Patents by Inventor Ross Schermer
Ross Schermer 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: 10355785Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for non-uniform optical sampling with wider optical bandwidth and lower timing jitter than conventional systems, which can make non-uniform optical sampling more feasible. Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide systems and methods for determining all input signal frequencies, including those left ambiguous by prior methods.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Jason D. McKinney
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Publication number: 20180375586Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for non-uniform optical sampling with wider optical bandwidth and lower timing jitter than conventional systems, which can make non-uniform optical sampling more feasible. Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide systems and methods for determining all input signal frequencies, including those left ambiguous by prior methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Ross Schermer, Jason D. McKinney
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Patent number: 9356692Abstract: A system testing the speed of a microwave photonic system, having a Mach Zehnder interferometer that includes a first arm with a photonic system to be tested and an amplifier arranged to amplify the output of the photonic system, and a second arm with an attenuator configured to match the output power of the amplifier, with at least one filter arranged at the output of the Mach Zehnder interferometer, the filter having a pass band that includes the center frequency of a continuous wave microwave signal applied to the Mach Zehnder interferometer arms. A continuous wave microwave signal is applied to the input of the Mach Zehnder interferometer, a signal is applied to only the second arm with the photonic link, and the output of the bandpass filter is measured with an oscilloscope and a microwave power detector.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Frank Bucholtz, Carl A. Villarruel
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Patent number: 9274271Abstract: A true time delay system for optical signals includes a hollow core optical waveguide, a droplet of reflective liquid metal disposed in the hollow core, and an actuator coupled to a first end of the waveguide to move the droplet longitudinally within the hollow core. In one example, the waveguide is a hollow core photonic bandgap fiber. In one example, the actuator is a pressure actuator that introduces or removes gas into the core. Light enters the optical fiber, is transmitted through the fiber toward the reflective surface of the droplet, and is reflected back through the fiber and exits at the same end of the photonic bandgap optical fiber that it entered. The fiber optic device can provide a continuously-variable optical path length of over 3.6 meters (corresponding to a continuously-variable true-time delay of over 12 ns, or 120 periods at a 10 GHz modulation frequency), with negligible wavelength dependence across the C and L bands.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Carl A. Villarruel, Frank Bucholtz, Colin McLaughlin
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Publication number: 20150215036Abstract: A system testing the speed of a microwave photonic system, having a Mach Zehnder interferometer that includes a first arm with a photonic system to be tested and an amplifier arranged to amplify the output of the photonic system, and a second arm with an attenuator configured to match the output power of the amplifier, with at least one filter arranged at the output of the Mach Zehnder interferometer, the filter having a pass band that includes the center frequency of a continuous wave microwave signal applied to the Mach Zehnder interferometer arms. A continuous wave microwave signal is applied to the input of the Mach Zehnder interferometer, a signal is applied to only the second arm with the photonic link, and the output of the bandpass filter is measured with an oscilloscope and a microwave power detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Frank Bucholtz, Carl A. Villarruel
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Patent number: 9007597Abstract: A true time delay system and method for an optical carrier signal modulated with a microwave signal. The system includes a beam deflector, with the optical signal being imaged onto the beam deflector, a stationary reflective diffractive grating arranged in a Littrow configuration, a focusing element arranged between the beam deflector and the stationary reflective diffractive grating. In operation, the beam deflector steers the optical beam across the clear aperture of the focusing element and the focusing element transmits the steered beam to the reflective diffractive grating. A change in optical path length experienced by the optical beam as the beam is scanned across the grating surface results in a relative phase delay in the optical beam. The beam deflector can be a rotating mirror, an acousto-optic beam deflector, or an electro-optic beam deflector. The focusing element can be a lens or a curved mirror.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Frank Bucholtz, Carl A. Villarruel
