Patents by Inventor Spencer Trent Cole

Spencer Trent Cole 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).

  • Optical system and method for performing a defined function on an optical beam having at least one of a minimized volume or reduced operating temperature
    Patent number: 6392791
    Abstract: The present invention provides optical systems and methods that use a plurality of optical reflectors to fold the optical path of an optical beam used in the optical system. By folding the optical path of the optical beam, the optical system and method of the present invention can in one instance minimize the over-all volume and mass of the optical system. Specifically, the present invention provides an optical amplifier that has a plurality of active and passive reflectors. The passive reflectors are oriented to fold the optical beam in a minimized volume and direct the optical beam repeatedly at the active reflectors to amplify the optical beam to a selected power level. The folding aspects of the optical reflectors may also decrease the operating temperature of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: Richard Lynn Fork, Spencer Trent Cole