Robert J Christensen

US Patent:

7891818, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

Dec 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/001771

Inventors:

Robert R. Christensen - Rapid City SD, US
Bret D. Winkler - South Jordan UT, US
Dennis Elkins - Draper UT, US
Allen H. Tanner - Sandy UT, US

Assignee:

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G03B 21/00

US Classification:

353 31, 353 84, 353 94, 353 76, 353122, 372 25, 372 28, 372 2902, 372 6, 372 30, 348754, 348769, 348 E5139, 348311, 348750, 348203, 348756, 348205, 359291, 359238, 359276, 359278, 359290

Abstract:

A projection system that includes a singe light modulation device and a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths. Each wavelength of light is incident on the light modulation device at a spatially distinct location and a temporally distinct time. The use of a scanning mirror allows the projection system to sequentially form, in full-color, each of the columns or rows of an image. The projection system is characterized by the reduction of color separation or the rainbow effect due to the rendering of each column or row in full color.

US Patent:

20090002644, Jan 1, 2009

Filed:

May 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/124956

Inventors:

Robert R. Christensen - Rapid City SD, US
Bret D. Winkler - South Jordan UT, US
Allen H. Tanner - Sandy UT, US
Jeffery J. Waite - Salt Lake City UT, US
Dennis F. Elkins - Draper UT, US
Michael J. McMahon - Sandy UT, US
Forrest L. Williams - Sandy UT, US

Assignee:

EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATION - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

F16P 3/14
G03B 21/14

US Classification:

353 85, 2505594

Abstract:

An invisible scanning safety system for use with laser projection systems that includes sensors monitoring less than the entire laser accessible region such that the region monitored is reduced to almost the absolute minimum, to thereby prevent unwarranted stoppages or disturbances in projection. The system may also monitor a 360 degree region around the lens of the laser projector, a wedge-shaped region, a pyramid-shaped region or a chimney-shaped region.

US Patent:

20090168186, Jul 2, 2009

Filed:

Sep 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/206582

Inventors:

Forrest Williams - Sandy UT, US
Robert Christensen - Rapid City SD, US
Allen Tanner - Sandy UT, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/10

US Classification:

359621, 359627

Abstract:

An optical assembly for reducing the etendue of a diode laser light source having a plurality of laser light emitters. The optical assembly comprises a first optical device for collimating beams of light emitted from the emitters of the diode laser. A second optical device spatially shifts a portion of the collimated light beams emitted from the diode laser to thereby reduce gaps or dark space between the beams. A third optical device focuses all of the light beams onto a surface, such as a surface of a light modulation surface.

US Patent:

20090219491, Sep 3, 2009

Filed:

Oct 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/288577

Inventors:

Forrest Williams - Sandy UT, US
Robert Christensen - Rapid City SD, US
David M. Bloom - Jackson WY, US
Allen Tanner - Sandy UT, US

Assignee:

Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

G03B 21/28
G02B 26/00
H01S 3/00

US Classification:

353 37, 359290, 362553

Abstract:

An illumination system for transforming at least one laser light beam having a non-uniform distribution in a first axis and a second axis to a beam having a substantially uniform distribution in the first axis while preserving the non-uniform distribution in the second axis. The transformed beam may be imaged as a line image onto a one-dimensional light modulation device. The illumination system may comprise a light tunnel having two sides that interact with the at least one laser light beam in the first axis and two sides that do not interact with the light in the second axis.