Patents by Inventor Bruce M. PIXTON

Bruce M. PIXTON 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: 9986162
    Abstract: An optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view, with switching between fields of view enabled by switchable mirrored surface is disclosed. A voltage change across the switchable mirror element generates a change in the reflection and transmission properties of the element, such that the element switches between a mirror state and a lens state. When nested in an annular reflective optic system of a given field of view, the switching element enables the opening of an additional optical path through the center of the reflective optics where a set of refractive optics are assembled into an imaging system for a second field of view. This dual field-of-view system changes field of view with no mechanical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis
  • Publication number: 20180041702
    Abstract: An optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view, with switching between fields of view enabled by switchable mirrored surface is disclosed. A voltage change across the switchable mirror element generates a change in the reflection and transmission properties of the element, such that the element switches between a mirror state and a lens state. When nested in an annular reflective optic system of a given field of view, the switching element enables the opening of an additional optical path through the center of the reflective optics where a set of refractive optics are assembled into an imaging system for a second field of view. This dual field-of-view system changes field of view with no mechanical movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis
  • Patent number: 9826153
    Abstract: An optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view, with switching between fields of view enabled by switchable mirrored surface is disclosed. A voltage change across the switchable mirror element generates a change in the reflection and transmission properties of the element, such that the element switches between a mirror state and a lens state. When nested in an annular reflective optic system of a given field of view, the switching element enables the opening of an additional optical path through the center of the reflective optics where a set of refractive optics are assembled into an imaging system for a second field of view. This dual field-of-view system changes field of view with no mechanical movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis
  • Publication number: 20170180643
    Abstract: An optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view, with switching between fields of view enabled by switchable mirrored surface is disclosed. The two fields of view vary in focal length by a factor of three. Both the wide field of view configuration and the narrow field of view configuration image broad-band short wave infrared radiation at an effective f/number of 1.4. A voltage change across the switchable mirror element generates a change in the reflection and transmission properties of the element, such that the element switches between a mirror state and a lens state. When nested in an annular reflective optic system of a given field of view, the switching element enables the opening of an additional optical path through the center of the reflective optics where a set of refractive optics are assembled into an imaging system for a second field of view. This dual field-of-view system changes field of view with no mechanical movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis
  • Patent number: 9655511
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve the prescribing of customized ophthalmic corrections which contain higher order aberration. The apparatus enables the subjective measurement of higher order aberrations such as spherical aberration which can be used as part of the prescription for customized ophthalmic corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, John E. Greivenkamp, Gregory A. Williby, Russell Spaulding
  • Patent number: 9201220
    Abstract: An all-refractive optical system that images a scene at two different fields of view or FOVs, with switching between FOVs enabled by switchable lens elements is disclosed. The two fields of view vary in focal length by a factor of three. The wide FOV images broad-band Short Wave InfraRed SWIR radiation at an f/number of 1.7, while the narrow FOV images narrow-band illuminated SWIR at f/4.9. A voltage change across the switchable lens elements generates an optical power change between finite focus and infinite focus. Situated among static optical elements, the switching elements enable FOV changes with no mechanical movement. The given f/numbers at each FOV are a result of a fixed aperture in the system. The smaller throughput in the narrow FOV mode is augmented by narrow-band illumination of the scene to maintain equivalent sensor response between the two FOVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, Jay N. Vizgaitis, Russell S. Draper
  • Publication number: 20150289759
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve the prescribing of customized ophthalmic corrections which contain higher order aberration. The apparatus enables the subjective measurement of higher order aberrations such as spherical aberration which can be used as part of the prescription for customized ophthalmic corrections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, John E. Greivenkamp, Gregory A. Williby, Russell Spaulding
  • Patent number: 9095280
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve the prescribing of customized ophthalmic corrections which contain higher order aberration. The apparatus enables the subjective measurement of higher order aberrations such as spherical aberration which can be used as part of the prescription for customized ophthalmic corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Pixton, John E. Grievenkamp, Jr., Gregory A. Williby, Russell Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20110228226
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve the prescribing of customized ophthalmic corrections which contain higher order aberration. The apparatus enables the subjective measurement of higher order aberrations such as spherical aberration which can be used as part of the prescription for customized ophthalmic corrections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce M. PIXTON, John E. GRIEVENKAMP, JR., Gregory A. WILLIBY, Russell SPAULDING