Patents by Inventor Mark R. Ayres
Mark R. Ayres 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).
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Publication number: 20190361163Abstract: A skew mirror is an optical reflective device, such as a volume holographic optical element, whose reflective axis forms an angle (the skew angle) with the surface normal. A skew illuminator is a skew mirror that expands a narrow beam into a wide beam without changing the angular bandwidth of the illumination. Because the skew angle can form a relatively large angle with the surface normal (e.g., about 45), a skew illuminator can be fairly compact, making it suitable for directing light onto a spatial light modulator (SLM) in a small package. In some cases, the skew illuminator is formed as a waveguide, with a holographic layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates. A grating structure in the holographic core diffracts light out of the waveguide and, e.g., onto the active area of an SLM, which modulates the incident light and either transmits it or reflects it back through the waveguided skew illuminator.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Chris Berliner
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Publication number: 20190293853Abstract: A skew mirror is an optical reflective device whose reflective axis forms a non-zero angle with the surface normal. A spatially varying skew mirror is a skew mirror whose reflective axes vary as a function of lateral position. If a spatially varying skew mirror was subdivided into many pieces, some or all of the many pieces could have a reflective axis that points in a different direction. In some variations, a spatially varying skew mirror can act as a focusing mirror that focuses incident light. A spatially varying skew mirror can be made by recording interference patterns between a phase-modulated writing beam and another writing beam or by recording interference patterns between planar wavefronts in a curved holographic recording medium that is later bent or warped.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
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Publication number: 20190293869Abstract: An optical device for polarizing light including a polarization altering element operatively coupled to a light path associated with the first light coupling device and the second light coupling device is described. The optical device may further include a first waveguide portion including a first layer having parallel plane surfaces with the first waveguide portion having a first light coupling device. The optical device may also include a second waveguide portion including a second layer having parallel plane surfaces with the second waveguide portion having a second light coupling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson
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Publication number: 20190278224Abstract: A system and method making one or more holographic optical elements is disclosed. The method may include at least partially submerging a recording medium in an index matching fluid residing in a fluid reservoir. A first surface of the fluid reservoir may include a surface of a first optical coupling element. The method may include positioning the recording medium with respect to the surface of the first optical coupling element. The method may also include applying a first recording beam through the first optical coupling element, the index matching fluid, and a first portion of the recording medium to form a hologram in the first portion of the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Friso Schlottau, Adam C. Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Mark R. Ayres
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Patent number: 10394029Abstract: An optical reflective device for reflecting light including a grating medium having a first and second grating structure is disclosed. The first grating structure may be configured to reflect light of a wavelength about a first reflective axis offset from a surface normal of the grating medium at a first incidence angle. The second grating structure may be configured to reflect light of the wavelength about a second reflective axis offset from the surface normal of the grating medium at a second incidence angle different from the first incidence angle. The second reflective axis may be different from the first reflective axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLCInventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness
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Publication number: 20190258064Abstract: An optical reflective device for homogenizing light including a waveguide having a first and second waveguide surface and a partially reflective element is disclosed. The partially reflective element may be located between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The partially reflective element may have a reflective axis parallel to a waveguide surface normal. The partially reflective element may be configured to reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a first reflectivity for a first set of incidence angles and reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a second reflectivity for a second set of incident angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
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Publication number: 20190179063Abstract: A holographic skew mirror has a reflective axis, or skew axis, that can be tilted with respect to its surface normal. Tilting the skew axis in two dimensions with respect to the surface normal expands the holographic skew mirror's possible field of view, e.g., to 60 or more. These additional angles can be accessed using an out-of-plane writing geometry with matched total internal grazing extension rotation (TIGER) prisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
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Patent number: 10317679Abstract: An optical reflective device for homogenizing light including a waveguide having a first and second waveguide surface and a partially reflective element is disclosed. The partially reflective element may be located between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The partially reflective element may have a reflective axis parallel to a waveguide surface normal. The partially reflective element may be configured to reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a first reflectivity for a first set of incidence angles and reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a second reflectivity for a second set of incident angles.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLCInventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
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Patent number: 10289071Abstract: A system and method of performing incoherent light treatment is disclosed. The method may include securing a recording medium to a securing structure within an internal cavity and delivering light at least partially toward a baffle disposed within the internal cavity. The method may also include securing one or more diffusers to one or more surfaces of the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLCInventors: Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Mark R. Ayres, Suchit Madan, Thomas Riley Morris, Fredric R. Askham
