Patents by Inventor Fritz B. Harris
Fritz B. Harris 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: 10072971Abstract: A beam delivery technology for high power laser systems, like laser peening systems, for work pieces which may have compound curvatures, includes placing an optical assembly having a receiving optic, beam formatting optics and a scanner mounted thereon, in a position to receive laser pulses from a laser source and within an operating range of the process area. Polarized laser pulses are delivered to the receiving optic while the position of the optical assembly remains unchanged. The pulses proceed through the beam formatting optics to the scanner, and are direct to respective impact areas having nominal shapes and locations on the work piece. The scanning process includes for each laser pulse, setting direction, divergence, polarization, rotation and aspect ratio of the laser pulses output from the scanner, to control the polarization, shape and location on respective impact areas.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: METAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Edward W. H. Lao, Fritz B. Harris, Jr., Randall L. Hurd, Jon Rankin, Scott N. Fochs
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Publication number: 20150329045Abstract: A vehicle warning system, facing rearward, identifies approaching motor vehicles and warns a cyclist that a vehicle is approaching. The system can be configured for either right hand drive or left hand drive roadways. An image capture module provides images of an approaching vehicle and image recognition software confirms a vehicle is approaching, calculates a relative approach speed, and preserves a video file of the encounter on a storage media device. Additional approaches are saved sequentially in “N” number of video files. When “N” number of video files have been recorded, the next approach video overwrites the oldest saved video minimizing video storage but preserving the last “N” encounters. Warning may be communicated to the cyclist by audio, video, or any combination of the two.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventor: Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 8698040Abstract: A laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics through air. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Joseph T. Taranowski, Steven L Honett, Stewart B. Brown
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Patent number: 8608590Abstract: A method of manufacturing a driver, or other types of golf club, includes inducing residual compressive stress by high intensity laser shock peening to form an array of laser shock peened impact zones on the club face. Laser pulses having irradiance greater than 4 GW/cm2, with spot size greater than 4 mm2 are used, including a pulse with on the order of 16 ns, with spot size greater than 9 mm2. Residual compressive stress of more than 400 MPa penetrating with a depth of more than 0.2 mm are imparted, without increased hardening in or damage to the face of the club. Laser shock peening a pattern that covers an interior area leaves the perimeter unpeened, inducing a stress gradient between interior area and the perimeter of the club face. Multiple layers of arrays of laser shock impact zones are applied on the club. The technology is readily applied to assembled club heads.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Metal Improvement Company, LLCInventors: Lloyd A. Hackel, Jon Rankin, Chanh H. Truong, C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Jr.
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Patent number: 8207474Abstract: A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignees: Metal Improvement Company, LLC, Regents of the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd A. Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Publication number: 20110253690Abstract: A beam delivery technology for high power laser systems, like laser peening systems, for work pieces which may have compound curvatures, includes placing an optical assembly having a receiving optic, beam formatting optics and a scanner mounted thereon, in a position to receive laser pulses from a laser source and within an operating range of the process area. Polarized laser pulses are delivered to the receiving optic while the position of the optical assembly remains unchanged. The pulses proceed through the beam formatting optics to the scanner, and are direct to respective impact areas having nominal shapes and locations on the work piece. The scanning process includes for each laser pulse, setting direction, divergence, polarization, rotation and aspect ratio of the laser pulses output from the scanner, to control the polarization, shape and location on respective impact areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: METAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LLCInventors: C. BRENT DANE, Edward W.H. Lao, Fritz B. Harris, JR., Randall L. Hurd, Jon Rankin, Scott N. Fochs
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Patent number: 7960671Abstract: A method for laser shock processing a device, including a metallic body having a surface, comprises conformally applying a compliant solid material to the first region on the surface of the metallic body and applying a layer of ablative material to the second region on the surface of the metallic body. A damping liquid is flowed over the layer of ablative material. An array of pulses of laser energy is directed through the damping fluid to impact the layer of ablative material on the surface and peen the surface in the second region. The pulses induce pressure waves within the metallic body which propagate to the surface in the first region. The compliant solid material acts as a momentum trap, so that the acoustic waves are at least partially coupled into the compliant solid material and attenuated outside of the metallic body.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris, Chanh H. Truong, James D. Wintemute
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Publication number: 20110045922Abstract: A method of manufacturing a driver, or other types of golf club, includes inducing residual compressive stress by high intensity laser shock peening to form an array of laser shock peened impact zones on the club face. Laser pulses having fluence greater than 4 GW/cm2, with spot size greater than 4 mm are used, including a pulse with on the order of 16 ns, with spot size greater than 9 mm2. Residual compressive stress of more than 400 MPa penetrating with a depth of more than 0.2 mm are imparted, without increased hardening in or damage to the face of the club. Laser shock peening a pattern that covers an interior area leaves the perimeter unpeened, inducing a stress gradient between interior area and the perimeter of the club face. Multiple layers of arrays of laser shock impact zones are applied on the club. The technology is readily applied to assembled club heads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2007Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: METAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, LLCInventors: Lloyd A. Hackel, Jon Rankin, Chanh H. Truong, C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, JR.
