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ASE engineers regularly create intellectual property
for the clients we serve.Patents
“Precision optical systems with performance characterization and uses thereof”, US Patent 7,751,645 (2010)
DA Reneker, CT Cotton, DW Diehl
US Patent 7,751,645
A camera for aerial photography includes a reference projector that projects collimated beams of light into the optical system entrance aperture which are imaged by an image recording device. The beams produce fiducial images present in every image captured by the imaging recording device. The fiducial images can be used to characterize the performance of the optical system and derive distortion correction coefficients. The distortion correction coefficients can be applied to a portion of an image, such as a group of pixels, or to the entire image, to thereby compensate for distortions in the optical system. In some embodiments, e.g., airborne cameras, the projector is rigidly coupled to an inertial measurement unit. The ability of the airborne camera to perform object geolocation from imagery is improved. The fiducial images enable optical system performance to be characterized and distortion correction coefficients to be obtained and thereby improve the accuracy of a ray angle calculation to the object of interest. Furthermore, the ray angle can be related to an inertial measurement system coordinate system using a direction cosine matrix.
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“Optical system for a digital light projection system including 3-channel and 4-channel LED”, US Patent 7,508,590 (2009)
JF Shanley, CT Cotton
US Patent 7,508,590
An optical system for a digital light projection system is provided. The optical system comprises a plurality of LED arrays, wherein each LED array comprises a plurality of LEDs. The optical system also comprises an optical concentrator element positioned substantially adjacent to each of the LED arrays, wherein each concentrator element reflects light emitted from the plurality of LEDs within the corresponding LED array so as to provide substantially uniform light at an output surface of each concentrator element. The optical system preferably further comprises an optical combiner element, wherein the output surface of each concentrator element is optically aligned with a corresponding side of the combiner element, and wherein the combiner element chromatically combines the substantially uniform light provided at the output surface of each concentrator element so as to form color-combined light at an output surface of the combiner element. In one embodiment, the combiner element comprises a first dichroic element and a second dichroic element, and wherein the first dichroic element and the second dichroic element are positioned substantially adjacent to each other and are angled with respect to each other so as to form a substantially V-shaped pattern.
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“Precision optical systems with performance characterization and uses Thereof”, US Patent 7,496,241 (2009)
DA Reneker, C Cotton, DW Diehl
US Patent 7,496,241
An optical system includes a reference projector that projects collimated beams of light into the optical system entrance aperture which are imaged by an image recording device. The beams produce fiducial images present in every image captured by the imaging recording device. The fiducial images can be used to characterize the performance of the optical system and derive distortion correction coefficients. The distortion correction coefficients can be applied to a portion of an image, such as a group of pixels, or to the entire image, to thereby compensate for distortions in the optical system. In some embodiments, e.g., airborne cameras, the projector is rigidly coupled to an inertial measurement unit. The ability of the airborne camera to perform object geolocation from imagery is improved. The fiducial images enable optical system performance to be characterized and distortion correction coefficients to be obtained and thereby improve the accuracy of a ray angle calculation to the object of interest. Furthermore, the ray angle can be related to an inertial measurement system coordinate system using a direction cosine matrix.
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“Precision optical system for display panel”, US Patent 6,719,430 (2004)
C Cotton, J Veligdan
US Patent 6,719,430
An optical system includes a reference projector that projects collimated beams of light into the optical system entrance aperture which are imaged by an image recording device. The beams produce fiducial images present in every image captured by the imaging recording device. The fiducial images can be used to characterize the performance of the optical system and derive distortion correction coefficients. The distortion correction coefficients can be applied to a portion of an image, such as a group of pixels, or to the entire image, to thereby compensate for distortions in the optical system. In some embodiments, e.g., airborne cameras, the projector is rigidly coupled to an inertial measurement unit. The ability of the airborne camera to perform object geolocation from imagery is improved. The fiducial images enable optical system performance to be characterized and distortion correction coefficients to be obtained and thereby improve the accuracy of a ray angle calculation to the object of interest. Furthermore, the ray angle can be related to an inertial measurement system coordinate system using a direction cosine matrix.
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“Optical system for display panel”, US Patent 6,715,886 (2004)
C Cotton, J Veligdan
US Patent 6,715,886
An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing. An alternative to this type of light generator is an optical system for producing an accurate image on a highly tilted optical panel inlet face surface relative to the image path. The optical system comprises an image source, an imaging element for creating an image of the object in an intermediate image plane, an anamorphic element for reducing anormorphic distortion of the image, and a telecentric element for reducing keystone-type distortion of the image.
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“Refractometer for monitoring water content in fluids”, US Patent 6,707,542 (2004)
C Cotton, J Sabin, T Ryan
US Patent 6,707,542
A refractometric apparatus and method for monitoring the percentage of water in hydraulic and non-hydraulic fluids employ a temperature sensitive device allowing a user to obtain accurate and correct readings of various measured properties. In particular, the temperature sensitive member comprises a prism-wedge-mirror combination in conjunction with a bimetallic strip. The combination ensures the proper angular displacement of a light beam inside the refractometric apparatus and, therefore, the correct reading of a parameter to be measured.
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“Poly-planar optical display imaging system”, US Patent 6,704,484 (2004)
C Cotton
US Patent 6,704,484
An optical system for projecting an image onto an input surface of a display to be observed by an observer at an output surface of the display is disclosed. The optical system comprises an image source, an imaging element, and a telescope. The optical system may also include a telecentric element and/or path-reduction prism. The display may comprise, for example, a plurality of stacked optical waveguides, each having a first end and a second end, wherein the input surface is defined by the plurality of first ends, and wherein the output surface is defined by the plurality of second ends. The optical system is preferably used when the tilt angle of the input surface is different than the tilt angle of the output surface. The optical system provides for a magnification to the input surface to be different than a magnification to the output surface.
