Patents by Inventor Michael N. Ernstoff
Michael N. Ernstoff 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: 5903323Abstract: A system and technique for directing intensity modulated electromagnetic energy. The inventive system (10) includes an intensity modulated source of electromagnetic energy (12). Individual elements (22) in an array of energy directing elements (15) are activated in sync with the modulation of energy source (12). In a particular implementation, the source (12) is a laser. The intensity of the laser is reduced during each successive field per frame. The energy directing elements (15), in this case--light directing elements, are implemented with an array of digital micromirrors. The light source (12) is modulated in intensity in accordance with a fixed modulation scheme. The mirrors (22) are selectively activated relative to the light source modulation scheme. Hence, the invention provides a gray scale output while allowing the time between mirror flips to be constant.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1996Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Michael N. Ernstoff, George C. Valley, Steven E. Shields
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Patent number: 5668611Abstract: A system and technique for directing intensity modulated electromagnetic energy. The inventive system (10) includes an intensity modulated source of electromagnetic energy (12). Individual elements (22) in an array of energy directing elements (15) are activated in sync with the modulation of the energy source (12). In a particular implementation, the source (12) is a laser. The intensity of the laser is reduced during each successive field per frame. The energy directing elements (15), in this case, light directing elements, are implemented with an array of digital micromirrors. The light source (12) is modulated in intensity in accordance with a fixed modulation scheme. The mirrors (22) are selectively activated relative to the light source modulation scheme. Hence, the invention provides a gray scale output while allowing the time between mirror flips to be constant.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Hughes ElectronicsInventors: Michael N. Ernstoff, George C. Valley, Steven E. Shields
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Patent number: 4205428Abstract: A process for forming planar liquid crystal matrix array chips including the steps of electro-plating a conductive material over a smoothing layer thereby filling the contact holes with conductive material or alternatively placing a photoresist over the micro circuit, electroplating over the photo resist, which is then dissolved leaving conductive posts. The smoothing material is applied around the posts and the surface then polished, made flat and reflecting electrodes attached.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1978Date of Patent: June 3, 1980Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Michael N. Ernstoff, Gordon F. Anderson
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Patent number: 4195915Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid crystal image projector which is suitable for use as an image source in an aircraft head-up display system. In this application, the projector provides extremely bright and high contrast symbology for the aircraft pilot. More generally, the projector has application wherever a television-type raster and/or calligraphic symbology display is needed. The increase in brightness and contrast ratio is achieved by using a reflector to concentrate light from a light source onto the liquid crystal display cell from whence it is reflected through an optical aperture stop in the reflector to the projecting lens and thence to a viewing surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1978Date of Patent: April 1, 1980Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: William R. Lichty, John J. Ferrer, Lacy G. Cook, Michael N. Ernstoff
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Patent number: 4100579Abstract: A flat panel liquid crystal display system formed by sandwiching a thin layer of liquid crystal material between a front electrode structure, split into rows or columns, and a back electrode structure formed into desired patterns and including addressing circuitry is described. Single polarity operation of a liquid crystal display system in which the direction of current flow in the liquid crystal material is reversed at the frame rate is a feature of the invention. Operation is accomplished so as to permit gray scale rendition as response to an applied video signal. Addressing circuitry demonstrating the applicability of large scale integration (LSI) techniques is also an important element of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1976Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventor: Michael N. Ernstoff
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Patent number: 4090219Abstract: A liquid crystal field sequential color display is formed by presenting three monochromatic images corresponding to the three primary colors, that is, red, green and blue, consecutively in a repetitive sequence and at a rate greater than the flicker fusion frequency for human vision. Each field contains a monochromatic image showing how the intensity of the primary color to which it corresponds varies over the entire image area. The black and white imaging techniques typically used for forming the intensity pattern for each field are transformed into the required sequential monochromatic image patterns through the use of colored filters in one embodiment or colored light in another embodiment. The novel result is obtained by the combining of flat panel liquid crystal display technology with color display technology. This invention disclosure shows a practical method for combining these techniques into a device that will form a full color image.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1976Date of Patent: May 16, 1978Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Michael N. Ernstoff, William C. Hoffman, Richard N. Winner
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Patent number: 4006968Abstract: A solid state dot sequential color display device is disclosed. A color image is formed in a liquid crystal display panel by breaking each picture element up into its three primary color components and presenting them in an adjacent manner. The space occupied by a trio of primary color elements is smaller than the resolving power of the human eye. Techniques of large scale integration (LSI) are employed to effect the required addressing circuitry as applied to a matrix array of triads of reflective electrodes in the dynamic scattering liquid crystal display panel. Arrangements used to form the basic color cells involved are: (a) deposition of band-pass filters in front of the display and (b) deposition of band reflection mirror in back of the liquid crystal material.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1975Date of Patent: February 8, 1977Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Michael N. Ernstoff, William C. Hoffman, Richard N. Winner
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Patent number: 3991416Abstract: A liquid crystal device biased by an alternating current having a predetermined frequency higher than the dispersion frequency of the liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal device exhibits inherent capacitance across its input terminals which is resonated by an inductor to result in a higher bias current and reduction of image smear of images displayed by such device.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1975Date of Patent: November 9, 1976Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: William R. Byles, John E. Jensen, Michael J. Little, Michael N. Ernstoff
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Patent number: 3943281Abstract: A low bandwidth high brightness display system that utilizes a multiple beam cathode ray tube to write multiple rasters by concurrently scanning a plurality of lines with a selected number of beams. Each of the rasters covers a different portion of the screen so that the vertical deflection of the beam is reduced for each beam by a factor related to the number of beams. The system reduces the maximum data rate in writing speed relative to conventional arrangements with a resultant bandwidth reduction proportional to the number of beams. The concept is applicable to television viewing screens and field sequential color television to produce simultaneously a high resolution, high brightness and high quality display.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1974Date of Patent: March 9, 1976Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Bruce W. Keller, Michael N. Ernstoff