Edward J Sharp

US Patent:

49139347, Apr 3, 1990

Filed:

Jun 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/213819

Inventors:

Edward J. Sharp - Stafford VA
Richard R. Shurtz - Fairfax VA
Wolfgang Elser - Alexandria VA
Gary L. Wood - Fairfax VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

B05P 506

US Classification:

427163

Abstract:

The present invention provides layered polymeric devices to control the sial and spectral distribution of energy in optical beams, particularly high-intensity laser beams. These devices include improved versions of prior art thin-film (vacuum-deposited) interference filters, rugate structure anti-reflection coatings, Q-switches, pulse shapers, modulators, optical bistable devices and the like.

US Patent:

54951011, Feb 27, 1996

Filed:

Dec 9, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/352643

Inventors:

Edward J. Sharp - Fredericksburg VA
Gregory J. Salamo - Fayetteville AR
Gary L. Wood - Centerville VA
John J. Shultz - Fayetteville AK

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01J 314
H01J 516
H01J 4014

US Classification:

250216

Abstract:

A passive broadband sensor protection and enhancement system and technique. ncident light is focused with a cylindrical lens on the optical axis into an intense light strip onto the input face of a photorefractive crystal which may include optional anti-reflection coatings on the input and output face. A broadband high reflection coating proximate to the input face reflects all radiation from approximately 0. 68 out to at least 1. 5 micrometers wavelength and light exiting includes a transmitted beam and beam fan. A weak holographic grating is used to seed the beam fan, such that is fanned out of the optical path in a direction determined by the c-axis, dominant electro-optic coefficient, and charge carriers participating in the photorefractive process. The transmitted beam contains only incoherent radiation as input to a sensitive detector resulting in broadband multiline protection from the visible spectrum for substantially all pulsewidths and cw lasers, with enhanced time response and interaction length.

US Patent:

57399476, Apr 14, 1998

Filed:

Mar 25, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/742081

Inventors:

Gary L. Wood - Lorton VA
Edward J. Sharp - Fort Washington MD
Richard R. Shurtz - Oakton VA

International Classification:

G02F 135

US Classification:

359299

Abstract:

Incident radiation is focussed by a lens into a non-linear optical material whose index of refraction increases with increased radiation intensity. For normal radiation, the radiation freely passes through the nonlinear optical and an optically-switchable material to an other lens. This other lens directs the radiation onto a photodetector. High-intensity radiation, however, is self-trapped in the nonlinear material to form a columnar beam which falls on the optically-switchable material, causes this material to switch, and is reflected thereby.

US Patent:

53174542, May 31, 1994

Filed:

Aug 30, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/648512

Inventors:

Edward J. Sharp - Fort Washington MD
Gary L. Wood - Lorton VA
Richard R. Shurtz - Oakton VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

C02B 528
C02B 2160

US Classification:

359886

Abstract:

(S) A first optical material with a linear index of refraction is distributed as particles in a second optical material with an index of refraction dependent on the incident radiation intensity. Below some threshold intensity level the combination of materials is transparent to incident radiation directed toward a sensitive optical detector. Above this level, high-intensity incident radiation induces a change in refractive index of the second material, and the combination is limiting to incident radiation.

US Patent:

58447342, Dec 1, 1998

Filed:

Apr 28, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/492063

Inventors:

Edward J. Sharp - Fort Washington MD
Richard R. Shurtz - Oakton VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G07F 116

US Classification:

359885

Abstract:

An optical material having an index of refraction related to wavelength is placed between the reflectors of a Fabry-Perot cavity employed as an interference filter. The cavity is skewed with respect to the optical path of incident radiation such that the material diverts the optical paths of different spectral lines and the filter response more nearly matches the line spectrum.

US Patent:

54499046, Sep 12, 1995

Filed:

Nov 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/351202

Inventors:

Mary J. Miller - Springfield VA
Gregory J. Salamo - Fayetteville AR
William W. Clark - Lorton VA
Gary L. Wood - Centerville VA
Edward J. Sharp - Fredericksburg VA
Brian D. Monson - Tulsa OK

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01J 314
H01J 516
H01J 4014

US Classification:

250216

Abstract:

A passive broadband sensor protection and enhancement system and technique. ncident light is focused with a cylindrical lens on the optical axis into an intense light strip onto the input face of a photorefractive crystal on the optical axis. The crystal includes optional anti-reflection coatings proximate to the input and output face. A broadband high reflection coating is proximate to the input face for reflection of all radiation from approximately 0. 68 to at least out to 1. 5 micrometers wavelength. Light exiting from the output face of the crystal results from a photorefractive process that includes a transmitted beam and beam fan. The beam fan is fanned out of the optical path in a direction determined by the c-axis, dominant electro-optic coefficient, and charge carriers participating in the photorefractive process. The transmitted beam contains only incoherent radiation as input to a sensitive detector resulting in broadband multiline protection from the visible spectrum for substantially all pulsewidths and cw lasers, with enhanced time response and interaction length.

US Patent:

57399506, Apr 14, 1998

Filed:

Sep 1, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/411157

Inventors:

Gary L. Wood - Fairfax VA
William W. Clark - Lorton VA
Byong H. Ahn - Springfield VA
Edward J. Sharp - Fredericksburg VA

International Classification:

G02B 520

US Classification:

359359

Abstract:

A trilaminar semiconductor device is placed at an intermediate focus is an optical instrument having a sensitive photodetector. The layers of the device are successively in the form of a two-photon absorber, a sacrificial layer, and a multiple quantum well. The composition of the semiconductor is varied in the layers to achieve the desired bandgap and function.

US Patent:

53174429, May 31, 1994

Filed:

Jul 29, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/098999

Inventors:

Edward J. Sharp - Fredericksburg VA
Gary L. Wood - Centreville VA
William W. Clark - Lorton VA
Gregory J. Salamo - Fayetteville AR

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04B 1000

US Classification:

359170

Abstract:

A universal IFF technique and system utilizes a real-time communication l established between both parties allowing the approximate immediate transferral of digital information with positive direction and identification of both parties achieved. A pump laser emits a first signal at a first position and a remote laser beacon emits a second signal at a second position, both signals at nominally the same wavelength. A MPPCM receives the first signal which establishes a beam fan. The MPPCM and first signal scans about a region of interest to intercept the second signal. The second signal provides a second input signal into the MPPCM so that a two-way phase conjugation signal builds up and lock-on is established.