Patents by Inventor Joseph Marron

Joseph Marron 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: 10996336
    Abstract: A coherent imaging system produces coherent flood illumination directed toward a remote object and local oscillator (LO) illumination derived based on a same master oscillator as the flood illumination. A Doppler sensor receives the LO illumination and a return of flood illumination reflected off the object. Doppler shift data from the Doppler sensor, corresponding to a longitudinal velocity of the object relative to the imaging system, is used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a low bandwidth, large format focal plane array (FPA), together with the return illumination from the object. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return illumination facilitates producing an image of the object with the low bandwidth FPA despite the longitudinal velocity. Pixel intensities from the FPA are integrated over a period approaching the maximum interference frequency. The Doppler sensor and FPA may concurrently process return for a high energy laser target spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, David N. Sitter, Jr., Gamze Erten
  • Patent number: 10845468
    Abstract: A frequency modulated (coherent) laser detection and ranging system includes a read-out integrated circuit formed with a two-dimensional array of detector elements each including a photosensitive region receiving both return light reflected from a target and light from a local oscillator, and local processing circuitry sampling the output of the photosensitive region four times during each sample period clock cycle to obtain quadrature components. A data bus coupled to one or more outputs of each of the detector elements receives the quadrature components from each of the detector elements for each sample period and serializes the received quadrature components. A processor coupled to the data bus receives the serialized quadrature components and determines an amplitude and a phase for at least one interfering frequency corresponding to interference between the return light and the local oscillator light using the quadrature components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Joseph Marron
  • Patent number: 10754038
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor configured to determine a wavefront phase profile of return illumination reflected from a remote object, where the wavefront phase profile is based on interference between Doppler-shifted local oscillator (LO) illumination and the return illumination. The at least one processor is also configured to calculate a wavefront error based on a comparison between (i) the determined wavefront phase profile of the return illumination and (ii) a desired wavefront phase profile of a high energy laser (HEL) beam. The at least one processor is further configured to control a deformable mirror to at least partially compensate the HEL beam for the calculated wavefront error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten, David N. Sitter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10725156
    Abstract: A method includes generating a first optical signal containing doublet pulses. Each doublet pulse includes a first pulse and a second pulse. The second pulses of the doublet pulses are in quadrature with the first pulses of the doublet pulses. The method also includes transmitting the first optical signal towards a target and receiving a second optical signal containing reflected doublet pulses from the target. Each reflected doublet pulse includes a first reflected pulse and a second reflected pulse. The method further includes performing in-phase and quadrature processing of the first and second reflected pulses and identifying one or more parameters of the target based on the in-phase and quadrature processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Maurice J. Halmos, Joseph Marron, Jae H. Kyung
  • Patent number: 10557927
    Abstract: A system and method for forming a range rate estimate for a target with a laser detection and ranging system including a laser transmitter and an array detector. The method includes: transmitting a plurality of laser pulses at a pulse repetition frequency; forming a one dimensional time series array corresponding to a time record of ladar return photons detected with the array detector; fitting the time series array with a superposition of a sine and a cosine of an initial value of a tentative frequency; iteratively fitting the time series array with a superposition of a sine and a cosine of the tentative frequency, and adjusting the tentative frequency until a completion criterion is satisfied at a final value of the tentative frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Louis Zellinger, Arthur M. Newman, Vitaliy M. Kaganovich
  • Patent number: 10502951
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavefront sensor configured to receive coherent flood illumination that is reflected from a remote object and to estimate wavefront errors associated with the coherent flood illumination. The apparatus also includes a beam director optically coupled to the wavefront sensor and having a telescope and an auto-alignment system. The auto-alignment system is configured to adjust at least one first optical device in order to alter a line-of-sight of the wavefront sensor. The wavefront errors estimated by the wavefront sensor include a wavefront error resulting from the adjustment of the at least one first optical device. The beam director could further include at least one second optical device configured to correct for the wavefront errors. The at least one second optical device could include at least one deformable mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David N. Sitter, Jr., Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Joseph J. Ichkhan, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten
  • Patent number: 10401499
