Mark J Freeman

US Patent:

7167315, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Apr 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/828876

Inventors:

Mathew D. Watson - Bellevue WA, US
Mark Freeman - Snohomish WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/10

US Classification:

359634, 359618

Abstract:

A beam combiner includes a first beam-input face, a beam-output face, and first and second reflectors. The first beam-input face receives first and second beams of electromagnetic energy respectively having a first and second wavelengths. The first reflector reflects the first received beam toward the beam-output face, and the second reflector passes the first beam from the first reflector and reflects the received second beam toward the beam-output face. In one alternative, the first beam-input face also receives a third beam of electromagnetic energy having a third wavelength, the beam combiner includes a third reflector that reflects the received third beam toward the beam-output face, and the first and second reflectors pass the third beam from the third reflector. In another alternative, the beam combiner includes a second beam-input face that receives a third beam directed toward the beam-output face, and the first and second reflectors pass the third beam.

US Patent:

7491919, Feb 17, 2009

Filed:

Dec 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/316683

Inventors:

David Skurnik - Kirkland WA, US
Mark Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
Randy Sprague - Carnation WA, US
Margaret Brown - Seattle WA, US
Harpal Sira - Surrey, CA

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

H01L 27/00
H01J 3/14

US Classification:

2502081, 250234

Abstract:

A circuit for detecting a phase error between a clock signal and a beam position includes a beam generator, a sensor, and a phase detector. The beam generator directs a beam toward a beam sweeper in response to the clock signal, and the sensor detects the beam as directed from the beam sweeper. The phase detector determines from the detected beam the error in the clock phase relative to the beam position. Such a circuit can automatically detect the phase error in the pixel clock and correct this error, thus eliminating the need for a manual phase-error corrector. The circuit may also be able to adjust the width and/or the height of a scan region, and thus may also be able to adjust the width and/or height of an image frame within the scan region.

US Patent:

7580007, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

May 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/441916

Inventors:

Margaret Brown - Seattle WA, US
Mark Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
John R. Lewis - Bellevue WA, US
Jim Bovee - Seattle WA, US
Randy Sprague - Carnation WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G09G 1/08

US Classification:

345 15

Abstract:

A scan assembly of an image generator sweeps an image beam in a first dimension at a first rate and bi-directionally in a second dimension at a slower rate. Sweeping the beam bi-directionally in the vertical dimension (generally the dimension of the lower sweep rate) can reduce the scanning power by eliminating the flyback period, and, where the scan assembly includes a mechanical reflector, can reduce the error in the beam position without a feedback loop by reducing the number of harmonics in the vertical sweep function. Furthermore, because the image beam is “on” longer due to the elimination of the flyback period, the scanned image is often brighter for a given beam intensity. The scan assembly may also sweep the image beam non-linearly in the vertical dimension, and this sweep may be bi-directional or uni-directional. Sweeping the beam non-linearly can also reduce the error in the beam position by reducing the number of harmonics in the vertical sweep function.

US Patent:

7589901, Sep 15, 2009

Filed:

Jul 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/775511

Inventors:

Christian Dean DeJong - Sammamish WA, US
Karlton D. Powell - Lake Stevens WA, US
Mark O. Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
Joshua O. Miller - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/00
G02B 6/26

US Classification:

359630, 359618, 359796, 351158, 385 39

Abstract:

Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems. The substrate-guided relays are comprised of an input coupler, an intermediate substrate, and an output coupler. In some embodiments, the output coupler is formed in a separate substrate that is coupled to the intermediate substrate. The output coupler may be placed in front of or behind the intermediate substrate, and may employ two or more partially reflective surfaces to couple light from the coupler. In some embodiments, the input coupler is coupled to the intermediate substrate in a manner that the optical axis of the input coupler intersects the optical axis of the intermediate substrate at a non-perpendicular angle.

US Patent:

7715103, May 11, 2010

Filed:

Sep 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/852628

Inventors:

Randall B. Sprague - Carnation WA, US
Mark O. Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
Christian Dean DeJong - Sammamish WA, US
Jacques P. Lincoln - Seattle WA, US
Karlton D. Powell - Lake Stevens WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/10
G02B 27/14

US Classification:

359619, 359630

Abstract:

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a buried numerical aperture expander may be utilized to provide a head-up or virtual display at a larger field of view without requiring a larger amount of space, larger sized display, or larger sized optics. The buried numerical aperture expander is capable of selectively reflecting light emanating from a display such that the reflected light is expanded into a larger field of view, while simultaneously allowing other light to be transmitted through the buried numerical aperture expander without expansion so that the buried numerical aperture expander may be deployed in conjunction with a windshield or window without adversely affecting the ability to see through buried numerical aperture expander.

US Patent:

7791807, Sep 7, 2010

Filed:

Feb 6, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/026899

Inventors:

Eugenia Pasca - Woodinville WA, US
Mark O. Freeman - Snohomish WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/14

US Classification:

359630

Abstract:

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a birefringent layer may be utilized in conjunction with a head-up display (HUD) for a vehicle or the like, for example where the birefringent layer is disposed in or on the windshield. The birefringent layer may impart a change in the polarization of light emerging from a projector of the head-up display in order to reduce or minimize interference between beams from the display and reflecting off of two or more surfaces that are combined at the viewer's eye, and/or to reduce or minimize the effect of polarizing sunglasses on the viewability of the image projected by the display. In one or more embodiments, the birefringent layer alters the polarization of the light reaching the viewer's eye if the user is wearing polarizing glasses or lenses so that less light from the display is blocked.

US Patent:

7834867, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Apr 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/786423

Inventors:

Randall B. Sprague - Carnation WA, US
Joshua O. Miller - Woodinville WA, US
Margaret K. Brown - Seattle WA, US
Mark O. Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
Maarten Niesten - Kirkland WA, US
Bin Xue - Mukilteo WA, US
Christopher A. Wiklof - Everett WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 3/038

US Classification:

345204, 348744, 359333, 385 15

Abstract:

An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.

US Patent:

7839575, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

May 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/470022

Inventors:

Christian Dean DeJong - Sammamish WA, US
Karlton D. Powell - Lake Stevens WA, US
Mark O. Freeman - Snohomish WA, US
Joshua O. Miller - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Microvision, Inc. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/14
G02B 27/10
G02B 9/00
G02B 6/26

US Classification:

359633, 359630, 359618, 359797, 385 39

Abstract:

Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems. The substrate-guided relays are comprised of an input coupler, an intermediate substrate, and an output coupler. In some embodiments, the output coupler is formed in a separate substrate that is coupled to the intermediate substrate. The output coupler may be placed in front of or behind the intermediate substrate, and may employ two or more partially reflective surfaces to couple light from the coupler. In some embodiments, the input coupler is coupled to the intermediate substrate in a manner that the optical axis of the input coupler intersects the optical axis of the intermediate substrate at a non-perpendicular angle.