Patents by Inventor Steven J. Byrnes

Steven J. Byrnes 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).

  • Patent number: 12235362
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an array of optical emitters, an objective lens optically coupling each optical emitter to a respective unique portion of a field of view, an optical switching network coupled between a laser and the array of optical emitters and a controller coupled to the optical switching network and configured to cause the optical switching network to route light from the laser to a sequence of the optical emitters according to a dynamically varying temporal pattern and to vary the temporal pattern in a way that reduces risk of eye injury from the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes, Christopher Bessette, Scott Evan Lennox, Matthew A. Sinclair, Francis J. Rogomentich
  • Patent number: 12055631
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an array of optical emitters, an objective lens optically coupling each optical emitter to a respective unique portion of a field of view, an optical switching network coupled between a laser and the array of optical emitters and a controller coupled to the optical switching network and configured to cause the optical switching network to route light from the laser to a sequence of the optical emitters according to a dynamically varying temporal pattern and to vary the temporal pattern based at least in part on distance to an object within the field of view. The LiDAR system scans different portions of the field of view differently, such as with different laser power levels, different revisit rates and/or different scan patterns, for example based on likelihood of detecting objects of interest in the various portions or based on likely relative importance of objects likely to be found in the various portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes, Christopher Bessette, Scott Evan Lennox
  • Publication number: 20240230851
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael G. MOEBIUS, Lucas D. BENNEY, Steven J. SPECTOR, Steven J. BYRNES
  • Patent number: 11995558
    Abstract: A parallelized chain-synthesizing technique includes capillary tubes, where each tube provides multiple locations or addresses where a specific arbitrary sequence for polymeric chains can be synthesized. An optical addressing system selectively delivers light to the locations to mediate or control reactions in the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Kirsty A. McFarland, Andrew P. Magyar, Ian Ward Frank, Kenneth T. Kotz, Stacey Markovic, Haiyao Huang, Steven J. Byrnes, Gregg E. Favalora, Melissa M. Sprachman, Ryan A. Dubay, Emma Vargo, Peter Cavanagh, Erin Rosenberger
  • Patent number: 11953625
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a beamsplitter and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the beamsplitter and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Lucas D. Benney, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 11947040
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Lucas D. Benney, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 11762062
    Abstract: A LiDAR system emits single mode light from a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and is capable of receiving a different mode light, or multiple modes of light, into the PIC. Objects in the LiDAR's field of view may reflect light with a mode different from the mode of the light that illuminated the objects. Thus, in some embodiments, a single-mode optical waveguide, a single-mode-multi-mode optical junction, a multi-mode optical waveguide and an array of optical emitters on the PIC are configured to emit into free space light of a single mode from each optical emitter of the array of optical emitters. The multi-mode optical waveguide and the array of optical emitters are configured to receive from the free space light of a mode different from the single mode, or multiple modes, and to couple the light of the different mode or multiple modes into the multi-mode optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Byrnes, Michael G. Moebius, Steven J. Spector
  • Patent number: 11688995
    Abstract: A grating emitter method and system for modulating the polarization of an optical beam, such as one for transmission through free-space or use in an atomic clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes, Robert Lutwak
  • Publication number: 20230079911
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Michael G. MOEBIUS, Lucas D. BENNEY, Steven J. SPECTOR, Steven J. BYRNES
  • Patent number: 11579253
    Abstract: A LiDAR system has a field of view and includes a polarization-based waveguide splitter. The splitter includes a first splitter port, a second splitter port and a common splitter port. A laser is optically coupled to the first splitter port via a single-polarization waveguide. An objective lens optically couples each optical emitter of an array of optical emitters to a respective unique portion of the field of view. An optical switching network is coupled via respective dual-polarization waveguides between the common splitter port and the array of optical emitters. An optical receiver is optically coupled to the second splitter port via a dual-polarization waveguide and is configured to receive light reflected from the field of view. A controller, coupled to the optical switching network, is configured to cause the optical switching network to route light from the laser to a sequence of the optical emitters according to a temporal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Byrnes, Steven J. Spector, Michael G. Moebius
  • Patent number: 11550037
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Lucas D. Benney, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 11340513