    Abstract: A laser beam projection system builds on a coherent imaging to project a tightly focused laser beam onto a remote object. Coherent flood illumination and local oscillator (LO) illumination are based on one master oscillator. The coherent flood illumination is directed toward a remote object, with a second laser beam directed onto an aimpoint on the same object. A Doppler sensor provides Doppler shift data used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a focal plane array, together with the return flood illumination. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return flood illumination facilitates imaging the object despite the velocity. The wavefront error of the flood illumined remote object image is computed and compared to the desired wavefront of the second laser beam at the aimpoint, with the difference applied to a deformable mirror to shape the second laser beam wavefront for obtaining a desired aimpoint intensity profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten, David N. Sitter, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190265362
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor configured to determine a wavefront phase profile of return illumination reflected from a remote object, where the wavefront phase profile is based on interference between Doppler-shifted local oscillator (LO) illumination and the return illumination. The at least one processor is also configured to calculate a wavefront error based on a comparison between (i) the determined wavefront phase profile of the return illumination and (ii) a desired wavefront phase profile of a high energy laser (HEL) beam. The at least one processor is further configured to control a deformable mirror to at least partially compensate the HEL beam for the calculated wavefront error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten, David N. Sitter, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190072651
    Abstract: A method includes generating a first optical signal containing doublet pulses. Each doublet pulse includes a first pulse and a second pulse. The second pulses of the doublet pulses are in quadrature with the first pulses of the doublet pulses. The method also includes transmitting the first optical signal towards a target and receiving a second optical signal containing reflected doublet pulses from the target. Each reflected doublet pulse includes a first reflected pulse and a second reflected pulse. The method further includes performing in-phase and quadrature processing of the first and second reflected pulses and identifying one or more parameters of the target based on the in-phase and quadrature processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Maurice J. Halmos, Joseph Marron, Jae H. Kyung
  • Publication number: 20180299536
    Abstract: A system and method for forming a range rate estimate for a target with a laser detection and ranging system including a laser transmitter and an array detector. The method includes: transmitting a plurality of laser pulses at a pulse repetition frequency; forming a one dimensional time series array corresponding to a time record of ladar return photons detected with the array detector; fitting the time series array with a superposition of a sine and a cosine of an initial value of a tentative frequency; iteratively fitting the time series array with a superposition of a sine and a cosine of the tentative frequency, and adjusting the tentative frequency until a completion criterion is satisfied at a final value of the tentative frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Louis Zellinger, Arthur M. Newman, Vitaliy M. Kaganovich
  • Publication number: 20180267299
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavefront sensor configured to receive coherent flood illumination that is reflected from a remote object and to estimate wavefront errors associated with the coherent flood illumination. The apparatus also includes a beam director optically coupled to the wavefront sensor and having a telescope and an auto-alignment system. The auto-alignment system is configured to adjust at least one first optical device in order to alter a line-of-sight of the wavefront sensor. The wavefront errors estimated by the wavefront sensor include a wavefront error resulting from the adjustment of the at least one first optical device. The beam director could further include at least one second optical device configured to correct for the wavefront errors. The at least one second optical device could include at least one deformable mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: David N. Sitter, JR., Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Joseph J. lchkhan, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten
  • Publication number: 20180172806
    Abstract: A frequency modulated (coherent) laser detection and ranging system includes a read-out integrated circuit formed with a two-dimensional array of detector elements each including a photosensitive region receiving both return light reflected from a target and light from a local oscillator, and local processing circuitry sampling the output of the photosensitive region four times during each sample period clock cycle to obtain quadrature components. A data bus coupled to one or more outputs of each of the detector elements receives the quadrature components from each of the detector elements for each sample period and serializes the received quadrature components. A processor coupled to the data bus receives the serialized quadrature components and determines an amplitude and a phase for at least one interfering frequency corresponding to interference between the return light and the local oscillator light using the quadrature components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Marron
  • Patent number: 10000000
    Abstract: A frequency modulated (coherent) laser detection and ranging system includes a read-out integrated circuit formed with a two-dimensional array of detector elements each including a photosensitive region receiving both return light reflected from a target and light from a local oscillator, and local processing circuitry sampling the output of the photosensitive region four times during each sample period clock cycle to obtain quadrature components. A data bus coupled to one or more outputs of each of the detector elements receives the quadrature components from each of the detector elements for each sample period and serializes the received quadrature components. A processor coupled to the data bus receives the serialized quadrature components and determines an amplitude and a phase for at least one interfering frequency corresponding to interference between the return light and the local oscillator light using the quadrature components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Joseph Marron
