Patents by Inventor James Easter

James Easter 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: 9871340
    Abstract: A tunable laser including: a reflecting mirror; a partially transmitting mirror; a gain medium energized by a pump source; a pair of mirrors surrounding the gain medium, a first prism and a second prism located between the gain medium and the reflecting mirror; the first prism receives radiation from the gain medium and disperses the radiation to the second prism; the second prism receives and directs the radiation towards an optical element which filters the spatially dispersed radiation based on the position to the second prism, the radiation resonates between the reflecting mirror and the partially transmitting mirror; the second prism is placed on a stage moved by a linear motor such that a desired center wavelength is obtained by moving the second prism to a position so as to allow radiation having the desired center wavelength to resonate between the reflecting mirror and the partially transmitting mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: THORLABS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Fendel, David Sproles, James Easter, Xuan Luo
  • Publication number: 20170110848
    Abstract: A tunable laser including: a reflecting mirror; a partially transmitting mirror; a gain medium energized by a pump source; a pair of mirrors surrounding the gain medium, a first prism and a second prism located between the gain medium and the reflecting mirror; the first prism receives radiation from the gain medium and disperses the radiation to the second prism; the second prism receives and directs the radiation towards an optical element which filters the spatially dispersed radiation based on the position to the second prism, the radiation resonates between the reflecting mirror and the partially transmitting mirror; the second prism is placed on a stage moved by a linear motor such that a desired center wavelength is obtained by moving the second prism to a position so as to allow radiation having the desired center wavelength to resonate between the reflecting mirror and the partially transmitting mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Peter FENDEL, David SPROLES, James EASTER, Xuan LUO
  • Publication number: 20070083078
    Abstract: An implantable hearing aid transducer is provided that allows providing movement for stimulation purposes in at least first and second directions. This allows for moving an auditory component in a direction that may be substantially aligned with a natural direction of movement for the auditory component. In one arrangement, a middle ear transducer having an elongated vibratory member that extends into a patient's tympanic cavity is operative to move a tip of the vibratory member in at least first and second directions. A first direction may be along a long axis of the vibratory member while a second direction may be in a direction that is at least partially transverse to the long axis of the vibratory member. Further, the transducer may be positionable to provide alignment of the vibratory member such that the transverse direction of movement is substantially aligned with a direction of natural movement of a middle ear component (e.g. ossicles bone) to be stimulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: James Easter, Jose Bedoya
  • Publication number: 20070055092
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a fixation apparatus and method for interfacing an implantable hearing aid actuator with the ossicular chain of a patient. The fixation apparatus may include one or more surface discontinuities to enhance tissue fixation and thereby yield enhanced mechanical coupling and vibratory response. Surface discontinuities may be in the form of surface pores, surface asperities and complex surface shapes such as grooves, slots, lips or openings formed in the fixation apparatus. The fixation apparatus may also and/or alternatively include a portion or component that is deflectable or that comprises a conditioned shape memory material that is activatable at bodily temperatures to yield a degree of lateral loading when the fixation apparatus is positioned within an opening defined within a bone of the ossicular chain of a patient, thereby yielding enhanced mechanical coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: James Easter, James Kasic, Jose Bedoya, Robert Schneider
  • Publication number: 20060281963
    Abstract: An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: James Easter, Jose Bedoya, Travis Andrews
  • Publication number: 20060183965
    Abstract: An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: James Kasic, James Easter
  • Publication number: 20050197524
    Abstract: A system for reducing the vibration sensitivity of an implantable microphone without an equal or greater reduction in sound sensitivity. The system reduces non-ambient vibrations by placing at least one compliant member into the path of transmission for tissue-borne vibration, but not into the path for ambient sound-induced vibration. More particularly, a compliant member is interposed along the path between a source of non-ambient vibration and an implanted microphone. In one aspect, a compliant base member is disposed between an implanted microphone and an implant wearer's skull. In another aspect, a microphone is compliantly suspended relative to an implant housing using a support membrane. In either aspect, the compliant member (i.e., base member and/or membrane) and the supported member (i.e., housing and/or microphone) define a supported system having a natural or resonant frequency. This natural frequency may be set to a value to advantageously isolate the microphone against transmitted vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Scott Miller, Bernd Waldmann, Travis Andrews, David Basinger, Jose' Bedoya, James Easter, James Kasic, Douglas Miller
  • Publication number: 20050101830
    Abstract: An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: James Easter, Jose Bedoya, Travis Andrews
  • Patent number: 4934977
    Abstract: Dispersion of eutectic material (56) in a thermal disconnect coupling following thermal actuation is avoided by disposing the body (56) of eutectic material in a first axially opening cavity (40) in a driven shaft (24) having teeth (32) normally meshed with teeth (22) on a driving shaft (16). The first cavity (40) is closed by a wall (50) forming part of an output shaft (26) and the interface of the cavity (40) and the wall (50) is provided with seals (92, 94). The first cavity (40) is separated from a second cavity (42) in the driven shaft (24) by a perforated web (44, 46) and together with an element (60) supported by the output shaft (26) defines second chamber into which the body (56) may flow upon thermal actuation. The interface of the element (60) and the second cavity (42) is provided with seals (92, 94) to prevent the escape of eutectic material from the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Falconer, James Easter, David Turner