Patents by Inventor Kristina M. Johnson
Kristina M. Johnson 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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Publication number: 20090228387Abstract: A system accessible by a user via the internet that includes a functional search and analysis system, an e-inventor's notebook operatively coupled to said functional search and analysis system, wherein the functional search and analysis system, the e-inventor's notebook and the IP market place and accessible by users from the internet and provide the user tools and a platform to develop IP and/or sell or purchase partial interests or entire interests in IP assets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicant: SPARKIPInventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Jean F. Sullivan, Robert L. Clark, JR.
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Patent number: 7460101Abstract: An enhanced frame buffet pixel circuit with two control transistors and a separate capacitor put in as a memory capacitor before the memory transistor yields a high contrast ratio by removing induced charge and solving a charge sharing problem between the memory capacitor and the liquid crystal display (LCD) capacitor. The memory transistor may be made of either CMOS or PMOS. The frame buffer pixel can be used to drive binary displays which expresses ON and OFF only if a comparator is put in after the pixel electrode circuit to represent gray levels with reduced sub-frame frequency.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Duke UniversityInventors: Sangrok Lee, James C. Morizio, Kristina M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20070270916Abstract: Disclosed is any implanted medical device (an IMD) that has either a primary or a rechargeable battery that has a case that forms part of the case of the implant. Furthermore, the case of the battery is typically welded to a second metal can that would generally enclose the electronic components of the implant. This construction provides the thinnest case so as to be surgically placed under the skin of the chest with the least bulging. Also disclosed is the concept of coating the IMD and any electrical lead that comes out of the IMD with an antibiotic and/or anti-inflammatory coating so as to minimize any post-implant infection or inflammation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventors: Robert E. Fischell, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6911964Abstract: An enhanced frame buffer pixel circuit with two control transistors and a separate capacitor put in as a memory capacitor before the memory transistor yields a high contrast ratio by removing induced charge and solving a charge sharing problem between the memory capacitor and the liquid crystal display (LCD) capacitor. The memory transistor may be made of either CMOS or PMOS. The frame buffer pixel can be used to drive binary displays which expresses ON and OFF only if a comparator is put in after the pixel electrode circuit to represent gray levels with reduced sub-frame frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2002Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Duke UniversityInventors: Sangrok Lee, James C. Morizio, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6899430Abstract: A system for separating light into different spectrums and for recombining the light includes at least one polarizing beamsplitter and at least one retarder stack configured to condition the polarization of input light differently for different spectrums. A device embodying the invention could utilize multiple polarizing beamsplitters and multiple retarder stacks. Alternatively, a system could utilize a single polarizing beamsplitter and a single retarder stack in combination with one or more dichroic beamsplitters. In preferred embodiments, one or more reflective modulator panels are included to separately modulate each separated spectrum of light. Such an embodiment can be used for a color projection system. In each of the embodiments that utilize modulators, distances between the modulators and the focusing optics is essentially the same.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Gary D. Sharp
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Publication number: 20040196304Abstract: A method for generating a grayscale representation for a display combines analog and digital techniques to produce images of optimal quality. The grayscale representation is not limited by frame frequency compared to digital techniques and not limited by small voltage differences between pixel electrodes. In the method, a frame is first divided into sub-frames of most significant bits and least significant bits. The sub-frame time can either be weighted or uniform. An analog voltage is then applied to the sub-frames to produce a reduced grayscale. The number of sub-frames and the brightness are two parameters that can be optimized for a best possible display result.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: Duke UniversityInventors: Sangrok Lee, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6784898Abstract: A method for generating a grayscale representation for a display combines analog and digital techniques to produce images of optimal quality. The grayscale representation is not limited by frame frequency compared to digital techniques and not limited by small voltage differences between pixel electrodes. In the method, a frame is first divided into sub-frames of most significant bits and least significant bits. The sub-frame time can either be weighted or uniform. An analog voltage is then applied to the sub-frames to produce a reduced grayscale. The number of sub-frames and the brightness are two parameters that can be optimized for a best possible display result.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Duke UniversityInventors: Sangrok Lee, Kristina M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20040090411Abstract: An enhanced frame buffer pixel circuit with two control transistors and a separate capacitor put in as a memory capacitor before the memory transistor yields a high contrast ratio by removing induced charge and solving a charge sharing problem between the memory capacitor and the liquid crystal display (LCD) capacitor. The memory transistor may be made of either CMOS or PMOS. The frame buffer pixel can be used to drive binary displays which expresses ON and OFF only if a comparator is put in after the pixel electrode circuit to represent gray levels with reduced sub-frame frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Sangrok Lee, James C. Morizio, Kristina M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20040090446Abstract: A method for generating a grayscale representation for a display combines analog and digital techniques to produce images of optimal quality. The grayscale representation is not limited by frame frequency compared to digital techniques and not limited by small voltage differences between pixel electrodes. In the method, a frame is first divided into sub-frames of most significant bits and least significant bits. The sub-frame time can either be weighted or uniform. An analog voltage is then applied to the sub-frames to produce a reduced grayscale. The number of sub-frames and the brightness are two parameters that can be optimized for a best possible display result.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Sangrok Lee, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6707516Abstract: The present invention provides a single-panel field-sequential full color display systems that are less complex, smaller in size and less costly than prior additive split-path color systems, while exhibiting higher light output, greater flexibility and greater reliability than prior single-panel field-sequential systems. In the first preferred embodiment, the display system includes a “frame buffer” style spatial light modulator, in which a frame buffer pixel circuit is integrated into the spatial light modulator. The display system of the present invention also preferably includes on opto-electronic color sequencer which allows for the electronic control of the transmission of additive primary colors.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Colorlink, Inc.Inventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Gary D. Sharp