  • Publication number: 20170269214
    Abstract: A laser beam projection system builds on a coherent imaging to project a tightly focused laser beam onto a remote object. Coherent flood illumination and local oscillator (LO) illumination are based on one master oscillator. The coherent flood illumination is directed toward a remote object, with a second laser beam directed onto an aimpoint on the same object. A Doppler sensor provides Doppler shift data used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a focal plane array, together with the return flood illumination. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return flood illumination facilitates imaging the object despite the velocity. The wavefront error of the flood illumined remote object image is computed and compared to the desired wavefront of the second laser beam at the aimpoint, with the difference applied to a deformable mirror to shape the second laser beam wavefront for obtaining a desired aimpoint intensity profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, Gamze Erten, David N. Sitter, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170192094
    Abstract: A coherent imaging system produces coherent flood illumination directed toward a remote object and local oscillator (LO) illumination derived based on a same master oscillator as the flood illumination. A Doppler sensor receives the LO illumination and a return of flood illumination reflected off the object. Doppler shift data from the Doppler sensor, corresponding to a longitudinal velocity of the object relative to the imaging system, is used to produce Doppler-shifted LO illumination received by a low bandwidth, large format focal plane array (FPA), together with the return illumination from the object. Interference between the Doppler-shifted LO illumination and the return illumination facilitates producing an image of the object with the low bandwidth FPA despite the longitudinal velocity. Pixel intensities from the FPA are integrated over a period approaching the maximum interference frequency. The Doppler sensor and FPA may concurrently process return for a high energy laser target spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Maurice J. Halmos, Justin S. Grayer, David N. Sitter, JR., Gamze Erten
  • Publication number: 20160266243
    Abstract: A frequency modulated (coherent) laser detection and ranging system includes a read-out integrated circuit formed with a two-dimensional array of detector elements each including a photosensitive region receiving both return light reflected from a target and light from a local oscillator, and local processing circuitry sampling the output of the photosensitive region four times during each sample period clock cycle to obtain quadrature components. A data bus coupled to one or more outputs of each of the detector elements receives the quadrature components from each of the detector elements for each sample period and serializes the received quadrature components. A processor coupled to the data bus receives the serialized quadrature components and determines an amplitude and a phase for at least one interfering frequency corresponding to interference between the return light and the local oscillator light using the quadrature components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Marron
  • Patent number: 9390468
    Abstract: An imaging system having a first laser emitting a light beam to illuminate the object is provided. The system includes first and second beam splitters. The first beam splitter combines a first light beam portion and a third light beam portion emitted from a second laser to form a first interference pattern. The second beam splitter combines a second light beam portion and a fourth light beam portion to form a second interference pattern. The system includes digital cameras generating raw image data based on the first and second interference patterns, and a computer processing the raw image data to obtain synthetic image plane data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin S. Ni, Joseph Marron, James Wes Irwin
  • Patent number: 7259860
    Abstract: A mode-monitoring system used in connection with discrete beam frequency tunable laser provides optical feedback that can be used for adjusting the laser or for other processing associated with the use of the laser. For example, the output of a frequency tunable source for a frequency-shifting interferometer can be monitored to support the acquisition or processing of more accurate interference data. A first interferometer for taking desired measurements of optical path length differences traveled by different portions of a measuring beam can be linked to a second interferometer for taking measurements of the measuring beam itself. The additional interference data can be interpreted in accordance with the invention to provide measures of beam frequency and intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Marron, Nestor Farmiga, Andrew W. Kulawiec, Thomas J. Dunn
  • Patent number: 7209499
    Abstract: A frequency tuning system for a laser includes mode-matched lasing and feedback cavities. A reflective facet of the feedback cavity is adjustable for retroreflecting different feedback frequencies to the lasing cavity without changing a fixed length of the feedback cavity. A selection among resonant frequencies of the feedback cavity provides for tuning the laser through discrete resonant frequencies of the lasing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Nestor Farmiga, Andrew W. Kulawiec, Joseph Marron, Thomas J. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20060139656
    Abstract: Two common-path interferometers share a measuring cavity for measuring opposite sides of opaque test parts. Interference patterns are formed between one side of the test parts and the reference surface of a first of the two interferometers, between the other side of the test parts and the reference surface of a second of the two interferometers, and between the first and second reference surfaces. The latter measurement between the reference surfaces of the two interferometers enables the measurements of the opposite sides of the test parts to be related to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Kulawiec, Mark Tronolone, Thomas Dunn, Joseph Marron