Patents by Inventor Pierre Alexandre BLANCHE

Pierre Alexandre BLANCHE 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).

  • Patent number: 11869207
    Abstract: Methodology of unwrapping of phase from an optical image in the presence of both noise and unreliable phase fringes configured to tackle both problems simultaneously and, in the most efficient of multiple related implementations, including at least three prongs: i) SD-ROM based denoising procedure, ii) reliable estimation of the gradient of both the wrapped and unwrapped phase with the use of the forward and inverse Laplacian operators; and iii) fringe quality improvement with the use of Fuzzy Logic based Edge Detection. Transformation of optical images with the use of such methodology to provide an image representing visually-perceivable representation of the object's shape. Computer program product configured to implement the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Pedro Alcaraz, Remington Spencer Ketchum
  • Publication number: 20230326057
    Abstract: Methodology of unwrapping of phase from an optical image in the presence of both noise and unreliable phase fringes configured to tackle both problems simultaneously and, in the most efficient of multiple related implementations, including at least three prongs: i) SD-ROM based denoising procedure, ii) reliable estimation of the gradient of both the wrapped and unwrapped phase with the use of the forward and inverse Laplacian operators; and iii) fringe quality improvement with the use of Fuzzy Logic based Edge Detection. Transformation of optical images with the use of such methodology to provide an image representing visually-perceivable representation of the object's shape. Computer program product configured to implement the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Pedro Alcaraz, Remington Spencer Ketchum
  • Patent number: 11487244
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for translating optical beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventor: Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Patent number: 11333893
    Abstract: A light-combining optical imager includes a spatially-curved waveguide-body complemented with at least two and preferably at least three holographic layers disposed on the surface(s) of the waveguide-body to couple light into the waveguide-body, optionally redirect its propagation inside the waveguide-body, and outcouple light from the waveguide body to form an optical image with reduced aberrations and—when desired—while expanding the pupil size of the imager upon propagation of light through the waveguide-body to achieve a one-to-one optical conjugation between an object and an image. At least one of the holographic layers includes potions having different diffraction efficiencies. At least one of the holographic layers is optionally configured to operate as a non-zero optical power lens element. Spatial separations between the holographic layers judiciously relate to dimensions of the portions of the holographic layers to achieve the desired result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Draper, Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Publication number: 20220146837
    Abstract: A light-combining optical imager includes a spatially-curved waveguide-body complemented with at least two and preferably at least three holographic layers disposed on the surface(s) of the waveguide-body to couple light into the waveguide-body, optionally redirect its propagation inside the waveguide-body, and outcouple light from the waveguide body to form an optical image with reduced aberrations and—when desired—while expanding the pupil size of the imager upon propagation of light through the waveguide-body to achieve a one-to-one optical conjugation between an object and an image. At least one of the holographic layers includes potions having different diffraction efficiencies. At least one of the holographic layers is optionally configured to operate as a non-zero optical power lens element. Spatial separations between the holographic layers judiciously relate to dimensions of the portions of the holographic layers to achieve the desired result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Draper, Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Patent number: 11061220
    Abstract: System and method utilizing a reconfigurable in real-time phase-modulating diffractive device (in a specific case—a 2D array of micro-mirror elements) in conjunction with another diffractive element (active or passive) to spatially steer a beam of polychromatic light such that light reaches the identified target without being substantially angularly dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Brittany Lynn
  • Patent number: 10983207
    Abstract: Optical modality configured to simulate measurements of the radar cross-section of targets, dimensioned to be conventionally-measured in the RF-portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with sub-micron accuracy. A corresponding compact optical system, with a foot-print comparable with a tabletop, employing optical interferometric time-of-flight approach to reproduce, on a substantially shorter time-scale, radar-ranging measurements ordinarily pertaining to the range of frequencies that are at least 103 times lower than those employed in the conventional RF-based measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Remington Spencer Ketchum, Pedro Enrique Alcaraz
  • Patent number: 10976478
    Abstract: An optical imaging system employing a device containing a sequence of first (pre-dispersor) and second (main) volume holograms configured to operate as a sequence of optical diffractive elements possessing different blazing curves. A pre-cursor hologram has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the following, disperser hologram, and a comparatively broad spectral selectivity as compared to that of the main hologram, allowing the pre-cursor to diffract light in transmission within a very large range of the angles of incidence. The use of the combination of the pre-cursor and the main holograms not only implements selective imaging of the chosen target object at every angle at which various portions of the object are seen at the optical system, but also facilitates the spectroscopic measurements of such object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Eric C. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20210103049
    Abstract: Optical modality configured to simulate measurements of the radar cross-section of targets, dimensioned to be conventionally-measured in the RF-portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with sub-micron accuracy. A corresponding compact optical system, with a foot-print comparable with a tabletop, employing optical interferometric time-of-flight approach to reproduce, on a substantially shorter time-scale, radar-ranging measurements ordinarily pertaining to the range of frequencies that are at least 103 times lower than those employed in the conventional RF-based measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Remington Spencer Ketchum, Pedro Enrique Alcaraz
  • Publication number: 20210096819
