Patents by Inventor Scott Spuler
Scott Spuler 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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Publication number: 20210405207Abstract: A beam transmitter, a receiver, and a LIDAR, along with methods to operate each are provided. The beam transmitter comprises a first and a second transmission channel (201a, 201b), each transmission channel including a first online laser, a first offline laser, and a first laser transmission selection switch operable to toggle between including the first online laser signal and the first offline laser signal in a first transmission beam. The beam transmitter further includes at least one light redirection device operable to coalign the first transmission beam with the second transmission beam. The receiver comprises a first splitter (402a, 402b), a first filter (404a, 404b), a first detector channel (406a, 406b), a second splitter (408a, 408b), a second filter (410a, 410b), and a second detector channel (412a, 412b). The LIDAR includes the beam transmitter, the receiver, and a shared telescope.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicants: UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: Robert STILLWELL, Scott SPULER, Matthew HAYMAN, Kevin S. REPASKY
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Patent number: 10794998Abstract: Lidar is an acronym for Light Detection And Ranging. The technology may be used to measure distance by illuminating a target with a laser beam and performing analysis on the reflected laser beam light. In the atmospheric sciences, Lidar may be used to study the optical depth of clouds, the impact of aerosols on clouds, and the interactions between aerosols and clouds on the climate. The present application proposes a lidar-based technology using a diode laser (101) beam sent through a tapered semiconductor optical amplifier (106) and an axicon pair expander (108) wherein the laser light may be transmitted through a telescope (110) at an object to be studied. Upon striking the object to be studied, the laser (101) is reflected and recovered by the telescope (110). The reflected laser is then sent through a heated rubidium vapor cell (115) and a total detection channel (116) for analysis.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignees: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Scott Spuler, Matthew Hayman, Bruce Morley, Edwin W. Eloranta
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Patent number: 10473521Abstract: A photon counting system is provided. The photon counting system comprises an analog domain and a digital domain in communication with the analog domain. A detector is configured to detect photons. An analog digital converter is provided in the digital domain, while an amplifier circuit is provided in the analog domain that is configured to receive the detector's output, wherein the amplifier circuit's output is in communication with the analog digital converter. The output of the analog digital converter is in communication with a signal processing system that may perform accumulation of signals and store them in memory.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: Matthew Hayman, Scott Spuler
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Patent number: 10352813Abstract: A method for correcting an ambient pressure measurement, a method for calculating a temperature, and an apparatus for affecting the same for an aircraft measuring system are provided. The methods include the steps of receiving an airspeed measurement from a laser sensor, receiving a total pressure measurement, and calculating an ambient pressure correction. A corrected ambient pressure or a calculated temperature may be calculated. The apparatus includes a laser sensor configured to provide an airspeed measurement, an aircraft instrument configured to provide a total pressure measurement, and a processing system.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: William A Cooper, Scott Spuler, Mike Spowart, Dirk Richter
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Publication number: 20180292257Abstract: A photon counting system is provided. The photon counting system comprises an analog domain and a digital domain in communication with the analog domain. A detector is configured to detect photons. An analog digital converter is provided in the digital domain, while an amplifier circuit is provided in the analog domain that is configured to receive the detector's output, wherein the amplifier circuit's output is in communication with the analog digital converter. The output of the analog digital converter is in communication with a signal processing system that may perform accumulation of signals and store them in memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: Matthew HAYMAN, Scott Spuler
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Publication number: 20170212218Abstract: Lidar is an acronym for Light Detection And Ranging. The technology may be used to measure distance by illuminating a target with a laser beam and performing analysis on the reflected laser beam light. In the atmospheric sciences, Lidar may be used to study the optical depth of clouds, the impact of aerosols on clouds, and the interactions between aerosols and clouds on the climate. The present application proposes a lidar-based technology using a diode laser (101) beam sent through a tapered semiconductor optical amplifier (106) and an axicon pair expander (108) wherein the laser light may be transmitted through a telescope (110) at an object to be studied. Upon striking the object to be studied, the laser (101) is reflected and recovered by the telescope (110). The reflected laser is then sent through a heated rubidium vapor cell (115) and a total detection channel (116) for analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicants: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Scott Spuler, Matthew Hayman, Bruce Morley, Edwin W. Eloranta
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Publication number: 20150094976Abstract: A method for correcting an ambient pressure measurement, a method for calculating a temperature, and an apparatus for affecting the same for an aircraft measuring system are provided. The methods include the steps of receiving an airspeed measurement from a laser sensor, receiving a total pressure measurement, and calculating an ambient pressure correction. A corrected ambient pressure or a calculated temperature may be calculated. The apparatus includes a laser sensor configured to provide an airspeed measurement, an aircraft instrument configured to provide a total pressure measurement, and a processing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: William A. COOPER, Scott Spuler, Mike Spowart, Dirk Richter
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Patent number: 7869469Abstract: A Raman shifter is provided with improved optical efficiency and robustness, particularly for high power applications. In one embodiment, a source system (100) includes a source pump laser (102) and a seed laser (104). Beams from the pump laser (102) and seed laser (104) combine for transmission into a Raman cell (112). Folding optics define a multi-pass pathway through the Raman cell (112). Such folding optics may include an internal reflectance element. An entry window into the Raman cell, an exit window from the Raman cell, and the internal reflectance elements include surfaces disposed at a Brewster angle relative to the incident beam. The Raman cell medium is circulated in a direction transverse to the beam pathways through the cell. In this manner, improved optical efficiency and robustness is achieved as well as improved performance over a significant wavelength band.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventor: Scott Spuler
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Patent number: 7656526Abstract: A lidar system capable of remotely identifying calibrated absolute aerosol backscatter coefficients of atmospheric aerosol particles by transmitting a beam of light and spectrally separating the intensity of Rayleigh and Mie backscattering is disclosed. The transmitter features high pulse energy to generate sufficient Rayleigh backscattering, enabling atmospheric scanning in a timely manner. The transmitter employs a seeded Nd:YAG laser and a seeded stimulated Raman scattering wavelength shifter to achieve narrow bandwidth, eye-safe laser pulses. The receiver employs a telescope, collimating lens, beam splitter, molecular absorption filter, focusing lenses, and avalanche photodiodes. Mie backscattering is blocked by the molecular absorption filter to provide a Rayleigh signal, which is used with knowledge of atmospheric density to calibrate the Mie signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: Scott Spuler, Shane Mayor
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Patent number: 7583364Abstract: An eye-safe atmospheric aerosol lidar featuring high transmit pulse energy to generate strong backscatter from long ranges in a single pulse together with an optically efficient receiver is disclosed. The transmitter employs a gas cell and non-focused laser beam geometry to convert short wavelength laser light to substantially safer and longer wavelength light by stimulated Raman scattering. The longer wavelength light is substantially safer than the shorter wavelength light thereby allowing the safe transmission of high energy pulses. The transmitter also features a diode injection seed and a beam expander which are effective to reduce the divergence of the long wavelength light below the field-of-view of the receiver. The receiver employs a telescope, collimating lens, interference filter, focusing lens, avalanche photodiode detector, amplifier and analog to digital converter. The transmit beam and receiver field of view are coaxial.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: Shane Mayor, Scott Spuler
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Patent number: 7580127Abstract: A polarization lidar system capable of remotely identifying characteristics of atmospheric aerosol particles by transmitting a polarized beam of light and analyzing polarization characteristics of received backscatter is disclosed. The transmitter features high pulse energy to remotely identify aerosol particles with substantially one pulse. The transmitter employs a thin film plate polarizer and a Raman wavelength shifter to achieve eye-safe, single-plane linearly polarized energy. The transmit beam and receiver field of view are coaxial. The receiver employs a telescope, a collimating lens, and a beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the received backscatter into a single-plane polarized beam whose polarization plane is parallel to the plane of transmission and a single-plane polarized beam whose polarization plane is perpendicular to the plane of transmission. Each split beam is directed through separate focusing lenses onto separate detectors.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2006Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchInventors: Shane Mayor, Scott Spuler
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Patent number: 6754412Abstract: A (de)multiplexer for use in optical communications systems for multiplexing and demultiplexing an optical signal consisting of optical channel(s) of different wavelength(s) includes a multiplex optical waveguide propagating a plurality of optical channels and a plurality of single channel optical waveguides, each propagating a single channel. Each of the waveguides has a receiving/transmitting end. A diffraction grating is optically coupled between the multiplex optical waveguide and the single channel optical waveguides for diffracting an optical signal between the receiving/transmitting end of the multiplex optical waveguide and the receiving/transmitting end of the single channel optical waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Zolo Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Pei Huang, Scott Spuler
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Publication number: 20040022485Abstract: A (de)multiplexer for use in optical communications systems for multiplexing and demultiplexing an optical signal consisting of optical channel(s) of different wavelength(s) includes a multiplex optical waveguide propagating a plurality of optical channels and a plurality of single channel optical waveguides, each propagating a single channel. Each of the waveguides has a receiving/transmitting end. A diffraction grating is optically coupled between the multiplex optical waveguide and the single channel optical waveguides for diffracting an optical signal between the receiving/transmitting end of the multiplex optical waveguide and the receiving/transmitting end of the single channel optical waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: Zolo Technologies, IncorporatedInventors: Pei Huang, Scott Spuler