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Publication number: 20190129081Abstract: An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about a constant reflective axis across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has a constant reflective axis across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Kenneth Anderson, Adam Urness, Bradley J. Sissom
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Patent number: 10185069Abstract: An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLCInventors: Mark R. Ayres, Kenneth Anderson, Adam Urness, Friso Schlottau
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Patent number: 10180520Abstract: An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about a constant reflective axis across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has a constant reflective axis across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLCInventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Bradley J. Sissom
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Publication number: 20180252869Abstract: A device including a waveguide having a first waveguide surface and a second waveguide surface parallel to the first waveguide surface is disclosed. The device may include a first light coupling device operatively coupled to the waveguide. The first light coupling device may include a first duct structure and a second duct structure oriented to reflect in-coupled light. Each of the first duct structure and the second duct structure may includes a first planar region and a second planar region parallel to the first planar region and a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface. The device may also include a second light coupling device disposed between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The second light coupling device may be to positioned to receive reflected in-coupled light from the first light coupling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson
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Publication number: 20180149791Abstract: An optical device including a first layer of a total internal reflection (TIR) waveguide and a second layer of the TIR waveguide is disclosed. The second layer of the TIR waveguide may be coupled to the first layer. The second layer may include an output coupling device configured to reflect light toward an exit face of the TIR waveguide. The output coupling device may include one or more diffractive gratings. The optical device may also include an input coupling face disposed on a non-diffractive edge portion the first layer or the second layer or both the first and second layer. The input coupling face may be configured to receive image light. Another optical device may include an input coupling face disposed on a non-diffractive input coupling element. The non-diffractive input coupling element may be positioned in an optical path for directing the image light to the TIR waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau, Mark R. Ayres
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Publication number: 20180143426Abstract: A method of dispersion compensation in an optical device is disclosed. The method may include identifying a first hologram grating vector of a grating medium of the optical device. The first hologram grating vector may correspond to a first wavelength of light. The method may include determining a probe hologram grating vector corresponding to a second wavelength of light different from the first wavelength of light. The method may also include determining a dispersion-compensated second hologram grating vector based at least in part on the probe hologram grating vector and the first hologram grating vector. A device for reflecting light is disclosed. The device may include a grating medium and a grating structure within the grating medium. The grating medium may include a dispersion compensated hologram.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
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Publication number: 20180136606Abstract: A system and method of performing incoherent light treatment is disclosed. The method may include securing a recording medium to a securing structure within an internal cavity and delivering light at least partially toward a baffle disposed within the internal cavity. The method may also include securing one or more diffusers to one or more surfaces of the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Mark R. Ayres, Suchit Madan, Thomas Riley Morris, Fredric R. Askham
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Publication number: 20180113243Abstract: An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Kenneth Anderson, Adam Urness, Friso Schlottau
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Patent number: 9891363Abstract: An optical reflective device referred to as a skew mirror, having a reflective axis that need not be constrained to surface normal, is described. Examples of skew mirrors are configured to reflect light about substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. In some examples, a skew mirror has substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of angles of incidence. Exemplary methods for making and using skew mirrors are also disclosed. Skew mirrors include a grating structure, which in some examples comprises a hologram.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: AKONIA HOLOGRAPHICS LLCInventors: Mark R. Ayres, Kenneth Anderson, Adam Urness, Friso Schlottau
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Publication number: 20170363811Abstract: An optical device for polarizing light including a polarization altering element operatively coupled to a light path associated with the first light coupling device and the second light coupling device is described. The optical device may further include a first waveguide portion including a first layer having parallel plane surfaces with the first waveguide portion having a first light coupling device. The optical device may also include a second waveguide portion including a second layer having parallel plane surfaces with the second waveguide portion having a second light coupling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Friso Schlottau, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson
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Publication number: 20170285348Abstract: An optical reflective device for homogenizing light including a waveguide having a first and second waveguide surface and a partially reflective element is disclosed. The partially reflective element may be located between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The partially reflective element may have a reflective axis parallel to a waveguide surface normal. The partially reflective element may be configured to reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a first reflectivity for a first set of incidence angles and reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a second reflectivity for a second set of incident angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau