Patents by Inventor William H. Culver

William H. Culver 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: 20140160322
    Abstract: A camera system capturing two parts of a same scene each at a different focus so that objects at different distances from the camera can be captured in focus. The camera system splits the image into two paths using a splitter and focuses the image of each path separately. The focus for each path can be manual or by autofocus. The parts of the images of the two paths can be combined by abutting them at a boundary or in a zone essentially located between the two parts. The image parts in the zone can be combined by blending using a linear function or a non linear function such as a frequency based function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: James Randall Beckers, William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 8675085
    Abstract: A camera system capturing two parts of a same scene each at a different focus so that objects at different distances from the camera can be captured in focus. The camera system splits the image into two paths using a splitter and focuses the image of each path separately. The focus for each path can be manual or by autofocus. The parts of the images of the two paths can be combined by abutting them at a boundary or in a zone essentially located between the two parts. The image parts in the zone can be combined by blending using a linear function or a non linear function such as a frequency based function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventors: James Randall Beckers, William H. Culver
  • Publication number: 20120013757
    Abstract: A camera system capturing two parts of a same scene each at a different focus so that objects at different distances from the camera can be captured in focus. The camera system splits the image into two paths using a splitter and focuses the image of each path separately. The focus for each path can be manual or by autofocus. The parts of the images of the two paths can be combined by abutting them at a boundary or in a zone essentially located between the two parts, The image parts in the zone can be combined by blending using a linear function or a non linear function such as a frequency based function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: James Randall Beckers, William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 6809853
    Abstract: An optical switch for an optical network, which can switch a light beam from and input fiber to an output fiber quickly and without expensive intermediate conversions to electrical form. The optical switch changes the relative phase of the individual portions of a cross section of a wave front of a beam using wave front interference and can be used in packet switching with switching speeds of about 10 nanoseconds. These optical switches use a phase spatial light modulators (PSLM) that include an array of phase shifting elements preferably of Gires-Tournois interferometers. Each of the phase shifting elements has either a stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface or an electro-refractive medium sandwiched between two stationary surfaces. In the first embodiment, the stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface is kept a known distance apart by applied potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Comptic, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 6741768
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that includes phase spatial light modulators as optical switching elements in an optical switching system. One or more input light beams are deflected by one or more input optical deflectors to a mirror and then to one or more output optical deflectors. Each deflector is a phase spatial modulator which changes the direction of the light beam by changing the phase of the beam wave front. The wave front is two dimensionally subdivided into pixels and pixel reflectors are used displace portions of the wave front in a direction generally perpendicular to the beam axis and relative to each other. Beam splitters, lenses, decoders and controllers provide the ability to cross connect or reroute beams and route packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Comptic, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Culver, Donald Cronin Schmadel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030190115
    Abstract: An optical switch for an optical network, which can switch a light beam from and input fiber to an output fiber quickly and without expensive intermediate conversions to electrical form. The optical switch changes the relative phase of the individual portions of a cross section of a wave front of a beam using wave front interference and can be used in packet switching with switching speeds of about 10 nanoseconds. These optical switches use a phase spatial light modulators (PSLM) that include an array of phase shifting elements preferably of Gires-Tournois interferometers. Each of the phase shifting elements has either a stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface or an electro-refractive medium sandwiched between two stationary surfaces. In the first embodiment, the stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface is kept a known distance apart by applied potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: William H. Culver
  • Publication number: 20020191894
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that includes phase spatial light modulators as optical switching elements in an optical switching system. One or more input light beams are deflected by one or more input optical deflectors to a mirror and then to one or more output optical deflectors. Each deflector is a phase spatial modulator which changes the direction of the light beam by changing the phase of the beam wave front. The wave front is two dimensionally subdivided into pixels and pixel reflectors are used displace portions of the wave front in a direction generally perpendicular to the beam axis and relative to each other. Beam splitters, lenses, decoders and controllers provide the ability to cross connect or reroute beams and route packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: William H. Culver, Donald Cronin Schmadel
  • Patent number: 6430328
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that includes phase spatial light modulators as optical switching elements in an optical switching system. One or more input light beams are deflected by one or more input optical deflectors to a mirror and then to one or more output optical deflectors. Each deflector is a phase spatial modulator which changes the direction of the light beam by changing the phase of the beam wave front. The wave front is two dimensionally subdivided into pixels and pixel reflectors are used displace portions of the wave front in a direction generally perpendicular to the beam axis and relative to each other. Beam splitters, lenses, decoders and controllers provide the ability to cross connect or reroute beams and route packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventors: William H. Culver, Donald Cronin Schmadel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6421163
