Project and Research Descriptions
Conceptual Optics & Mechanisms Design

Project and Research Descriptions: | Applied Optics | Microscope | Telescope | Scanning Mechanisms | Target Acquisition |
| Acoustics | Luggage Scanning | Feedback Controls | Image Processing | 3D Virtualization | Holographic Microscope |

1. Programmable lens shape with laminations of ophthalmic contact lenses to produce a flexible Gradient Index (GRIN) lens (spherical and parabolic lenses to compress or strain relieve the compressible GRIN polymers for aberration correction or focal distance adjustment)
2. Aspheric lens designs combined with phase correcting wave plates and an aspheric lens prescription equivalent using multiple spherical lenses
3. Composite lens designs with holographic optical elements and diffraction gratings
4. Digital image filtering and polygon rendering in 3D curvilinear space using NVIDIA graphics processor and OpenGL library
5. Ultra-Sound and CAT Scanning tomographic reconstruction algorithms that reduce the detection of false images or the dismissal of desired information given limited viewing angle conditions
6. 3D coordinate determination of an object that is imaged by 2D stereo viewing cameras
7. Holographic displays for conventions and forums with 3D animation showing the interaction of manufacturer's equipment with materials and larger systems (e.g. Display a 3D hologram of a log spinning on a mandrel and a scanning laser system to measure the diameter along the length of the log and the spin de-center)
8. Optical temperature sensor for adjusting fuel to oxygen mixture on welding torches
9. Industrial lighting concepts combining specular and diffuse illumination with various surface absorption and reflection properties (Considerations for broad spectrum sources, source types, low eye strain, and power efficiency)
10. Rifle Scope features a CCD camera for cross-hair sight calibration to various bullet types

CCD array is used to record the reticle placement for a particular bullet weight and range. The elevation knob is used to line-up the boresight for a different bullet.

1. I have designed a mechanism for aircraft or missile flight control surfaces that are placed in the free-stream instead of the turbulent mixing region near the body. A servo actuator is installed inside the control surface, such as an aileron, instead of the wing. This allows the control surface to be placed away from the body of the aircraft or missile with minimal obstruction to the air flow for both sub-sonic and supersonic conditions. For example, a canard wing would be supported by two small non-obtrusive tubes that support the bearings for the control surface and provides a passage way through the tube for the electrical wires that drive the servo actuator. This compact design could improve canard wing performance by providing control that is independent of aircraft maneuvering and aerodynamic turbulence across the body. Servo actuators within aerodynamic control surfaces would have applications in lightweight aircraft, hang gliders, and hydrofoils.
2. The traditional Kalman Filter is used for aircraft and missile guidance systems which are based on stochastic noise modeling of the state and control vectors in a feedback control system. The Kalman tracking filter uses probability density functions which produce a steady-state uncertainty that is independent of the system dynamics. Non-adaptive low-pass filtering typically removes the noise to provide track prediction. My wavelet theory based feedback controller design is based on tracking time varying Eigen values for a non-linear system. This adaptive gain method provides effective response to the power spectrum of excitation inputs and disturbances such as maneuvering, structural vibrations, turbulence, and non-linear aerodynamic forces. My wavelet theory based controller offers greater stability and accuracy in track prediction than Kalman filter algorithms because my approach uniquely addresses system non-linearity.
3. Miniature CMGs (Control Moment Gyros) for roll-pitch-yaw inertial stabilization of platforms with no feedback controllers. The design uses an array of motors arranged in various orientations to reduce LOS (Line-of-Sight) error and improve pointing accuracy for medical systems, free-space optical communications, and tactical target tracking & pointing.