Patents by Inventor Stephen Aldridge Shaw

Stephen Aldridge Shaw 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).

  • Publication number: 20240111083
    Abstract: Described examples include an apparatus includes a dichroic wedge and a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the dichroic wedge. The apparatus also includes a display optically coupled to the spatial light modulator. The display includes a waveguide having a first side and a second side and a first diffractive optical element on the first side of the waveguide. The display also includes a second diffractive optical element on the first side of the waveguide and a third diffractive optical element on the second side of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Vivek Kumar Thakur
  • Patent number: 11874486
    Abstract: Described examples include a display having a first light source configured to provide a first light and a second light source configured to provide a second light. The display also having a spatial light modulator configured to produce a first modulated light by modulating the first light and configured to produce a second modulated light by modulating the second light. The display also having a first diffractive optical element configured to receive the first modulated light and configured to provide a first image having a first characteristic to display optics; and a second diffractive optical element configured to receive the second modulated light and configured to provide a second image having a second characteristic to the display optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Vivek Kumar Thakur
  • Patent number: 11865783
    Abstract: Described examples a three-dimensional printer includes a vat having a transparent bottom, the vat configured to contain a photo-polymerizing resin and a lift plate movably positioned within the vat. The three-dimensional printer also includes an optical device configured to project a pattern of light through the transparent bottom. The optical device includes a light source configured to provide light at a light source output and a light integrator configured to provide divergent light at a light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also includes projection optics configured to project projection output light at an optics output through the transparent bottom responsive to a modulated light at the optics input and a spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Alexander Lyubarsky, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Michael Terry Davis
  • Publication number: 20230063035
    Abstract: Described examples a three-dimensional printer includes a vat having a transparent bottom, the vat configured to contain a photo-polymerizing resin and a lift plate movably positioned within the vat. The three-dimensional printer also includes an optical device configured to project a pattern of light through the transparent bottom. The optical device includes a light source configured to provide light at a light source output and a light integrator configured to provide divergent light at a light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also includes projection optics configured to project projection output light at an optics output through the transparent bottom responsive to a modulated light at the optics input and a spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Alexander Lyubarsky, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Michael Terry Davis
  • Patent number: 11498276
    Abstract: Described examples include an optical device, having a light source with a light source output and a light integrator having a light integrator input and a light integrator output, the light integrator input optically coupled to the light source output, and the light integrator configured to provide divergent light at the light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also has projection optics with an optics input and an optics output, the projection optics configured to project output light at the optics output responsive to modulated light at the optics input, in which a focal point of the optics input matches a divergence of the modulated light and a spatial light modulator optically coupled between the light integrator output and the optics input, the spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Alexander Lyubarsky, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Michael Terry Davis
  • Patent number: 11312075
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator outputs modulated light including: modulated first light when the spatial light modulator receives first light; and modulated second light when the spatial light modulator receives second light. Projection optics project the modulated light onto: a first pixel region when a component or the spatial light modulator has a first position; and a second pixel region when the component or the spatial light modulator has a second position. The first and second pixel regions partially overlap. A pixel shifter moves the component or the spatial light modulator between: the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated first light; and the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Steven Edward Smith
  • Patent number: 11294056
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) has an array of pixels configured to modulate light in patterns responsive to first control signals. The modulated light forms at least one patterned light beam in a field of view. An illumination source is optically coupled to the SLM. The illumination source is configured to illuminate the array of pixels, responsive to second control signals. Circuitry is coupled to the SLM and to the illumination source. The circuitry is configured to provide the first control signals to the SLM and the second control signals to the illumination source. At least one detector is configured to detect a reflection of the patterned light beam in the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Patrick Ian Oden
  • Publication number: 20210389517
    Abstract: Described examples include a display having a first light source configured to provide a first light and a second light source configured to provide a second light. The display also having a spatial light modulator configured to produce a first modulated light by modulating the first light and configured to produce a second modulated light by modulating the second light. The display also having a first diffractive optical element configured to receive the first modulated light and configured to provide a first image having a first characteristic to display optics; and a second diffractive optical element configured to receive the second modulated light and configured to provide a second image having a second characteristic to the display optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Vivek Kumar Thakur
  • Publication number: 20210356734
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Nimal C. Warke, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Terry Alan Bartlett, Rick Oden
  • Patent number: 11131796
