Patents by Inventor Mark H. Sterling

Mark H. Sterling 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).

  • Optical coupler and refractive lamp
    Patent number: 4961622
    Abstract: A cuspate lens is disclosed having a slope magnitude which decreases from a maximum at a central cusp to a minimum at the periphery. A radially symmetric version of the lens can focus light into a ring, or produce an annular beam. Also disclosed are a fiber optic coupler and an optical slip ring using the cuspated lenses or other refractive devices capable of producing an annular beam of light, such as axicons or eccentric lenses. Also disclosed is a lamp using a cuspate lens or a multi-faceted version of a cuspate lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: University of Houston - University Park
    Inventors: Michael A. Gorman, Mark H. Sterling, Robert M. Kiehn, Lowell T. Wood
  • Cuspated lens
    Patent number: 4842393
    Abstract: A cuspate lens is disclosed having a slope magnitude which decreases from a maximum at a central cusp to a minimum at the periphery. A radially symmetric version of the lens can focus light into a ring, or produce an annular beam. Also disclosed are a fiber optic coupler and an optical slip ring using the cuspated lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: University of Houston-University Park
    Inventors: Michael A. Gorman, Mark H. Sterling, Robert M. Kiehn, Lowell T. Wood
  • Optical fiber coupler including refractive means for producing an annular beam
    Patent number: 4834484
    Abstract: A cuspate lens is disclosed having a slope magnitude which decreases from a maximum at a central cusp to a minimum at the periphery. A radially symmetric version of the lens can focus light into a ring, or produce an annular beam. Also disclosed are a fiber optic coupler and an optical slip ring using the cuspated lenses or other refractive devices capable of producing an annular beam of light, such as axicons or eccentric lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: University of Houston-University Park
    Inventors: Michael A. Gorman, Mark H. Sterling, Robert M. Kiehn, Lowell T. Wood