Patents by Inventor Ronald S. Maynard

Ronald S. Maynard 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).

  • Publication number: 20210318603
    Abstract: A virtual and augmented reality system comprising an immersive sound system, sensors, a power source, communications, data processing, and an optical system that delivers photoreceptor density resolution, wide angle, high contrast, binocular vision, continuous depth of field images, is integrated for a fully immersive experience. In one embodiment, an optical system comprises a miniaturized array of projectors geometrically arranged to cover retina photoreceptive areas. Projectors provide full spectrum, amplitude modulated, and controllably divergent beams of light that can be steered with one or more degrees of freedom. Segmented projector arrays greatly improve dynamic performance. An adaptive optics reflector includes an array of fixed, or independently controllable optical elements, that can alter reflected beam properties such that a virtual object may appear to be nearer or further from the viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Passenger Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 11073752
    Abstract: An improved virtual reality system comprising an immersive sound system, sensors, a power source, communications, data processing, and an optical system that delivers photoreceptor density resolution, wide angle, high contrast, binocular vision, continuous depth of field, and stabilized images that are closely synchronized with the vestibulo-ocular reflex, providing a comfortable, fully immersive experience. In one embodiment, a miniaturized array of projectors is arranged to cover the retina with adjoining image segments. Each projector provides full spectrum, amplitude modulated, and controllably divergent beams of light that are subsequently reflected off a compound curved reflector, through additional optics, and along reversible light paths to form images on the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 10613349
    Abstract: A contact lens has a first circumferential groove containing a wire coil and an electronics cavity containing one or more electronic devices. The circumferential groove and electronics cavity are formed in a peripheral region of the contact lens. The coil is configured to wirelessly receive electrical power and/or data, and to provide the received power and/or data to the electronic devices in the electronics cavity and to a femtoprojector or other electronic devices in the contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tectus Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Publication number: 20200050095
    Abstract: An improved virtual reality system comprising an immersive sound system, sensors, a power source, communications, data processing, and an optical system that delivers photoreceptor density resolution, wide angle, high contrast, binocular vision, continuous depth of field images, is integrated for a fully immersive experience. In one embodiment, an optical system comprises a miniaturized array of projectors geometrically arranged to cover the photoreceptive areas of the retina. The projectors provide full spectrum, amplitude modulated, and controllably divergent beams of light that can be steered with one or more degrees of freedom. These beams are subsequently reflected off a compound curved reflector, through additional optics, and along reversible light paths to form images on the retina. Segmented projector arrays greatly improve dynamic performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 10481479
    Abstract: An improved virtual reality system comprising an immersive sound system, sensors, a power source, communications, data processing, and an optical system that delivers photoreceptor density resolution, wide angle, high contrast, binocular vision, continuous depth of field images, is integrated for a fully immersive experience. In one embodiment, an optical system comprises a miniaturized array of projectors geometrically arranged to cover the photoreceptive areas of the retina. The projectors provide full spectrum, amplitude modulated, and controllably divergent beams of light that can be steered with one or more degrees of freedom. These beams are subsequently reflected off a compound curved reflector, through additional optics, and along reversible light paths to form images on the retina. Segmented projector arrays greatly improve dynamic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 10213842
    Abstract: A temporary part is mounted onto the chuck of the diamond turning machine. A diamond turning tip of the diamond turning machine is used to form a reference surface on the temporary part, registering a baseline for a motion control system of the diamond turning machine. While the temporary part remains mounted to the diamond turning machine, a workpiece is mounted onto the temporary part, and the diamond tip is controlled relative to the reference surface to diamond turn a surface profile on the workpiece. Because the baseline established by the reference surface compensates for positional variations from mounting parts directly onto the chuck of the diamond turning machine, the length of the workpiece can be shaped to a designated length with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Spy Eye, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Publication number: 20190025688
    Abstract: An improved virtual reality system comprising an immersive sound system, sensors, a power source, communications, data processing, and an optical system that delivers photoreceptor density resolution, wide angle, high contrast, binocular vision, continuous depth of field images, is integrated for a fully immersive experience. In one embodiment, an optical system comprises a miniaturized array of projectors geometrically arranged to cover the photoreceptive areas of the retina. The projectors provide full spectrum, amplitude modulated, and controllably divergent beams of light that can be steered with one or more degrees of freedom. These beams are subsequently reflected off a compound curved reflector, through additional optics, and along reversible light paths to form images on the retina. Segmented projector arrays greatly improve dynamic performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Publication number: 20180316224
    Abstract: A contact lens has a first circumferential groove containing a wire coil and an electronics cavity containing one or more electronic devices. The circumferential groove and electronics cavity are formed in a peripheral region of the contact lens. The coil is configured to wirelessly receive electrical power and/or data, and to provide the received power and/or data to the electronic devices in the electronics cavity and to a femtoprojector or other electronic devices in the contact lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Publication number: 20180229312
