Crane shows results of innovations at Indiana base

Jamie Bass, a young engineer working at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, got to thinking. “There were programs for jamming systems, and there had to be a way to develop something for foot soldiers out on patrol,” he said.

In August 2009, the Daviess County native and cyber security expert filed for a patent for a portable signal transmission surveillance system he designed: a laptop computer programmed to detect and trace electronic signals from IED detonation devices such as cell phones, radios and garage door openers.

Bass met with the man who oversees patent development at Crane and sold him on the idea. From there, Bass worked with an engineer and patent lawyer to refine the invention. In November 2011, U.S. Patent No. 8,001,902 was issued for Bass’ system.

He was among dozens of Crane patent holder recognized Wednesday at the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Invention and Technology Showcase. More than 100 framed patents with drawings of the inventions were displayed around a conference room at the WestGate Academy center. Patent holders were encouraged to continue using imaginative and creative thinking to meet the military’s needs.