Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Furness
Thomas A. Furness 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: 20110243571Abstract: Objects such as manufactured goods or articles, works of art, media such as identity documents, legal documents, financial instruments, transaction cards, other documents, and/or biological tissue are sampled via sequential illumination in various bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a test response to the illumination is analyzed with respect to reference responses of reference objects. The sequence may be varied. The sequence may define an activation order, a drive level and/or temperature for operating one or more sources. Illumination may be in visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Elements of the evaluation system may be remote from one another, for example coupled by a network.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: VISUALANT, INC.Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Thomas A. Furness, III, Nicholas E. Walker
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Patent number: 7996173Abstract: Objects such as manufactured goods or articles, works of art, media such as identity documents, legal documents, financial instruments, transaction cards, other documents, and/or biological tissue are sampled via sequential illumination in various bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a test response to the illumination is analyzed with respect to reference responses of reference objects. The sequence may be varied. The sequence may define an activation order, a drive level and/or temperature for operating one or more sources. Illumination may be in visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Elements of the evaluation system may be remote from one another, for example coupled by a network.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Visualant, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Thomas A. Furness, III, Nicholas E. Walker
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Publication number: 20100208240Abstract: A system for evaluating subject objects includes at least one physical source (118) operable to emit electromagnetic energy and driver electronics (111) drivingly coupled to at least one physical source. The driver electronics is configured to drive at least one physical source as a number of logical sources, using an electromagnetic forcing function.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: VISUALANT, INC.Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Thomas A. Furness, III, Ross D. Melville, Konrad E. Schroder, Robert A. Burstein, Winyu Chinthammit
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Publication number: 20090112101Abstract: Spectral information may be employed in process control and/or quality control of goods and articles. Spectral information may be employed in process control and/or quality control of media, for example financial instruments, identity documents, legal documents, medical documents, financial transaction cards, and/or other media, fluids for example lubricants, fuels, coolants, or other materials that flow, and in machinery, for example vehicles, motors, generators, compressors, presses, drills and/or supply systems. Spectral information may be employed in identifying biological tissue and/or facilitating diagnosis based on biological tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: Thomas A. Furness, III, Brian T. Schowengerdt, Ross D. Melville, Nicholas E. Walker, Bradley E. Sparks
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Publication number: 20080133389Abstract: Objects such as manufactured goods or articles, works of art, media such as identity documents, legal documents, financial instruments, transaction cards, other documents, and/or biological tissue are sampled via sequential illumination in various bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a test response to the illumination is analyzed with respect to reference responses of reference objects. The sequence may be varied. The sequence may define an activation order, a drive level and/or temperature for operating one or more sources. Illumination may be in visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Elements of the evaluation system may be remote from one another, for example coupled by a network.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Thomas A. Furness, Nicholas E. Walker
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Patent number: 6867753Abstract: A virtual image is registered among a perceived real world background. Tracking light is scanned into the real world environment, which includes at least one detector pair. A first time and a second time at which the tracking light impinges on the first detector is detected, in which the first time and second time occurs within adjacent scan lines. A time at which a horizontal scan line edge (e.g., beginning of scan line or end of scan line) is encountered is derived as occurring one half way between the first time and the second time. The horizontal location of the first detector then is determined within a specific scan line inferring the scan line edge time. The vertical location of the detector is determined within a scan frame by measuring time duration using the beginning of the frame. By determining a location independently from the temporal resolution of the augmented imaging system, the temporal location of the detector is identified to a sub-pixel/sub-line precision.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Winyu Chinthammit, Eric Seibel, Thomas A Furness, III
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Publication number: 20040080467Abstract: A virtual image is registered among a perceived real world background. Tracking light is scanned into the real world environment, which includes at least one detector pair. A first time and a second time at which the tracking light impinges on the first detector is detected, in which the first time and second time occurs within adjacent scan lines. A time at which a horizontal scan line edge (e.g., beginning of scan line or end of scan line) is encountered is derived as occurring one half way between the first time and the second time. The horizontal location of the first detector then is determined within a specific scan line inferring the scan line edge time. The vertical location of the detector is determined within a scan frame by measuring time duration using the beginning of the frame. By determining a location independently from the temporal resolution of the augmented imaging system, the temporal location of the detector is identified to a sub-pixel/sub-line precision.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONInventors: Winyu Chinthammit, Eric Seibel, Thomas A. Furness
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Patent number: 6563105Abstract: A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector. Depth enhancement is determined by correlating images detected by the respective detectors, or alternatively by a range finding method based on phase difference, time of flight, frequency or interferometry.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Eric J. Seibel, Quinn Y. J. Smithwick, Thomas A. Furness, III
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Patent number: 6497649Abstract: Display of an independent visual background provides a visual reference corresponding to the perceptions of a person's vestibular system, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating motion sickness that otherwise occur due to a mismatch between the visual perception of motion or non-motion and the sensations of the vestibular system. If the person is wearing a head-mounted display (HMD), is in motion, or is in a moving environment, a motion tracking system or other motion sensors are employed to produce signals indicative of the motion of the environment and/or of the person. The signals produced are then processed using a vestibular model, producing a modified signal corresponding to the perception of motion by the person's vestibular system. Using this modified signal, the independent visual background is displayed to the user, providing a visual reference that corresponds to the perception of the vestibular system.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Donald E. Parker, Been-Lirn Henry Duh, Thomas A. Furness, Jerrold D. Prothero, Eric J. Seibel