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Publication number: 20140105554Abstract: A true time delay system for optical signals includes a hollow core optical waveguide, a droplet of reflective liquid metal disposed in the hollow core, and an actuator coupled to a first end of the waveguide to move the droplet longitudinally within the hollow core. In one example, the waveguide is a hollow core photonic bandgap fiber. In one example, the actuator is a pressure actuator that introduces or removes gas into the core. Light enters the optical fiber, is transmitted through the fiber toward the reflective surface of the droplet, and is reflected back through the fiber and exits at the same end of the photonic bandgap optical fiber that it entered. The fiber optic device can provide a continuously-variable optical path length of over 3.6 meters (corresponding to a continuously-variable true-time delay of over 12 ns, or 120 periods at a 10 GHz modulation frequency), with negligible wavelength dependence across the C and L bands.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: The Government of the US, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Ross Schermer, Carl A. Villarruel, Frank Bucholtz, Colin McLaughlin
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Patent number: 8651138Abstract: An apparatus for creating sheathed flow includes an inlet section comprising an array of tubes including at least one sheath inlet port and a sample inlet port, a flow focusing section downstream from the inlet section, an optical access section downstream from the flow focusing region and comprising opposing flat surfaces, and an outlet section downstream from the optical access section, wherein the apparatus is operable to create a sheathed flow around a fluid introduced into the sample inlet port and to maintain the sheathed flow through the optical access section. Applications of the apparatus and method include bead/particle counting, flow cytometry, waveguiding, and fluid control.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Carl A. Villarruel, Janet W. Lou, Ross Schermer
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Patent number: 8528582Abstract: The application of an optical beam redirects sheathed micro-fluidic flow without direct interaction with the sample. The hydrodynamic properties of the sheath are locally modified due to optical absorption and heating, resulting in a spatial shift of the sample flow. The technique can result in up to 100 ?m shift at peak flow velocities of 19 mm/sec.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Janet W. Lou, Carl A. Villarruel, Ross Schermer
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Publication number: 20130010301Abstract: A true time delay system and method for an optical carrier signal modulated with a microwave signal. The system includes a beam deflector, with the optical signal being imaged onto the beam deflector, a stationary reflective diffractive grating arranged in a Littrow configuration, a focusing element arranged between the beam deflector and the stationary reflective diffractive grating. In operation, the beam deflector steers the optical beam across the clear aperture of the focusing element and the focusing element transmits the steered beam to the reflective diffractive grating. A change in optical path length experienced by the optical beam as the beam is scanned across the grating surface results in a relative phase delay in the optical beam. The beam deflector can be a rotating mirror, an acousto-optic beam deflector, or an electro-optic beam deflector. The focusing element can be a lens or a curved mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Ross Schermer, Frank Bucholtz, Carl A. Villarruel
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Publication number: 20120273054Abstract: The application of an optical beam redirects sheathed micro-fluidic flow without direct interaction with the sample. The hydrodynamic properties of the sheath are locally modified due to optical absorption and heating, resulting in a spatial shift of the sample flow. The technique can result in up to 100 ?m shift at peak flow velocities of 19 mm/sec.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Janet W. Lou, Carl A. Villarruel, Ross Schermer
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Publication number: 20120138152Abstract: An apparatus for creating sheathed flow includes an inlet section comprising an array of tubes including at least one sheath inlet port and a sample inlet port, a flow focusing section downstream from the inlet section, an optical access section downstream from the flow focusing region and comprising opposing flat surfaces, and an outlet section downstream from the optical access section, wherein the apparatus is operable to create a sheathed flow around a fluid introduced into the sample inlet port and to maintain the sheathed flow through the optical access section. Applications of the apparatus and method include bead/particle counting, flow cytometry, waveguiding, and fluid control.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: Naval Research LaboratoryInventors: Carl A. Villarruel, Janet W. Lou, Ross Schermer
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Publication number: 20070211984Abstract: A optical coupler is formed on a substrate and includes a first and elongate optical waveguides. Variable coupling is provided between the first and second elongate optical waveguides. In an optical modulator, a plurality of phase shifts are provided along the waveguides to increase linearity of a response of the modulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Anand Gopinath, Jaesang Oh, Ross Schermer
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Publication number: 20050259923Abstract: An optical coupler includes a substrate and first and second elongate optical waveguides on the substrate. A structure extends along the waveguides and is configured to provide variable coupling between the waveguides. The coupler can be formed in Lithium Niobate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: Sriram Sriram, Anand Gopinath, Ross Schermer, John Marsh