Patents Assigned to Optron Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7116463
    Abstract: A high angular deflection micro-mirror system including a substrate, a spacer structure extending from the substrate, a deformable membrane supported by the spacer structure, one or more supports located off center on the deformable membrane, and one or more mirrors on the support cantilevered therefrom to achieve a high angular deflection of the mirrors as the deformable membranes deform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xingtao Wu, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 6822798
    Abstract: A tunable optical filter including at least one deformable membrane actuator. The actuator may include an array of a thousand or millions of individual actuator cells for strength and mechanical robustness. The deformable membrane actuator including a first primary substrate having a first optical portion, an electrically conductive and deformable membrane, an electrically conductive primary substrate electrode and a membrane support structure. The substrate electrode and the membrane support structure are disposed on or adjacent to the first primary substrate, the deformable membrane being supported by the membrane support structure, and a second substrate having a second optical portion. The second substrate is supported by a load support structure disposed on one surface of the deformable membrane and is located a distance from the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xingtao Wu, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 5471341
    Abstract: A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cardinal Warde, Thomas N. Horsky, Craig M. Schiller, George J. Genetti
  • Patent number: 5287215
    Abstract: A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cardinal Warde, Thomas N. Horsky, Craig M. Schiller, George J. Genetti
  • Patent number: 5196767
    Abstract: The disclosed optical signal processor includes a matrix-addressable field emitter array for supplying a controlled electron emission to a two-dimensional signal processor element that may be either a processor of electrical or two-dimensional optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis L. Leard, Todd N. Tsakiris, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 4863759
    Abstract: The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and an output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as Gen-1 charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is disposed in the vacuum housing intermediate the input and output faces, and the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a high-gain charge transfer signal amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cardinal Warde, Robert F. Dillon, Brian A. Hill
  • Patent number: 4851659
    Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 4822993
    Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 4800263
    Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Optron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Cardinal Warde
  • Patent number: 4794296
    Abstract: The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and a output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a Gen-I charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is dThis invention was made with Government support under Contract F19628-84-C-0048 awarded by the Department of the Air Force. The government has certain rights in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Optron System, Inc.
    Inventors: Cardinal Warde, Robert F. Dillon