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).

  • Patent number: 8702248
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Christensen, Dennis F. Elkins
  • Patent number: 8077378
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wayne Bass, Dennis F. Elkins, Bret D. Winkler
  • Publication number: 20090002644
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert R. Christensen, Bret D. Winkler, Allen H. Tanner, Jeffery J. Waite, Dennis F. Elkins, Michael J. McMahon, Forrest L. Williams
  • Patent number: 7327909
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7215840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7197200
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7133583
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7110624
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner, David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins
  • Patent number: 6856449
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Bret D. Winkler, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20040179766
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner, David Marceau, Dennis F. Elkins
  • Publication number: 20040145708
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Alan R. Hammond, Aaron McAllister
  • Patent number: 6763042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Yuri S. Grapov, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner
  • Patent number: 6711187
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Cameron C. Farmer, Yuri S. Grapov
  • Publication number: 20030198262
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Allen H. Tanner, Dennis F. Elkins, Cameron C. Farmer, Yuri S. Grapov
  • Publication number: 20030112835
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Forrest L. Williams, Yuri S. Grapov, Dennis F. Elkins, Allen H. Tanner