    Abstract: An electro-holographic light field generator device is disclosed. The light field generator device has an optical substrate with a waveguide face and an exit face. One or more surface acoustic wave (SAW) optical modulator devices are included within each light field generator device. The SAW devices each include a light input, a waveguide, and a SAW transducer, all configured for guided mode confinement of input light within the waveguide. A leaky mode deflection of a portion of the waveguided light, or diffractive light, impinges upon the exit face. Multiple output optics at the exit face are configured for developing from each of the output optics a radiated exit light from the diffracted light for at least one of the waveguides. An RF controller is configured to control the SAW devices to develop the radiated exit light as a three-dimensional output light field with horizontal parallax and compatible with observer vertical motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian W. Frank, Steven J. Byrnes, Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Gregg E. Favalora, Joseph J. Register, Dennis M. Callahan, Michael G. Moebius
  • Patent number: 11243450
    Abstract: A light field generator system including a leaky-mode SAW modulator is disclosed. The modulator incorporates at least one optical power component, such as a concave mirror or volume grating having a non-zero diopter rating. In some embodiments, the system incorporates the at least one optical power component by embedding the optical power component within a substrate of the SAW modulator and/or by placing the optical power component upon a surface of the SAW modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg E. Favalora, Michael G. Moebius, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Publication number: 20210349186
    Abstract: A LiDAR system emits single mode light from a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and is capable of receiving a different mode light, or multiple modes of light, into the PIC. Objects in the LiDAR's field of view may reflect light with a mode different from the mode of the light that illuminated the objects. Thus, in some embodiments, a single-mode optical waveguide, a single-mode-multi-mode optical junction, a multi-mode optical waveguide and an array of optical emitters on the PIC are configured to emit into free space light of a single mode from each optical emitter of the array of optical emitters. The multi-mode optical waveguide and the array of optical emitters are configured to receive from the free space light of a mode different from the single mode, or multiple modes, and to couple the light of the different mode or multiple modes into the multi-mode optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Steven J. Byrnes, Michael G. Moebius, Steven J. Spector
  • Publication number: 20210341585
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Lucas D. Benney, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 11119383
    Abstract: Acousto-optical modulators, such as a SAW modulators, with telescope arrays and superimposed volume gratings for light field generation are disclosed. These devices can employ pixelated demagnification and have layers of output optics, such as reflective gratings and/or arrays of transmissive refractive or diffractive lenses that manipulate the light emitted by the SAW modulator. In other cases, superimposed volume gratings are used, in which pixilation occurs in angle space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Byrnes, Gregg E. Favalora, Ian Ward Frank, Joseph J. Register, Michael G. Moebius
  • Patent number: 11092427
    Abstract: A system and method for metrology and profilometry using a light field generator are disclosed. For this purpose, a system such as an optical analysis system scans a sample using light, and detects light reflected off a sample in various ways. The system operates different operational modes including a backscatter intensity, a triangulation, and an interferometric mode. For this purpose, the optical analysis system includes one or more optical angle modulation systems, such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) modulators, that emit light, a sample holder, and a scanning system that scans the one or more SAW modulators relative to the sample holder. The system performs tomographic reconstructions of information generated by the scans to create 3D maps/volume datasets of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Byrnes, Jeffrey A. Korn, Gregg E. Favalora, Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Michael G. Moebius
  • Publication number: 20210231780
    Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a beamsplitter and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the beamsplitter and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael G. Moebius, Lucas D. Benney, Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 11054676
    Abstract: A system and method for improving spatial light modulator (SLM) devices such as Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) modulators are disclosed. The SAW modulators can improved angular bandwidth and suppress unwanted diffractive orders. In one example, a coating layer(s) is applied to a proximal face of the SAW modulator to improve coupling of guided modes into leaky modes. Additionally, applying coating layers(s) such as a hybrid anti-reflective/highly reflective coating to an exit face of the SAW modulator can suppress transmission of undesired diffractive order(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Ward Frank, Jeffrey A. Korn, Steven J. Byrnes, Dennis M. Callahan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210119410
    Abstract: A grating emitter method and system for modulating the polarization of an optical beam, such as one for transmission through free-space or use in an atomic clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Steven J. Spector, Steven J. Byrnes, Robert Lutwak