Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Loftus
Thomas H. Loftus 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: 10535980Abstract: An atomic oscillator device includes an atomic oscillator, a controlled oscillator, a resonance controller, and a cold-atom clock output. The atomic oscillator comprises a two-dimensional optical cooling region (2D OCR) for providing a source of atoms and a three-dimensional optical cooling region (3D OCR) for cooling and/or trapping the atoms emitted by the 2D OCR. The atomic oscillator comprises a microwave cavity surrounding the 3D OCR for exciting an atomic resonance. The controlled oscillator produces an output frequency. The resonance controller is for steering the output frequency of the controlled oscillator based on the output frequency and the atomic resonance as measured using an atomic resonance measurement. The cold-atom clock output is configured as being the output frequency of the controlled oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Martin M. Boyd, Adam T. Black, Thang Q. Tran, Matthew D. Swallows, Brian R. Patton, Miao Zhu, Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich
-
Publication number: 20190385773Abstract: A device for magnetic field generation includes a flux deliverer and a field shaper.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich, Arman Cingoz, Matthew Cashen
-
Patent number: 10460917Abstract: A system for ion pumping including an anode, a cathode, and a magnet. The magnet comprises a Halbach magnet array.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Chandra S. Raman, Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich, Thang Q. Tran, William D. Weis
-
Patent number: 10446307Abstract: A device for magnetic field generation includes a flux deliverer and a field shaper.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich, Arman Cingoz, Matthew Cashen
-
Publication number: 20180342339Abstract: A device for magnetic field generation includes a flux deliverer and a field shaper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2017Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich, Arman Cingoz, Matthew Cashen
-
Publication number: 20180321641Abstract: An atomic oscillator device includes an atomic oscillator, a controlled oscillator, a resonance controller, and a cold-atom clock output. The atomic oscillator comprises a two-dimensional optical cooling region (2D OCR) for providing a source of atoms and a three-dimensional optical cooling region (3D OCR) for cooling and/or trapping the atoms emitted by the 2D OCR. The atomic oscillator comprises a microwave cavity surrounding the 3D OCR for exciting an atomic resonance. The controlled oscillator produces an output frequency. The resonance controller is for steering the output frequency of the controlled oscillator based on the output frequency and the atomic resonance as measured using an atomic resonance measurement. The cold-atom clock output is configured as being the output frequency of the controlled oscillator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Martin M. Boyd, Adam T. Black, Thang Q. Tran, Matthew D. Swallows, Brian R. Patton, Miao Zhu, Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich
-
Publication number: 20170345630Abstract: A system for ion pumping including an anode, a cathode, and a magnet. The magnet comprises a Halbach magnet array.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Chandra S. Raman, Thomas H. Loftus, Mark A. Kasevich, Thang Q. Tran, William D. Weis
-
Publication number: 20160183356Abstract: The device for producing laser-cooled atoms comprises a two dimensional trap or a three-dimensional trap, or a combination of two- and three-dimensional traps. The two-dimensional trap comprises: three or more permanent magnets arranged around a perimeter of a loop, wherein a plane of the loop is perpendicular to a free axis of the two-dimensional atom trap, and the three or more permanent magnets bracket an internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap; and one or more laser beam input ports enabling access for one or more laser beams to the internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Artyom Vitouchkine, Michael R. Matthews, Adam T. Black, Igor Teper, Leo W. Hollberg, Todd L. Gustavson, Brent C. Young
-
Patent number: 8921764Abstract: The device for producing laser-cooled atoms comprises a two dimensional trap or a three-dimensional trap, or a combination of two- and three-dimensional traps. The two-dimensional trap comprises: three or more permanent magnets arranged around a perimeter of a loop, wherein a plane of the loop is perpendicular to a free axis of the two-dimensional atom trap, and the three or more permanent magnets bracket an internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap; and one or more laser beam input ports enabling access for one or more laser beams to the internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Artyom Vitouchkine, Michael R. Matthews, Adam T. Black, Igor Teper, Leo W. Hollberg, Todd L. Gustavson, Brent C. Young
-
Patent number: 8710428Abstract: An atomic slower comprises a bore and one or more tapered permanent magnets configured to produce an axial magnetic field along an axis of the bore.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Artyom Vitouchkine, Leo Hollberg
-
Publication number: 20140061454Abstract: The device for producing laser-cooled atoms comprises a two dimensional trap or a three-dimensional trap, or a combination of two- and three-dimensional traps. The two-dimensional trap comprises: three or more permanent magnets arranged around a perimeter of a loop, wherein a plane of the loop is perpendicular to a free axis of the two-dimensional atom trap, and the three or more permanent magnets bracket an internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap; and one or more laser beam input ports enabling access for one or more laser beams to the internal volume of the two-dimensional atom trap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: AOSense, Inc.Inventors: Thomas H. Loftus, Artyom Vitouchkine, Michael R. Matthews, Adam T. Black, Igor Teper, Leo W. Hollberg, Todd L. Gustavson, Brent C. Young
-
Patent number: 8526110Abstract: A ring-laser system that includes a plurality of ring-laser gain elements and a spectral-beam-combining output stage configured to combine a plurality of beams coming from the gain elements into an output beam and that includes chromatic-dispersion compensation. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of highly reflective dielectric-coated focussing elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of high-efficiency dielectric-coated grating elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a mostly reflective but partially transmissive output mirror and a highly reflective beam-reversing mirror configured to reflect a majority of a backward-traveling signal beam such that it becomes forward traveling. In some embodiments, each gain element further includes a photonic-crystal-rod power amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Eric C. Honea, Thomas H. Loftus, Charles A. Lemaire
-
Patent number: 8472763Abstract: A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Anping Liu, Eric C. Honea, Charles A. Lemaire, Roy D. Mead, Christopher D. Brooks, Andrew J. W. Brown, Charles E. Hamilton, Thomas H. Loftus, Fabio Di Teodoro
-
Patent number: 8179594Abstract: Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining of light from a plurality of high-power lasers (e.g., fiber MOPA lasers) that, in some embodiments, use substantially identical diffraction gratings in a 1-D non-parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine non-parallel converging input beams in one plane each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, an output grating and one or more input gratings in a 1-D parallel, mutually compensating configuration combine non-parallel input beams in one plane into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a 2-D plurality of input gratings in a non-parallel configuration combine a plurality of non-parallel input beams not in one plane each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a set of converging beams in one plane directed towards an output grating that compensates for chromatic dispersions introduced by the input gratings.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Steven C. Tidwell, Thomas H. Loftus, Charles A. Lemaire
-
Patent number: 7535631Abstract: Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Andrew J. W. Brown, Eric C. Honea, Thomas H. Loftus, Roy D. Mead, Charles E. Hamilton, Anping Liu, Charles A. Lemaire
-
Patent number: 7233442Abstract: Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Aculight CorporationInventors: Andrew J. W. Brown, Eric C. Honea, Thomas H. Loftus, Roy D. Mead, Charles E. Hamilton, Anping Liu, Charles A. Lemaire
-
Patent number: 7199924Abstract: Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Aculight CorporationInventors: Andrew J. W. Brown, Eric C. Honea, Thomas H. Loftus, Roy D. Mead, Charles E. Hamilton, Anping Liu, Charles A. Lemaire