IP Portfolio

Patent portfolio

Novel Systems Engineering is an IP development and licensing company. The core technology is Differential Depolarization Response (DDR) polarimetric LiDAR. The company licenses intellectual property.

What DDR measures

DDR quantifies how a target scatters two orthogonal polarization states differently. Water and clear atmosphere are volume scatterers that produce symmetric depolarization under H and V illumination. Manufactured materials and biological structures produce asymmetric responses due to structural anisotropy. The scalar difference between the two depolarization ratios is the DDR value. A near-zero DDR indicates symmetric scattering (water, atmosphere). A nonzero DDR indicates a material target.

What is novel

FMCW ranging, silicon photonic phased arrays, and polarimetric LiDAR individually are prior art. The novel contributions in this portfolio are:

  1. The DDR measurement method itself: computing the differential scalar of depolarization ratios under orthogonal illumination, not just a single depolarization ratio.
  2. A dual orthogonal 1D silicon photonic phased array architecture applied specifically to polarimetric DDR measurement, including post-test pairing for yield improvement.
  3. A shared-aperture closed-loop pointing architecture where a SWIR camera and DDR receiver share the same optical path. Beam-narrowing gain exceeds beamsplitter tap loss.
  4. Adaptive environmental calibration using water as a symmetric scattering reference.
  5. Multi-node perimeter sensor networks with geometric 2D velocity vector decomposition from radial Doppler measurements.

Portfolio status

Two provisional patent applications have been filed. Four utility patent applications have been drafted and are awaiting attorney review before filing. Provisional applications establish a priority date but do not grant enforceable patent rights. No utility applications have been filed. No applications are in examination or prosecution. Nothing in this portfolio is an issued patent.

Filed

Provisional 1: Core DDR Measurement System

U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/984,145 · Filed February 16, 2026

Covers the DDR measurement principle: computing the differential scalar of depolarization ratios under orthogonal illumination states to distinguish materials. The described implementation uses a dual orthogonal 1D silicon photonic phased array, FMCW coherent detection at 1550 nm, a four-channel polarimetric receiver, and a single-laser source with SSB modulator. The provisional describes maritime search and rescue as the primary application.

FMCW ranging and silicon photonic phased arrays are prior art components used in the described system. The novel subject matter is the DDR measurement method and its integration with the dual 1D array architecture.

Provisional Filed

Provisional 2: DDR System Extensions

U.S. Provisional Application · Filed approximately February 26, 2026 (number not yet assigned)

Covers four areas that extend the core DDR system described in Provisional 1:

  • Adaptive environmental calibration. Uses symmetric scattering media (ocean surface, clear atmosphere) as continuous DDR baseline references. Includes spatial consistency checks, quorum validation, and drift detection.
  • Shared-aperture closed-loop target acquisition. A SWIR focal plane array and the DDR receiver share the same optical path through a non-polarizing beamsplitter. A Galilean beam expander provides adaptive field of view. Beam-narrowing gain from closed-loop pointing exceeds the signal reduction from the beamsplitter tap.
  • Multi-node perimeter sensor network. Multiple DDR sensor nodes with non-parallel optical axes. A centralized processor resolves 2D velocity vectors from per-node radial Doppler measurements. Includes drift-predictive focused-scan handoff across zone boundaries.
  • Automated classification response actions. System-level responses triggered by DDR classification outputs, including DDR variance-based confidence scoring and anti-spoofing analysis.
Provisional Filed

In Preparation

The following utility patent applications have been drafted. They require attorney review before filing. They have not been filed, are not patent-pending, and confer no enforceable rights.

Core DDR Utility Patent

Continuation of Provisional 1.

Intended to claim the DDR measurement method and the dual orthogonal 1D silicon photonic phased array architecture as applied to DDR sensing. Specific claims will be described after filing.

Draft, Not Filed

Environmental Calibration Utility Patent

Based on calibration subject matter in Provisional 2.

Intended to claim the adaptive environmental calibration method using symmetric scattering media as continuous DDR references. Specific claims will be described after filing.

Draft, Not Filed

Dynamic FOV and Shared-Aperture Acquisition Utility Patent

Continuation-in-part of Provisional 1.

Intended to claim the shared-aperture closed-loop pointing architecture with adaptive Galilean beam expander. Specific claims will be described after filing.

Draft, Not Filed

Perimeter Sensor Grid Utility Patent

Based on network subject matter in Provisional 2.

Intended to claim the multi-node DDR sensor network architecture with geometric 2D velocity vector decomposition and drift-predictive tracking. Specific claims will be described after filing.

Draft, Not Filed
Development Status

SBIR and validation

Novel Systems Engineering is seeking SBIR Phase I funding through a U.S. federal agency to validate DDR measurement physics experimentally. Phase I has not been awarded. The proposed effort is a bench-scale proof-of-concept demonstrating DDR material discrimination across target material classes relevant to maritime search and rescue. DDR contrast predictions (approximately 20:1 between synthetic materials and ocean surface at 1550 nm) are modeled, not yet measured.

Applications

Target domains

  • Maritime search and rescue. Persons and survival equipment against ocean surface. DDR exploits the symmetric scattering of water to produce high predicted contrast against manufactured materials.
  • Drone/bird discrimination at airport radar installations. DDR adds material classification to existing radar track output. Carbon fiber composites produce DDR signatures distinguishable from biological returns against a near-zero atmospheric background.
Licensing

Licensing inquiries

Novel Systems Engineering offers licensing for DDR technology across maritime, counter-UAS, and radar augmentation applications. Both exclusive and non-exclusive licenses are available, structured by market segment. For the provisional applications, reference the application title or number. For the utility drafts, inquire by subject area.

Contact for licensing