Patents by Inventor Erin A. McDowell

Erin A. McDowell 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).

  • Publication number: 20160377868
    Abstract: An image combiner, also referred to as a combiner optic, of a near-eye display system or the like transmits enough light so a user can see remote objects in a “world view”, while also reflecting enough light so the user can simultaneously see a projected image in a “projected” (augmented) view. The disclosed image combiners use two partial reflectors configured to form a wedged reflective cavity. In the display system, light from an imaging device follows a path to the user's eye that includes three reflections in the wedged cavity. By using this capability of the wedged cavity, the combiner optic can have a substantially reduced thickness, and lower profile, than a combiner optic that uses only one partial reflector and only one reflection in the optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. OUDERKIRK, Erin A. McDOWELL, Timothy L. WONG
  • Publication number: 20160306088
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of coating uniformly shaped and sized articles. The method includes providing a reactor having an arrayed inner surface, positioning the articles within the reactor, and coating the articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Max Powers, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Bill H. Dodge, Erin A. McDowell, Robert R. Kieschke, Arokiaraj Jesudoss
  • Publication number: 20160297154
    Abstract: In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in a mold defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form a machined optical component including a machined optical surface. In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in an axially symmetric mold cavity defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form an optical component that does not possess axial symmetry. Optical component formed by these methods and molds for utilizing in these methods also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. OUDERKIRK, Timothy L. WONG, Erin A. MCDOWELL
  • Publication number: 20160153087
    Abstract: A method of coating a plurality of sheets. A fluid is forced through gaps in the plurality of sheets. The fluid has a substantially plug flow profile and the fluid deposits a coating on at least one surface of the plurality of sheets in a self-limiting deposition process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Max Powers, Bill H. Dodge, Timothy J. Nevitt, Daniel J. Schmidt, James R. Miller, Robert R. Kieschke, Erin A. McDowell, Kelly S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20160152518
    Abstract: A method of coating film in a roll. A film is wound into a roll with gaps between the layers of the film in the roll. A fluid is forced through the roll such that the fluid deposits a coating on at least one side of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert R. Kieschke, Erin A. McDowell, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Eugene V. Johnson, Kelly S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150301267
    Abstract: An optical package comprises a light source generating light having a first aspect ratio, an anamorphic light guide to receive the light from the light source, a diverter array to receive and divert light from the anamorphic light guide, and a concentrator to collect light received from the diverter array, wherein the concentrator outputs light having a second aspect ratio, the second aspect ratio being greater than the first aspect ratio. An effective height of the output beam is lower than an effective height of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Max Powers, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Erin A. McDowell, Michael F. Weber
  • Publication number: 20150131259
    Abstract: A light source suitable for general lighting applications combines at least one remote phosphor LED and at least one direct emitting LED in a single unit. Both the remote phosphor LED and the direct emitting LED are carried by a base and covered by a bulb or other suitable cover member, which may be light-diffusing. The remote phosphor LED includes a first LED, a phosphor layer, and a first dichroic reflector. Excitation light from the first LED is reflected by the first dichroic reflector onto the phosphor layer to generate phosphor light, which is substantially transmitted by the first dichroic reflector. At least some light from the direct emitting LED propagates to the cover member without passing through any dichroic reflector, including the first dichroic reflector. The light source may provide white light output using relatively small amounts of phosphor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell
  • Publication number: 20150009648
    Abstract: A backlight light guide comprises a generally planar structure having a light guide layer having a surface that includes a spaced array of extractors, a backside reflective layer, a low refractive index coupling layer disposed on an opposite major surface of the light guide layer, and a reflective polarizer to provide recycling of unused light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirck, Erin A. McDowell
  • Patent number: 4849992
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pulse cancellation system and a pulse cancellation method for enhancing the effect of a small pulse superimposed on a large pulse, in the context of processing video signals in a circuit employing a compression video amplifier. The original waveform is delayed by a selected interval which is short as compared with the expected duration of pulses of interest in it, and the delayed waveform is subtracted from the original one to cancel the effect of those portions of pulses which are longer than the selected delay interval. Excursions of the resulting waveform which are on a selected side of a selected baseline can be removed, if desired. Alternative embodiments provide for selectively bypassing the delay and cancellation circuits, to feed the detector output directly to the compression amplifier in some cases, and for placing the small pulse enhancing circuit before the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Aiken Advanced Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chester T. Alderman, Erin A. McDowell, Edward R. Farren