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“Optical system for display panel”, US Patent 6,485,145 (2002)
C Cotton, J Veligdan
US Patent 6,485,145
An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing. An alternative to this type of light generator is an optical system for producing an accurate image on a highly tilted optical panel inlet face surface relative to the image path. The optical system comprises an image source, an imaging element for creating an image of the object in an intermediate image plane, an anamorphic element for reducing anormorphic distortion of the image, and a telecentric element for reducing keystone-type distortion of the image.
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“Optical system for display panel”, US Patent 6,457,834 (2002)
C Cotton, J Veligdan, M Shoup III
US Patent 6,457,834
An optical system for producing an accurate image on an optical panel inlet face surface which is highly tilted relative to the image path. The optical system comprises an image source and an imaging element that creates an image from the image source. The optical system also comprises an anamorphic telescope for reducing anamorphic distortion of the image, and a final element for directing the image toward the optical panel. The anamorphic telescope reduces magnification of the image in a first direction and enlarges magnification of the image in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. The anamorphic telescope includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group and the second lens group form a first anamorphic telescopic system, and the second lens group and the third lens group form a second anamorphic telescopic system.
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“Brake check handheld refractometer”, US Patent 6,034,762 (2000)
CT Cotton, JM Sabin, TE Ryan
US Patent 6,034,762
A refractometric apparatus and method for monitoring the percentage of water in hydraulic fluids employ a temperature sensitive device allowing a user to obtain accurate and correct readings of various measured properties. In particular, the temperature sensitive member comprises a prism-wedge-mirror combination in conjunction with a bimetallic strip. The combination ensures the proper angular displacement of a light beam inside the refractometric apparatus and, therefore, the correct reading of a parameter to be measured.
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“Brake check handheld refractometer”, US Patent 5,969,808 (1999)
CT Cotton, JM Sabin, TE Ryan
US Patent 5,969,808
A refractometric apparatus and method for monitoring the percentage of water in hydraulic fluids employ a temperature sensitive device allowing a user to obtain accurate and correct readings of various measured properties on the reticle of the apparatus. In particular, the temperature sensitive member comprises a prism-wedge-mirror combination in conjunction with a bimetallic strip. The combination ensures the proper angular displacement of a light beam inside the refractometric apparatus and, therefore, the correct readings on the reticle.
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“Optical system for stretching, compressing and amplifying ultrashort optical pulses”, US Patent 5,572,355 (1996)
CT Cotton, Y Pang
US Patent 5,572,355
An apparatus for stretching or compressing an ultrashort pulse in time that is free of non-linear and spatial distortion (temporal or spatial frequency chirp) comprises a first diffraction grating G, a concave spherically curved mirror [CCM] with a radius of curvature R.sub.1, a convex spherically curved mirror [CXM] with a radius of curvature R.sub.2, and a flat reflector, [PM]. As a result of propagation of the ultrashort input pulse through this system, the output pulse is either stretched (or compressed) in time so that it now has a duration many times longer (or many times shorter) than its input pulse duration, is spatially uniform (i.e. has no spatial chirp,) and collimated. It can be separated from the input pulse by passage through a Faraday isolator. If the invention is to be configured as a stretcher, the stretched pulse can then be seeded into an amplifier stage, wherein it is amplified by many orders of magnitude, without placing the materials within the system at risk of damage due to self-focusing. Subsequently it is temporally compressed by a similar design or other designs known to those skilled in the art. It may also be recompressed by an identical optical design wherein the grating is repositioned relative to the concave mirror so as to recompress the pulse.
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Patent Applications
“Non-planar optical diffraction grating having an arbitrary parallel groove Profile”, US Patent App. 11/173,044 (2009)
CT Cotton
US Patent App. 11/173,044
Abstract An optical diffraction grating having a superior ultra-precise non-planar surface shape desired in extremely sensitive and complex optical imaging devices (e.g. spectrometers or hyperspectral imagers) is provided. The optical diffraction grating comprises a substrate having a plurality of substantially parallel grooves, wherein each of the grooves includes a plurality of substantially parallel sub-grooves. A non-planar substrate surface shape is defined by a combination of the grooves. A groove profile is defined by a combination of the sub-grooves within a corresponding one of the grooves. In a preferred method of manufacturing the optical diffraction grating, a rotating spindle technique would be employed.
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“Precision optical system for display panel”, US Patent App. 10/436,574 (2003)
CT Cotton, JT Veligdan
US Patent App. 10/436,574
An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing. An alternative to this type of light generator is an optical system for producing an accurate image on a highly tilted optical panel inlet face surface relative to the image path. The optical system comprises an image source, an anamorphic system/telescope for reducing anamorphic distortion of the image, and optionally a telecentric element for preventing keystone-type distortion of the image.
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“Optical system for display panel”, US Patent App. 10/132,028 (2003)
CT Cotton, JT Veligdan
US Patent App. 10/132,028
An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing. An alternative to this type of light generator is an optical system for producing an accurate image on a highly tilted optical panel inlet face surface relative to the image path. The optical system comprises an image source, an imaging element for creating an image of the object in an intermediate image plane, an anamorphic element for reducing anormorphic distortion of the image, and a telecentric element for reducing keystone-type distortion of the image.
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