Patents by Inventor Linda J. Mullen

Linda J. Mullen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8373862
    Abstract: An extended range optical imaging system and method for use in turbid media generates a beam of coherent light, modulates the beam of coherent light to encode scan information, directs the modulated beam of coherent light from a first location through the turbid medium toward a target, scans the modulated beam of coherent light over the target in a pattern, according to the scan information, to illuminate the target and to cause light to be reflected, detects the modulated light reflected from the target with a sensor at a second location in the turbid medium to derive an output signal that varies in proportion to the modulated reflected light, demodulates the output signal to derive information comprising the scan information, and constructs an image from the output signal and the scan information so derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan Laux
  • Publication number: 20120069341
    Abstract: An extended range optical imaging system and method for use in turbid media generates a beam of coherent light, modulates the beam of coherent light to encode scan information, directs the modulated beam of coherent light from a first location through the turbid medium toward a target, scans the modulated beam of coherent light over the target in a pattern, according to the scan information, to illuminate the target and to cause light to be reflected, detects the modulated light reflected from the target with a sensor at a second location in the turbid medium to derive an output signal that varies in proportion to the modulated reflected light, demodulates the output signal to derive information comprising the scan information, and constructs an image from the output signal and the scan information so derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan Laux
  • Patent number: 8044999
    Abstract: An image enhancer that includes a laser for emitting an optical signal toward an object in a turbid medium, a modulator for modulating laser intensity of the optical signal, an RF source for driving the modulator and for providing a reference signal, an optical detector for detecting the modulated optical signal that is reflected from the object, the optical detector converting the reflected optical signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal having RF and DC components, an I/Q demodulator for mixing the RF component of the electrical signal with the reference signal and producing in-phase and quadrature phase signal components that can be digitized and processed such that both contrast and range images of the object are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan E. Laux, Brandon Cochenour
  • Publication number: 20080219584
    Abstract: An image enhancer that includes a laser for emitting an optical signal toward an object in a turbid medium, a modulator for modulating laser intensity of the laser, an RF source for driving the modulator and for providing a reference signal, an optical detector for detecting the modulated optical signal that is reflected from the object, the optical detector converting the reflected optical signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal having RF and DC components, an I/Q demodulator for mixing the RF component of the electrical signal with the reference signal and producing in-phase and quadrature phase signal components that can be digitized and processed such that both contrast and range images of the object are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan E. Laux, Brandon Cochenour
  • Patent number: 7010339
    Abstract: A hybrid lidar-radar system for detecting the presence of objects, such as cancerous tumors, within tissues by detecting reflected signals from the tissue and discriminating the information related to the cancerous tumor from the undesirable backscattering of light created by the tissue itself. The hybrid lidar-radar system utilizes continuous wave light that is preferably modulated at frequencies up to 60 GHz. The present invention filters the return signals from the tissue at a subcarrier modulation frequency so as to reject erroneous information contained in scattered lights, while at the same time retaining the coherent, unscattered and modulated light information so as to provide for an accuracy detection of tumors within tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Vincent M. Contarino, Peter R. Herczfeld
  • Publication number: 20040019282
    Abstract: A hybrid lidar-radar system for detecting the presence of objects, such as cancerous tumors, within tissues by detecting reflected signals from the tissue and discriminating the information related to the cancerous tumor from the undesirable backscattering of light created by the tissue itself. The hybrid lidar-radar system utilizes continuous wave light that is preferably modulated at frequencies up to 60 GHz. The present invention filters the return signals from the tissue at a subcarrier modulation frequency so as to reject erroneous information contained in scattered lights, while at the same time retaining the coherent, unscattered and modulated light information so as to provide for an accuracy detection of tumors within tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Vincent M. Contarino, Peter R. Herczfeld
  • Patent number: 5822047
    Abstract: A modulated LIDAR system is disclosed, in which a laser for generating an tical carrier signal and a microwave generator for generating a coded microwave signal are provided. A modulator is further provided for modulating the carrier signal with the microwave signal, whereby a modulated signal is generated. A method of detecting a reflective surface is also disclosed, in which an optical carrier signal is generated, the carrier signal is modulated with a coded microwave signal, the modulated signal is reflected off of a reflective surface and the reflected signal is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Vincent M. Contarino, Peter R. Herczfeld, Linda J. Mullen