Patents by Inventor Forrest L. Williams
Forrest L. Williams 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: 7628327Abstract: A shuttering system for a scanning projector having a laser source, a grating light valve light modulator, and a light steering scanner includes a feedback system interconnecting the scanner with the light modulator. The feedback system is configured to deactivate the light modulator in case of scanner malfunction, so as to redirect laser light away from the scanner.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Bret D. Winkler, Forrest L. Williams
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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: 7400449Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing visibility of image artifacts caused by diffractive elements in a laser projector having a structured diffractive device. At least two diffracted orders of light can be selected from light emitted from the structured diffractive device using a spatial light filter. The polarization of at least one of the selected diffracted orders can be changed with respect to another selected diffracted order. The selected diffracted order can be recombined to form an image having reduced visible image artifacts.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Robert R. Christensen, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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Patent number: 7374569Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically distributing power of a light beam for use in administering light therapy. A laser light beam having a maximum peak power is selectively diffused to distribute the maximum peak power. In at least some implementations, the diffused laser light beam is attenuated across the diffused beam. Having undergone processes of diffusion and attenuation, the laser light beam is then safely used to administer light therapy on a patient. In further implementations, the diffusion includes a defocused diffusion and/or includes a distribution of power rather than an attenuation of power.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: DYNATRONICS, CorporationInventors: Gary L. Whatcott, Forrest L. Williams
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Publication number: 20080080054Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for reducing visibility of image artifacts caused by diffractive elements in a laser projector having a structured diffractive device. At least two diffracted orders of light can be selected from light emitted from the structured diffractive device using a spatial light filter. The polarization of at least one of the selected diffracted orders can be changed with respect to another selected diffracted order. The selected diffracted order can be recombined to form an image having reduced visible image artifacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Robert R. Christensen, Forrest L. Williams, Allen H. Tanner
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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: 7193765Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for reducing laser speckle and interference patterns in a laser projector display when using a laser projector having a spatial light modulator (SLM) with a defined pixel rate. The method can include the operation of polarizing a laser output of a continuous wave laser such that the laser output is s-polarized with respect to a beam combiner. The s-polarized laser output can be divided into a first laser beam and a second laser beam. A phase of the second laser beam can be modulated with an amplitude sufficient to create a phase delay of approximately half a wavelength of the laser output and at a frequency at least twice that of the SLM's pixel rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer CorporationInventors: Robert R. Christensen, 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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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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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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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