Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Lippert

Thomas M. Lippert 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: 7075687
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The scanning assembly includes a plurality of mirrors that sweep their respective beams through respective regions of an image field. The regions are immediately adjacent so that an overall image is produced by “tiling” of the regions. Because sweeps of the scanning assembly scan a plurality of tiles simultaneously the resolution and/or field of view of a display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a single mirror sweeping a single beam. In alternative embodiments, tiling is used for imaging. Also, various approaches to controlling the frequency responses of the various scanners are described, including active control of MEMs scanners and passive frequency tuning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 6937221
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes first and second IR or other light sources that produce light at respective first and second non-visible wavelengths. The light is modulated according to a desired image. The modulated light is then applied to a wavelength selective phosphor that converts each component of the light to a respective visible wavelength. In one embodiment, the image source is a scanned light beam display that scans an IR light beam onto a screen that carries the phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20040223202
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The scanning assembly includes a plurality of mirrors that sweep their respective beams through respective regions of an image field. The regions are immediately adjacent so that an overall image is produced by “tiling” of the regions. Because sweeps of the scanning assembly scan a plurality of tiles simultaneously the resolution and/or field of view of a display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a single mirror sweeping a single beam. In alternative embodiments, tiling is used for imaging. Also, various approaches to controlling the frequency responses of the various scanners are described, including active control of MEMs scanners and passive frequency tuning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 6762867
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The scanning assembly includes a plurality of mirrors that sweep their respective beams through respective regions of an image field. The regions are immediately adjacent so that an overall image is produced by “tiling” of the regions. Because sweeps of the scanning assembly scan a plurality of tiles simultaneously the resolution and/or field of view of a display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a single mirror sweeping a single beam. In alternative embodiments, tiling is used for imaging. Also, various approaches to controlling the frequency responses of the various scanners are described, including active control of MEMs scanners and passive frequency tuning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20020180868
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The scanning assembly includes a plurality of mirrors that sweep their respective beams through respective regions of an image field. The regions are immediately adjacent so that an overall image is produced by “tiling” of the regions. Because sweeps of the scanning assembly scan a plurality of tiles simultaneously the resolution and/or field of view of a display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a single mirror sweeping a single beam. In alternative embodiments, tiling is used for imaging. Also, various approaches to controlling the frequency responses of the various scanners are described, including active control of MEMs scanners and passive frequency tuning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 6433907
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The scanning assembly includes a plurality of mirrors that sweep their respective beams through respective regions of an image field. The regions are immediately adjacent so that an overall image is produced by “tiling” of the regions. Because sweeps of the scanning assembly scan a plurality of tiles simultaneously the resolution and/or field of view of a display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a single mirror sweeping a single beam. In alternative embodiments, tiling is used for imaging. Also, various approaches to controlling the frequency responses of the various scanners are described, including active control of MEMs scanners and passive frequency tuning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20020024495
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes first and second IR or other light sources that produce light at respective first and second non-visible wavelengths. The light is modulated according to a desired image. The modulated light is then applied to a wavelength selective phosphor that converts each component of the light to a respective visible wavelength. In one embodiment, the image source is a scanned light beam display that scans an IR light beam onto a screen that carries the phosphor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lippert, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 5624611
    Abstract: A method of replicating an optically flat surface includes providing a plastic optical element having a machined flat surface. The machined flat surface includes a plurality of ridges thereon. A coating material is applied to an optically perfect flat and the optical element is rolled and positioned on the coating material applied to the optically perfect flat such that grooves between the ridges with the coating material. The coating material sandwiched between the optical element and the optically perfect flat is cured and the optically perfect flat is removed from the cured coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lippert
  • Patent number: 5376408
    Abstract: A method of coating a machined surface of a plastic optical element includes providing a holder having a rotational axis therethrough for receiving the optical element such that the machined surface is openly receptive to the coating material. The optical element is positioned within the holder. The machined surface is then wetted with the coating material and the holder is spun about an axis to form a nonconformal coating material surface on the machined surface. The nonconformal coating material surface on the machined surface is then cured. The machined surface is an optical asphere. An apparatus for coating a machined surface of an optical element with a coating material includes a holding member having an axis therethrough and a cavity portion for accepting the optical element therein. The holding member has its weight substantially equally distributed about the axis after the element is inserted in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lippert
  • Patent number: 5309169
    Abstract: A display system for use with headgear of a user includes a visor display mounted to the headgear so as to define a cavity between the head of the user and an inner surface of the visor display. The visor display has at least one partially reflective aspheric surface section directed inward to the user. The partially reflective aspheric surface is at a position which intercepts a forward line of sight of at least one eye of the user and which is at a tilt angle with respect to a plane that is substantially transverse to the forward line of sight. A shallow packaged image source is positioned above an eye within the cavity at a predetermined angle with the plane which is substantially transverse with a forward line of sight. A fiber optic faceplate having a first and second end section is coupled to the image source at the first end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lippert
  • Patent number: 4754327
    Abstract: A single sensor three dimensional imaging system mounted on a moving platform for displaying stable and clear near real-time or delayed time images with effective three dimensional or stereo characteristics based on radial parallax, in monochrome or color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lippert