Patents by Inventor James L Sanford

James L Sanford 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: 11893966
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Publication number: 20230377532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a digital pixel circuit for liquid crystal displays are provided. The design includes a dual-voltage pixel design, a two-transistor level-shift circuit design, self-adjusting transistor bias circuitry; and an optional on-chip test-array to determine die-specific design-center values for critical transistor leakage and threshold parameters. Level shift design simplicity, small pixel pitch, and applicability for small display applications such as microdisplays, are among the various benefits and advantages obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Stewart S. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20230186874
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Patent number: 11455975
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Publication number: 20210201856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas K. Melena
  • Patent number: 9368074
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20130222443
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 8405690
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 8072670
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator has an array of elements organized into element rows and element columns and an array of electrodes organized into electrode rows and electrode columns to activate the array of elements. The modulator has pixel circuitry organized into circuit rows and circuit columns with the pixel circuitry being electrically coupled to the array of electrodes, such that there is at least one translation of either circuits in a column to electrodes in a row or circuits in a row to electrodes in a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Steven H. Linn
  • Patent number: 8013820
    Abstract: A method, device and computer program are detailed for modulating write light. For a plurality of pixel locations of an electro-optic layer of an optical write valve and across each of a plurality of consecutive frames, a set of pixel data bits is modulated across a first and a second pulse width period of the frame. The first and second pulse width periods, and adjacent pulse periods of sequential frames, are separated from one another by a pulse-off period that is at least equal to a response time of the electro-optic layer during which no bits are modulated. Separately in each frame, write light is output from each of the plurality of pixel locations according to the modulated pixel data bits in the frame. In an embodiment, the set of pixel data bits are modulated by applying a voltage at a pixel location of the electro-optic layer in synchronism with illuminating a light source that illuminates that pixel location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20090015530
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 7367715
    Abstract: A structure that possesses the combined properties of carrying signals through the provision of a series of electrical conductors, and by optical signals through the intermediary of a series of optical waveguides. This imparts a particular advantage thereto for the fabrication of optical data links, providing a convenient, compact method of interconnecting electrical paths to transducer chips and to waveguide structures. This approach solves the problem of connecting polymer waveguides to VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity-Surface-Emitting Laser) arrays, thereby avoiding the problem of damaging fragile wire bonds. A method is also provided which utilizes the foregoing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Russell A. Budd, Punit P. Chiniwalla, Derek B. Dove, James L. Sanford
  • Patent number: 7167169
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit for driving a current mode light modulating device. The circuit includes (a) a capacitor for storing a data voltage, (b) a field effect transistor (FET) controlled by a signal on a scan line, for coupling the data voltage from a signal line to the capacitor, and (c) a current source, controlled by the stored data voltage, for driving the device with current provided from a power line. The power line is in a plane that is geometrically parallel to a plane within which the scan line is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R Libsch, James L Sanford
  • Patent number: 7071932
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The circuit includes a current source for providing current to a first terminal of the OLED, and a generator for providing a variable voltage signal to a second terminal of the OLED to facilitate control of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R Libsch, James L Sanford
  • Publication number: 20040095297
    Abstract: A light emitting pixel circuit comprising a light emitting diode having a parasitic capacitance and coupled to a current source; nonlinear feedback means for rapidly charging the parasitic capacitance and for enabling immediately following such charging, illumination of the diode, responsive to a predefined constant current level from the current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
  • Publication number: 20030107565
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit for driving a current mode light modulating device. The circuit includes (a) a capacitor for storing a data voltage, (b) a field effect transistor (FET) controlled by a signal on a scan line, for coupling the data voltage from a signal line to the capacitor, and (c) a current source, controlled by the stored data voltage, for driving the device with current provided from a power line. The power line is in a plane that is geometrically parallel to a plane within which the scan line is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
  • Publication number: 20030095087
    Abstract: There is provided a circuit for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The circuit includes a current source for providing current to a first terminal of the OLED, and a generator for providing a variable voltage signal to a second terminal of the OLED to facilitate control of the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
  • Patent number: 6467398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation. The invention also features an apparatus to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford, James W. Stalder, Kevin Trick
  • Publication number: 20020108501
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation. The invention also features an apparatus to carry out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford, James W. Stalder, Kevin Trick
  • Patent number: 6129939
    Abstract: A method for making bowl-shaped snack food products, e.g. tortilla chips. The method features placing chip preforms in open bowl-shaped cavities and partially frying the chip preforms by filling them with hot oil from above. Additionally, the preforms are partially fried from below by immersing the lower portions of the preforms in a vat of hot oil and transporting them through the hot oil. After cooking the preforms to a desired moisture content, at which point the preforms retain their bowl shapes outside of or independent of the mold cavities, the preforms are removed from the mold cavities and subsequently cooked to completion in a secondary frying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford