Patents by Inventor Aaron Pung

Aaron Pung 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: 11761750
    Abstract: An interferometer includes a coherent light source and an array of electrically coupled light-sensitive pixel elements. The interferometer is configured to direct an internal optical path of the coherent light source and an external optical path of the coherent light source into a monolithic unit cell. In addition, the monolithic unit cell is configured to direct the internal optical path first through the monolithic unit cell and then onto the array and also configured to direct the external optical path back outside the monolithic unit cell through an external environment and then back into the monolithic unit cell and finally onto the array. In addition, interferometer is further configured to combine the internal optical path and the external optical path at the array and produce a first interferogram on the array, the interferogram characterizing an optical property of the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Aaron Pung
  • Publication number: 20230273009
    Abstract: An interferometer includes a coherent light source and an array of electrically coupled light-sensitive pixel elements. The interferometer is configured to direct an internal optical path of the coherent light source and an external optical path of the coherent light source into a monolithic unit cell. In addition, the monolithic unit cell is configured to direct the internal optical path first through the monolithic unit cell and then onto the array and also configured to direct the external optical path back outside the monolithic unit cell through an external environment and then back into the monolithic unit cell and finally onto the array. In addition, interferometer is further configured to combine the internal optical path and the external optical path at the array and produce a first interferogram on the array, the interferogram characterizing an optical property of the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Aaron Pung
  • Publication number: 20230175952
    Abstract: In embodiments, a uniaxial optical multi-measurement sensor comprises a sensor housing having a center axis and a cylindrical surface and an array of electrically coupled light-sensitive pixel elements attached to the cylindrical surface. Each pixel element is positioned having its light-sensitive side facing towards the center axis. In this embodiment, a conical light redistribution optic is positioned along the center axis to direct or reimage uncollimated light entering the sensor housing onto the pixel elements. Also, in this embodiment, the pixel elements are positioned relative to the light redistribution optic to measure or image two or more properties of the uncollimated light entering the sensor housing of a single scene and from a single viewpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Aaron Pung
  • Publication number: 20230179843
    Abstract: An aperture stop exploitation camera comprises an imaging lens column positioned along an optical axis and configured to transmit light from a scene from a single viewpoint and converge the light as it passes through the aperture stop. Also, the camera comprises a light redistribution optic (LRO) that is a thin V-shape having an apex. The LRO is centered along the optical axis with the apex pointing towards the imaging lens column. The LRO has two planar sides with each side angled 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis and each side configured to reflect and transmit the light transmitted from the imaging lens column into three independent, spatially separate images, each retaining all the spectral, polarimetric, and relative intensity information of the light from the scene. The camera comprises three image sensors, each image sensor positioned to receive one of the three independent, spatially separate images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Aaron Pung
  • Publication number: 20230176261
    Abstract: A uniaxial optical multi-measurement imaging system includes an imaging lens column having an optical axis and configured to receive light from a scene from a single viewpoint. The imaging system also includes a light redistribution optic (LRO) in the shape of a thin pyramid shell with an apex. The LRO is centered along the optical axis with the apex pointing towards the imaging lens column. The LRO has planar sides with each side angled 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis and configured to reflect and transmit the light. The imaging system also includes a circumferential filter array (CFA) concentrically located around the LRO. The CFA is configured to filter the light reflected from or transmitted through the LRO. The imaging system includes multiple image sensors, each positioned to receive the light reflected from or transmitted through the LRO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventor: Aaron Pung