Patents by Inventor Gilbert D. Feke

Gilbert D. Feke 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: 11047687
    Abstract: A fiber management assembly for a multi-axis fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a mounting block. The mounting block includes an integrated optical circuit (IOC) mounting feature configured to permit mounting thereon an IOC. The mounting block further includes coil mounting features configured to permit mounting at least two optical fiber coils at the mounting block with the at least two fiber coils aligned in substantially different directions in three-dimensional space. The mounting block further includes an exterior surface having at least one substantially exterior, curved zone onto which connecting segments of respective optical fibers between the IOC and respective coils of the at least two optical fiber coils are routed and affixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 10876840
    Abstract: A passive ring interferometer sensor includes an electromagnetic ring path configured to receive a pair of electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic radiation source and to direct the waves to be counter-propagating within the ring path toward respective ends of the path. A combination junction receives the waves from the respective ends and combines the waves to be co-propagating within a coupling path. Polarization elements are configured to set the waves to be mutually co-polarized within the electromagnetic ring path and to be mutually cross-polarized within the coupling path. A detector is configured to receive the mutually cross-polarized waves from the coupling path and to detect second-order coherence. Embodiments can sense rotation rate as fiber-optic gyroscopes or serve as other types of sensors such as gravitational wave sensors. Embodiments may have greatly increased unambiguous range and decreased sensitivity to any centroid wavelength shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 10725243
    Abstract: A broadband light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide source light with a source wavelength spectrum having a centroid thermal sensitivity. The apparatus also includes a broadband optical filter characterized by a filter spectrum that has one or more spectral characteristics and a thermal sensitivity with magnitude and sign. The filter is configured to receive the source light and to deliver broadband output light with an output spectrum that is a function of the source and filter spectra and has an output centroid wavelength. The spectral characteristics and the magnitude and sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter are configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. The filter can be configured in view of a particular source spectrum to stabilize output centroid wavelength and maximize total output power passively with respect to ambient temperature fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 10641963
    Abstract: A broadband light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum. The apparatus also includes a broadband optical filter including both a polarization changer with a length, as well as an exit polarizer. The broadband optical filter receives the source light and delivers broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum that is a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length and has an output centroid wavelength. The polarization changer length is configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. The filter can be configured in view of a particular source wavelength spectrum to thermally stabilize the centroid wavelength and to maximize relative integrated output power passively with respect to ambient temperature fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Gilbert D. Feke, Susannah M. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 10612977
    Abstract: A wavelength calibration apparatus includes a light source configured to deliver a backlight beam characterized by a backlight spectrum. The apparatus includes a gas reference cell configured to absorb light from the backlight beam and transmit an imprinted light beam characterized by an imprinted light spectrum. The apparatus further includes a spectrometer configured to (i) receive the transmitted imprinted light beam from the gas reference cell and to apply a plurality of reference spectral selection factors to spectrally resolve the imprinted light beam into reference indicia groups, (ii) detect a plurality of reference spectral power readings, and (iii) deliver a reference dataset for associating the reference spectral power readings with the reference spectral selection factors. A wavelength calibrator of the apparatus determines a wavelength calibration factor based on a difference between the reference dataset and a standard dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20190384076
    Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light and at least one optical phase modulator configured to receive the broadband source light and to deliver conditioned broadband output light having at least one of reduced spectral modulation depth and increased central degree of nth-order temporal coherence, characterized by a phase noise modulation enhancement factor, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, relative to the broadband source light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20190383614
    Abstract: A passive ring interferometer sensor includes an electromagnetic ring path configured to receive a pair of electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic radiation source and to direct the waves to be counter-propagating within the ring path toward respective ends of the path. A combination junction receives the waves from the respective ends and combines the waves to be co-propagating within a coupling path. Polarization elements are configured to set the waves to be mutually co-polarized within the electromagnetic ring path and to be mutually cross-polarized within the coupling path. A detector is configured to receive the mutually cross-polarized waves from the coupling path and to detect second-order coherence. Embodiments can sense rotation rate as fiber-optic gyroscopes or serve as other types of sensors such as gravitational wave sensors. Embodiments may have greatly increased unambiguous range and decreased sensitivity to any centroid wavelength shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20190353482
    Abstract: A fiber management assembly for a multi-axis fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a mounting block. The mounting block includes an integrated optical circuit (IOC) mounting feature configured to permit mounting thereon an IOC. The mounting block further includes coil mounting features configured to permit mounting at least two optical fiber coils at the mounting block with the at least two fiber coils aligned in substantially different directions in three-dimensional space. The mounting block further includes an exterior surface having at least one substantially exterior, curved zone onto which connecting segments of respective optical fibers between the IOC and respective coils of the at least two optical fiber coils are routed and affixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20190025125
    Abstract: A wavelength calibration apparatus includes a light source configured to deliver a backlight beam characterized by a backlight spectrum. The apparatus includes a gas reference cell configured to absorb light from the backlight beam and transmit an imprinted light beam characterized by an imprinted light spectrum. The apparatus further includes a spectrometer configured to (i) receive the transmitted imprinted light beam from the gas reference cell and to apply a plurality of reference spectral selection factors to spectrally resolve the imprinted light beam into reference indicia groups, (ii) detect a plurality of reference spectral power readings, and (iii) deliver a reference dataset for associating the reference spectral power readings with the reference spectral selection factors. A wavelength calibrator of the apparatus determines a wavelength calibration factor based on a difference between the reference dataset and a standard dataset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20180356228
