Theodore M Jones DeceasedArlington, VA

7260023, Aug 21, 2007

Nov 2, 2005

11/268400

Theodore G Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Antonio C Ting - Silver Spring MD, US
Phillip A Sprangle - Great Falls VA, US
Leonard Dale Bibee - Slidell LA, US
Joseph R Penano - Springfield VA, US

United Statesof America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

G01H 9/00

367149

A method for generating an acoustic source in a liquid includes transmitting an optical pulse through the liquid so the optical pulse reaches Ithrough pulse compression and ionizes a liquid volume. The pulse compression is achieved through at least one of a) group velocity dispersion induced longitudinal compression of a frequency chirped optical pulse and b) transverse self focusing via a nonlinear optical Kerr effect. The acoustic source can be generated at a controllable remote location many meters from the optical source. The optical source can be a laser or other suitable optical device.

8223590, Jul 17, 2012

Dec 14, 2010

12/967088

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Tsih C. Yang - Great Falls VA, US
Steven L. Means - Owings MD, US
Kwang B. Yoo - Silver Spring MD, US
Edward R. Franchi - Alexandria VA, US

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

G01S 3/80

367128, 367 5, 367149

A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship. The processor transforms the data of the acoustic signatures, together with data of the known locations of the acoustic sensors and the locations of the laser-acoustic pulse sources, into data of a location of the underwater objects.

8228760, Jul 24, 2012

Jan 6, 2009

12/348925

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Tsih C. Tang - Great Falls VA, US
Steven L. Means - Owings MD, US
Edward R. Franchi - Alexandria VA, US
Kwang B. Yoo - Silver Spring MD, US

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

G01H 9/00

367128, 367149, 367 5

A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship. The processor transforms the data of the acoustic signatures, together with data of the known locations of the acoustic sensors and the locations of the laser-acoustic pulse sources, into data of a location of the underwater objects.

2012011, May 10, 2012

Nov 10, 2011

13/293338

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Antonio C. Ting - Silver Spring MD, US
Daniel F. Gordon - Waldorf MD, US

The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H01S 3/20

372 51

Methods for producing a laser-guided underwater electrical discharge are provided. One or more electrodes defining a desired electrical discharge path are situated in a body of water and are attached to an external electrical power supply. A high-powered, intense laser beam is fired into the water. The laser beam forms an optical filament in the water, which in turn forms an ionized channel having a much greater conductivity than the surrounding water. An external power supply drives an electrical discharge along the path of the ionized channel due to its greater conductivity.

2013014, Jun 13, 2013

Dec 12, 2012

13/711752

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Antonio C. Ting - Silver Spring MD, US
Daniel F. Gordon - Waldorf MD, US
Michael H. Helle - Arlington VA, US
Joseph R. Peñano - Fairfax Station VA, US

H01S 1/04

372 51

A method for generating an extended underwater plasma. A first laser pulse is fired into a body of water to form an underwater optical filament coinciding with a low-energy plasma. A second laser pulse is fired into the water, targeted at the plasma. The second pulse heats the plasma, causing the formation of an extended superheated plasma volume in the water. The two laser pulses can be simultaneous or can be sequential, with the second pulse following the first pulse by up to the filament plasma lifetime. The extended superheated plasma creates an underwater acoustic pulse, wherein the duration, waveform and directivity of the pulse can be tailored by controlling the shape of the underwater laser-generated plasma.

2015014, May 28, 2015

Dec 15, 2014

14/569851

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Antonio C. Ting - Silver Spring MD, US
Daniel F. Gordon - Alexandria VA, US
Michael H. Helle - Arlington VA, US

The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H01S 3/00
G02B 27/09
H01S 3/11

361231

Methods for producing a laser-guided underwater electrical discharge are provided. One or more electrodes defining a desired electrical discharge path are situated in a body of water and are attached to an external electrical power supply. A high-powered, intense laser beam is fired through one or more focusing lenses into the water. The laser beam forms an optical filament in the water, which in turn forms an ionized channel having a much greater conductivity than the surrounding water. An external power supply drives an electrical discharge along the path of the ionized channel due to its greater conductivity.