Patents by Inventor John Edward Spencer

John Edward Spencer 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: 11280884
    Abstract: A LIDAR instrument and a method for operating a LIDAR instrument are disclosed. In an embodiment a LIDAR instrument includes a transmitter including a narrow band laser diode configured to emit light in a spectral envelope of 2 nm or less around a central wavelength, wherein the spectral envelope overlaps with an atmospheric molecular absorption band in which a solar radiation is attenuated by at least 3 dB compared to an adjacent non-spectrally-attenuated wavelength band, wherein molecular absorption in the atmospheric molecular absorption band is due to water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ozone methane, or nitrous oxide and wherein the atmospheric molecular absorption band is located between 700 nm and 10,000 nm, and a detector including a filter configured to receive a reflected light in a band of 5 nm or less around the central wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PHOTODIGM INC.
    Inventor: John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20210311170
    Abstract: A LIDAR instrument and a method for operating a LIDAR instrument are disclosed. In an embodiment a LIDAR instrument includes a transmitter including a narrow band laser diode configured to emit light in a spectral envelope of 2 nm or less around a central wavelength, wherein the spectral envelope overlaps with an atmospheric molecular absorption band in which a solar radiation is attenuated by at least 3 dB compared to an adjacent non-spectrally-attenuated wavelength band, wherein molecular absorption in the atmospheric molecular absorption band is due to water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ozone methane, or nitrous oxide and wherein the atmospheric molecular absorption band is located between 700 nm and 10,000 nm, and a detector including a filter configured to receive a reflected light in a band of 5 nm or less around the central wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: John Edward Spencer
  • Patent number: 8995481
    Abstract: An optical system includes an electrically pumped laser light source and an optically pumped laser light source. An optical switch is located in a light path of the electrically pumped laser light source such that when the optical switch is in a first position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed toward the optically pumped laser light source and when the optical switch is in a second position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed away from the optically pumped laser light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20140160555
    Abstract: An optical system includes an electrically pumped laser light source and an optically pumped laser light source. An optical switch is located in a light path of the electrically pumped laser light source such that when the optical switch is in a first position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed toward the optically pumped laser light source and when the optical switch is in a second position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed away from the optically pumped laser light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: PHOTODIGM, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer
  • Patent number: 8696136
    Abstract: A display system includes an optical light source and a display panel with an array of optically excitable pixels. Optics are positioned between the optical light source and the display panel so as to direct light from the optical light source toward the display panel to cause the optically excitable pixels to emit a visible image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston P. Young, John Edward Spencer, Cheryl Achtenhagen
  • Patent number: 8693513
    Abstract: An optical system includes an electrically pumped laser light source and an optically pumped laser light source. An optical switch is located in a light path of the electrically pumped laser light source such that when the optical switch is in a first position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed toward the optically pumped laser light source and when the optical switch is in a second position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed away from the optically pumped laser light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20120195021
    Abstract: A display system includes an optical light source and a display panel with an array of optically excitable pixels. Optics are positioned between the optical light source and the display panel so as to direct light from the optical light source toward the display panel to cause the optically excitable pixels to emit a visible image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, Cheryl Achtenhagen, Preston P. Young, John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20120033290
    Abstract: An optical system includes an electrically pumped laser light source and an optically pumped laser light source. An optical switch is located in a light path of the electrically pumped laser light source such that when the optical switch is in a first position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed toward the optically pumped laser light source and when the optical switch is in a second position light from the electrically pumped laser light source is directed away from the optically pumped laser light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Photodigm, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer
  • Publication number: 20090083679
    Abstract: A method, a data processing method, and a computer program product for the design of efficient second harmonic generation semiconductor lasers is disclosed. A method for determining an optimum laser configuration includes the determination of a conversion efficiency curve for each SHG configuration using a target conversion efficiency. Each curve, on a log10-log10 scale, comprises a first linear portion, a knee region, and a second linear portion. Upon selecting a target SHG-power value, an SHG laser system configuration, in which the target SHG-power value is within the knee region of the conversion efficiency curve, is determined. The SHG laser system configuration is then output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Achtenhagen, John Edward Spencer