Patents by Inventor Scott Woltman
Scott Woltman 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: 10613275Abstract: In an optical system that includes a coherent light source and an optical waveguide, a pulse width used by the optical waveguide to project image frames on a display is changed on a frame-by-frame basis. By changing the pulse width for each image frame, the locations and characteristics of visible interference patterns on the display are changed for each successive image frame. Changing the interference patterns for each image frame may result in the interference patterns being less detectable to a viewer. The change in pulse width for each image frame may be fixed or dynamic, and may be made in response to interference patterns being detected on the display.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Scott Woltman, Tuomas Vallius, Simo Tammela
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Publication number: 20190302369Abstract: In an optical system that includes a coherent light source and an optical waveguide, a pulse width used by the optical waveguide to project image frames on a display is changed on a frame-by-frame basis. By changing the pulse width for each image frame, the locations and characteristics of visible interference patterns on the display are changed for each successive image frame. Changing the interference patterns for each image frame may result in the interference patterns being less detectable to a viewer. The change in pulse width for each image frame may be fixed or dynamic, and may be made in response to interference patterns being detected on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Scott WOLTMAN, Tuomas VALLIUS, Simo TAMMELA
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Patent number: 10359627Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: R. Andrew Wall, Scott Woltman, Steven John Robbins, Xinye Lou, Gangok Lee, Yarn Chee Poon, Tuomas Vallius, Pasi Kostamo, Tapani Levola, Yijing Fu
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Patent number: 9989763Abstract: A near eye or heads up display system includes at least one light source, an imaging device, and an optical structure. The at least one light source can be, e.g., a red light source that produces light within a red wavelength range that has at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks. The imaging device produces an image using light produced by the light source(s). The optical structure is configured to transfer light corresponding to the image from an input-pupil to an output-pupil where the image is viewable. By producing at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks within a color (e.g., red) wavelength range, and taking advantage of chromatic dispersion, a more uniform intensity distribution is provided in the viewable image compared to if only one narrow band of light within the color wavelength range were produced.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Scott Woltman, Eliezer Glik
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Patent number: 9915825Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes a volume layer, embedded between first and second major planar surfaces of the bulk-substrate, configured to cause light that is output by the output-coupler to have a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the volume layer were absent.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Steven John Robbins, Scott Woltman, R. Andrew Wall, Yarn Chee Poon
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Patent number: 9791696Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Scott Woltman, Steven John Robbins, R. Andrew Wall, Tuomas Vallius, Tapani Levola, Pasi Kostamo
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Publication number: 20170160548Abstract: A near eye or heads up display system includes at least one light source, an imaging device, and an optical structure. The at least one light source can be, e.g., a red light source that produces light within a red wavelength range that has at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks. The imaging device produces an image using light produced by the light source(s). The optical structure is configured to transfer light corresponding to the image from an input-pupil to an output-pupil where the image is viewable. By producing at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks within a color (e.g., red) wavelength range, and taking advantage of chromatic dispersion, a more uniform intensity distribution is provided in the viewable image compared to if only one narrow band of light within the color wavelength range were produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Scott Woltman, Eliezer Glik
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Publication number: 20170131551Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes a volume layer, embedded between first and second major planar surfaces of the bulk-substrate, configured to cause light that is output by the output-coupler to have a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the volume layer were absent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Steven John Robbins, Scott Woltman, R. Andrew Wall, Yarn Chee Poon
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Publication number: 20170131546Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Scott Woltman, Steven John Robbins, R. Andrew Wall, Tuomas Vallius, Tapani Levola, Pasi Kostamo
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Publication number: 20170131545Abstract: An apparatus for use in replicating an image associated with an input-pupil to an output-pupil includes a planar optical waveguide including a bulk-substrate, and also including an input-coupler, an intermediate-component and an output-coupler. The input-coupler couples light corresponding to the image into the bulk-substrate and towards the intermediate-component. The intermediate-component performs horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and directs the light corresponding to the image towards the output-coupler. The output-coupler performs the other one of horizontal or vertical pupil expansion and couples light corresponding to the image, which travels from the input-coupler to the output-coupler, out of the waveguide. The apparatus further includes an adjacent planar optical component to provide a more uniform intensity distribution compared to if the adjacent planar optical component were absent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: R. Andrew Wall, Scott Woltman, Steven John Robbins, Xinye Lou, Gangok Lee, Yarn Chee Poon, Tuomas Vallius, Pasi Kostamo, Tapani Levola, Yijing Fu
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Patent number: 9167217Abstract: A scanning laser projector drives laser light sources with waveforms for higher efficiency. Optical light power values for pixels are mapped to amplitude/duration pairs. Laser diodes are driven with electrical currents having the amplitude for time period specified by the duration. For increasing optical light power values, amplitude values are increased, and then durations are increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson, Christopher Brian Adkins
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Patent number: 9140971Abstract: A scanning laser projector detects obstructions in a projector field of view using a proximity detector that detects infrared light at a photodetector. The photodetector is tested with an additional infrared light source. The additional infrared light source may also be used as proximity detector that can detect a local obstruction blocking the photodetector.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson
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Patent number: 9104038Abstract: A scanning projector includes a scanning mirror that sweep a beam in two dimensions. The beam is created by multiple laser light sources, at least two of which create light at substantially the same wavelength. A first of the two light sources is driven up to a transition point past which both of the two light sources are driven (equally or unequally).Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson
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Publication number: 20150116672Abstract: A scanning laser projector detects obstructions in a projector field of view using a proximity detector that detects infrared light at a photodetector. The photodetector is tested with an additional infrared light source. The additional infrared light source may also be used as proximity detector that can detect a local obstruction blocking the photodetector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson
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Publication number: 20140327835Abstract: A scanning laser projector drives laser light sources with waveforms for higher efficiency. Optical light power values for pixels are mapped to amplitude/duration pairs. Laser diodes are driven with electrical currents having the amplitude for time period specified by the duration. For increasing optical light power values, amplitude values are increased, and then durations are increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson, Christopher Brian Adkins
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Publication number: 20140320829Abstract: A scanning projector includes a scanning mirror that sweep a beam in two dimensions. The beam is created by multiple laser light sources, at least two of which create light at substantially the same wavelength. A first of the two light sources is driven up to a transition point past which both of the two light sources are driven (equally or unequally).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson
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Patent number: 8746898Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a shutter mechanism to prevent light from reaching an image plane during calibration of light sources. The shutter mechanism may include liquid crystal material that exhibits an effective index of refraction that varies with applied voltage. During calibration, a light beam is shuttered, light sources are driven by calibration data, and optical power is measured.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Joshua O. Miller, Scott Woltman
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Publication number: 20130293591Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a shutter mechanism to prevent light from reaching an image plane during calibration of light sources. The shutter mechanism may include liquid crystal material that exhibits an effective index of refraction that varies with applied voltage. During calibration, a light beam is shuttered, light sources are driven by calibration data, and optical power is measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Microvision, Inc.Inventors: Joshua O. Miller, Scott Woltman