The University of Alabama

Other

Sony Corporation

The Uab Research Foundation

Innotech Corporation

Patrick Reardon

Robert Lindquist

Theodore Earl Rogers

Christopher N Underwood

David Boyd Pollock

Amitava Gupta

Bruce C Peters

Geoffrey Egnal

Stephen K Pitalo

Tim A Patterson

Russell A Chipman

Robert D Ferris

Bennett Sampson Wilburn

Paul E Fileger

Timothy Jerner Gawne

Thomas Tolles Norton

The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for processing optical signals. In some embodiments, an optical system has an optical device for receiving a plurality of optical signals and processing such signals in a desired way. The optical device has one or more functional layers that are separated by buffer layers. The index of refraction of at various points in each functional layer is controlled during manufacturing so that the functional layer performs one or more optical functions or, in other words, manipulates one or more incoming optical signals in a desired way, such as switching, filtering, splitting, focusing, collimating, etc. As an example, the index of refraction profile within a region of a functional layer may be controlled so that an incoming signal from a first optical fiber is redirected for reception by a second optical fiber that is not aligned with the first optical fiber.

Systems and methods for processing optical signals

The present disclosure is directed to methods of tuning chromatic aberration of the eyes of a subject for the treatment of myopia. Refractive errors of an eye of the subject are assessed in the presence of one or more of red, blue, or green colored light, individually. A hybrid achromatic lens having a refractive portion and a diffractive portion is then designed, with the hybrid lens having a distribution of power varied between the refractive portion and diffractive portion. As such, the hybrid lens produces a state of chromatic aberration for the eyes of the subject capable of reducing or eliminating myopia advancement for the eyes of the subject.

Chromatic aberration tuning ophthalmic corrector lens methods

The present disclosure generally pertains to lightweight adaptive metal cooled mirrors and methods of producing the same. The metal mirror surface is integrated with and supported by metal channels which are physically incorporated into the mirror surface through an additive manufacturing process. These channels are nominally conformal with the desired mirror surface shape. A liquid or gaseous coolant may be directed through some or all of the channels to cool the mirror surface. The mirrors are produced through an additive manufacturing process which allows for the creation of a unitary optical mirror containing finely spaced channels.

Lightweight adaptive metal cooled mirrors

A fiber optic directional sensor has a substantially hemispherical dome surface and a substantially flat surface. The sensor is formed from a plurality of optical fibers fused to one another, and each optical fiber extends from the dome surface to the flat surface. One end of each optical fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's dome surface, and the opposite end of the fiber is substantially perpendicular to the sensor's flat surface such that an end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the dome surface, and another end face of the fiber is substantially tangent to the flat surface. The sensor further includes an optical element which expands the field of view of the sensor and chromatically controls the incoming light. Using the sensor, light from projectiles, such as missiles, bullets, and other weaponry, can be detected, and the locations of the projectiles can be determined.

Fiber optic directional sensor with wide-field optical field expanding element and method

A camera concurrently produces an orthographic map and map spectral content. Illumination from an image passes through a phase modulator and the resulting rotating photo-flux phase is converted to an electrical signal by multiple adjacent sensors of detectors of array of detectors. The amount of unwanted illumination reaching the sensors is reduced by a set of baffles that shield and protect the transducers from unwanted out-of-field light and other light sources.

High-resolution hyper-spectral orthographic imaging spectrometer

An image capture system comprises a plurality of cameras and a camera mount. The camera mount has a curved portion, and the plurality of cameras are secured to the curved portion. The cameras are oriented radially inward relative to the curved portion of the camera mount, such that the lines of sight of the cameras intersect. Images are captured substantially simultaneously with the plurality of cameras. The captured images are stitched together to form a collective image. The image capture system may be positioned in an aerial vehicle to provide overhead views of an environment, and captured images may be transmitted to a remote location for viewing in substantially real time. A remote user may indicate a region of interest within the collective image, and the image capture system may render a portion of the collective image in accordance with the user's indications.

Multi-lens array system and method

A scope correction apparatus comprises at least one lens and is positioned on a weapon in front of a reticled scope. Such scope correction apparatus receives light from a scene that is located a relatively short distance from the scope such that, without the presence of the scope correction apparatus, the focal point of the light within the scope would not be overlaid with the scope reticle. The scope correction apparatus optically alters the light such that its focal point is overlaid with the scope reticle thereby correcting for optical aberrations caused by the short distance between the scene and the scope. Accordingly, the user is able to view through the scope clear images of both the scene and the reticle.

Scope correction apparatuses and methods

A laser diode collimating and aberration correction (LDCC) molded plastic optical system having a refractive lens(es) to collimate fast axis and a refractive lens(es) to collimate the slow axis of the laser diode (this lens combination is termed a cross cylindrical lens system) with a diffractive element(s) to correct for astigmatism and provide circularization of the output laser beam. All optical elements are molded in plastic to high tolerances with regard to the surface optical figure (shape of the curved surface), surface roughness, and alignment between surfaces (tilt, rotation, and translation). With proper alignment of the optical system to a suitable laser diode emitter, the combination of optic and laser diode is capable of delivering diffraction limited performance&mdash;collimated beam, circular beam cross section, and no astigmatism.

Integrated molded plastic optical system for a laser diode collimating and aberration correction configuration

A stake/post driver for use with a handheld jackhammer comprising a hammer assembly including a hammer element configured to strike the upper portion of the stake or post coupled to the handheld jackhammer by a hammer spindle to mechanically drive a stake or post into the ground or other support surface and a hammer guide assembly including a hammer housing to receive the hammer element and a portion of the hammer spindle therein having an upper spindle guide formed on the upper portion thereof to receive a portion of the hammer spindle therethrough and a lower stake/post guide coupled to the lower portion thereof to receive a portion of the stake or post therethrough to cooperatively align the hammer element relative to the stake or post during operation of the stake/post driver such that the hammer element strikes the upper portion of the stake or post driving the stake or post into the ground or other support surface.

Stake/post driver

A novel ophthalmic lens is provided. The lens includes an astigmatism subtracting surface that removes unwanted astigmatism caused by other elements of the lens.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, AL, United States of America

Patrick Reardon