Mark A Butterworth

US Patent:

6498632, Dec 24, 2002

Filed:

Apr 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/300347

Inventors:

Mark M. Butterworth - Santa Clara CA
Rene P. Helbing - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349 77, 353 34, 349 8, 349172

Abstract:

A color, high-throughput, ferroelectric liquid crystal-based light valve comprising a light input, a light output, a beam splitter, a color separator, reflective spatial light modulators, and a switchable half-wave plate. Light polarized parallel to a first direction is received through the light input. Light from the light input and reflected by the spatial light modulators is output from the light output. The reflective spatial light modulators are structured as a quarter-wave plates and each has a principal axis that switches through an angle. The beam splitter has orthogonal directions of maximum transmissivity and maximum reflectivity, one of which is parallel to the first direction. The beam splitter is located and aligned relative to the light input, the light output, and the color separator to transmit or reflect the light from the light input towards the color separator, and to reflect or transmit, respectively, towards the light output the light reflected by each of the spatial light modulators and having a direction of polarization substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The switchable half-wave plate is located between the beam splitter and the color separator, is structured as a half-wave plate and has a principal axis that switches through an angle , substantially equal to /2. The switchable half-wave plate inverts the sense of the light valve during the balance period of each display period to enable the light valve to generate a positive image, and therefore be illuminated, during the balance period in addition to during the illumination period.

US Patent:

6624756, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Jul 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/363963

Inventors:

Mark M. Butterworth - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G08B 500

US Classification:

3408154, 348743, 348742, 345101, 345 94

Abstract:

A liquid crystal-based light valve system with automatic color correction. The invention includes a light input, a liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator, a light output, a light intensity sensor, and a color controller. The light intensity sensor is located along an optical path between the light input and the light output and is configured to detect the intensity of light illuminating the spatial light modulator. The color controller is electrically connected to the light intensity sensor. The color controller may be configured to modulate the light received at the light input. In addition, the spatial light modulator may include a pixellated electrode and control circuitry electrically connected to the pixellated electrode and the color controller. The invention may alternatively include a first, second, and third liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator, a color separator, and a first, second, and third light intensity sensor. The first, second, and third light intensity sensors are configured to detect the intensity of light illuminating the first, second, and third spatial light modulator, respectively.

US Patent:

7016520, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Mar 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/094567

Inventors:

Mark Melvin Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382124, 396 15, 340 583, 902 3

Abstract:

An apparatus is configured for use with a digital camera to capture images of a fingerprint with the camera. The digital camera includes a primary lens for general photography purposes. The apparatus includes an accessory lens assembly including a first surface for supporting a finger to be imaged. The accessory lens assembly is configured to direct light reflected from the finger to the primary lens of the digital camera. A connection mechanism connects the accessory lens assembly to the digital camera. The accessory lens assembly is movable via the connection mechanism to cover the primary lens for fingerprint imaging, and is movable via the connection mechanism away from the primary lens to allow the digital camera to be used for general photography purposes.

US Patent:

7088917, Aug 8, 2006

Filed:

May 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/853997

Inventors:

Mark M. Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

International Classification:

G03B 3/00
G03B 13/32
G02B 3/12
G02B 3/14

US Classification:

396 89, 396 72, 348345, 359665

Abstract:

A lens system has an optical path through a lens that is in contact with a liquid. The focal length of the lens system can be changed through introduction of a bubble in the optical path at the lens-liquid interface. The bubble changes the refractive index difference at the lens surface and thereby changes the focal length of the lens system. In a camera, the lens system can operate in a macro mode corresponding to a shorter focal length or a normal mode corresponding to a longer focal length.

US Patent:

7343049, Mar 11, 2008

Filed:

Mar 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/092772

Inventors:

Mark Melvin Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Marvell International Technology Ltd.

International Classification:

G06K 9/36

US Classification:

382284, 345629, 345634

Abstract:

A method of generating an electronic text file from a paper-based document that includes a plurality of characters includes capturing a plurality of partially overlapping digital images of the document. Optical character recognition is performed on each one of the plurality of captured digital images, thereby generating a corresponding plurality of electronic text files. Each one of the electronic text files includes a portion of the plurality of characters in the document. The plurality of electronic text files are compared with one another to identify characters that are in common between the electronic text files. The plurality of electronic text files are combined into a combined text file based on the comparison. The combined text file includes the plurality of characters in the document.

US Patent:

7349588, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Aug 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/925828

Inventors:

Mark Melvin Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Avago Technologies ECBU IP Pte Ltd - Singapore

International Classification:

G06K 7/10

US Classification:

382321, 382198, 382209

Abstract:

A meter is read. An image on a face of the meter is captured. Optical character recognition of digits of a digital display on the face of the meter is performed. At least one stored template is used to perform the optical character recognition of digits.

US Patent:

7375312, May 20, 2008

Filed:

Jan 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/044500

Inventors:

Mark Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Avago Technologies ECBU IP Pte Ltd - Singapore

International Classification:

H04N 3/14

US Classification:

250214R, 250216

Abstract:

A fly's eye detector includes a planar imaging array and an optical system that directs light with different incident directions to different sensors in the imaging array. One embodiment of the optical system includes a curved reflector above the planar imaging array to deflect and distribute light to the sensors. Another embodiment of the optical system includes a lens array providing variable offsets of micro-lenses relative to the underlying sensors.

US Patent:

7400350, Jul 15, 2008

Filed:

Jan 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/031747

Inventors:

Mark Melvin Butterworth - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Micron Technology, Inc. - Boise ID

International Classification:

H04N 5/262
H04N 5/762

US Classification:

348239, 34823199

Abstract:

A system and method for collecting images of monitored devices, such as utility meters for electricity, gas and water, captures a digital image of a monitored device and produces a difference digital image from the digital image using a reference digital image of the monitored device. The difference digital image has pixel values derived from differences between corresponding pixel values of the digital image and the reference digital image. The difference digital image is smaller in data size than the original digital image. The original digital image can be reconstructed from the difference digital image using the reference digital image.