Patents by Inventor Kevin P. Thompson

Kevin P. Thompson 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: 8873049
    Abstract: A low-cost optics, broadband, astigmatism-corrected practical spectrometer. An off-the-shelf cylindrical lens is used to remove astigmatism over the full bandwidth, providing better than 0.1 nm spectral resolution and more than 50% throughput over a bandwidth of 400 nm centered at 800 nm. The spectrometer includes a first spherical mirror disposed along an optical path in an off-axis (tilted) orientation; a diffraction grating disposed along the optical axis in a location optically downstream from the first mirror; a second spherical mirror disposed along the optical path in an off-axis orientation in a location optically downstream from the diffraction grating; a cylindrical optic disposed in the optical path; and a detector disposed in the optical path in a location optically downstream from the second spherical mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Kevin P. Thompson, Kye-Sung Lee
  • Publication number: 20130044313
    Abstract: A low-cost optics, broadband, astigmatism-corrected practical spectrometer. An off-the-shelf cylindrical lens is used to remove astigmatism over the full bandwidth, providing better than 0.1 nm spectral resolution and more than 50% through-put over a bandwidth of 400 nm centered at 800 nm. The spectrometer includes a first spherical mirror disposed along an optical path in an off-axis (tilted) orientation; a diffraction grating disposed along the optical axis in a location optically downstream from the first mirror; a second spherical mirror disposed along the optical path in an off-axis orientation in a location optically down-stream from the diffraction grating; a cylindrical optic disposed in the optical path; and a detector disposed in the optical path in a location optically downstream from the second spherical mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Kevin P. Thompson, Kye-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8184365
    Abstract: An optical system suitable for use in an optical instrument such as a handheld optical probe, the optical system including a scanning element and an objective, the objective including a variable focus lens that can be electronically controlled to change the focal length of the optical system. In some embodiments, the optical system can axially and laterally scan a subject material by sequentially focusing at an axial depth using the variable focus lens and laterally scanning the material at that depth using the scanning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Kevin P. Thompson, Supraja Murali
  • Publication number: 20090133170
    Abstract: An optical system suitable for use in an optical instrument such as a handheld optical probe, the optical system including a scanning element and an objective, the objective including a variable focus lens that can be electronically controlled to change the focal length of the optical system. In some embodiments, the optical system can axially and laterally scan a subject material by sequentially focusing at an axial depth using the variable focus lens and laterally scanning the material at that depth using the scanning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: University of Central Florida Resesrch Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jannick P. Rolland, Kevin P. Thompson, Supraja Murali
  • Patent number: 4650321
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for obtaining from a two dimensional field of view containing numerous unresolved sources of irradiation of various unknown wavelengths, the wavelengths incident on objects in the field using significantly fewer pixels than required if a conventional imaging spectrometer were employed. A reflective telescope (10, 12) includes a concave reflective grating (14) after the secondary mirror (12). Undiffracted radiation from the grating forms an image on a first detector array (16). Diffracted radiation forms an image on a second detector array (18). The zero order images provide spatial identification of the objects and a set of wavelength independent reference locations from which the relative displacement of the diffracted radiation provides spectral information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin P. Thompson