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).
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Patent number: 11893966Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
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Publication number: 20230377532Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2020Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Stewart S. Taylor
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Publication number: 20230186874Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
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Patent number: 11455975Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
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Publication number: 20210201856Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas K. Melena
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Patent number: 9368074Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Compound Photonics Ltd.Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
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Publication number: 20130222443Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
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Patent number: 8405690Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Compound Photonics LimitedInventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
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Patent number: 8072670Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 9, 2006Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Compound Photonics LimitedInventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Steven H. Linn
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Patent number: 8013820Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Compound Photonics LimitedInventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
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Publication number: 20090015530Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
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Patent number: 7367715Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Russell A. Budd, Punit P. Chiniwalla, Derek B. Dove, James L. Sanford
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Patent number: 7167169Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics CorporationInventors: Frank R Libsch, James L Sanford
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Patent number: 7071932Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 5, 2002Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics CorporationInventors: Frank R Libsch, James L Sanford
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Publication number: 20040095297Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2002Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
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Publication number: 20030107565Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
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Publication number: 20030095087Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Frank R. Libsch, James L. Sanford
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Patent number: 6467398Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Recot, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford, James W. Stalder, Kevin Trick
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Publication number: 20020108501Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford, James W. Stalder, Kevin Trick
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Patent number: 6129939Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Recot, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Fink, Ernest Marshall, Peris W. Njenga, James L. Sanford