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Patent number: 7851725Abstract: An active laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted processing head including an optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Joseph T. Taranowski, Stewart B. Brown
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Publication number: 20100219170Abstract: A laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics through air. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Joseph T. Taranowski, Steven L. Honett, Stewart B. Brown
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Patent number: 7750266Abstract: A laser peening method and system allows the work piece to be fixed, while moving and directing the laser beam. A laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted processing head including an optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Joseph T. Taranowski, Stewart B. Brown
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Patent number: 7718921Abstract: A laser energy delivery system includes a relay imaging system. Input optics arranged to receive the laser energy, a transmitting mirror having adjustable angle of incidence relative to the input optics, and a robot mounted optical assembly are configured to direct laser energy toward the movable target image plane. The laser energy follows an optical path including an essentially straight segment from the transmitting mirror to the receiving mirror, having a variable length and a variable angle relative to the input optics through air. Diagnostics on the processing head facilitate operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Metal Improvement Company LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Fritz B. Harris, Joseph T. Taranowski, Steven L Honett, Stewart B. Brown
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Patent number: 7573001Abstract: A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignees: Metal Improvement Company, LLC, Lawrence Livermore National Security LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 7286580Abstract: A laser system, such as a master oscillator/power amplifier system, comprises a gain medium and a stimulated Brillouin scattering SBS mirror system. The SBS mirror system includes an in situ filtered SBS medium that comprises a compound having a small negative non-linear index of refraction, such as a perfluoro compound. An SBS relay telescope having a telescope focal point includes a baffle at the telescope focal point which blocks off angle beams. A beam splitter is placed between the SBS mirror system and the SBS relay telescope, directing a fraction of the beam to an alternate beam path for an alignment fiducial. The SBS mirror system has a collimated SBS cell and a focused SBS cell. An adjustable attenuator is placed between the collimated SBS cell and the focused SBS cell, by which pulse width of the reflected beam can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Metal Improvement Company, Inc.Inventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 7209500Abstract: A laser system, such as a master oscillator/power amplifier system, comprises a gain medium and a stimulated Brillouin scattering SBS mirror system. The SBS mirror system includes an in situ filtered SBS medium that comprises a compound having a small negative non-linear index of refraction, such as a perfluoro compound. An SBS relay telescope having a telescope focal point includes a baffle at the telescope focal point which blocks off angle beams. A beam splitter is placed between the SBS mirror system and the SBS relay telescope, directing a fraction of the beam to an alternate beam path for an alignment fiducial. The SBS mirror system has a collimated SBS cell and a focused SBS cell. An adjustable attenuator is placed between the collimated SBS cell and the focused SBS cell, by which pulse width of the reflected beam can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Metal Improvement Company, LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 7180918Abstract: A method of operating a laser to obtain an output pulse having a single wavelength, comprises inducing an intracavity loss into a laser resonator having an amount that prevents oscillation during a time that energy from the pump source is being stored in the gain medium. Gain is built up in the gain medium with energy from the pump source until formation of a single-frequency relaxation oscillation pulse in the resonator. Upon detection of the onset of the relaxation oscillation pulse, the intracavity loss is reduced, such as by Q-switching, so that the built-up gain stored in the gain medium is output from the resonator in the form of an output pulse at a single frequency. An electronically controllable output coupler is controlled to affect output pulse characteristics. The laser acts a master oscillator in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration. The laser is used for laser peening.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Metal Improvement Company, LLCInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 7110171Abstract: A laser system includes an optical path having an intracavity relay telescope with a telescope focal point for imaging an output of the gain medium between an image location at or near the gain medium and an image location at or near an output coupler for the laser system. A kinematic mount is provided within a vacuum chamber, and adapted to secure beam baffles near the telescope focal point. An access port on the vacuum chamber is adapted for allowing insertion and removal of the beam baffles. A first baffle formed using an alignment pinhole aperture is used during alignment of the laser system. A second tapered baffle replaces the alignment aperture during operation and acts as a far-field baffle in which off angle beams strike the baffle a grazing angle of incidence, reducing fluence levels at the impact areas.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignees: Metal Improvement Company, LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Department of EnergyInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 7110174Abstract: A laser system includes an optical path having an intracavity relay telescope with a telescope focal point for imaging an output of the gain medium between an image location at or near the gain medium and an image location at or near an output coupler for the laser system. A kinematic mount is provided within a vacuum chamber, and adapted to secure beam baffles near the telescope focal point. An access port on the vacuum chamber is adapted for allowing insertion and removal of the beam baffles. A first baffle formed using an alignment pinhole aperture is used during alignment of the laser system. A second tapered baffle replaces the alignment aperture during operation and acts as a far-field baffle in which off angle beams strike the baffle a grazing angle of incidence, reducing fluence levels at the impact areas.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignees: Metal Improvement Company, LLC, The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: C. Brent Dane, Lloyd Hackel, Fritz B. Harris
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Patent number: 6805970Abstract: The properties of a metal piece are altered by laser peening the piece on the first side using an acoustic coupling material operatively connected to the second side and subsequently laser peening the piece on the second side using an acoustic coupling material operatively connected to the first side.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Lloyd A. Hackel, John M. Halpin, Fritz B. Harris, Jr.
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Publication number: 20040086738Abstract: The properties of a metal piece are altered by laser peening the piece on the first side using an acoustic coupling material operatively connected to the second side and subsequently laser peening the piece on the second side using an acoustic coupling material operatively connected to the first sideType: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of California.Inventors: Lloyd A. Hackel, John M. Halpin, Fritz B. Harris