    Abstract: A system that optically performs complex transforms, such as Fourier transforms. The system includes a pixel addressable spatial modulator that, in parallel, adjusts the phase of the light of each pixel. The modulator can be a reflective or transmissive type device. A transform lens, such as a Fourier lens, performs a two dimensional transform of the pixels outputs. This operation is repeated for the characteristic function (real and imaginary) of the function. The transformed outputs of the characteristic functions are sampled by a light detector and processed by a computer using simple fast operations, such as addition, into the final transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Comptic, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Culver, Donald Cronin Schmadel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5923694
    Abstract: A pumped fiber laser including turns of optical fiber defining a wound pack, wherein the optical fiber includes a core, a cladding around the core and a concentric layer of a porous glass matrix material, such as sol-gel, around the cladding. The fiber laser further includes a pumping laser, preferably in the form of a semiconductor laser bar, having lasing regions each being operable to generate light, and a wedge device for directing the light from the lasing regions into the side of the optical fiber at a plurality of different turns thereof, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Opteleacom, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 4777660
    Abstract: A retroreflective optical communication system in which a laser at a control station is aimed at a retroreflector at a second position or station whose reflectivity can be varied so as to impress a signal onto the retroreflected beam, and then back to the first station for detection. The communication link is such that the laser and aiming capability are at the receiving or control station and, greatly reducing the aiming and power requirements and cost at the retroreflector end of the link. The retromodulator optical communication system provides a high data rate, secure, non-jammable line-of-sight communication link between the second station, which may be a remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) and its control station. The retromodulator maybe entirely passive and thus would not give its presence away as would RF transmitting and receiving stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Optelecom Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon Gould, William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 4697888
    Abstract: A frequency shifted cavity apparatus for electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Donald C. Schmadel, Jr., William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 4568408
    Abstract: A fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system is disclosed wherein the signal energy to be sensed or detected causes an etched single mode fiber to be stretched or compressed which causes the optical path length for electro-magnetic radiation traveling in the core of the optic fiber to change. The change in optic path length modulates the electro-magnetic radiation traveling in the fiber. There is also disclosed novel methods of manufacturing the novel type of fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Optelecom, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Schmadel, William H. Culver, Gordon Gould
  • Patent number: 4468091
    Abstract: A fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system is disclosed wherein the signal energy to be sensed or detected causes an etched single mode fiber to be stretched or compressed which causes the optical path length for electro-magnetic radiation traveling in the core of the optic fiber to change. The change in optic path length modulates the electro-magnetic radiation traveling in the fiber. There is also disclosed novel methods of manufacturing the novel type of fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: Optelecom, Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald Schmadel, William H. Culver, Gordon Gould
  • Patent number: 4360272
    Abstract: A fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system is disclosed wherein the signal energy to be sensed or detected causes an etched single mode fiber to be stretched or compressed which causes the optical path length for electromagnetic radiation traveling in the core of the optic fiber to change. The change in optic path length modulates the electromagnetic radiation traveling in the fiber. There is also disclosed novel methods of manufacturing the novel type of fiber optic energy sensor and optical demodulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Optelecom, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Schmadel, William H. Culver, Gordon Gould
  • Patent number: 4281253
    Abstract: A bidirectional optical fiber cable assembly that has electrical connectors on each end and a data bus employing same are disclosed, thereby facilitating the implementation of optical fiber communication links. The bidirectional optical fiber cable assembly uses a dual function diode which functions both as a light emitter and as a detector of optical signals. This diode, which is contained within an electrical connector at the end of the cable assembly, is connected by wires to the electrical terminals of the connector and is positioned against the end of an optical fiber, which transmits the signal along the fiber cable. The use of such a cable assembly in a data bus allows the design of a data bus in which the function of signal transmission is conducted by optical signals, a function for which they are best suited by virtue of resistance to electrical interference, and in which connection and distribution of signals is done electrically, a function for which electronics is better suited than is optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Optelecom, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Culver
  • Patent number: 4268116
    Abstract: Radiant energy is caused to modulate in phase and frequency in a single mode optical fiber by means of a relatively movable, spatially periodic perturbation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Optelecom Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald Schmadel, William H. Culver, Gordon Gould