Patents by Inventor Nesbitt W. Hagood

Nesbitt W. Hagood 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).

  • Patent number: 7780535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively controlling the impact between a club head and a golf ball. A golf club head has a face with an actuator material or device mechanically coupled to influence face motion. The face actuation controls impact parameters, impact properties, or resulting ball parameters such as speed, direction and spin rates resulting from the impact event between the face of the club and the golf ball. Further, the apparatus has a control device for determining the actuation of the face. Several embodiments are presented for controlling parameters such as ball speed and direction. The invention can use energy derived from the ball impact, converted into electrical energy, and then reapplied in a controlled fashion to influence an aspect of the face, such as position, velocity, deformation, stiffness, vibration, motion, temperature, or other physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jason Horodezky
  • Patent number: 7755582
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Abraham McAllister, Stephen Lewis, Roger Barton
  • Patent number: 7746529
    Abstract: This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of spacers distributed within the interior of the array. The display apparatus may also include a reflective aperture layer disposed on a front facing surface of a substrate included in the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Richard S. Payne, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Eugene E. Fike, III
  • Patent number: 7742215
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV
  • Patent number: 7742016
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Abraham McAllister, Stephen Lewis, Roger Barton
  • Patent number: 7729037
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn
  • Patent number: 7675665
    Abstract: This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, where the size of the overlap is proportional to a distance between the array and the layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Richard S. Payne, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Eugene E. Fike, III
  • Patent number: 7651408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for beneficially controlling the impact between a club head and a golf ball are described. A golf club head (such as on a driver, iron, or putter) has a body and a face mechanically supported thereon, wherein the face and body are elastically tailored to create beneficial face motion and deformation at impact. The tailored clubhead compliance is shown to influence impact properties and resulting ball parameters such as speed, direction and spin rates resulting from the impact event between the face of the club and the golf ball. Several embodiments are presented for controlling ball spin through design of the elastic and dynamic response of the face and body under impact loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Head Technology GmbH, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jason Horodezky
  • Patent number: 7636189
    Abstract: The invention relates to spatial light modulators for use in display apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to spatial light modulators that include a substrate defining a plane and a shutter suspended over the substrate by a compliant beam. The compliant beam has a cross-sectional thickness, in a dimension parallel to the plane of the substrate, between about 0.2 ?m and about 10 ?m. In one embodiment, a thickness of the compliant beam in a dimension perpendicular to the plane of the substrate is at least about 1.4 times the cross-sectional width of the compliant beam in the dimension parallel to the plane of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn
  • Patent number: 7619806
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Richard S. Payne, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn
  • Patent number: 7616368
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for displays are disclosed that utilize light concentration array between mechanical light modulators and the viewing surface of the display. The light concentration array includes an array of optical elements that concentrate light on respective ones of the light modulators to maximize the contrast ratio and off axis viewing of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV
  • Publication number: 20090244678
    Abstract: Display devices incorporating shutter-based light modulators are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such devices. The methods are compatible with thin-film manufacturing processes known in the art and result in displays having lower power-consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Timothy J. Brosnihan, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Richard S. Payne, Roger Barton
  • Publication number: 20090195855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spatial light modulator including a substrate having a surface and a modulation assembly coupled to the substrate including a modulation element and a compliant beam. The modulation assembly is configured to limit the bending of the compliant beam towards an opposing surface that would otherwise be caused by inherent stresses within the compliant beam. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a spatial light modulator including the steps of forming and releasing a modulation assembly that has a modulation element and a compliant beam formed in a pre-release position to have an intended inherent stress state. As a result of the stress state in the compliant beam, upon release of the compliant beam, the compliant beam bends into a rest position which is different than the pre-release position, where the rest position is based in part on the intended inherent stress state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Timothy J. Brosnihan, Joyce H. Wu, Mark B. Andersson, Richard S. Payne, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Nesbitt W. Hagood
  • Patent number: 7551344
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of manufacturing display devices including the steps of forming a plurality of thin-film components and forming a plurality of mechanical light modulators on top of the thin-film components, where the plurality of mechanical light modulators include a layer of amorphous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Richard S. Payne
  • Patent number: 7502159
    Abstract: This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, where the size of the overlap is proportional to a distance between the array and the layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Richard S. Payne, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton
  • Publication number: 20090034052
    Abstract: This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators for transmissively displaying an image and a reflective aperture layer defining a plurality of apertures, for reflecting light not passing through apertures in the reflective aperture layer away from the array. The reflective aperture layer is formed on a first substrate and positioned adjacent the array. The image is formed by modulating light passing through the apertures in the reflective aperture layer. A light guide, separated from the first substrate by a gap, may guide light towards the reflective aperture layer. A layer of low-refractive index material may be positioned on a side of the reflective aperture layer opposite the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Roger W. Barton
  • Patent number: 7460290
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Richard S. Payne, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn
  • Publication number: 20080283175
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of manufacturing fluid-filled MEMS displays, where the fluid is sealed in the display assembly and substantially surrounds the moving components of the display to reduce the effects of stiction and to improve the optical and electromechanical performance of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, John J. Fijol
  • Publication number: 20080278798
    Abstract: This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of spacers distributed within the interior of the array. The display apparatus may also include a reflective aperture layer disposed on a front facing surface of a substrate included in the display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Richard S. Payne, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Roger W. Barton, Eugene E. Fike, III
  • Patent number: 7417782
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Roger Barton