Patents by Inventor Peter J. Miller
Peter J. Miller 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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Patent number: 6717706Abstract: State of polarization detectors and polarization control systems are disclosed. For example, the invention features an integrated optical assembly including: (i) a series of polarization-sensitive interfaces defining an optical beam path for an input optical beam to pass through the assembly, wherein each polarization-sensitive interface derives a sample beam from the input beam; and (ii) one or more retardation layers each positioned between a different pair of the polarization-sensitive interfaces, wherein the retardation layers are integrally coupled with the polarization-sensitive interfaces, and wherein the retardation layers and polarization-sensitive interfaces cause each sample beam to have an intensity that provides different information about the state of polarization of the input beam.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Cambridge Research and Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Miller, Paul J. Cronin
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Patent number: 6696531Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a polymer by polymerizing a component containing 3,4-epoxy-1-butene in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst and a hydroxy-functional starter and it also relates to the obtained polymers.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Bayer Polymers LLCInventors: Helmut Greiving, Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6690466Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed comprising an illuminator which produces illumination of any desired pure wavelength or of any selected mixture of pure wavelengths simultaneously, which illuminates a sample without spatio-spectral artifacts using illumination optics designed for that purpose; imaging optics, which form an image of the sample at a detector or viewing port; and a detector. This enables imaging the complete spectral image cube for a sample by taking sequential images while illuminating with a series of pure wavelengths, with greater ease and economy than by means of tunable filters, interferometers and the like. It further enables imaging while the sample is illuminated with a precisely controlled mixture of illuminant wavelengths, so that the image presented to the detector is a linear superposition of the sample properties at many wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Miller, Clifford C. Hoyt
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Publication number: 20030224062Abstract: The present invention provides a dietary or food supplement for healthy humans that includes a combination of 4-hydroxyisoleucine and creatine, or nutraceutically acceptable derivatives of these two compounds. The supplement may include additives such as carbohydrates or amino acids. The invention further includes a regimen for supplementing a healthy athlete's diet by administering on a regular basis to the athlete 4-hydroxyisoleucine and creatine, or nutraceutically acceptable derivatives of these two compounds. The invention also provides a method for enhancing the body's absorption and utilization of a nutrient, comprising administering 4-hydroxyisoleucine or a nutraceutically acceptable derivative thereof in combination with the nutrient.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Peter J. Miller, Christine Steele, Kevin Kerr
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Publication number: 20030223248Abstract: The invention features a multi-spectral microscopy system for illuminating a sample with light of a selectable spectral content and generating an image of the sample in response to the illumination. The multi-spectral microscopy system includes a multispectral illuminator that provides output radiation having the selectable spectral content. A preferred set of optical arrangements for the multispectral illuminator generates the output radiation so that the spectral content of the output radiation is substantially uniform across its transverse profile. Furthermore, the multispectral illuminator can include monitoring optics and a corresponding detector array that independently monitors the output in each spectral band of the radiation produced by the multispectral illuminator. The monitoring provides calibration, feedback, and/or source aging information to insure robust and reliable performance for the multispectral illuminator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Paul J. Cronin, Daniel Orband, Stephen D. Fantone, Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20030098918Abstract: The present invention provides a color imaging system and a method to capture an accurate color image by use of a tunable filter tunable between two states and a color detector that records the light transmitted through the filter when the filter is in the first state and then in the second state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2000Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20030081204Abstract: A method is described that includes measuring, at each of a set of W wavelength bins, a spectral response of at least one region of a sample stained with multiple stains, and determining the concentration of at least one of the stains in the region of the sample based in part on the spectral responses, the wavelength bins being chosen so that a matrix of elements that represent the responses of the stains at the wavelength bin has an inverse for which a mathematical stability is maximum relative to the inverses of other matrices of elements that represent the responses of the stains for other possible sets of wavelength bins.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Paul J. Cronin, Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6552836Abstract: The invention is an instrument for sensing the state of polarization (SOP), and for transforming the SOP of a beam of light from an incident continuously-varying arbitrary SOP to a desired exit SOP, using a polarization compensator under feedback control. A polarization sensor uses two or three samples of a beam to sense the Poincare sphere latitude and longitude error in SOP. A polarization controller adjusts the SOP of light, which is then sensed by the polarization sensor, which develops signals to drive the polarization compensator using feedback methods. Unlike prior-art systems, the feedback seeks a mid-point rather than an extremum in the sensed signals, so there is no sign ambiguity in the feedback control. Further, the sensor signals indicate orthogonal displacements in SOP that correspond to specific elements in the polarization controller, so there is no ambiguity as to which element needs adjustment in order to correct a given error in SOP.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6535257Abstract: A liquid crystal cell assembly is described which eliminates high-order multiple-beam interference from reflections at the interfaces between the various elements. It can incorporate fixed retarders for compensation or production of high retardances. The invention enables standard, economical methods to be used in making the liquid crystal cell, retarder elements, optical coatings, and overall assembly. Transmissive and reflective embodiments are shown.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20030043445Abstract: State of polarization detectors and polarization control systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Peter J. Miller, Paul J. Cronin