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Patent number: 6667784Abstract: The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by apolarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Colorlink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20020171793Abstract: This invention provides achromatic compound retarders, achromatic polarization switches, and achromatic shutters using the liquid crystal compound retarders. It further provides achromatic variable retardance smectic and nematic liquid crystal retarders. The achromatic compound retarders according to the invention are used to create achromatic inverters for display applications. The display comprises one or more retarders having in-plane retardance and in-plane orientation, at least one of the retarders being an actively controlled liquid crystal retarder, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal display, wherein the one or more retarders work in combination with the ferroelectric liquid crystal display to provide four states of brightness.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson, Michael G. Robinson, Jianmin Chen
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Patent number: 6452646Abstract: A retarder stack for transforming at least partially polarized light includes a first retarder and a second retarder. The first retarder has a first retardance and a first orientation and the second retarder has a second retardance and a second orientation both orientations with respect to the partially polarized light. The first retardance, first orientation, second retardance, and second orientation can be arranged to yield the desired polarization transformed light which includes a first spectrum and a second spectrum. The polarization of the first spectrum and the polarization of the second spectrum can be made orthogonal to each other. The polarizations can be linear or elliptical. If the polarization transformed light is linear, the directions of polarizations are different and in one case can be made perpendicular.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1999Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson
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Publication number: 20020101546Abstract: The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by apolarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2002Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6417892Abstract: The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by a polarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6380997Abstract: This invention provides achromatic compound retarders, achromatic polarization switches, and achromatic shutters using the liquid crystal compound retarders. It further provides achromatic variable retardance smectic and nematic liquid crystal retarders. The achromatic compound retarders according to the invention are used to create achromatic inverters for display applications. The display comprises one or more retarders having in-plane retardance and in-plane orientation, at least one of the retarders being an actively controlled liquid crystal retarder, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal display, wherein the one or more retarders work in combination with the ferroelectric liquid crystal display to provide four states of brightness.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson, Michael G. Robinson, Jianmin Chen
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Patent number: 6273571Abstract: A system architecture for a display system with electronically controlled optical retarder stacks. The system uses only one spatial light modulator and a color filter to determine what the color of the image created by the modulator will be when projected onto a display surface. In one embodiment, the color filter passes one of red, green or blue light at any give time. The color filter can be placed between the light source and the modulator optics, between the modulator optics and the modulator, between the modulator and the projection optics, or made part of the projection optics itself. The retarder stack for transforming at least partially polarized input light can include a first retarder and a second retarder. The first retarder has a first retardance and a first orientation and the second retarder has a second retardance and a second orientation, both orientations with respect to the partially polarized light.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Kristina M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6252638Abstract: A color filter device for controlling the color of light output by an illumination device or for controlling the color of light passing through a window includes at least a retarder and a polarization analyzer. The device may also include an input polarizer. The device may further include an electrically controllable modulator and an output retarder for selectively controlling the spectrum of light output by the device. A color filter device embodying the invention enables rapid and effective control over the spectrum and amplitude of light passing through the filter to achieve desired effects. A device embodying the invention could be an indicator light, an illumination device, a diagnostic testing device, a transmissive window, or any other type of device where rapid and effective control of a spectrum of light is desired.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Gary D. Sharp
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Publication number: 20010000971Abstract: A system for separating light into different spectrums and for recombining the light includes at least one polarizing beamsplitter and at least one retarder stack configured to condition the polarization of input light differently for different spectrums. A device embodying the invention could utilize multiple polarizing beamsplitters and multiple retarder stacks. Alternatively, a system could utilize a single polarizing beamsplitter and a single retarder stack in combination with one or more dichroic beamsplitters. In preferred embodiments, one or more reflective modulator panels are included to separately modulate each separated spectrum of light. Such an embodiment can be used for a color projection system. In each of the embodiments that utilize modulators, distances between the modulators and the focusing optics is essentially the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2000Publication date: May 10, 2001Applicant: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Gary D. Sharp
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Patent number: 6183091Abstract: A system for separating light into different spectrums and for recombining the light includes at least one polarizing beamsplitter and at least one retarder stack configured to condition the polarization of input light differently for different spectrums. A device embodying the invention could utilize multiple polarizing beamsplitters and multiple retarder stacks. Alternatively, a system could utilize a single polarizing beamsplitter and a single retarder stack in combination with one or more dichroic beamsplitters. In preferred embodiments, one or more reflective modulator panels are included to separately modulate each separated spectrum of light. Such an embodiment can be used for a color projection system. In each of the embodiments that utilize modulators, distances between the modulators and the focusing optics is essentially the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: ColorLink, Inc.Inventors: Kristina M. Johnson, Gary D. Sharp