Patents by Inventor Robert Arthur Sprague

Robert Arthur Sprague 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: 11815746
    Abstract: An optical system includes a circular lens having a first set of electrodes arranged in a concentric pattern and a liquid crystal material in electrical communication with the first set of electrodes. The optical system also includes a first cylindrical lens having a vertical meridian and a second set of electrodes oriented along an axis parallel to the vertical meridian. The optical system additionally includes a second cylindrical lens having a third set of electrodes oriented at an angle with respect to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Weijian Li, Isabella T. Lewis, Robert Arthur Sprague
  • Patent number: 11442332
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first set of electrodes arranged in a concentric pattern and a liquid crystal material in electrical communication with the first set of electrodes. The optical system also includes a second set of electrodes arranged in a two-dimensional pattern and in electrical communication with the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Jim Weijian Li, Haiwei Chen
  • Patent number: 11079630
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for generating a wide angle frontlight for use with reflective displays. A display device may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The display device may include a first light source, and a first light guide able to receive first light from the first light source. The display device may include a reflective display, the first light guide including a first refractive device, the first refractive device refracts a first portion of the first light toward the reflective display in a first direction toward the first side and to refract a second portion of the first light toward the reflective display in a second direction toward the second side, and the first direction separated from the second direction by a first angle of at least forty degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Jerry Yee-Ming Chung
  • Patent number: 11009762
    Abstract: An electronic device with a flexible display subassembly is provided. The display stack may use two layers of adhesives having different elastic properties to improve mechanical impact resistance, with a first adhesive layer made of a viscoelastic material and a second adhesive layer having a low modulus of elasticity. The display stack may also include a hot melt protective sheet (HMPS) covering the display subassembly. The HMPS may be wrapped around the two side edges of a rigid substrate to attach directly to the substrate, thereby aiding in the adhesion of the display stack to the substrate. The display stack may also includes a patterned back protective sheet in which the protective backing layer is removed along the curved portions of the display stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Weihsin Hou, Robert Arthur Sprague, Chin Siong Khor, Siddharth Gupta
  • Patent number: 10884260
    Abstract: Three-dimensional display systems may include polarized displays that polarize light emitted from a first set of areas of the display with a first polarization for a first eye of the viewer and that polarizes light emitted from a second set of areas of the display with a second polarization for a second eye of the viewer. This may result in dark areas being perceived by a viewer when viewed through polarized 3D glasses. Systems and technologies according to this disclosure may include 3D glasses that have a lenses configured to redirect a portion of incoming light in a first axis to at least partially illuminate the dark areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Kari Juhani Rinko
  • Patent number: 10802195
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for high contrast frontlight structures for reflective displays and related devices. In one embodiment, an example display structure may include a diode, a reflective display, and a light guide coupled to the reflective display and configured to direct light from the diode, the light guide. The light guide may include a first layer having a first refractive index value, a second layer having a second refractive index value, a third layer having the first refractive index value, and a fourth layer having the second refractive index value, where the second refractive index value is greater than the first refractive index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Sprague
  • Patent number: 10627694
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for hybrid displays including electrophoretic displays and organic light emitting diodes. In one embodiment, an example display may include an alternating array with OLED units and EPD units disposed on a substrate, a structural layer defining walls separating each of the EPD units, and a color filter array substrate disposed on a side of the display opposite the substrate. The OLED units may include red OLED units, green OLED units, and blue OLED units, and the color filter array may include red filters, green filters, and blue filters that align with the EPD segments that are adjacent to the red OLED units, the green OLED units, and the blue OLED units, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Weihsin Hou, Robert Arthur Sprague
  • Patent number: 10557221
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for covers for electronic display elements with improved visibility. In one embodiment, an example cover for an electronic device may include a first fiber segment, a second fiber segment coupled to the first fiber segment, where the first fiber segment and the second fiber segment together form an opening in the cover, and an optically clear adhesive. A first portion of the optically clear adhesive may be disposed in the opening. The optically clear adhesive may have a refractive index value of between about 1.3 and about 1.6, and a first thickness of the first portion may be less than a second thickness of the cover. The cover may be transmissive to visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, John Michael Cesaratto, Maung Aung
  • Patent number: 10288974
    Abstract: An electronic device with a flexible display subassembly is provided. The display stack may use two layers of adhesives having different elastic properties to improve mechanical impact resistance, with a first adhesive layer made of a viscoelastic material and a second adhesive layer having a low modulus of elasticity. The display stack may also include a hot melt protective sheet (HMPS) covering the display subassembly. The HMPS may be wrapped around the two side edges of a rigid substrate to attach directly to the substrate, thereby aiding in the adhesion of the display stack to the substrate. The display stack may also includes a patterned back protective sheet in which the protective backing layer is removed along the curved portions of the display stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Weihsin Hou, Robert Arthur Sprague, Chin Siong Khor, Siddharth Gupta
  • Patent number: 10288973
    Abstract: A borderless display utilizes a support frame having a bulged periphery (or outer portion), and a flexible electrophoretic display (EPD) structure that is curved at least partly around the support frame. The bulged outer portion of the support frame allows the flexible EPD structure to be wrapped around the outer portion of the support frame without damaging elements of the EPD structure in the process. Meanwhile, the center portion of the support frame can be made thinner, as compared to the thickness of the support frame at the bulged, outer portion. In this manner, the overall profile (in the z-direction) of the electronic device can be made as thin as possible without damaging fragile elements in the EPD structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Siddharth Gupta, Vikram Srinivas, Robert Arthur Sprague, Wilfrido Loor Canizares
  • Patent number: 10288797
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for structural alignment features for light emitting diode arrays. In one embodiment, a device may include a light guide with a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a third surface perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. The device may include a light emitting diode array with a first set of light emitting diodes arranged in a first row and a second set of light emitting diodes arranged in a second row. The first set of light emitting diodes may be optically and physically coupled to the first surface, and the second set of light emitting diodes may be optically coupled to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Weihsin Hou, Juho Ilkka Jalava
  • Patent number: 10274804
    Abstract: A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, an electrode may be disposed at a periphery of the display to drive the margin of the display for achieving a thin border/borderless appearance. The EPD structure may include a backplane substrate that is either rigid or flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Sprague
  • Patent number: 10241377
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for self-healing flexible electrophoretic displays and related devices. In one embodiment, an example flexible electrophoretic display may include a flexible plastic thin film transistor (TFT) backplane having a first width, an electrophoretic layer coupled to the flexible plastic TFT backplane, an electrode layer coupled to the electrophoretic layer, an integrated circuit disposed on the flexible plastic TFT backplane, and a protective sheet having a second width that is greater than or equal to the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Weihsin Hou, Anoop Menon, Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Yuyan Hua, Shan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20190086760
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for self-healing flexible electrophoretic displays and related devices. In one embodiment, an example flexible electrophoretic display may include a flexible plastic thin film transistor (TFT) backplane having a first width, an electrophoretic layer coupled to the flexible plastic TFT backplane, an electrode layer coupled to the electrophoretic layer, an integrated circuit disposed on the flexible plastic TFT backplane, and a protective sheet having a second width that is greater than or equal to the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Weihsin Hou, Anoop Menon, Robert Arthur Sprague, Eric Gifford Marason, Yuyan Hua, Shan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10228604
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for borderless display stacks for use with electronic devices. In one embodiment, a display stack may include a thin film transistor (TFT) layer comprising an active area, an electrophoretic layer coupled to the TFT backplane, and an electrode coupled to a perimeter portion of the electrophoretic layer. The electrode may extend beyond peripheral edges of the electrophoretic layer. A portion of the electrode may be positioned between the electrophoretic layer and the TFT backplane, and the electrode may surround the active area. The display stack may include a cover layer coupled to the electrophoretic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hany Mounir Ghali, Robert Arthur Sprague, Siddharth Gupta
  • Patent number: 10185200
    Abstract: A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, the EPD structure includes a transparent protective substrate disposed on a rear surface of a flexible backplane substrate within the flat outer region where a driver chip is disposed on a front surface of the flexible backplane substrate. The transparent protective substrate protects the driver chip attachment from being damaged during manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Angeles Marcia Almanza-Workman, Wilfrido Loor Canizares, Siddharth Gupta, Vikram Srinivas
  • Patent number: 9977252
    Abstract: Three-dimensional display systems may include polarized displays that polarize light emitted from a first set of areas of the display with a first polarization for a first eye of the viewer and that polarizes light emitted from a second set of areas of the display with a second polarization for a second eye of the viewer. This may result in dark areas being perceived by a viewer when viewed through polarized 3D glasses. Systems and technologies according to this disclosure may include 3D glasses that have a lenses configured to redirect a portion of incoming light in a first axis to at least partially illuminate the dark areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Sprague, Kari Juhani Rinko
  • Patent number: 9971151
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for mountable clear displays and projection systems. In one embodiment, a system may include a mirror surface and a transparent display sheet adhered to the mirror surface. The transparent display sheet may include a blue phosphor layer that absorbs light having the first wavelength and emits light having a fourth wavelength of about 460 nm, a green phosphor layer that absorbs light having the second wavelength and emits light having a fifth wavelength of about 530 nm, a red phosphor layer that absorbs light having the third wavelength and emits light having a sixth wavelength of about 625 nm, and a blue light blocking layer attached to the red phosphor layer of the transparent display sheet, the blue light blocking layer configured to absorb blue light passing through the transparent display sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Gifford Marason, Robert Arthur Sprague, Suchit Shreyas Shah, Omar Sze Leung, Miguel Virgen
  • Publication number: 20170293194
    Abstract: An electronic device with a flexible display subassembly is provided. The display stack may use two layers of adhesives having different elastic properties to improve mechanical impact resistance, with a first adhesive layer made of a viscoelastic material and a second adhesive layer having a low modulus of elasticity. The display stack may also include a hot melt protective sheet (HMPS) covering the display subassembly. The HMPS may be wrapped around the two side edges of a rigid substrate to attach directly to the substrate, thereby aiding in the adhesion of the display stack to the substrate. The display stack may also includes a patterned back protective sheet in which the protective backing layer is removed along the curved portions of the display stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Weihsin Hou, Robert Arthur Sprague, Chin Siong Khor, Siddharth Gupta
  • Patent number: 9778473
    Abstract: Three-dimensional display systems may include polarized displays that polarize light emitted from a first set of areas of the display with a first polarization for a first eye of the viewer and that polarizes light emitted from a second set of areas of the display with a second polarization for a second eye of the viewer. This may result in dark areas being perceived by a viewer when viewed through polarized 3D glasses. Systems and technologies according to this disclosure may include 3D glasses that have a lenses configured to redirect a portion of incoming light in a first axis to at least partially illuminate the dark areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Sprague