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Publication number: 20020139920Abstract: A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector. Depth enhancement is determined by correlating images detected by the respective detectors, or alternatively by a range finding method based on phase difference, time of flight, frequency or interferometry.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2001Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: University of WashingtonInventors: Eric J. Seibel, Quinn Y.J. Smithwick, Thomas A. Furness
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Publication number: 20020099257Abstract: Display of an independent visual background provides a visual reference corresponding to the perceptions of a person's vestibular system, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating motion sickness that otherwise occur due to a mismatch between the visual perception of motion or non-motion and the sensations of the vestibular system. If the person is wearing a head-mounted display (HMD), is in motion, or is in a moving environment, a motion tracking system or other motion sensors are employed to produce signals indicative of the motion of the environment and/or of the person. The signals produced are then processed using a vestibular model, producing a modified signal corresponding to the perception of motion by the person's vestibular system. Using this modified signal, the independent visual background is displayed to the user, providing a visual reference that corresponds to the perception of the vestibular system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Donald E. Parker, Been-Lirn (Henry) Duh, Thomas A. Furness, Jerrold D. Prothero, Eric J. Seibel
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Patent number: 6294775Abstract: A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition having a flexible optical fiber serving as an illuminating wave guide. In one resonance mode, the distal end of the fiber is a stationary node. The fiber includes a lens at the distal tip which collimates emitted light. A scan lens is positioned off the end of the fiber. The relative magnifications of the lenses and the relative positions determines the pixel resolution. In particular, the illumination fiber outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A photon detector detects reflected photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Eric J. Seibel, Thomas A. Furness, III
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Patent number: 6288816Abstract: A miniature optical scanner includes an electromagnetic drive having stationary magnets and stationary drive coils to minimize the rotational inertia of the scanner and increase the scanner's resonant frequency. The scanner is such that the resonant frequency is manually tunable as well as automatically adjustable to compensate for variables causing frequency drift. The optical scan angle is increased by employing a multiplying mirror with the optical scanner. For a two axis scanning system, the multiplying mirror may be formed of a second optical scanner to increase the optical scan angle relative to both of the axes.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1998Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Charles D. Melville, Thomas A. Furness, III, Michael R. Tidwell, Joel S. Kollin, Richard S. Johnston
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Patent number: 5751465Abstract: A miniature optical scanner includes an electromagnetic drive having stationary magnets and stationary drive coils to minimize the rotational inertia of the scanner and increase the scanner's resonant frequency. The scanner is such that the resonant frequency is manually tunable as well as automatically adjustable to compensate for variables causing frequency drift. The optical scan angle is increased by employing a multiplying mirror with the optical scanner. For a two axis scanning system, the multiplying mirror may be formed of a second optical scanner to increase the optical scan angle relative to both of the axes.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1996Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Charles D. Melville, Thomas A. Furness, III, Michael R. Tidwell
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Patent number: 5596339Abstract: A virtual retinal display utilizes photon generation and manipulation to create a panoramic, high resolution, color virtual image that is projected directly onto the retina of the eye. The virtual retinal display includes a source of photons, the photons being modulated with video information and scanned by a scanning system in a raster type of pattern directly onto the retina of the user's eye. A single, monofilament optical fiber of very small diameter couples light from the photon generator to the scanning system so as to provide to the scanning system a point source of light at the fiber's exit aperture. The photon generator may utilize coherent or non-coherent light. Further, the photon generator may utilize color light emitters so as to scan a colored virtual image directly onto the retina of the user's eye.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1995Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Thomas A. Furness, III, Charles D. Melville, Michael R. Tidwell
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Patent number: 5467104Abstract: A virtual retinal display utilizes photon generation and manipulation to create a panoramic, high resolution, color virtual image that is projected directly onto the retina of the eye without creating a real or an aerial image that is viewed via a mirror or optics. The virtual retinal display includes a source of photons, the photons being modulated with video information and scanned in a raster type of pattern directly onto the retina of the user's eye. The photon generator may utilize coherent or non-coherent light. Further, the photon generator may utilize color light generators so as to scan a colored virtual image directly onto the retina of the user's eye. The virtual retinal display may also include a depth accommodation cue to vary the focus of scanned photons rapidly so as to control the depth perceived by a user for each individual picture element of the virtual image.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1992Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of WashingtonInventors: Thomas A. Furness, III, Joel S. Kollin
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Patent number: 5162828Abstract: A display system for conventional eyewear having a transparency that defines a field of view and a frame for supporting the transparency on a user's head is shown. The display system includes a light transmissive display mounted on the frame of the eyewear and optics for collimating light to project an image of the displayed information at a distance from the user in the periphery of the field of view defined by the transparency. The optics may include a single mirror that receives the information directly from the display wherein the mirror is toroidal or the like so as to project an enlarged image at an apparent optical distance from the user that is greater than the actual optical path. Alternatively, a planar mirror may be employed with a collimating lens to project the image at a desired distance from the user. The mirror may be fully reflective or partially reflective so as to superimpose the image of the displayed information on the scene viewed by the user through the transparency of the eyewear.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1989Date of Patent: November 10, 1992Inventors: Thomas A. Furness, Robert E. Fischer, Peter K. Purdy, Kirk Beach