Patents Assigned to Elwha LLC
  • Patent number: 11851582
    Abstract: Subwavelength conducting particles can be arranged on conducting surfaces to provide arbitrary thermal emissivity spectra. For example, a thermal emissivity spectrum can be tailored to suppress a thermal signature of an object without sacrificing radiative cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Erik Edward Josberger, Mark C. Weidman
  • Patent number: 11732377
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Cannara, Emma Rae Mullen, Fred Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11600258
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for ultrasound and acoustic radiation devices. A method is disclosed for manufacturing a mode converting structure comprising a holographic metamaterial that, when positioned relative to an acoustic radiation device (AR), modifies an acoustic field profile of the AR device from an input mode to an output mode, the method including identifying a volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties within the mode converting structure to transform an input pressure field distribution of acoustic radiation in the input mode to an output field distribution of acoustic radiation that approximates the target radiation pattern in the output mode and manufacturing the mode converting structure using the identified volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 11450954
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include a two-dimensional antenna array of antenna pixels having length and width dimensions of less than one-half of an operational wavelength. In various examples, each antenna pixel comprises a fixed number of phase-adjustable antenna elements. The antenna elements of each antenna pixel may be coupled to the waveguide with interelement spacings selected to associate each antenna element with a distinct phase advance value. A controller identifies a target phase value for each antenna pixel that corresponds to a target beamform for the two-dimensional antenna. A controller activates and adjusts a phase response of one of the antenna elements in each antenna pixel, such that the phase advance value associate with the activated antenna element and the adjusted phase response combine to attain the target phase value for the antenna pixel as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Elwha, LLC
    Inventor: Guy S. Lipworth
  • Patent number: 11364380
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a headset and an earpiece which includes two or more ear-contacting elements, for example an ear canal insert, and a concha insert. Ear-contacting elements may be mounted onto an earpiece housing have projecting mounting structures, which provide mechanical and electrical connection between ear-contacting elements and housing through various materials and configurations. In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a neural stimulation subsystem including neural stimulation device control circuitry for use in combination with a personal computing device to control a neural stimulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Eleanor V. Goodall, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Mark A. Malamud, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tim F. Ramsey, Brittany Scheid, Katherine E. Sharadin, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 11208568
    Abstract: Subwavelength conducting particles can be arranged on conducting surfaces to provide arbitrary thermal emissivity spectra. For example, a thermal emissivity spectrum can be tailored to suppress a thermal signature of an object without sacrificing radiative cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Erik Edward Josberger, Mark C. Weidman
  • Patent number: 11124889
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of fabricating a porous structure, such as a porous silicon carbide structure. The methods can include a step of providing a structure to be rendered porous, and a step of providing an etching solution. The methods can also include a step of electrochemically etching the structure to produce pores through at least a region of the structure, resulting in the formation of a porous structure. The morphology of the porous structure can be controlled by one or more parameters of the electrochemical etching process, such as the strength of the etching solution and/or the applied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Rachel Cannara, Emma Rae Mullen, Fred Sharifi
  • Patent number: 11067687
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, systems and methods for transmitting acoustic waves in a region aided by reflection from environmental objects. An arrangement of acoustically reflective surfaces in an environment of a target can be detected to generate an environmental acoustic propagation channel model. An acoustic radiation pattern for reflecting one or more acoustic waves off of one or more acoustically reflective surfaces in the arrangement of acoustically reflective surfaces towards the target can be identified. A coherent acoustic beamforming device can be controlled to perform coherent beamforming of an acoustic hologram based on the acoustic radiation pattern to generate the one or more acoustic waves for reflection towards the target off of the one or more acoustically reflective surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha, LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 11037973
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for an optical beam-steering device that includes an optical transmitter and/or receiver to transmit and/or receive optical radiation from an optically reflective surface. An array of adjustable dielectric resonator elements is arranged on the surface with inter-element spacings less than an optical operating wavelength. A controller applies a pattern of voltage differentials to the adjustable dielectric resonator elements. The pattern of voltage differentials corresponds to a sub-wavelength reflection phase pattern for reflecting the optical electromagnetic radiation. One embodiment of a dielectric resonator element includes first and second dielectric members extending from the surface. The dielectric resonator elements are spaced from one another to form a gap or channel therebetween. A voltage-controlled adjustable refractive index material is disposed within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Gleb M Akselrod
  • Patent number: 10992325
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transmission of acoustic signals between a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus includes an electrical signal generator for generating low frequency electrical signals. The apparatus also includes a transmitter comprising a first retroreflector having a first array of subwavelength retroreflective elements at one end of an open cavity for transmitting the low frequency electrical signals and a first electroacoustic transducer adjacent to the first retroreflector for converting the low frequency electrical signals to acoustic signals. The apparatus further includes a receiver comprising a second retroreflector having a second array of subwavelength retroreflective elements at an opposite end of the open cavity, the acoustic signals being in form of a beam directed toward the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10987048
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices that may be used to incentivize inhaler use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Roderick A. Hyde, Robert C. Petroski, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10971818
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transmission of RF signals between a transmitter and a receiver. The apparatus includes a transmitter comprising a first retroreflector having a first array of sub-wavelength retroreflective elements at one end of an open cavity for transmitting RF seed signals. The apparatus also includes a receiver comprising a second retroreflector having a second array of sub-wavelength retroreflective elements at an opposite end of the open cavity for receiving the transmitted seed signal, the transmitted RF seed signals being in form of a beam directed toward the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10968522
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for fabricating a metallic optical metasurface having an array of hologram elements. The method includes forming a first copper layer protected with a conducting or dielectric barrier layer over a backplane structure by a damascene process. The first copper layer comprises a plurality of nano-gaps vertically extending from the backplane structure. The plurality of nano-gaps is filled with a dielectric material. The method also includes removing the dielectric material and a portion of the conducting or dielectric barrier layer to expose the portions in the nano-gaps of the first copper layer. The method may further include depositing a dielectric coating layer over the top portion and exposed side portions of the first copper layer to form a protected first copper layer, and filling the gaps with an electrically-tunable dielectric material that has an electrically-tunable refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Erik Edward Josberger, Mark C. Weidman
  • Patent number: 10938115
    Abstract: A beamforming system, comprising a plurality of subsets of tunable resonator elements arranged on a substrate. Each subset of tunable resonator elements comprises at least two resonator elements that have a common resonance property modifiable by a common physical stimulus. A first control input may provide a first physical stimulus to modify the resonance property of all the tunable resonator elements in a first subset of tunable resonator elements. A second control input may provide a second physical stimulus to modify the resonance property of all the tunable resonator elements in a second subset of tunable resonator elements. A controller adjusts the first and second physical stimulus provided via the control inputs between a plurality of physical stimulus values. Each different physical stimulus value corresponds to one of a plurality of a unique resonance patterns and associated unique radiation patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha, LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10915002
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for an optical beam-steering device that includes an optical transmitter and/or receiver to transmit and/or receive optical radiation from an optically reflective surface. An array of adjustable dielectric resonator elements is arranged on the surface with inter-element spacings less than an optical operating wavelength. A controller applies a pattern of voltage differentials to the adjustable dielectric resonator elements. The pattern of voltage differentials corresponds to a sub-wavelength reflection phase pattern for reflecting the optical electromagnetic radiation. One embodiment of a dielectric resonator element includes first and second dielectric members extending from the surface. The dielectric resonator elements are spaced from one another to form a gap or channel therebetween. A voltage-controlled adjustable refractive index material is disposed within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Gleb M Akselrod
  • Patent number: 10916107
    Abstract: A system is described for providing somatosensory stimuli to a human subject. The system may include an acoustic beamforming device configured to generate a modulated acoustic beam directed at the human subject. The system may also include a signal modulator configured to provide a signal modulation that enhances, subject to the total radiated power constraint, a perceived strength of somatosensory response of at least one type of cutaneous mechanoreceptor cells in the skin of the human subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventor: Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10886317
    Abstract: The method is provided for fabricating an optical metasurface. The method may include depositing a conductive layer over a holographic region of a wafer and depositing a dielectric layer over the conducting layer. The method may also include patterning a hard mask on the dielectric layer. The method may further include etching the dielectric layer to form a plurality of dielectric pillars with a plurality of nano-scale gaps between the pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Erik E. Josberger, Mark C. Weidman
  • Patent number: 10853819
    Abstract: Configuration technologies for apportioning resources and communicating indications of potential or actual incentives based on one or more measurements or other objective indications that therapeutic components have been administered to an individual, other attributes of the therapeutic components or the individual, or other such determinants. Techniques for apportioning resources cost-effectively (between providers and other parties, e.g.) and for facilitating or handling implementations thereof or output therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Eun Young Hwang, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Dennis J. Rivet, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 10833380
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for electromagnetic field modification. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of dielectric constants chosen to convert an electromagnetic radiation pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target electromagnetic radiation pattern that is different from the input electromagnetic radiation pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of dielectric constants that can be used to form a mode converting device for use with one or more transmission lines, such as waveguides. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 10828533
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to personal therapy and exercise systems as well as to methods related thereto. For example, a personal therapy system can be a modular system that can include multiple therapy gear modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Katherine E. Sharadin, Elizabeth A. Sweeney