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Publication number: 20030030801Abstract: A imaging method is described that includes: obtaining a spectral weighting function indicative of an attribute of the reference sample; illuminating a target sample with light whose spectral flux distribution corresponds to the spectral weighting function to produce a corresponding target image, wherein the target image is indicative of a response of the target sample to the corresponding illumination at multiple spatial locations of the target sample; and identifying one or more target features in the target sample based on the target image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: Richard Levenson, Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20030025869Abstract: A method for producing a liquid crystal device, the method including: assembling two substrates to form at least one liquid crystal cell; and removing material from a first one of the assembled substrates to produce a first region of the first substrate that is thinner than a second region of the first substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Randall J. Deary, Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20030026583Abstract: A variable optical attenuator including: a birefringent element positioned to separate an input optical signal into two spatially separated, orthogonally polarized beams; a LC modulator positioned to receive the orthogonally polarized beams and selectively alter their polarizations; a reflective element positioned to reflect the beams back through the LC modulator and the birefringent element, wherein the birefringent element recombines orthogonally polarized components of the reflected beams to produce an output optical signal; and a controller coupled to the LC modulator to selectively cause the LC modulator to alter the polarizations of the orthogonally polarized beams, wherein during operation the controller is responsive to a request to variably attenuate the intensity of the output optical signal relative to the intensity of the input optical signal to one of multiple non-zero attenuation settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2001Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Clifford C. Hoyt, Peter J. Miller
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Publication number: 20020181066Abstract: The invention is an instrument for sensing the state of polarization (SOP), and for transforming the SOP of a beam of light from an incident continuously-varying arbitrary SOP to a desired exit SOP, using a polarization compensator under feedback control. A polarization sensor uses two or three samples of a beam to sense the Poincare sphere latitude and longitude error in SOP. A polarization controller adjusts the SOP of light, which is then sensed by the polarization sensor, which develops signals to drive the polarization compensator using feedback methods. Unlike prior-art systems, the feedback seeks a mid-point rather than an extremum in the sensed signals, so there is no sign ambiguity in the feedback control. Further, the sensor signals indicate orthogonal displacements in SOP that correspond to specific elements in the polarization controller, so there is no ambiguity as to which element needs adjustment in order to correct a given error in SOP.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc., a Delaware corporationInventor: Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6421131Abstract: A birefringent interferometer system is described which uses nematic liquid crystal cells to produce variable optical path differences (OPD) between light of different polarization states that are interfered at a polarizing analyzer. Fixed retarders may also be incorporated to extend the range of OPD. The interferometer provides wide field-of-view, continuously variable path difference over a large range, and an on-board monitor of OPD for ensuring accurate settings of path difference, and hence, an accurate wavelength scale in the spectra produced by the apparatus. The system can further incorporate additional polarizing optics so it responds equally well to light of any incident polarization state without loss of efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6403947Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed which provides means for obtaining images with essentially diffraction-limited spatial resolution, and can distinguish between several species of probes within a sample. It may be used with fluorescent, luminescent, up-converting reporter, quantum dot, and other types of probes. Two or more exposures are taken through a filter which expresses different filter states, one of which is preferably a relatively neutral state with high transmission for all wavelengths of interest, and the others of which provide predetermined variation in transmission that are preferably sloping or periodic in wavelength. The probe species is identified by the ratio of response at the various filter settings.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.Inventors: Clifford C. Hoyt, Richard M. Levenson, Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6373614Abstract: The invention is an instrument for sensing the state of polarization (SOP), and for transforming the SOP of a beam of light from an incident continuously-varying arbitrary SOP to a desired exit SOP, using a polarization compensator under feedback control. A polarization sensor uses two or three samples of a beam to sense the Poincare sphere latitude and longitude error in SOP. A polarization controller adjusts the SOP of light, which is then sensed by the polarization sensor, which develops signals to drive the polarization compensator using feedback methods. Unlike prior-art systems, the feedback seeks a mid-point rather than an extremum in the sensed signals, so there is no sign ambiguity in the feedback control. Further, the sensor signals indicate orthogonal displacements in SOP that correspond to specific elements in the polarization controller, so there is no ambiguity as to which element needs adjustment in order to correct a given error in SOP.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Cambridge Research Instrumentation Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6373568Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed comprising an illuminator which produces illumination of any desired pure wavelength or of any selected mixture of pure wavelengths simultaneously, which illuminates a sample without spatio-spectral artifacts using illumination optics designed for that purpose; imaging optics, which form an image of the sample at a detector or viewing port; and a detector. This enables imaging the complete spectral image cube for a sample by taking sequential images while illuminating with a series of pure wavelengths, with greater ease and economy than by means of tunable filters, interferometers and the like. It further enables imaging while the sample is illuminated with a precisely controlled mixture of illuminant wavelengths, so that the image presented to the detector is a linear superposition of the sample properties at many wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Miller, Clifford C. Hoyt
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Publication number: 20020001080Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed comprising an illuminator which produces illumination of any desired pure wavelength or of any selected mixture of pure wavelengths simultaneously, which illuminates a sample without spatio-spectral artifacts using illumination optics designed for that purpose; imaging optics, which form an image of the sample at a detector or viewing port; and a detector. This enables imaging the complete spectral image cube for a sample by taking sequential images while illuminating with a series of pure wavelengths, with greater ease and economy than by means of tunable filters, interferometers and the like. It further enables imaging while the sample is illuminated with a precisely controlled mixture of illuminant wavelengths, so that the image presented to the detector is a linear superposition of the sample properties at many wavelengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Applicant: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc., Massachusetts corporationInventors: Peter J. Miller, Clifford C. Hoyt
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Publication number: 20010050738Abstract: A liquid crystal cell assembly is described which eliminates high-order multiple-beam interference from reflections at the interfaces between the various elements. It can incorporate fixed retarders for compensation or production of high retardances. The invention enables standard, economical methods to be used in making the liquid crystal cell, retarder elements, optical coatings, and overall assembly. Transmissive and reflective embodiments are shown.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2001Publication date: December 13, 2001Applicant: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller