Patents by Inventor Andrew John Ouderkirk
Andrew John Ouderkirk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11885983Abstract: A liquid lens includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer polyurethane-based membrane overlying the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer polyurethane-based membrane. The multilayer polyurethane-based membrane, which may include thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer layers, may be formed by slot die coating or gravure coating one or more constituent layers and may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 5% while limiting the transpiration of fluid therethrough to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Stipe, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Hayden Erik Hernandez
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Patent number: 11885991Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a first array of light emitters having a first spacing in a first emission region of the display panel and a second array of light emitters having a second spacing in a second emission region of the display panel. The second spacing is distinct from the first spacing. The display device includes an optical filter including a first filter region and a second filter region. The first filter region changes distribution of first light from the first array of light emitters impinging on the first filter region so that the first light has a first distribution after passing through the first filter region. The second filter region changes distribution of second light from the second array of light emitters impinging on the second filter region so that the second light has a second distribution after passing through the second filter region.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, James Ronald Bonar, Jasmine Soria Sears
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Publication number: 20240027674Abstract: An optical element includes a waveguide body that is configured to guide light by total internal reflection from an input end to an output end, an input coupling structure located at the input end for coupling light into the waveguide body, and an output coupling structure located at the output end for coupling light out of the waveguide body, where the waveguide body includes a layer of an organic solid crystal. Such an optical element may have low weight and exhibit good color uniformity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2022Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Tingling Rao, Wanli Chi, Xiayu Feng, Yun-Han Lee, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Poer Sung
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Publication number: 20240026099Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least approximately 250,000 g/mol, and has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 25 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.8 GPa, and a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 5 W/mK. Formation of the polymer thin film may include forming a polymer solution from a crystallizable polyethylene and a liquid solvent, forming a gel from the polymer solution, forming a polymer thin film from the gel by calendering or solid state extrusion, and stretching the polymer thin film.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Hao Mei, Arman Boromand, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Rongzhi Huang, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 11878493Abstract: A polymer bilayer includes a layer of a porous fluoropolymer directly overlying a layer of polyethylene. The polyethylene layer may be porous or dense and may include an ultra-high molecular weight polymer. The polymer bilayer may be co-integrated with structures (e.g., wearable devices) exposed to high thermal loads (>0-1000 W/m2) and provide passive cooling thereof. For instance, passive cooling of AR/VR glasses under different solar loads may be achieved by a polymer bilayer that is both highly reflective across solar heating wavelengths and highly emissive in the long-wavelength infrared. The high reflectance decreases energy absorption across the solar spectrum while the high emissivity promotes radiative heat transfer to the surroundings.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Arman Boromand, Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Stipe
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Patent number: 11874474Abstract: A system includes a diffractive optical element including at least one substrate and a grating structure. The grating structure is configured to diffract a first light having an incidence angle within a predetermined range, and the at least one substrate is configured to reflect a second light. The system also includes a polarization selective mechanism configured to generate images based on the first light and the second light, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yun-Han Lee, Mengfei Wang, Junren Wang, Lu Lu, Robin Sharma, Gregory Olegovic Andreev, Garam Young, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Babak Amirsolaimani, Fenglin Peng, Barry David Silverstein
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Patent number: 11871674Abstract: A multilayer actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The multilayer actuator further includes a primary antireflective coating overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode opposite the electroactive layer, a secondary antireflective coating overlapping at least a portion of the secondary electrode opposite the electroactive layer, and a barrier layer overlapping the secondary antireflective coating opposite the secondary electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Alan Wells, Amir Peyman Delparastan, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 11867973Abstract: A varifocal lens includes a substrate having an inclined region, a primary electrode disposed over the inclined region of the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the primary electrode, a deformable membrane disposed over and at least partially spaced away from the dielectric layer, a secondary electrode disposed over a surface of the deformable membrane facing toward or away from the dielectric layer and overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a fluid between the membrane and the substrate, wherein a surface of the dielectric layer facing the secondary electrode comprises a textured surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Christopher Stipe, Kenneth Diest, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Maik Andre Scheller, Sheng Ye, John Cooke, Yigit Menguc, Nagi Elabbasi, James Ransley
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Patent number: 11867927Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate. One or more support structures may be configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, which may be an elastic membrane in tension. In some examples, a membrane includes a membrane polymer, such as a thermoplastic urethane polymer, and a polymer additive, such as an acrylate polymer. The polymer additive may reduce or substantially eliminate diffusion of the fluid into the membrane, which may increase the stability and performance of the fluid lens.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Maciej Mackowiak, Hayden Erik Hernandez, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20240004204Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include an optical modulator including a first layer with at an organic layer and/or an organometallic layer; and a second layer with an extrinsic semiconductor layer and/or an electrode layer. Various other apparatuses and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Tingling Rao, Lafe Joseph Purvis, II, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Ehsan Vadiee, Namseok Park, Kimberly Kay Childress, Arman Boromand, Tanya Malhotra
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Patent number: 11860358Abstract: Angular sensors that may be used in eye-tracking systems are disclosed. An eye-tracking system may include a plurality of light sources to emit illumination light and a plurality of angular light sensors to receive returning light that is the illumination light reflecting from an eyebox region. The angular light sensors may output angular signals representing an angle of incidence of the returning light.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Ruiting Huang, Robin Sharma, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Giancarlo Sigurd Sante Nucci, Clare Joyce Robinson
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Patent number: 11860571Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a first PVH layer configured to deflect a first polarized light having a first handedness. The system includes a second PVH layer coupled to the first PVH layer and configured to deflect a second polarized light having a second handedness opposite to the first handedness. The system includes an optical sensor configured to generate a first image based on the first polarized light deflected by the first PVH layer and generate a second image based on the second polarized light deflected by the second PVH layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robin Sharma, Hannah Noble, Babak Amirsolaimani, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
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Patent number: 11856860Abstract: A liquid dispersion includes a matrix phase of polymerizable material and at least 10% by volume of solid conductive particles distributed throughout the matrix. The conductive particles may have an average particle size of less than approximately 100 nm, and the liquid dispersion may have a viscosity of less than approximately 100 Poise. Such a liquid dispersion may be printed or extruded and then cured to form a solid thin film. The content and distribution of conductive particles within the thin film may reach a percolation threshold such that the thin film may form a conductive layer. Polymer-based devices, such as nanovoided polymer (NVP)-based actuators may be formed by co-extrusion of a nanovoided polymer material between conductive polymer electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Kenneth Diest, Wenhao Li, Sheng Ye, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20230408828Abstract: A method may include bonding a deformable bounding element to a structural support element in which the deformable bounding element and a cavity-adjacent side of the structural support element define a cavity. The method may further include filling the cavity with a deformable medium by injecting the deformable medium past a cavity-opposite side of the structural support element and toward the cavity-adjacent side of the structural support element. The method may additionally include sealing an entry point of the injection of the deformable medium into the cavity. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2021Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
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Patent number: 11846774Abstract: A pupil-replicating lightguide includes a slab of transparent material, a switchable out-coupling grating for out-coupling portions of image light to propagate towards an eyebox, and a switchable tracking grating for redirecting tracking light carrying an eye image towards an eye tracking camera. One of the two gratings may be turned ON while the other is turned OFF, in a time-sequential manner, allowing the combined use of the pupil-replicating lightguide for carrying image light and eye tracking light.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sihui He, Jacques Gollier, Maxwell Parsons, Babak Amirsolaimani, Wanli Chi, Daniel Guenther Greif, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Xiayu Feng, Zhimin Shi, Nicholas John Diorio, Yang Yang, Giuseppe Calafiore, Fenglin Peng, Tanya Malhotra, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 11848542Abstract: An optical system includes an illumination layer, an optical combiner, and an active optics block. The illumination layer includes an array of point light sources configured to emit calibration light. The optical combiner is configured to pass visible light to a front side of the optical system and to direct the calibration light to a camera that generates an image in response to the calibration light. The image includes an array of points corresponding to the array of point light sources. The active optics block includes an adjustable lens disposed between the illumination layer and the optical combiner and is configured to pass the calibration light to the optical combiner and to focus the visible light. The active optics block is further configured to adjust an optical power of the adjustable lens based on the image of the array of points.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Robin Sharma, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao
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Publication number: 20230396037Abstract: A MEMS-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) includes an embedded photodiode. A representative VCSEL includes a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), a photodiode structure located within the distributed Bragg reflector, an active region overlying the distributed Bragg reflector, and a MEMS upper reflector disposed over the active region. The VCSEL may be configured as an optical sensor. The laser cavity and hence a working wavelength of the sensor may be tuned by modulating the MEMS reflector such as through an applied voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Ehsan Vadiee, Youmin Wang, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robert Dale Cavin
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Publication number: 20230397470Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting diode having an emissive surface, and a capping layer including an organic solid crystal overlying the emissive surface. The refractive index of the organic solid crystal may be tuned such as through the application of a voltage, current, or stress to improve the light extraction efficiency of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Tanya Malhotra, Batagoda Kankanamalage Thilini Batagoda, Kilbock Lee, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Lafe Joseph Purvis, II, Ehsan Vadiee, Tingling Rao, Arman Boromand
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Publication number: 20230393317Abstract: A multilayer reflective polarizer includes a layer of a birefringent organic solid crystal, where the birefringent organic solid crystal has a refractive index of at least approximately 1.5 and a birefringence of at least approximately 0.1. The multilayer reflective polarizer may be configured to include alternating layers of a birefringent organic solid crystal material and a secondary material layer selected from an amorphous polymer, an inorganic amorphous compound, a liquid crystal, and an OSC material. The refractive index of the birefringent organic solid crystal layer(s) may be modified through the application of an applied voltage, current, or stress.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Tanya Malhotra, Zhaoyu Nie, Anurag Tyagi, Lafe Joseph Purvis, II, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Ehsan Vadiee, Tingling Rao, Arman Boromand, Namseok Park, Kimberly Kay Childress
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Publication number: 20230393309Abstract: A Fresnel lens includes a lens body having a structured surface with a plurality of facets, where the lens body includes an organic solid crystal having mutually-orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, nz. In a related vein, an apparatus includes a display and an optical configuration configured to receive display light from the display, where (a) the optical configuration includes a Fresnel lens assembly having a Fresnel lens and a Pancharatnam-Berry Phase lens overlying the Fresnel lens, (b) the Fresnel lens includes a lens body having a structured surface including a plurality of facets, and (c) the lens body includes an organic solid crystal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Tingling Rao, Xingzhou Tu, Yang Zhao, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Ying Geng