Patents by Inventor Zachary R. Hoffman

Zachary R. Hoffman 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: 11921238
    Abstract: A method of lidar imaging pulses a scene with laser pulse sequences from a laser light source. Reflected light from the scene is measured for each laser pulse to form a sequence of time resolved light signals. Adjoining time bins in the time resolved light signals are combined to form super time bins. A three dimensional image of the scene is created from distances determined based on maximum intensity super time bins. One or more objects are located within the image. For each object, the time resolved light signals are combined to form a single object time resolved light signal from which to determine distance to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Hollmann, Zachary R. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10739445
    Abstract: A method of lidar processing pulses a scene with laser pulse sequences from a laser light source. Reflected light from the target scene passes through receiver optics and is defocused to cover a light sensing surface of a photo detector array. The photo detector array contains multiple photon detector elements connected in parallel where each photon detector element is configured to generate corresponding photon pulse output signals based on sensing photons in the received reflected light, and each photon detector element is characterized by a non-responsive dead time period immediately after sensing a photon. The photon pulse output signals are combined to form a common real time output signal, which is converted to a digital time resolved histogram. Multiple digital time resolved histograms produced in response to multiple light pulses directed at a scanning location are combined to form a composite time resolved histogram for the scanning location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Hollmann, Zachary R. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10664685
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices described herein enable single-image optical sectioning, even at depth within turbid media, such as human skin or other tissue. Embodiments can eliminate the need for multiple image samples or raster scans, making in-vivo or live biological imaging easier and faster than multi-image sectioning techniques. Better contrast and resolution than traditional three-phase structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is possible in turbid media. Embodiments enable imaging of cell nuclei. Resolution and contrast resulting from disclosed embodiments are less sensitive to motion of or within patients or other targets than confocal microscopy and three-phase SIM techniques. Three-dimensional images of target specimens can be provided based on a group of single-image optical sections. Real-time imaging can also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zachary R. Hoffman, Charles A. DiMarzio
  • Publication number: 20190361098
    Abstract: A method of lidar processing pulses a scene with laser pulse sequences from a laser light source. Reflected light from the target scene passes through receiver optics and is defocused to cover a light sensing surface of a photo detector array. The photo detector array contains multiple photon detector elements connected in parallel where each photon detector element is configured to generate corresponding photon pulse output signals based on sensing photons in the received reflected light, and each photon detector element is characterized by a non-responsive dead time period immediately after sensing a photon. The photon pulse output signals are combined to form a common real time output signal, which is converted to a digital time resolved histogram. Multiple digital time resolved histograms produced in response to multiple light pulses directed at a scanning location are combined to form a composite time resolved histogram for the scanning location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Hollmann, Zachary R. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190353792
    Abstract: A method of lidar imaging pulses a scene with laser pulse sequences from a laser light source. Reflected light from the scene is measured for each laser pulse to form a sequence of time resolved light signals. Adjoining time bins in the time resolved light signals are combined to form super time bins. A three dimensional image of the scene is created from distances determined based on maximum intensity super time bins. One or more objects are located within the image. For each object, the time resolved light signals are combined to form a single object time resolved light signal from which to determine distance to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Hollmann, Zachary R. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190064115
    Abstract: A system and method using magnetic sensing to non-intrusively and non-destructively characterize ferromagnetic material within infrastructure. The system includes sensors for measuring magnetic field gradients from a standoff distance adjacent to ferromagnetic material. The method includes using the system to measure magnetic fields, determining magnetic field gradients measured by a sensor array, and comparing measured and modeled or historical magnetic field gradients at the same or similar positions to identify differences caused by a phenomenon in the ferromagnetic material, and, in a particular embodiment, to recognize defects and developing defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Brian P. Timmons, Rami S. Mangoubi, Zachary R. Hoffman, Franklyn R. Webb
  • Patent number: 10067090
    Abstract: A system and method using magnetic sensing to non-intrusively and non-destructively characterize ferromagnetic material within infrastructure. The system includes sensors for measuring magnetic field gradients from a standoff distance adjacent to ferromagnetic material. The method includes using the system to measure magnetic fields, determining magnetic field gradients measured by a sensor array, and comparing measured and modeled or historical magnetic field gradients at the same or similar positions to identify differences caused by a phenomenon in the ferromagnetic material, and, in a particular embodiment, to recognize defects and developing defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Timmons, Rami S. Mangoubi, Zachary R. Hoffman, Franklyn R. Webb
  • Publication number: 20180239946
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices described herein enable single-image optical sectioning, even at depth within turbid media, such as human skin or other tissue. Embodiments can eliminate the need for multiple image samples or raster scans, making in-vivo or live biological imaging easier and faster than multi-image sectioning techniques. Better contrast and resolution than traditional three-phase structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is possible in turbid media. Embodiments enable imaging of cell nuclei. Resolution and contrast resulting from disclosed embodiments are less sensitive to motion of or within patients or other targets than confocal microscopy and three-phase SIM techniques. Three-dimensional images of target specimens can be provided based on a group of single-image optical sections. Real-time imaging can also be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Zachary R. Hoffman, Charles A. DiMarzio
  • Publication number: 20170315094
    Abstract: A system and method using magnetic sensing to non-intrusively and non-destructively characterize ferromagnetic material within infrastructure. The system includes sensors for measuring magnetic field gradients from a standoff distance adjacent to ferromagnetic material. The method includes using the system to measure magnetic fields, determining magnetic field gradients measured by a sensor array, and comparing measured and modeled or historical magnetic field gradients at the same or similar positions to identify differences caused by a phenomenon in the ferromagnetic material, and, in a particular embodiment, to recognize defects and developing defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Brian P. Timmons, Rami S. Mangoubi, Zachary R. Hoffman, Franklyn R. Webb
  • Patent number: 9541749
    Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for performing random intensity illumination microscopy is disclosed. The system includes an incoherent signal light source, at least two diffusers having spatially random diffusion patterns, an image capture device that receives a reflected light signal from an object to be imaged, and a processor configured to perform digital image processing of the reflected signal. The method comprises acts of providing an incoherent light signal, diffusing the incoherent light signal with at least two diffusers having spatially random diffusion patterns to provide a diffused light signal, splitting the diffused light signal to provide a first light signal and a second light signal, reflecting the first light signal from a specimen to provide a reflected light signal, collecting the reflected light signal and the second light signal with an image capture device and processing the collected images to determine reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Zachary R. Hoffman, Charles DiMarzio
  • Publication number: 20140063281
    Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for performing random intensity illumination microscopy is disclosed. The system includes an incoherent signal light source, at least two diffusers having spatially random diffusion patterns, an image capture device that receives a reflected light signal from an object to be imaged, and a processor configured to perform digital image processing of the reflected signal. The method comprises acts of providing an incoherent light signal, diffusing the incoherent light signal with at least two diffusers having spatially random diffusion patterns to provide a diffused light signal, splitting the diffused light signal to provide a first light signal and a second light signal, reflecting the first light signal from a specimen to provide a reflected light signal, collecting the reflected light signal and the second light signal with an image capture device and processing the collected images to determine reflectance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Zachary R. Hoffman, Charles DiMarzio