Patents by Inventor George C. Hunter

George C. Hunter 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: 5054925
    Abstract: In an interferometer alignment system comprising an interferometer having a plurality of movable elements (78) alignable with respect to an optical axis, a source of radiant energy (1) for the interferometer, means (9, 13) for providing a measurement wavefront (10 M) and a reference wavefront (10 R) from the radiant energy (1), and means (5, 14) for collecting the measurement and reference wavefronts and focusing them as spots (15 R, 15 M); the improvement comprising a camera (18) having a photosensitive surface (29); means (17) for imaging the focused spots (15 R, 15 M) onto the photosensitive surface (29) of the camera (18), the camera (18) providing an output signal (19, 20, 21) based on the imaged spots (15 R, 15 M); means for providing the output signal (19) to a video type monitor (25) for enabling a display (24) of the imaged spots on the monitor (25); means for processing (22) the output signal (21) for providing a set of corresponding coordinates for the displayed imaged spots (30 R, 30 M); means for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventor: George C. Hunter
  • Patent number: 4201473
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the generation and display of interference patterns for the purpose of quantifying the distortion of either a surface or a transmitted wavefront. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, means to align the elements comprising the interferometer cavity, means to continuously magnify, i.e., zoom, the aperture diameter of the interference pattern, means to focus either the measured or limiting aperture onto the face of the vidicon, and means for transducing both the alignment spots and the interference pattern with a standard CCTV camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Domenicali, George C. Hunter
  • Patent number: 4141038
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are herein disclosed for use in conjuction with a standard monochrome closed-circuit television system for the generation, display, and manipulation of geometrical patterns upon the screen of the video monitor for the purpose of quantifying the irregularities in an interference pattern displayed on the screen of the video monitor. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, a control unit connected between the television camera and the video monitor of a standard closed circuit television system. The control unit includes the control means, switches, and electronic circuitry for the generation, manipulation, and control of video signals which are superposed onto the video signals from the camera and which are to be displayed on the screen of the video monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Gecewicz, George C. Hunter
  • Patent number: 3998553
    Abstract: An optical device and method for testing high reflectivity autostigmatic optical elements and systems is disclosed. A thin, partially transmissive optical element, e.g., a pellicle with an optical coating having a transmission factor determined by the nominal reflectivity of the test article, is placed in the measurement leg of a spherical wavefront Fizeau interferometer so that high contrast, two-beam interference fringes can be obtained from a high reflectivity autostigmatic optical element or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Hunter, Paul F. Forman
  • Patent number: 3977789
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which automatically measures the geometrical deviations of a reflecting surface from a reference surface, and which also can be used to automatically measure the deviations of some light beam deviating property of a transparent article from a reference in a non-contacting manner over a plurality of lines on the article being measured. A narrow beam of laser light is scanned simultaneously in a raster pattern over the test article and a reference surface. A uniformly rotating multi-faceted reflector device which has suitably chosen pyramidal angles and which is placed near the focal point of a collimating lens produces the scaning, collimated laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Hunter, Carl A. Zanoni