Patents by Inventor Kurt Douglas Mills
Kurt Douglas Mills 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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Patent number: 11262163Abstract: A holographic weapon sight with a housing that has a viewing end and an opposing target end. The viewing path is defined from the viewing end to the target end. The sight has a light source that projects a light beam along a path. The sight also has a diffractive optical element (DOE) disposed in the path of the light beam, and the DOE reconstructs an image of a reticle. The sight includes a parabolic reflector that reflects the image of the reticle. The parabolic reflector may be disposed in the viewing path such that a user views a target along the viewing path through the parabolic reflector from the viewing end.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Ziel Optics, Inc.Inventors: Kurt Douglas Mills, Fred Collin
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Patent number: 11112215Abstract: A holographic weapon sight with a low profile collimator has a housing with a viewing end and an opposed target end. The holographic weapon sight has a light source operable to project a light beam along a light path. The low profile collimator has a first optical element and a second optical element disposed in the light path of the light beam such that the second optical element provides a fully collimated light beam. The holographic weapon sight also has a first diffractive optical element (DOE), a second DOE, and a mirror. The first DOE or the second DOE reconstructs an image of a reticle and respectively reflects the reconstructed image toward the mirror or the NDE such that a user views a target along a viewing path through the NDE from the viewing end.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Optiflow, LLCInventor: Kurt Douglas Mills
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Publication number: 20200011638Abstract: A holographic weapon sight with a housing that has a viewing end and an opposing target end. The viewing path is defined from the viewing end to the target end. The sight has a light source that projects a light beam along a path. The sight also has a diffractive optical element (DOE) disposed in the path of the light beam, and the DOE reconstructs an image of a reticle. The sight includes a parabolic reflector that reflects the image of the reticle. The parabolic reflector may be disposed in the viewing path such that a user views a target along the viewing path through the parabolic reflector from the viewing end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Kurt Douglas Mills, Fred Collin
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Publication number: 20190383578Abstract: A holographic weapon sight with a low profile collimator has a housing with a viewing end and an opposed target end. The holographic weapon sight has a light source operable to project a light beam along a light path. The low profile collimator has a first optical element and a second optical element disposed in the light path of the light beam such that the second optical element provides a fully collimated light beam. The holographic weapon sight also has a first diffractive optical element (DOE), a second DOE, and a mirror. The first DOE or the second DOE reconstructs an image of a reticle and respectively reflects the reconstructed image toward the mirror or the NDE such that a user views a target along a viewing path through the NDE from the viewing end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventor: Kurt Douglas Mills
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Patent number: 9752852Abstract: A sight assembly for mounting to a weapon. A holographic optical element and a light source are in a fixed angular configuration with respect to one another, but may be adjusted either together or individually in a horizontal or vertical direction. The sight assembly may have a mirror or lens. An adjustment mechanism is provided where a shaft includes at least two portions wherein the two portions of the shaft of the screw have different pitch directions and/or pitch dimensions allowing for slight adjustment the assembly. The light source may be a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). A temperature sensor may sense a temperature of the VCSEL. A current to the VCSEL may be adjusted based on a change in the temperature such that the output wavelength is approximately the same as a desired wavelength. The assembly may further allow for perceived image distance adjustment using parallax mismatch.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Ziel Optics, Inc.Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
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Patent number: 9500442Abstract: A sight assembly for mounting to a weapon is provided. A holographic optical element and a light source are provided in a fixed angular configuration with respect to one another, but may be adjusted either together or individually in a horizontal or vertical direction. A mirror or lens may also be provided. An adjustment mechanism is provided where a shaft includes at least two portions wherein the two portions of the shaft of the screw have different pitch directions and/or pitch dimensions allowing for slight adjustment of the assembly. The light source is typically a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The wavelength of the VCSEL is controlled by controlling the current it is given. The assembly further allows for perceived image distance adjustment using parallax mismatch. Further, a chassis is provided for holding holographic elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: OptiFlow, Inc.Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
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Publication number: 20160327365Abstract: A compact weapon sight has a housing with a base that is configured to mount to a weapon. The sight may have a holographic optical element (HOE) and a light source. The light source may be a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode. The wavelength of the VCSEL may be adjusted by controlling the current drawn by the VCSEL and may include a temperature controller to keep the temperature of the light source at or above a minimum threshold temperature without using a thermoelectric cooler or a wavelength sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
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Publication number: 20160245618Abstract: A sight assembly for mounting to a weapon. A holographic optical element and a light source are in a fixed angular configuration with respect to one another, but may be adjusted either together or individually in a horizontal or vertical direction. The sight assembly may have a mirror or lens. An adjustment mechanism is provided where a shaft includes at least two portions wherein the two portions of the shaft of the screw have different pitch directions and/or pitch dimensions allowing for slight adjustment the assembly. The light source may be a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). A temperature sensor may sense a temperature of the VCSEL. A current to the VCSEL may be adjusted based on a change in the temperature such that the output wavelength is approximately the same as a desired wavelength. The assembly may further allow for perceived image distance adjustment using parallax mismatch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: OptiFlow, Inc.Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
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Publication number: 20150267997Abstract: A sight assembly for mounting to a weapon is provided. A holographic optical element and a light source are provided in a fixed angular configuration with respect to one another, but may be adjusted either together or individually in a horizontal or vertical direction. A mirror or lens may also be provided. An adjustment mechanism is provided where a shaft includes at least two portions wherein the two portions of the shaft of the screw have different pitch directions and/or pitch dimensions allowing for slight adjustment the assembly. The light source is typically a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The wavelength of the VCSEL is controlled by controlling the current it is given. The assembly further allows for perceived image distance adjustment using parallax mismatch. Further, a chassis is provided for holding holographic elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde
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Publication number: 20150029567Abstract: A holographic weapon sight folds for storage or to position where a portion of the sight is out of the way when not in use. Certain embodiments include a readout beam source mounted to the stationary base of the sight and the source directly illuminates a hologram plate supported in a pivotally mounted hologram support when the sight is in a position intended for use.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Fred Collin, Kurt Douglas Mills, David S. Dilworth, Rod Collin, Stephen Michael Shubeck, Christopher Stephen Hyde