Aaron L Birkbeck

US Patent:

20030010636, Jan 16, 2003

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/099133

Inventors:

Aaron Birkbeck - La Jolla CA, US
Sadik Esener - La Jolla CA, US
Mihrimah Ozkan - La Jolla CA, US
Erhan Ata - La Jolla CA, US

International Classification:

G01N027/26
G01N027/447

US Classification:

204/547000, 204/450000, 204/643000, 204/600000

Abstract:

An adaptive alignment technique provides precise control and active positioning in, preferably, two-dimensions of sub-millimeter-sized objects such as, in one application, spherical mircolenses through the application of electrophoretic forces in a microfluidic wells. A lithographically patterned microfluidic well and electrodes can be addressed to position or align a spherical microlens to a corresponding laser light beam. The motion of the microlens is preferably controlled using CMOS compatible voltages (3V-1 A) that are preferably applied to opposite electrodes in the microfluidic well, creating an electrical field in a well solution. By applying voltages to opposed electrode pairs, movement of spherical microlenses with sizes ranging from, most typically, 0.87 m to 40 m in directions parallel to the electrode surface is realized. Under a bias of 3 volts, the microspheres have electrophoretic velocities ranging from 13 to 16 m/s. Optical alignment of the spherical microlens, as is preferably accomplished by use of feedback from a photo detector, serves to position the microlens for maximum efficiency. Microlenses or other optical elements may thus be aligned to optical fibers, VCSELs, LEDs, photodetectors, etc.

US Patent:

20130016178, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Jul 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/543411

Inventors:

Aaron L. Birkbeck - Bonita CA, US
Anis Husain - San Diego CA, US
Eliseo Ranalli - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

348 36, 348E0503

Abstract:

Selected described embodiments include an imager providing concurrent wide field of view (WFOV) and foveated images. The imager includes a frontend optic configured to receive light from a scene. Corrective optics reduces distortions, and transmits the light to a beam splitter. One portion of the light exiting the beam splitter is focused on a WFOV image detector. A second portion of the light falls on a scanning mirror that can be configured to target a selected field position in the field of view. From the scanning mirror, the light passes through a magnifier and is corrected by an adaptive wavefront corrector. The corrector may be configured to correct aberrations corresponding to the particular field of view selected by the scanning mirror. The light from the wavefront corrector is focused on a foveated image detector. The images captured by the image detectors may be stored, processed, and transmitted to other systems.

US Patent:

20130016179, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Jul 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/543601

Inventors:

Aaron L. Birkbeck - Bonita CA, US
Anis Husain - San Diego CA, US
Eliseo Ranalli - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/00

US Classification:

348 36, 348E07001

Abstract:

Selected embodiments use a relatively small image detector and a scanning mirror to obtain effective performance of a larger image detector. An imager with folded optics captures images of different field positions of a field of view (FOV), and stitches the images together for a larger image of the FOV. The stitched image is processed to identify portions of interest within the larger image, for example, using a cuing algorithm. The portions of interest are scanned again to capture enhanced quality images using, for example, longer dwell time for enhanced contrast. Another image of the FOV or a part of the FOV is stitched together using the enhanced quality images.

US Patent:

20210311335, Oct 7, 2021

Filed:

Jun 18, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/352223

Inventors:

- Altrincham, GB
David Arlo Nelson - Fort Collins CO, US
Pradeep Srinivasan - Fremont CA, US
Amit Singh Nagra - Altadena CA, US
Aaron John Zilkie - Pasadena CA, US
Jeffrey Driscoll - San Jose CA, US
Aaron L. Birkbeck - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/025
G02B 6/134
G02F 1/225

Abstract:

A modulator. In some embodiments, the modulator includes a portion of an optical waveguide, the waveguide including a rib extending upwards from a surrounding slab. The rib may have a first sidewall, and a second sidewall parallel to the first sidewall. The rib may include a first region of a first conductivity type, and a second region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The second region may have a first portion parallel to and extending to the first sidewall, and a second portion parallel to the second sidewall. The first region may extend between the first portion of the second region and the second portion of the second region.

US Patent:

20200124878, Apr 23, 2020

Filed:

Aug 23, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/550141

Inventors:

- London, GB
Hooman Abediasl - Pasadena CA, US
Aaron L. Birkbeck - San Diego CA, US
Jeffrey Driscoll - San Jose CA, US
Haydn Frederick Jones - Reading, GB
Damiana Lerose - Pasadena CA, US
Amit Singh Nagra - Altadena CA, US
David Arlo Nelson - Fort Collins CO, US
DongYoon Oh - Alhambra CA, US
Pradeep Srinivasan - Fremont CA, US
Aaron John Zilkie - Pasadena CA, US

International Classification:

G02F 1/01
G02F 1/225
G02B 6/136
G02B 6/13
H01L 27/30
H01L 21/78
G01J 1/04

Abstract:

A Mach-Zehnder waveguide modulator. In some embodiments, the Mach-Zehnder waveguide modulator includes a first arm including a first optical waveguide, and a second arm including a second optical waveguide. The first optical waveguide includes a junction, and the Mach-Zehnder waveguide modulator further includes a plurality of electrodes for providing a bias across the junction to enable control of the phase of light travelling through the junction.

US Patent:

20150268464, Sep 24, 2015

Filed:

May 21, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/719247

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Anis Husain - San Diego CA, US
Aaron Birkbeck - Bonita CA, US
Robert Elliot Saperstein - La Jolla CA, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/00
H04N 5/225
G02B 17/08
G02B 26/08
G02B 27/10
G02B 27/14
H04N 5/232
G02B 3/12

Abstract:

Selected embodiments include an imager providing wide field (WFOV) and foveated images. The imager includes a frontend optic receiving light. Corrective optics reduces distortions, and transmits the light to a splitter. One portion of the light exiting the splitter is focused on a WFOV image detector. A second portion falls on a scanning mirror targeting a selected field position. The light is corrected by an adaptive corrector, which may be configured for field position-dependent correction. The light from the corrector is focused on a foveated image detector. An eye tracker may be employed to select the foveated position corresponding to user gaze direction. Another imager includes a configurable corrector in the imager's optical stop. Free space optical (FSO) communication laser may be combined with a foveated/WFOV imager, with a corrector of the imager correcting the FSO light and a scanning component selecting transmission direction for the FSO light.