Patents by Inventor Brandon Cochenour
Brandon Cochenour 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: 11480522Abstract: A method and system for optical vortex transmissometry. The method uses optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) and optical vortices to discriminate coherent non-scattered light from incoherent scattered light. The system includes a laser which transmits a Gaussian laser beam through a medium. An OAM generating device is placed before a photodetector receiver. Coherent, non-scattered light passing through the OAM generating device forms an optical vortex, used to discriminate against the unwanted scattered signal that does not form a vortex. Alternatively, the system includes a transmitter, which generates one or more OAM modes, which are transmitted through a turbid medium. At the receiver, an OAM detection device analyzes the OAM mode spectrum of the received light. Coherent non-scattered light retains the OAM encoded at the transmitter, while scattered light does not. The attenuation of the channel is determined by comparison of the received OAM mode spectrum relative to the transmitted OAM mode spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Brandon Cochenour, Amanda Alley, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Publication number: 20210080391Abstract: A method and system for optical vortex transmissometry. The method uses optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) and optical vortices to discriminate coherent non-scattered light from incoherent scattered light. The system includes a laser which transmits a Gaussian laser beam through a medium. An OAM generating device is placed before a photodetector receiver. Coherent, non-scattered light passing through the OAM generating device forms an optical vortex, used to discriminate against the unwanted scattered signal that does not form a vortex. Alternatively, the system includes a transmitter, which generates one or more OAM modes, which are transmitted through a turbid medium. At the receiver, an OAM detection device analyzes the OAM mode spectrum of the received light. Coherent non-scattered light retains the OAM encoded at the transmitter, while scattered light does not. The attenuation of the channel is determined by comparison of the received OAM mode spectrum relative to the transmitted OAM mode spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Brandon Cochenour, Amanda Alley, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Patent number: 10871445Abstract: A method and system for optical vortex transmissometry. The method uses optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) and optical vortices to discriminate coherent non-scattered light from incoherent scattered light. The system includes a laser which transmits a Gaussian laser beam through a medium. An OAM generating device is placed before a photodetector receiver. Coherent, non-scattered light passing through the OAM generating device forms an optical vortex, used to discriminate against the unwanted scattered signal that doesn't form a vortex. Alternatively, the system includes a transmitter which generates one or more OAM modes which are transmitted through a turbid medium. At the receiver, an OAM detection device analyzes the OAM mode spectrum of the received light. Coherent non-scattered light retains the OAM encoded at the transmitter, while scattered light does not. The attenuation of the channel is determined by comparison of the received OAM mode spectrum relative to the transmitted OAM mode spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Brandon Cochenour, Amanda Alley, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Publication number: 20200249159Abstract: A method and system for optical vortex transmissometry. The method uses optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) and optical vortices to discriminate coherent non-scattered light from incoherent scattered light. The system includes a laser which transmits a Gaussian laser beam through a medium. An OAM generating device is placed before a photodetector receiver. Coherent, non-scattered light passing through the OAM generating device forms an optical vortex, used to discriminate against the unwanted scattered signal that doesn't form a vortex. Alternatively, the system includes a transmitter which generates one or more OAM modes which are transmitted through a turbid medium. At the receiver, an OAM detection device analyzes the OAM mode spectrum of the received light. Coherent non-scattered light retains the OAM encoded at the transmitter, while scattered light does not. The attenuation of the channel is determined by comparison of the received OAM mode spectrum relative to the transmitted OAM mode spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Brandon Cochenour, Amanda Alley, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Patent number: 10725154Abstract: A method and system for imaging in degraded visual environments. The system includes a laser that is positioned to transmit a Gaussian beam toward a target object located within the degraded visual environment. An optical receiver is positioned to receive return signals. A helical phase element is positioned between the target object and the optical receiver. The return signals pass through the helical phase element. The helical phase element separates coherent and incoherent light by imparting orbital angular momentum on the coherent returns to form an optical vortex.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Brandon Cochenour, Lila Rodgers, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Patent number: 10634790Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for use in a degraded visual environment is provided. A wideband modulated laser pulse is transmitted from a first location through a medium toward a target object. An input of the transmitted wideband modulated laser pulse is detected by an optical receiver. A target modulated laser pulse, reflected from the target object is detected by the optical receiver. The transmitted and reflected laser pulses are filtered by a bandpass filter, based on a predetermined modulated frequency range. The filtered transmitted and reflected laser pulses are digitized by an analog-digital converter. The digitized transmitted laser pulse is correlated with digitized reflected laser pulse by a digital matched filter, wherein the matched filter produces a passband matched filter output. A range of the target object is determined based on the matched filter output.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Linda Mullen, Robert Lee, Justin Nash, Brandon Cochenour
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Publication number: 20190285731Abstract: A method and system for imaging in degraded visual environments. The system includes a laser that is positioned to transmit a Gaussian beam toward a target object located within the degraded visual environment. An optical receiver is positioned to receive return signals. A helical phase element is positioned between the target object and the optical receiver. The return signals pass through the helical phase element. The helical phase element separates coherent and incoherent light by imparting orbital angular momentum on the coherent returns to form an optical vortex.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2018Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Brandon Cochenour, Lila Rodgers, Alan Edward Laux, Linda Mullen
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Publication number: 20180203121Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for use in a degraded visual environment is provided. A wideband modulated laser pulse is transmitted from a first location through a medium toward a target object. An input of the transmitted wideband modulated laser pulse is detected by an optical receiver. A target modulated laser pulse, reflected from the target object is detected by the optical receiver. The transmitted and reflected laser pulses are filtered by a bandpass filter, based on a predetermined modulated frequency range. The filtered transmitted and reflected laser pulses are digitized by an analog-digital converter. The digitized transmitted laser pulse is correlated with digitized reflected laser pulse by a digital matched filter, wherein the matched filter produces a passband matched filter output. A range of the target object is determined based on the matched filter output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Linda Mullen, Robert Lee, Justin Nash, Brandon Cochenour
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Patent number: 9823355Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for bistatic laser range imaging. The apparatus utilizes two light sources, two receivers, a demodulator and an image processor such that a three dimensional image is produced. The method includes generating beams of intensity modulated light, one toward a target, another toward a receiver. The light toward the target reflects from the target toward another receiver. The modulation envelopes of the beams of light are demodulated into components, the components digitized, then decimated, and a three dimensional image is constructed from the digitized components.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Linda Mullen, Brandon Cochenour, Derek Alley
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Publication number: 20170067997Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for bistatic laser range imaging. The apparatus utilizes two light sources, two receivers, a demodulator and an image processor such that a three dimensional image is produced. The method includes generating beams of intensity modulated light, one toward a target, another toward a receiver. The light toward the target reflects from the target toward another receiver. The modulation envelopes of the beams of light are demodulated into components, the components digitized, then decimated, and a three dimensional image is constructed from the digitized components.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Linda Mullen, Brandon Cochenour, Derek Alley
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Patent number: 8044999Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan E. Laux, Brandon Cochenour
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Publication number: 20080219584Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: Linda J. Mullen, Alan E. Laux, Brandon Cochenour