Patents by Inventor Rita Mahon

Rita Mahon 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: 10261388
    Abstract: A device includes a waveguide grating out-coupler, and a tunable uniform phase shifter communicating with the waveguide grating out-coupler. The tunable uniform phase shifter steers a Hat phase front along a first angle in a first plane. Optionally, the waveguide grating out-coupler includes a modulated refractive index and a physical grating period. The tunable uniform phase shifter controls the refractive index, thereby controlling an effective grating period. The grating period relates to die modulated refractive index, and the physical grating period. Optionally, the tunable uniform phase shifter includes a first thermo-optic phase shifter, a first electro-optic phase shifter, or a first micro-electro-mechanical system index perturbation phase shifter. Optionally, the tunable linear gradient phase shifter communicates with the waveguide grating out-coupler and steers a beam along the flat phase front along a second angle in a second plane, which is perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marcel W. Pruessner, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Peter G. Goetz
  • Publication number: 20180252983
    Abstract: A device includes a waveguide grating out-coupler, and a tunable uniform phase shifter communicating with the waveguide grating out-coupler. The tunable uniform phase shifter steers a flat phase front along a first angle in a first plane. Optionally, the waveguide grating out-coupler includes a modulated refractive index and a physical grating period. The tunable uniform phase shifter controls the refractive index, thereby controlling an effective grating period. The grating period relates to the modulated refractive index, and the physical grating period. Optionally, the tunable uniform phase shifter includes a first thermo-optic phase shifter, a first electro-optic phase shifter, or a first micro-electro-mechanical system index perturbation phase shifter. Optionally, the tunable linear gradient phase shifter communicates with the waveguide grating out-coupler and steers a beam along the flat phase front along a second angle in a second plane, which is perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Marcel W. Pruessner, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Peter G. Goetz
  • Patent number: 9989831
    Abstract: A device includes an optical splitter comprising a plurality of splitter outputs. The splitter outputs are out of phase and include a non-uniform phase front. The device includes a one-dimensional phase compensation array communicating with the optical splitter. The phase compensation array receives the non-uniform phase front and outputs a uniform phase front. The phase compensation array includes a plurality of array outputs. The device includes a tunable linear gradient phase shifter communicating with said phase compensation array to impart a linearly-varying phase shift across said plurality of array outputs, thereby steering a beam along a first angle in a first plane. The device includes a waveguide grating out-coupler communicating with said linear gradient phase shifter, and a uniform phase shifter communicating with the waveguide grating out-coupler. The uniform phase shifter steers the flat phase front along a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marcel W. Pruessner, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Peter G. Goetz
  • Publication number: 20170255077
    Abstract: A device includes an optical splitter comprising a plurality of splitter outputs. The splitter outputs are out of phase and include a non-uniform phase front. The device includes a one-dimensional phase compensation array communicating with the optical splitter. The phase compensation array receives the non-uniform phase front and outputs a uniform phase front. The phase compensation array includes a plurality of array outputs. The device includes a tunable linear gradient phase shifter communicating with said phase compensation array to impart a linearly-varying phase shift across said plurality of array outputs, thereby steering a beam along a first angle in a first plane. The device includes a waveguide grating out-coupler communicating with said linear gradient phase shifter, and a uniform phase shifter communicating with the waveguide grating out-coupler. The uniform phase shifter steers the flat phase front along a second angle in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicants: Rita Mahon
    Inventors: MARCEL W. PRUESSNER, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Peter G. Goetz
  • Patent number: 9057891
    Abstract: A waveguide device for frequency mixing or conversion through birefringent phase matching, having a horizontal waveguide suspended above a substrate. The waveguide is formed of a zinc blend type III-V semiconductor material with a high nonlinear susceptibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Todd H. Stievater, Jacob B. Khurgin, Doewon Park, Marcel W. Pruessner, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon
  • Publication number: 20130294719
    Abstract: A waveguide device for frequency mixing or conversion through birefringent phase matching, having a horizontal waveguide suspended above a substrate. The waveguide is formed of a zinc blende type III-V semiconductor material with a high nonlinear susceptibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Todd H. Stievater, Jacob B. Khurgin, Doewon Park, Marcel W. Pruessner, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon
  • Patent number: 6049381
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for real-time monitoring of particulates in a fluid. The fluid is illuminated, and an image formed of the interior of the fluid. The image is then detected, and processed to determine the size, shape, etc. of particulates within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John F. Reintjes, Michael D. Duncan, Rita Mahon, Lawrence L. Tankersley, Paul L. Howard, Martin Chamberlain, Thomas McKenna
  • Patent number: 5275168
    Abstract: An apparatus for the time-gated optical examination of objects that are p of, embedded in or viewed through dense scattering materials is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John F. Reintjes, Michael D. Duncan, Rita Mahon, Lawrence L. Tankersley, Ronald W. Waynant, Mark Bashkansky