Patents by Inventor Dennis F. Elkins
Dennis F. Elkins 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: 8702248Abstract: A display system able to reduce interpixel intensity gaps caused by the use of pulsed laser sources having relatively short optimum pulse duration. The interpixel intensity gaps are reduced by temporally offsetting multiple laser pulses for a display pixel during a corresponding pixel-scan period. The temporally offset pulses for the display pixel are then scanned to different locations on a viewing surface such that the display pixel has an improved intensity distribution. Additional reduction in the interpixel gaps may be accomplished by de-focusing the temporally offset pulses in a scan direction, increasing the duty cycle of the source lasers, and shifting the location of alternating frames on the viewing surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Robert R. Christensen, Dennis F. Elkins
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Patent number: 8077378Abstract: A calibration method for a grating light modulator includes calibrating light reflective ribbons on the modulator on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The method further includes performing a dark-state calibration and a bright-state calibration for each pixel. Once completed, the results of the dark-state calibration and the bright-state calibration may be combined to ensure a smooth transition between a dark state and a bright state for each pixel.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Michael Wayne Bass, Dennis F. Elkins, Bret D. Winkler
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Publication number: 20090002644Abstract: An invisible scanning safety system for use with laser projection systems that includes sensors monitoring less than the entire laser accessible region such that the region monitored is reduced to almost the absolute minimum, to thereby prevent unwarranted stoppages or disturbances in projection. The system may also monitor a 360 degree region around the lens of the laser projector, a wedge-shaped region, a pyramid-shaped region or a chimney-shaped region.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATIONInventors: Robert R. Christensen, Bret D. Winkler, Allen H. Tanner, Jeffery J. Waite, Dennis F. Elkins, Michael J. McMahon, Forrest L. Williams
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Patent number: 7327909Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 7215840Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 7197200Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 7133583Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 7110624Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner, David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins
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Patent number: 6856449Abstract: A microscopic optical structure controller for providing singular control of individual microscopic optical structures of a microelectromechanical optical device by a multiplexed stream of individual pixel values generated by a pixel value source. The microscopic optical structure controller includes at least one interconnect coupled to the pixel value source for receiving the multiplexed stream of individual pixel values and at least one mapper communicating with the interconnect for extracting individual pixel values from the multiplexed stream and applying the individual pixel values to one or more individual microscopic optical structures according to a configurable mapping. A method and a driver for providing singular control of individual microscopic optical structures of a microelectromechanical optical device are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Bret D. Winkler, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner
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Publication number: 20040179766Abstract: A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner, David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins
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Publication number: 20040145708Abstract: A device for the passive conversion of one format to another includes: red, blue and green laser light sources and at least one infrared laser light source, at least one line converter configured to produce a fan of light, at least one movable lens configured to collimate the fan of light, and at least one array of light modulators placed such that the collimated light is incident on a portion of the light modulators. Vertical pixels of an input image are reproduced on either 1, 2, 3, etc, adjacent light modulators depending on the target image size to produce a modulated light column. Any discrepancy between the modulated light column height and the target image height is compensated for using a zoom lens. The modulated light column is then reflected to a display surface. An entire image is produced by changing the state of the array of light modulators to correspond with each of the vertical columns of the image and sweeping the vertical columns across the display surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Alan R. Hammond, Aaron McAllister
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Patent number: 6763042Abstract: A method and device for the nonlinear combination of laser light which produces a beam of uniform intensity, high spatial purity, and high conversion efficiency. The method includes emitting a laser light from a tunable distributed feedback fiber laser having both thermal and piezoelectric control elements which produces a laser light at a given frequency, wavelength, and intensity; converting the laser light in a nonlinear resonator which uses a nonlinear optical crystal for frequency conversion or mixing; and measuring the resonant frequency of the nonlinear resonator and adjusting the laser light frequency using both the thermal and piezoelectric elements of the fiber laser light source to match the resonant frequency conditions within the nonlinear resonator.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Forrest L. Williams, Yuri S. Grapov, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 6711187Abstract: A rapidly oscillating laser light source is produced that exhibits extended pulse duration having a substantially uniform amplified output. A pulsed beam of laser light having a given wavelength, frequency, duration and intensity is produced such that the pulse shape is controlled. The pulsed beam is amplified using a fiber amplifier which exhibits inherent changes in amplifier gain at the frequencies of interest. The fiber amplifier is continuously pumped. A feedback signal is provided with the amplified pulse characteristics and is used to adjust the pulse shape of the pulsed beam of laser light before amplifying, such that the intensity is changed over the pulse duration to generate a substantially uniform amplified output during each pulse.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Cameron C. Farmer, Yuri S. Grapov
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Publication number: 20030198262Abstract: A rapidly oscillating laser light source is produced that exhibits extended pulse duration having a substantially uniform amplified output. A pulsed beam of laser light having a given wavelength, frequency, duration and intensity is produced such that the pulse shape is controlled. The pulsed beam is amplified using a fiber amplifier which exhibits inherent changes in amplifier gain at the frequencies of interest. The fiber amplifier is continuously pumped. A feedback signal is provided with the amplified pulse characteristics and is used to adjust the pulse shape of the pulsed beam of laser light before amplifying, such that the intensity is changed over the pulse duration to generate a substantially uniform amplified output during each pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Cameron C. Farmer, Yuri S. Grapov
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Publication number: 20030112835Abstract: A method and device for the nonlinear combination of laser light which produces a beam of uniform intensity, high spatial purity, and high conversion efficiency. The method includes emitting a laser light from a tunable distributed feedback fiber laser having both thermal and piezoelectric control elements which produces a laser light at a given frequency, wavelength, and intensity, converting the laser light in a nonlinear resonator which uses a nonlinear optical crystal for frequency conversion or mixing; and measuring the resonant frequency of the nonlinear resonator and adjusting the laser light frequency using both the thermal and piezoelectric elements of the fiber laser light source to match the resonant frequency conditions within the nonlinear resonator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Yuri S. Grapov, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner