the opening in the collar and interior of the collar being of a size such that the tip floats therein. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20080212620 | MICROSPHERE FIBER LASER SYSTEM - A microsphere fiber laser system includes a laser beam conducting fiber coated with doped microspheres. One end of the fiber is pumped with a pumping laser. The other end of the fiber is an output. Microspheres with different dopants may be used to obtain outputs of different wavelengths. The microspheres may be attached to an outer surface of a solid fiber or to the internal wall of a hollow fiber. | 09-04-2008 |
