Reynold E Wilbert

Title: Reynold E. Wilbert and His Patented Optical Systems.

Introduction

Reynold E. Wilbert is an inventor associated with Seattle, Washington, and The Boeing Company. His two listed patents concern optical technologies for acquiring and tracking targets and analyzing light through interferometry.

Latest Patents

Electromagnetic Beam Acquisition and Tracking System. This invention describes a system designed to acquire and track a target carrying a retroreflector, including in applications aboard high-speed aircraft. It uses two serial beam-deflection systems: a mechanical system with servo-driven scanning mirrors and an acousto-optic system. During search, the mirrors sweep the beam across a broader area while the acousto-optic system rapidly scans a smaller field. After target acquisition, the system transitions through a spiral search mode into tracking, where the beam is dithered around its central axis. If the target is lost, the system uses a spiral pattern to attempt reacquisition before returning to search mode.

Multiple Channel Interferometer. This invention combines signal and reference beams using a small glass plate with a microscopic, two-sided elliptical mirror. The arrangement spatially filters the beams and compensates for refraction in the reference path. Acousto-optic modulators shift the frequencies of the coherent beams, producing interference patterns from which physical characteristics of a target can be measured with high resolution.

Career Highlights

Wilbert’s listed portfolio includes 2 patents. The inventions reflect work in optical beam control, acousto-optic modulation, and precision interferometry, with applications involving target tracking and measurement.

Collaborations

Wilbert is associated with The Boeing Company. His listed coworkers include C. Ray Pond and Patrick D. Texeira.

Conclusion

Reynold E. Wilbert’s two listed patents showcase optical systems that combine beam steering, target tracking, and interferometric measurement.