William W Clark, Iii

Title: The Innovations of William W. Clark, III

Introduction

William W. Clark, III is a notable inventor based in Lorton, Virginia. He has made significant contributions to the field of optical technology, holding a total of 4 patents. His work primarily focuses on enhancing the performance and protection of photodetectors through innovative semiconductor devices.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is a broadband protector for photodetectors. This invention involves a trilaminar semiconductor device strategically placed at an intermediate focus within an optical instrument that houses a sensitive photodetector. The device's layers are designed in the form of a two-photon absorber, a sacrificial layer, and a multiple quantum well. The composition of the semiconductor is varied across these layers to achieve the desired bandgap and functionality.

Another significant patent is a broadband passive optical limiter using a photorefractive crystal. This invention provides a passive broadband sensor protection and enhancement system. Incident light is focused with a cylindrical lens onto the optical axis, creating an intense light strip on the input face of a photorefractive crystal. The crystal is equipped with optional anti-reflection coatings near both the input and output faces. A broadband high reflection coating is also present near the input face to reflect all radiation from approximately 0.68 to at least 1.5 micrometers in wavelength. The light that exits from the output face results from a photorefractive process, which includes both a transmitted beam and a beam fan. The transmitted beam contains only incoherent radiation, providing broadband multiline protection from the visible spectrum for various pulse widths and continuous wave lasers, with enhanced time response and interaction length.

Career Highlights

William W. Clark, III has worked with the U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army. His contributions in this role have been instrumental in advancing optical technologies for military applications.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with notable individuals such as Edward J. Sharp and Gary L. Wood. These collaborations have further enriched his work and innovations in the field.

Conclusion

William W. Clark, III is a distinguished inventor whose work in optical technology has led to significant advancements in photodetector protection and performance. His innovative patents reflect his commitment to enhancing the capabilities of optical systems.