    Abstract: A method of multiplying together a series of factors includes representing a multiplication operation in terms of a summation of a series of natural logarithmic functions that undergo exponentiation to represent the multiplication of the factors. An optical signal is generated for each of the factors to be multiplied. Each optical signal has a power or energy level that represents its respective factor. Each of the optical signals is applied to a respective material that undergoes a two-photon absorption process to implement a natural logarithm function. Each optical output signal output by the materials is directed to an optical combiner to obtain a summed optical signal. The summed optical signal is directed to a saturable absorber to implement an exponential function. The power or energy of the resulting optical output signal from the saturable absorber represents the product of the factors to be multiplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Masoud BABAEIAN, Nasser PEYGHAMBARIAN, Robert A. Norwood, Mark A. NEIFELD, Pierre Alexandre BLANCHE
  • Publication number: 20200387043
    Abstract: A static optical system, for use with a phase modulator, configured to expand (at least up to 4? steradian) the solid angle range within which a light beam can propagate from and after interacting with the phase modulator. A specific embodiment includes a first holographic disperser (a layer with at least one hologram recorded therein, a lens element configured as a large spherical cap, and a second holographic disperser (a layer with at least one hologram in it) shaped as a shell against second optical surface of the lens element. Holographic dispersers carry/contain angularly-selective multiplexed volume holograms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Patent number: 10782401
    Abstract: Optical modality configured to simulate measurements of the radar cross-section of targets, dimensioned to be conventionally-measured in the RF-portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with sub-micron accuracy. A corresponding compact optical system, with a foot-print comparable with a tabletop, employing optical interferometric time-of-flight approach to reproduce, on a substantially shorter time-scale, radar-ranging measurements ordinarily pertaining to the range of frequencies that are at least 103 times lower than those employed in the conventional RF-based measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventor: Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Publication number: 20200278643
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for translating optical beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventor: Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Publication number: 20200158855
    Abstract: Optical modality configured to simulate measurements of the radar cross-section of targets, dimensioned to be conventionally-measured in the RF-portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with sub-micron accuracy. A corresponding compact optical system, with a foot-print comparable with a tabletop, employing optical interferometric time-of-flight approach to reproduce, on a substantially shorter time-scale, radar-ranging measurements ordinarily pertaining to the range of frequencies that are at least 103 times lower than those employed in the conventional RF-based measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Pierre Alexandre Blanche
  • Publication number: 20190278011
    Abstract: An optical imaging system employing a device containing a sequence of first (pre-dispersor) and second (main) volume holograms configured to operate as a sequence of optical diffractive elements possessing different blazing curves. A pre-cursor hologram has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the following, disperser hologram, and a comparatively broad spectral selectivity as compared to that of the main hologram, allowing the pre-cursor to diffract light in transmission within a very large range of the angles of incidence. The use of the combination of the pre-cursor and the main holograms not only implements selective imaging of the chosen target object at every angle at which various portions of the object are seen at the optical system, but also facilitates the spectroscopic measurements of such object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Eric C. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20190250396
    Abstract: System and method utilizing a reconfigurable in real-time phase-modulating diffractive device (in a specific case—a 2D array of micro-mirror elements) in conjunction with another diffractive element (active or passive) to spatially steer a beam of polychromatic light such that light reaches the identified target without being substantially angularly dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Brittany Lynn
  • Patent number: 10345576
    Abstract: System and method utilizing a reconfigurable in real-time phase-modulating diffractive device (in a specific case—a 2D array of micro-mirror elements) in conjunction with another diffractive element (active or passive) to spatially steer a beam of polychromatic light such that light reaches the identified target without being substantially angularly dispersed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Brittany Lynn
  • Publication number: 20190107711
    Abstract: System and method utilizing a reconfigurable in real-time phase-modulating diffractive device (in a specific case—a 2D array of micro-mirror elements) in conjunction with another diffractive element (active or passive) to spatially steer a beam of polychromatic light such that light reaches the identified target without being substantially angularly dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Brittany Lynn
  • Patent number: 9726827
    Abstract: Optical switch based on a micro-minor device such as a DMD configured to simultaneously switch light from N inputs to M outputs with switching times of about 10 microseconds, where N and M are generally greater than one. The minors of the device are oriented according to a pattern calculated based on a Fourier Transform of spatial distribution of M outputs such as to form, in diffraction of light incident on the device, and diffraction light pattern that in the output plane is substantially congruent with the spatial distribution of M outputs. The device can be configured as a modulator of amplitude and/or a modulator of phase of incident light wavefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Nasser N. Peyghambarian, Brittany Lynn
  • Publication number: 20170052324
    Abstract: Optical switch based on a micro-minor device such as a DMD configured to simultaneously switch light from N inputs to M outputs with switching times of about 10 microseconds, where N and M are generally greater than one. The minors of the device are oriented according to a pattern calculated based on a Fourier Transform of spatial distribution of M outputs such as to form, in diffraction of light incident on the device, and diffraction light pattern that in the output plane is substantially congruent with the spatial distribution of M outputs. The device can be configured as a modulator of amplitude and/or a modulator of phase of incident light wavefront.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Pierre Alexandre Blanche, Nasser N. Peyghambarian, Brittany Lynn