This inventor holds 4 USPTO granted patents. Top assignee: Rhode Island Board of Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Active years: 2017-2019.
Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2017-2019
Title: Gerald Hefferman: Innovator in Strain Measurement and Laser Technology
Introduction
Gerald Hefferman is a notable inventor based in Warwick, Rhode Island. He has made significant contributions to the fields of strain measurement and laser technology. With a total of 4 patents to his name, Hefferman's work showcases his innovative spirit and technical expertise.
Latest Patents
One of Hefferman's latest patents is a coaxial cable sensor device for distributed strain measurement and shape sensing applications. This invention provides a novel distributed coaxial cable strain sensor that can measure a strain profile over the entire length of a cable. Individual strain sensing elements are constructed using Fabry-Perot interferometers, coaxial cable Bragg gratings, or other reflectometry-based sensing structures. By assembling three or more strain sensors together in a bundle, a coaxial cable shape sensing device can be constructed, which is capable of accurate three-dimensional position measurement.
Another significant patent is the method and apparatus for coherence enhancement of sweep velocity locked lasers via all-electronic upconversion. This invention improves the dynamic coherent length of a sweep velocity-locked laser pulse generator in an all-electronic fashion. The digital sweep velocity-locked laser pulse generator features two operation modes, unidirectional and bidirectional sweep modes, along with self-adaptive and time-dependent loop parameters. High-frequency locking architectures are provided to suppress the linewidth and improve the coherent length of the swept laser. This enhanced laser coherence extends the measurement range for applications including frequency-modulated continuous wave light detection and ranging and optical fiber distributed sensing applications.
Career Highlights
Hefferman is currently associated with the Rhode Island Board of Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. His work in this capacity allows him to contribute to educational advancements and technological innovations within the state.
Collaborations
Hefferman has collaborated with notable coworkers, including Tao Wei and Zhen Chen. Their combined expertise has likely contributed to the success of his innovative projects.
Conclusion
Gerald Hefferman's contributions to strain measurement and laser technology highlight his role as a significant inventor in these fields. His patents reflect a commitment to advancing technology and improving measurement techniques.