Patents by Inventor Daniel Ferguson

Daniel Ferguson 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: 11579292
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11532245
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a customized tour includes providing a list of tour subject indicators with a relevance value for locations to be toured, receiving user selection data regarding the subject indicators, and configuring a tour route based on an aggregate relevance score calculated for the tour subject indicators and locations indicated by one or more users. The method and apparatus may further include defining at least one tour route record comprising an ordered list of locations that satisfies at least a minimum aggregate relevance score constraint and a maximum tour duration constraint and saving information defining the at least one tour route record in a computer memory for use in delivering a corresponding tour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Walter Klappert, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20210097893
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a customized tour includes providing a list of tour subject indicators with a relevance value for locations to be toured, receiving user selection data regarding the subject indicators, and configuring a tour route based on an aggregate relevance score calculated for the tour subject indicators and locations indicated by one or more users. The method and apparatus may further include defining at least one tour route record comprising an ordered list of locations that satisfies at least a minimum aggregate relevance score constraint and a maximum tour duration constraint and saving information defining the at least one tour route record in a computer memory for use in delivering a corresponding tour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Walter Klappert, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200256994
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Blackmore Sensors & Analytics, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10670720
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200124727
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10534084
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20190033453
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for using a square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection. A laser source emits an optical signal and a RF waveform generator generates an input digital chirp signal based on the square wave digital chirp signal. A frequency of the optical signal is modulated based on the input digital chirp signal. A splitter divides the optical signal into a transmit optical signal and a reference optical signal. A detector combines the reference optical signal and a return optical signal from an object. The detector generates an electrical output signal based on the combined reference optical signal and the return optical signal. A processor determines a range to the object based on a characteristic of a Fourier transform the electrical output signal. A method is also provided for using the square wave digital chirp signal for optical chirp range detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, James Curry, Trenton Berg, Richard Funk, Kyle Oliver, Daniel Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9655521
    Abstract: A dual-modality apparatus for imaging of biological tissue includes a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging apparatus and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus. A first optical component reflects a first beam of light provided by a RCM imaging apparatus towards a sample and passes a second beam of light provided by an OCT imaging apparatus towards the sample, such that the first and second beam of lights share at least a portion of an imaging path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: Physical Sciences, Inc., Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    Inventors: Nicusor V. Iftimia, Mircea Mujat, R. Daniel Ferguson, Ankit H. Patel, Milind Rajadhyaksha
  • Publication number: 20140247425
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a system of optical components capable of operating in a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components includes a first optical module for the SLO mode, a second optical module for the OCT mode, and a first scanning device. The first optical module for the SLO mode includes a first source adapted to provide a first imaging beam for the SLO mode and a first detection device configured to receive a first signal associated with a first image of a retina of an eye. The second optical module for the OCT mode includes a second source adapted to provide a second imaging beam for the OCT mode and a second detection device configured to receive a second signal associated with a second image of the retina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Mircea Mujat, Anket H. Patel, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Stephen Burns
  • Publication number: 20140247427
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an eye includes a housing and a system of optical components disposed in the housing. The apparatus is capable of operating in a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components can include a first source to provide a first beam of light for the OCT mode and a second source to provide a second beam of light for the LSLO mode. In the OCT mode, a first optic is used that (i) scans, using a first surface of the first optic, the first beam of light along a retina of an eye in a first dimension, and (ii) descans, using the first surface, a first light returning from the eye in the first dimension to a detection system in the OCT mode. In the LSLO mode, the first optic is used where the second beam of light passes through a second surface of the first optic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Physical Science, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Daniel Ferguson, Daniel X. Hammer, Nicursor V. Iftimia, Chad Bigelow
  • Publication number: 20140213897
    Abstract: A dual-modality apparatus for imaging of biological tissue includes a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging apparatus and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus. A first optical component reflects a first beam of light provided by a RCM imaging apparatus towards a sample and passes a second beam of light provided by an OCT imaging apparatus towards the sample, such that the first and second beam of lights share at least a portion of an imaging path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicusor V. Iftimia, Mircea Mujat, R. Daniel Ferguson, Ankit H. Patel
  • Patent number: 8770751
    Abstract: A method of imaging a retina of an eye includes combining an optical path of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imager and an optical path of a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) imager using a system of optics. The method also includes using a single detector to switch between an OCT mode and a LSLO mode and acquiring images of the retina while switching between the OCT mode and the LSLO mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Daniel Ferguson, Daniel X. Hammer, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Chad Bigelow
  • Patent number: 8696122
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a system of optical components capable of operating in a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components includes a first optical module for the SLO mode, a second optical module for the OCT mode, and a first scanning device. The first optical module for the SLO mode includes a first source adapted to provide a first imaging beam for the SLO mode and a first detection device configured to receive a first signal associated with a first image of a retina of an eye. The second optical module for the OCT mode includes a second source adapted to provide a second imaging beam for the OCT mode and a second detection device configured to receive a second signal associated with a second image of the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Mircea Mujat, Anket H. Patel, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Stephen Burns
  • Publication number: 20130229620
    Abstract: A retinal imaging device includes an optical system configured to (i) scan a portion of the retina of the eye with a line of light, (ii) descan reflected light from the scanned portion of the retina, and (iii) provide output light in a line focus configuration. The device includes a detection device including a linear array of asymmetric pixels having at least a 2:1 ratio of length to width, a detection device with multiple adjacent linear arrays, and/or a detection device using a time delay and integration (TDI) architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Mircea Mujat, Nicusor V. Iftimia
  • Patent number: 8444268
    Abstract: A system provides an optical image of an object. A first module tracks a reference feature of the object. A second module includes a source for an imaging beam, a scanning device to move the imaging beam along a portion of the object and a detection device receives a signal associated with an image of the portion of the object. The first module controls the position of the imaging beam relative to the reference feature to correct for the motion of the object. A third module detects a distortion of the object and compensates for the distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Teoman E. Ustun
  • Patent number: 8201943
    Abstract: A first optical module scans a portion of an eye with a line of light, descans reflected light from the scanned portion of the eye and confocally provides output light in a line focus configuration. A detection device detects the output light and images the portion of the eye. A second optical module detects an optical distortion and corrects the optical distortion in the line of light scanned on the portion of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Mircea Mujat, Nicusor V. Iftimia
  • Publication number: 20120101390
    Abstract: Epithelial cancer screening can include a staining tissue with a cancer targeting agent, identifying a potentially cancerous lesion using fluorescence imaging, and imaging the potentially cancerous lesion for a cancer diagnosis using optical coherence tomography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Nicusor V. Iftimia, Niyom Lue, Daniel X. Hammer, Mircea Mujat, R. Daniel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20120062843
    Abstract: A method of imaging a retina of an eye includes combining an optical path of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imager and an optical path of a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) imager using a system of optics. The method also includes using a single detector to switch between an OCT mode and a LSLO mode and acquiring images of the retina while switching between the OCT mode and the LSLO mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: R. Daniel Ferguson, Daniel X. Hammer, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Chad Bigelow
  • Patent number: 8033665
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an eye includes a housing and a system of optical components disposed in the housing. The apparatus is capable of operating in a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components can include a first source to provide a first beam of light for the OCT mode and a second source to provide a second beam of light for the LSLO mode. In the OCT mode, a first optic is used that (i) scans, using a first surface of the first optic, the first beam of light along a retina of an eye in a first dimension, and (ii) descans, using the first surface, a first light returning from the eye in the first dimension to a detection system in the OCT mode. In the LSLO mode, the first optic is used where the second beam of light passes through a second surface of the first optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Daniel Ferguson, Daniel X. Hammer, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Chad Bigelow