    Abstract: A temporary part is mounted onto the chuck of the diamond turning machine. A diamond turning tip of the diamond turning machine is used to form a reference surface on the temporary part, registering a baseline for a motion control system of the diamond turning machine. While the temporary part remains mounted to the diamond turning machine, a workpiece is mounted onto the temporary part, and the diamond tip is controlled relative to the reference surface to diamond turn a surface profile on the workpiece. Because the baseline established by the reference surface compensates for positional variations from mounting parts directly onto the chuck of the diamond turning machine, the length of the workpiece can be shaped to a designated length with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 7201824
    Abstract: An apparatus for precisely steering a beam of light by making use of a hybrid inter optical alignment that occurs when a beam steering mechanism is micro-machined with respect to a crystallographic orientation of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Publication number: 20030141274
    Abstract: An apparatus for precisely steering a beam of light by making use of a hybrid inter optical alignment that occurs when a beam steering mechanism is micro-machined with respect to a crystallographic orientation of a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6447478
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy actuator array comprising a plurality of individually trained shape memory alloy actuators to provide relative movement of different actuator array portions and a thin-film heating element positioned adjacent at least one shape memory alloy actuator to thermally activate the actuator for movement away from its initial shape. A shape memory alloy medical device such as a catheter or a conduit is further provided comprising a lattice network or scaffolding of individually activated and oppositely trained shape memory alloy actuators set with a predetermined shape to provide a full range of directional movement within a body, and a network of thin-film heating elements to selectively activate a combination of actuators for movement or variable stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6409749
    Abstract: An aneurism patch apparatus for treating an aneurism formed in a vessel includes a vessel interface side and an opposing non-interface side. A patch is formed of a sufficiently flexible material to provide a patch stowed state when the patch is delivered through the vessel and a patch deployed state when the patch is at least partially positioned over the mouth of the aneurism. The interface side of the patch is configured to form an adherence between the patch and an area of a vessel wall adjacent to the aneurism mouth. The adherence maintains a fixed position of the patch relative to the aneurism mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6323459
    Abstract: A shape memory device includes a shape memory alloy member configured to have at least a portion of the shape memory alloy member be selectively activated. A heating device is coupled to the member and configured to provide heat to a selected section of the member and activate at least a portion of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6278084
    Abstract: A distributed activation system for a unitary sheet of electrically conductive or insulative shape memory alloy having a sufficiently small section to limit the lateral flow of heat including at least one heating element disposed on the shape memory alloy sheet for locally heating an adjacent portion of the sheet such that the adjacent portion assumes a predetermined shape when activated to its threshold temperature. The activation system may be configured for shape memory alloy apparatus and related methods in combination with a control system for selectively activating discrete-shape memory alloy portions with various combinations of at least one heating element that receive an adjustable current such that the resultant local heating causes the sheet to assume a desired overall shape. Methods of forming and selectively activating two-dimensional sheets of electrically conducive and insulative shape memory alloy are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6169269
    Abstract: A shape memory device includes a shape memory alloy member configured to have at least a portion of the shape memory alloy member be selectively activated. A heating device is coupled to the member and configured to provide heat to a selected section of the member and activate at least a portion of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6137926
    Abstract: An apparatus for precisely steering a beam of light by making use of a hybrid inter optical alignment precision which occurs when a beam steering mechanism is micromachined with respect to a crystallographic orientation of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6133547
    Abstract: A distributed activation system for a unitary sheet of electrically conductive or insulative shape memory alloy having a sufficiently small section to limit the lateral flow of heat including at least one heating element disposed on the shape memory alloy sheet for locally heating an adjacent portion of the sheet such that the adjacent portion assumes a predetermined shape when activated to its threshold temperature. The activation system may be configured for shape memory alloy apparatus and related methods in combination with a control system for selectively activating discrete shape memory alloy portions with various combinations of at least one heating element that receive an adjustable current such that the resultant local heating causes the sheet to assume a desired overall shape. Methods of forming and selectively activating two-dimensional sheets of electrically conducive and insulative shape memory alloy are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6086776
    Abstract: A method for making the alignment means of an optical apparatus. The apparatus comprising a substrate defining one or more aligned cavities, a primary optical path for accommodating the passage of a light beam, and an upper cavity in the substrate which is aligned to a predetermined degree of precision and in direct communication with the primary optical path. The beam steering means directs the beam. The hybrid inter-optical alignment precision occurring when a beam steering mechanism is micromachined with respect to a crystallographic orientation of the substrate is used for precise beam steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard
  • Patent number: 6072154
    Abstract: A shape memory device includes a shape memory alloy member configured to have at least a portion of the shape memory alloy member be selectively activated. A heating device is coupled to the member and configured to provide heat to a selected section of the member and activate at least a portion of the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Maynard