Patents by Inventor James S. Shirk
James S. Shirk 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: 11789183Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
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Publication number: 20210026043Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
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Patent number: 10802180Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
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Patent number: 10614958Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Inventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason Wolak, Zheng Zhou, Matthew Mackey, Joel Carr
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Publication number: 20190057814Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason Wolak, Zheng Zou, Matthew Mackey, Joel Carr
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Patent number: 10068706Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Publication number: 20180106931Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
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Publication number: 20170282474Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Patent number: 9558888Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, As Represented by Secretary of the NavyInventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Publication number: 20140160623Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a stack of coextruded, alternating first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers that receive electrical charge. The first dielectric layers include a first polymer material and the second dielectric layers include a second polymer material different from the first polymer material. The first polymer material has a permittivity greater than the second polymer material. The second polymer material has a breakdown strength greater than the first polymer material. Adjoining first dielectric layers and second dielectric layers define an interface between the layers that delocalizes electrical charge build-up in the layers. The stack has substantially the crystallographic symmetry before and during receiving electrical charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Patent number: 8611068Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a coextruded first dielectric layer and second dielectric layer. The first dielectric includes a first polymer material and the second dielectric layer includes a second polymer material. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer defining an interface between the layers that delocalizes charges in the layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: Eric Baer, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Patent number: 8003713Abstract: High concentrations of dye may be prepared in combination with thermoplastic polymers and used in optical polymers as monomeric and dimeric molecular solutions. The method of preparing high concentration levels allows the control over the aggregation of dye molecules that is required to maintain effective nonlinear operation. The present invention is applicable to many systems and is essential to the successful production of working optical limiting devices and other optically transparent polymeric devices, as well as other photonic applications, such as nonlinear optics.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Steven Carlo, Arthur W Snow, Richard S. Pong, James S Shirk, Steven R Flom
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Publication number: 20100172066Abstract: A multilayer polymer dielectric film includes a coextruded first dielectric layer and second dielectric layer. The first dielectric includes a first polymer material and the second dielectric layer includes a second polymer material. The first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer defining an interface between the layers that delocalizes charges in the layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: ERIC BAER, Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk, Mason A. Wolak
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Publication number: 20100080742Abstract: High concentrations of dye may be prepared in combination with thermoplastic polymers and used in optical polymers as monomeric and dimeric molecular solutions. The method of preparing high concentration levels allows the control over the aggregation of dye molecules that is required to maintain effective nonlinear operation. The present invention is applicable to many systems and is essential to the successful production of working optical limiting devices and other optically transparent polymeric devices, as well as other photonic applications, such as nonlinear optics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Steven Carlo, Arthur W Snow, Richard S. Pong, James S Shirk, Steven R Flom
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Patent number: 7550586Abstract: The present invention is phthalocyanine compounds with peripheral siloxane substitution, as well as methods for making these compounds and various uses thereof, having the basic structure: wherein —W—X—Y—Z are peripheral groups comprising individual W, X, Y, and Z subgroups; W is a linkage represented by the formula: —D—(R1)0.1—, where D?S or O; X is: —(CH2)n—, n=2 to 8; Y is a siloxane chain; Z is an aryl or alkyl terminal cap; M is two protons or a metal ion; and forms a transparent film of high optical quality with large nonlinear absorption and thermal refraction, free of scattering from solid or liquid crystalline domains making them highly suitable for use as the active component in thin films protective eye wear, and optical data storage applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Arthur W. Snow, James S Shirk, Eva M Maya, Richard G. S. Pong, Steven R. Flom
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Patent number: 7255914Abstract: A new class of composite polymer films where the refractive index can be varied by simple compressive or extensive forces. The films are comprised of alternating layers of an elastomer and a glassy polymer or two different elastomers. When the layer spacing is much less than the wavelength of the probe light, these materials behave as effective medium composites. The layer thickness of the elastomer component and thus the effective index of the composite can be varied by compression, tension or shear.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: James S Shirk, Eric Baer, P. Anne Hiltner
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Patent number: 7002754Abstract: Disclosed are axial, radial or spherical gradient index (GRIN) lenses fabricated by layering composite polymer films into an hierarchical structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: Eric Baer, P. Anne Hiltner, James S. Shirk
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Patent number: 6994885Abstract: The invention provides an optical filter comprising: a. an organic, solar blind filter dye; and b. a UV-transparent, non-scattering and chemically stable substrate. The substrate may be a UV-transparent nanoporous silica glass solid having pores that are substantially filled with a UV-transparent solvent, which has been selected to dissolve said dye and also to match the refractive index of the nanoporous silica glass solid. Alternatively, the substrate may be a UV-transparent inorganic salt compressed to form a solid body. The invention also provides for methods of making these embodiments and an optical device comprising such an optical filter. The filter provides an efficient solar blind filter that is chemically and dimensionally stable.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Richard G. S. Pong, Steven R. Flom, James S. Shirk
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Patent number: 6933402Abstract: The present invention is phthalocyanine compounds with peripheral siloxane substitution, as well as methods for making these compounds and various uses thereof, having the basic structure: wherein —W—X—Y-Z are peripheral groups comprising individual W, X, Y, and Z subgroups; W is a linkage represented by the formula: -D-(R1)0,1—, where D=S or O; X is: —(CH2)n—, n=2 to 8; Y is a siloxane chain; Z is an aryl or alkyl terminal cap; M is two protons or a metal ion; and forms a transparent film of high optical quality with large nonlinear absorption and thermal refraction, free of scattering from solid or liquid crystalline domains making them highly suitable for use as the active component in thin films, protective eye wear, and optical data storage applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Arthur W. Snow, James S Shirk, Eva M Maya, Richard G. S. Pong, Steven R. Flom
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Patent number: 6858289Abstract: The invention provides an optical filter comprising: a. an organic, solar blind filter dye; and b. a UV-transparent, non-scattering and chemically stable substrate. The substrate may be a UV-transparent nanoporous silica glass solid having pores that are substantially filled with a UV-transparent solvent, which has been selected to dissolve said dye and also to match the refractive index of the nanoporous silica glass solid. Alternatively, the substrate may be a UV-transparent inorganic salt compressed to form a solid body. The invention also provides for methods of making these embodiments and an optical device comprising such an optical filter. The filter provides an efficient solar blind filter that is chemically and dimensionally stable.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Richard G. S. Pong, Steven R. Flom, James S. Shirk