Patents by Inventor Kristopher F. Lawler, JR.

Kristopher F. Lawler, JR. 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).

  • Polarization conversion systems with polarization gratings and related fabrication methods
    Patent number: 9335586
    Abstract: A polarization conversion system includes a lens element, a polarization grating comprising a diffractive element having a spatially-varying local optical axis, and a retarder element. The polarization grating is arranged to receive light that is output from the lens element, and the retarder element arranged to receive polarized light of different polarization states that is output from the polarization grating and change the different polarization states to a same polarization state. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Michael J. Escuti, Ravi K. Komanduri, Jihwan Kim, Kristopher F. Lawler, Jr.
  • Multi-twist retarders for broadband polarization transformation and related fabrication methods
    Patent number: 9298041
    Abstract: An optical element includes at least two stacked birefringent layers having respective local optical axes that are rotated by respective twist angles over respective thicknesses of the at least two layers, and are aligned along respective interfaces between the at least two layers. The respective twist angles and/or the respective thicknesses are different. The at least two stacked birefringent layers may be liquid crystal polymer optical retarder layers. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Michael J. Escuti, Ravi K. Komanduri, Kristopher F. Lawler, Jr.
  • Polarization Conversion Systems with Polarization Gratings and Related Fabrication Methods
    Publication number: 20140285878
    Abstract: A polarization conversion system includes a lens element, a polarization grating comprising a diffractive element having a spatially-varying local optical axis, and a retarder element. The polarization grating is arranged to receive light that is output from the lens element, and the retarder element arranged to receive polarized light of different polarization states that is output from the polarization grating and change the different polarization states to a same polarization state. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: North Carolina State Universtiy
    Inventors: Michael J. Escuti, Ravi K. Komanduri, Jihwan Kim, Kristopher F. Lawler, JR.