    Abstract: A wavelength-corrective light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a light source emitting light characterized by a wavelength spectrum having a centroid wavelength with a centroid wavelength operational sensitivity. The apparatus also includes a wavelength-sensitive photodetector having a unitary active area characterized by a plurality of different responsivity spectra. The photodetector is configured to detect the light and deliver a plurality of different wavelength constituent photocurrent signals in response to the detected light corresponding to the different responsivity spectra. The apparatus further includes a centroid wavelength correction circuit configured to receive and act on the plurality of different wavelength constituent photocurrent signals to compensate for the centroid wavelength operational sensitivity. The photocurrent signals may have a nonlinearity with respect to the centroid wavelength, and nonlinearity cancellation can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20180329143
    Abstract: A broadband light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide broadband source light characterized by a source wavelength spectrum. The apparatus also includes a broadband optical filter including both a polarization changer with a length, as well as an exit polarizer. The broadband optical filter receives the source light and delivers broadband output light characterized by an output wavelength spectrum that is a function of the source wavelength spectrum and the polarization changer length and has an output centroid wavelength. The polarization changer length is configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. The filter can be configured in view of a particular source wavelength spectrum to thermally stabilize the centroid wavelength and to maximize relative integrated output power passively with respect to ambient temperature fluctuations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Gilbert D. Feke, Susannah M. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20180314007
    Abstract: A broadband light source apparatus, and corresponding method, includes a broadband light source configured to provide source light with a source wavelength spectrum having a centroid thermal sensitivity. The apparatus also includes a broadband optical filter characterized by a filter spectrum that has one or more spectral characteristics and a thermal sensitivity with magnitude and sign. The filter is configured to receive the source light and to deliver broadband output light with an output spectrum that is a function of the source and filter spectra and has an output centroid wavelength. The spectral characteristics and the magnitude and sign of the thermal sensitivity of the filter are configured to minimize a thermal sensitivity of the output centroid wavelength. The filter can be configured in view of a particular source spectrum to stabilize output centroid wavelength and maximize total output power passively with respect to ambient temperature fluctuations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Gilbert D. Feke, Michael G. Moebius
  • Publication number: 20170370723
    Abstract: A Y-branch dual electro-optical phase modulator (YBDPM) has a stitched-in zinc oxide diffused waveguide. It is more vacuum stable and has higher resistance to photorefractive damage than currently used Ti-diffused waveguides. The YBDPM is useful in Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG), especially in low frequencies applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20170241908
    Abstract: An apparatus has a transducer with a storage phosphor that is chargeable to emit light of a first wavelength in response to an excitation light of a second wavelength from an object scene, wherein the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength. A digital light sensor is disposed to accumulate energy from the emitted light of the transducer and to generate a signal according to the accumulated energy. A charging illumination source is configured to direct a pulsed charging illumination of a third wavelength, shorter than the first wavelength, to the storage phosphor. A control logic processor is in signal communication with the digital light sensor and the charging illumination source and controls synchronization of the timing of pulsed charging illumination and energy acquisition and readout of the digital light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 9560292
    Abstract: A frame-sequential multiwavelength imaging system comprises a wavelength switching device for producing a repeated series of different wavelength profiles, a detector for detecting the dynamic scene and a signal processing unit for synthesizing a dynamic multiwavelength image of the dynamic scene. The signal processing unit may comprise at least one input device at least one logic device and at least one output device. The system can be used in a method to perform multiwavelength imaging of a dynamic scene, typically for surgical purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 9113784
    Abstract: An imaging system and method for imaging an immobilized object. The imaging system includes a support member adapted to receive the object in an immobilized state. The system also includes means for imaging the immobilized object in various imaging modes to capture images of the object. The imaging system further includes a movable phosphor screen. The phosphor screen is adapted to be movable without moving the immobilized object and support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin Corporation
    Inventors: Gilbert D. Feke, William E. McLaughlin, Douglas L. Vizard
  • Publication number: 20140240468
    Abstract: A frame-sequential multiwavelength imaging system comprises a wavelength switching device for producing a repeated series of different wavelength profiles, a detector for detecting the dynamic scene and a signal processing unit for synthesizing a dynamic multiwavelength image of the dynamic scene. The signal processing unit may comprise at least one input device at least one logic device and at least one output device. The system can be used in a method to perform multiwavelength imaging of a dynamic scene, typically for surgical purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 8724979
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for imaging an object has an enclosure chassis that defines an enclosed imaging volume and that provides an imaging aperture to a camera apparatus that mounts against the chassis and that further provides at least a first lateral access opening for access to the object. A light-obstructing gasket is coupled to the enclosure chassis and has at least a first foldable lateral access leaf that folds to a first position against the first lateral access opening to block ambient light through the first lateral access opening and that folds away from the first lateral access opening to a second position to allow access to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Viewpoint Laboratories, LLC.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20140086567
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for imaging an object has an enclosure chassis that defines an enclosed imaging volume and that provides an imaging aperture to a camera apparatus that mounts against the chassis and that further provides at least a first lateral access opening for access to the object. A light-obstructing gasket is coupled to the enclosure chassis and has at least a first foldable lateral access leaf that folds to a first position against the first lateral access opening to block ambient light through the first lateral access opening and that folds away from the first lateral access opening to a second position to allow access to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20140066819
    Abstract: A luminescence-guided focused ultrasound apparatus, comprising at least one focused ultrasound transducer that delivers focused ultrasound energy to at least one focal region within the subject, at least one luminescence detector that detects a luminescence signal generated within the subject, and at least one guiding element that guides the at least one focused ultrasound transducer to deliver focused ultrasound energy to the at least one focal region wherein the at least one guiding element is influenced by the detected luminescence signal. The at least one focused ultrasound transducer may be configured in operate in a plurality of modes, including a low-intensity mode for delivering low-intensity focused ultrasound energy and a high-intensity mode for delivering high-intensity focused ultrasound energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Bruker Biospin Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke