Patents Examined by Jennifer D. Carruth
  • Patent number: 11762133
    Abstract: Retroreflective materials and articles are enabled that increase the retroreflectivity of reflective materials or articles for roadway, automotive, and safety purposes by incorporating retroreflective elements that exhibit near-ideal Total Internal Reflection (TIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Vergence Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Retterath
  • Patent number: 11747611
    Abstract: An optical module includes an optical detector, laser emitter, and first and second support structures, each carried by a substrate. An optical layer includes first and second fixed portions carried by the support structures, a movable portion affixed between the fixed portions by a spring structure, and a lens system carried by the movable portion, the lens system including an objective lens and a beam shaping lens. The optical layer includes a comb drive with a first comb structure extending from the first fixed portion to interdigitate with a second comb structure extending from the movable portion, a third comb structure extending from the second fixed portion to interdigitate with a fourth comb structure extending from the movable portion, and actuation circuitry applying voltages to the comb structures to cause the movable portion of the optical layer to oscillate back and forth between the fixed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Christopher Townsend, Roberto Carminati
  • Patent number: 11747610
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes light sources, a deflector, an optical element, and light blockers. The light blockers are spaced apart in a rotation direction of the deflector. An inequality ?1<?2 is satisfied, where when viewed from the rotation axis direction, ?1 is an angle formed by a line segment connecting the end portion of a light blocker disposed most downstream in the rotation direction to a rotation axis center of the deflector and a line segment connecting the end portion of a light blocker disposed most upstream in the rotation direction to the rotation axis center, and ?2 is an angle formed by a line segment connecting an upstream end portion of one mirror surface in the rotation direction to the rotation axis center and a line segment connecting a downstream end portion of the one mirror surface in the rotation direction to the rotation axis center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sakaue, Takeshi Yamakawa, Susumu Narita, Ryo Sato
  • Patent number: 11740456
    Abstract: There is provided a holographic projector comprising a spatial light modulator, a light source and an assembly. The spatial light modulator is arranged to display a hologram. The light source is arranged to illuminate at least one region of the spatial light modulator with an input beam such that the input beam is spatially modulated by the spatial light modulator in accordance with the hologram to form a holographic reconstruction. The assembly is arranged to move at least one of the input beam and the spatial light modulator relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Dualitas Ltd
    Inventors: Jamieson Christmas, Alexander Cole
  • Patent number: 11740497
    Abstract: A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material, such as a liquid crystal material, sandwiched between a flexible substrate and a rigid substrate. The flexible substrate and the rigid substrate may each have a conductive layer deposited on the surface facing the optically active material. The flexible substrate may be bonded about its perimeter to the rigid substrate and may be sufficiently flexible to conform to non-planarity of the rigid substrate. As a result, the flexible substrate may adopt the surface contour of the rigid substrate to maintain a uniform thickness of optically active material between the flexible substrate and the rigid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Cardinal IG Company
    Inventors: Andrew DeMiglio, Eric Bjergaard, Hari Atkuri, Nicholas Schieder
  • Patent number: 11740460
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may have first hologram structures that replicate the light over multiple output angles onto second hologram structures. The second hologram structures may focus the replicated light onto the eye box. If desired, the device may include an image sensor. The first and second hologram structures may include transmission and/or reflection holograms. The optical system may redirect a first portion of the light to the eye box and a second portion of the light to the sensor. The sensor may generate image data based on the second portion of the light. Control circuitry may compensate for distortions in the first portion of the light by performing feedback adjustments to the display module based on distortions in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Hollands, Michael D. Simmonds, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
  • Patent number: 11733519
    Abstract: An optical reflective device for homogenizing light including a waveguide having a first and second waveguide surface and a partially reflective element is disclosed. The partially reflective element may be located between the first waveguide surface and the second waveguide surface. The partially reflective element may have a reflective axis parallel to a waveguide surface normal. The partially reflective element may be configured to reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a first reflectivity for a first set of incidence angles and reflect light incident on the partially reflective element at a second reflectivity for a second set of incident angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Akonia Holographics LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
  • Patent number: 11726315
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compact beam scanner assembly that includes an ellipsoidal reimaging mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: AEYE, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Dussan, David R. Demmer, John Stockton, Allan Steinhardt, David Cook
  • Patent number: 11726314
    Abstract: A deformable mirror has a mirror front face and a mirror back exposed surface. An elastomeric support structure is connected to the mirror back exposed surface. The elastomeric support structure includes a multitude of microchannels wherein the microchannels have a closed end located proximate the mirror back exposed surface and an open end located away from the mirror back exposed surface. A fluid pressure source is connected to the open end of the microchannels. A power source and control system are connected to the fluid pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Pascall, Kerry G. Krauter
  • Patent number: 11714277
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a mechanically-scanning 3-dimensional light detection and ranging (3D LiDAR) system including a galvo mirror assembly, wherein the galvo mirror assembly includes a mirror attached to an armature of a galvanometer to reflect a light signal generated by a light generator and received from a target, at least one permanent magnet, and at least one coil configured to carry a current to move the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Aaron Mohr, Kevin A. Gomez
  • Patent number: 11709356
    Abstract: A beam director for use in 3D printers comprises a first mirror rotating about its longitudinal axis for redirecting a beam onto a second mirror and then onto a work surface, which may result in a beam with a distorted shape. A beam corrector, e.g. a lens or a reflective surface, is used to ensure the beam has the same desired dimensions in the first and second perpendicular direction when striking the work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Charles Bibas
  • Patent number: 11709333
    Abstract: A holographic sight comprises a unitary optical component carrier having a plurality of receptacles for receiving optical components. A collimating optic abuts a surface of a first receptacle. A mirror abuts a surface of a second receptacle. A collar is positioned in a third receptacle and a laser diode is positioned within the collar. A first portion of the collar is affixed relative to a first portion of the third receptacle and a second portion of the collar is free to expand and contract relative to the third receptacle. The laser diode is affixed to the collar proximate the second portion and is free to move relative to the third receptacle with expansion and contraction of the second portion. The laser diode, the mirror, and the collimating optic are positioned relative to each other to create an optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: EOTech, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Heath, Deanna Kay McMillen, Steven Kent Brown, John Coleman Horton, IV
  • Patent number: 11691365
    Abstract: An article, including a transparent sheet having a first side with a structured surface The structured surface includes microprisms thereon, the microprisms being part of a microprism array on the structured surface. Each one of the microprisms are part of adjacent pairs of the microprisms, such that for each one of the adjacent pairs: the first microprism has a first lateral face, a second lateral face, and a third lateral face, the second microprism has a first lateral face, a second lateral face, and a third lateral face, and there is a continuous surface transition with a maintenance of surface continuity between the second lateral face of the first microprism and the third lateral face of the second microprism, without the presence of a seam, ridge, gap or tooling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Aura Optical Systems, LP
    Inventor: Drew J. Buoni
  • Patent number: 11691567
    Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for mounting at a vehicle includes a base portion configured for attachment at a side of the vehicle, and a mirror head having a mirror reflective element, an attachment plate and an electrically-operable mirror actuator. The base portion extends through an aperture in the mirror head. The mirror actuator is attached at the attachment plate, which includes wall structure that extends from the front side of the attachment plate and that circumscribes and spans a perimeter circumferential edge of a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element. The mirror actuator is electrically operable to adjust the mirror head relative to the base portion. The aperture allows for movement of the mirror head relative to the base portion during operation of the mirror actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Huizen, Robert L. Esser, Keith D. Foote, Darryl P. De Wind
  • Patent number: 11686888
    Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable element, a structural support element, a substantially transparent deformable medium positioned between the deformable element and the structural support element, a compliant peripheral component positioned between peripheral portions of the deformable element and the structural support element, and an actuator configured to displace at least a portion of the compliant peripheral component to deform the deformable element and change at least one optical property of the optical lens assembly. Related head-mounted displays and methods of fabricating such optical lens assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Cooke, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11675311
    Abstract: A volume holographic film (such as a photopolymer) that is pre-recorded with patterns subsequently is used to encode LED or low-power laser light reflections from an eye into a binary pattern that can be read at very high speeds by a relatively simple complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor that may be similar to a high framerate, low resolution mouse sensor. The low-resolution mono images from the film are translated into eye poses using, for instance, a look up table that correlates binary patterns to X, Y positions or using a pre-trained convolutional neural network to robustly interpret many variations of the binary patterns for conversion to X, Y positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Stafford
  • Patent number: 11661022
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body of the vehicle and a sensing system coupled to the body. The sensing system includes optical componentry and a glass material, where the glass material at least in part houses the optical componentry and the glass material is at least partially transparent to light at the wavelength of the optical componentry. Further the glass material has mechanical and performance properties that allow the sensing system to be positioned particularly low on the vehicle, at a position that may be of higher risk for damage from debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Vikram Bhatia, Thomas Michael Cleary, Philippe Engel, Robin Merchant Walton, Jue Wang
  • Patent number: 11662572
    Abstract: A display device for projecting light to a viewer may include (1) a plurality of subpixels, in which subpixels may emit light of differing spectral distributions, (2) at least one light deviator disposed optically downstream from the plurality of subpixels, and (3) and a controller. The light emitted from each of the plurality of subpixels may be transmitted through and laterally shifted by the least one light deviator towards a viewer and the at least one light deviator may be mechanically rotatable by a force applied to an outer circumferential region of the at least one light deviator. The controller may control illumination of at least a subset of the plurality of subpixels in synchronization with rotation of the at least one light deviator. Various other apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jasmine Soria Sears, Stephen James McNally
  • Patent number: 11662582
    Abstract: A display device includes an image source, a holographic relay, and a holographic image combiner in an off-axis configuration. The holographic relay may include a pair of freeform holographic reflectors relaying light of the image source to an intermediate image plane. The holographic image combiner receives and redirects the relayed light from the holographic relay, forming an image in angular domain at an eyebox of the display device, the image in angular domain corresponding to the image in linear domain generated by the image source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Li, Yang Zhao, Changwon Jang, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11662689
    Abstract: A hologram that includes a formation layer and a reflection layer that are laminated. The formation layer has an optical phase modulation structure on a first interface in contact with the reflection layer. When reference light emitted from a point light source enters through a second interface different from the first interface of the formation layer, the entirety or part of an image to be reconstructed by the optical phase modulation structure is reconstructed as spatial information on the point light source side relative to the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soko Koda, Akihito Kagotani, Tomoyuki Shirasaki, Noriko Harashima