Patents by Inventor Donald B. T. Kilgus
Donald B. T. Kilgus 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: 7466466Abstract: An optical scanning method and system and method for correcting optical aberrations introduced into the system by a beam deflector are provided. The optical scanning method and system utilize a tilt-corrected, off-axis beam deflector. The scanning system includes an off-axis acousto-optic beam deflector with a walk-off angle operated at high speed and post-scan optics used to focus the scanned beam. A tilted in-scan focus plane resulting from beam width variation through the scan and the cylindrical lens effect is corrected with one or more tilted lens elements within the post-scan optical train.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: GSI Group CorporationInventors: Jonathan S. Ehrmann, Donald B. T. Kilgus
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Patent number: 7199882Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis. Digital data is derived from signals produced by the detectors.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: GSI Group CorporationInventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Publication number: 20040179207Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Applicant: GSI Lumonics CorporationInventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6750974Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: GSI Lumonics CorporationInventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Publication number: 20030184764Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6452686Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “noncooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Publication number: 20020105655Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2002Publication date: August 8, 2002Applicant: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6366357Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6249347Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6181425Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6177998Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be “non-cooperative.” The “non-cooperative” targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1999Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus, Warren Lin, Jonathan S. Ehrmann
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Patent number: 6098031Abstract: A system including confocal and triangulation-based scanners or subsystems provides data which is both acquired and processed under the control of a control algorithm to obtain information such as dimensional information about microscopic targets which may be "non-cooperative." The "non-cooperative" targets are illuminated with a scanning beam of electromagnetic radiation such as laser light incident from a first direction. A confocal detector of the electromagnetic radiation is placed at a first location for receiving reflected radiation which is substantially optically collinear with the incident beam of electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a spatial filter for attenuating background energy. The triangulation-based subsystem also includes a detector of electromagnetic radiation which is placed at a second location which is non-collinear with respect to the incident beam. This detector has a position sensitive axis. Digital data is derived from signals produced by the detectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: GSI Lumonics, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus
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Patent number: 6028671Abstract: A method and system are provided for suppressing or filtering multiple reflections which corrupt photometric (grey scale or color) or height measurements within optical systems such as imaging systems. The reflections may originate within the instrument (i.e. back reflections) or may be inter-reflections between one or more surfaces in a scene. In one embodiment, a beam of electromagnetic energy generated by a source is polarized in a first rotational sense, is transmitted to a point of interest (i.e., scene) of an object, is reflected and received by a receiver having a polarizer which passes reflected electromagnetic energy having a second rotational sense opposite the first rotational sense. In this way, unwanted reflections from the point of interest having the first rotational sense are suppressed and back-reflections to the source of electromagnetic energy are substantially eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1996Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus
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Patent number: 5822486Abstract: An imaging method and system for optimum sampling, image restoration and enhancement is disclosed where imaging errors associated with scanning a fiber optic image guide are identified and filtered to restore image quality to the available resolution limit. Scanned image samples are synchronized with spot positions corresponding to the center of each fiber to avoid generating spurious data resulting from unwanted modulation of the scanning beam by the fiber optic array, manifested as large amplitude multiplicative noise. A detector, such as a position sensitive device, is utilized which allows for monitoring both spot intensity and position. Peak detection on the intensity waveform determines the instant at which the beam is to be sampled. The method applies to any imaging system where a beam of electromagnetic energy such as radiant energy is scanned through a plurality of optical fibers to irradiate the object under examination.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1995Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus
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Patent number: 5768461Abstract: An imaging method and system for optimum sampling, image restoration and enhancement is disclosed where imaging errors associated with scanning a fiber optic image guide are identified and filtered to restore image quality to the available resolution limit. Scanned image samples are synchronized with spot positions corresponding to the center of each fiber to avoid generating spurious data resulting from unwanted modulation of the scanning beam by the fiber optic array, manifested as large amplitude multiplicative noise. A detector, such as a position sensitive device, is utilized which allows for monitoring both spot intensity and position. Peak detection on the intensity waveform determines the instant at which the beam is to be sampled. The method applies to any imaging system where a beam of electromagnetic energy such as radiant energy is scanned through a plurality of optical fibers to irradiate the object under examination.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald B. T. Kilgus