    Abstract: Described examples include a display having a first light source configured to provide a first light and a second light source configured to provide a second light. The display also having a spatial light modulator configured to produce a first modulated light by modulating the first light and configured to produce a second modulated light by modulating the second light. The display also having a first diffractive optical element configured to receive the first modulated light and configured to provide a first image having a first characteristic to display optics; and a second diffractive optical element configured to receive the second modulated light and configured to provide a second image having a second characteristic to the display optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Vivek Kumar Thakur
  • Patent number: 11106030
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David P. Magee, Nirmal C. Warke, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Terry Alan Bartlett, Rick Oden
  • Publication number: 20200142062
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) has an array of pixels configured to modulate light in patterns responsive to first control signals. The modulated light forms at least one patterned light beam in a field of view. An illumination source is optically coupled to the SLM. The illumination source is configured to illuminate the array of pixels, responsive to second control signals. Circuitry is coupled to the SLM and to the illumination source. The circuitry is configured to provide the first control signals to the SLM and the second control signals to the illumination source. At least one detector is configured to detect a reflection of the patterned light beam in the field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Patrick Ian Oden
  • Publication number: 20200122394
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator outputs modulated light including: modulated first light when the spatial light modulator receives first light; and modulated second light when the spatial light modulator receives second light. Projection optics project the modulated light onto: a first pixel region when a component or the spatial light modulator has a first position; and a second pixel region when the component or the spatial light modulator has a second position. The first and second pixel regions partially overlap. A pixel shifter moves the component or the spatial light modulator between: the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated first light; and the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated second light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Steven Edward Smith
  • Publication number: 20200081176
    Abstract: Described examples include a display having a first light source configured to provide a first light and a second light source configured to provide a second light. The display also having a spatial light modulator configured to produce a first modulated light by modulating the first light and configured to produce a second modulated light by modulating the second light. The display also having a first diffractive optical element configured to receive the first modulated light and configured to provide a first image having a first characteristic to display optics; and a second diffractive optical element configured to receive the second modulated light and configured to provide a second image having a second characteristic to the display optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Vivek Kumar Thakur
  • Publication number: 20200031053
    Abstract: Described examples include an optical device, having a light source with a light source output and a light integrator having a light integrator input and a light integrator output, the light integrator input optically coupled to the light source output, and the light integrator configured to provide divergent light at the light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also has projection optics with an optics input and an optics output, the projection optics configured to project output light at the optics output responsive to modulated light at the optics input, in which a focal point of the optics input matches a divergence of the modulated light and a spatial light modulator optically coupled between the light integrator output and the optics input, the spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Zhongyan Sheng, Alexander Lyubarsky, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Michael Terry Davis
  • Patent number: 10527726
    Abstract: In described examples, a system for outputting a patterned light beam includes a digital micro-mirror device having an array of micro-mirrors. Diffraction patterns displayed using the digital micro-mirror device create at least one patterned light beam in a field of view. An illumination source illuminates the array of micro-mirrors in the digital micro-mirror device. The system includes a processor coupled to provide display diffraction patterns for display using the digital micro-mirror device and to control the illumination source, and at least one detector to detect light from the patterned light beam that reflects from objects in the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Patrick Ian Oden
  • Publication number: 20170328990
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a transmitter, a beam steering device, and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to generate a first plurality of optical waveforms. The beam steering device is configured to steer the first plurality of optical waveforms to a first plurality of scan points that form a non-uniform scan region within a field of view (FOV). The receiver is configured to receive the first plurality of optical waveforms reflected off of a first plurality of target objects within the non-uniform scan region and determine a distance to each target object of the first plurality of target objects based on a time of flight from the transmitter to each target object of the first plurality of target objects and back to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David P. MAGEE, Nirmal C. WARKE, Stephen Aldridge SHAW, Terry Alan BARTLETT, Rick ODEN
  • Publication number: 20170328988
    Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a first transmitter, a first solid state device, and a receiver. The first transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform. The first solid state device is configured to receive the first optical waveform and steer the first optical waveform toward a target object. The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off of the first target object and determine a distance to the first target object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the first target object and back to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David P. MAGEE, Nirmal C. WARKE, Stephen Aldridge SHAW, Terry Alan BARTLETT, Rick ODEN
  • Publication number: 20170003392
    Abstract: In described examples, a system for outputting a patterned light beam includes a digital micro-mirror device having an array of micro-mirrors. Diffraction patterns displayed using the digital micro-mirror device create at least one patterned light beam in a field of view. An illumination source illuminates the array of micro-mirrors in the digital micro-mirror device. The system includes a processor coupled to provide display diffraction patterns for display using the digital micro-mirror device and to control the illumination source, and at least one detector to detect light from the patterned light beam that reflects from objects in the field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Stephen Aldridge Shaw, Patrick Ian Oden