Patents Examined by Jennifer D. Carruth
  • Patent number: 11822110
    Abstract: Technology is described for methods and systems for a diffractive optic device (525) for holographic projection. The diffractive optic device can include a lens (535) configured to convey a hologram. The lens (535) further comprises a patterned material (510) formed with an array of cells having a non-planar arrangement of cell heights extending from a surface of the patterned material. The lens further optionally comprises a filling material (530) to fill gaps on both surfaces of the patterned material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventor: Rajesh Menon
  • Patent number: 11815738
    Abstract: A device for elastic pivoting about two orthogonal axes as well a method of manufacturing thereof using additive manufacturing processes. The device can be used in a projector, such as a back projector, a scanner such as a laser scanner, or other forms of displays, or a telescope etc. The device includes an inner frame and an outer frame. First and second flexible spring elements extend out of the plane in which the inner frame lies and third and fourth flexible spring elements extend out of the plane in which the outer frame lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BARCO N.V.
    Inventors: Winter Van Rafelghem, Bart Van Den Bossche
  • Patent number: 11806795
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to end milling methods for making microstructures, a tool comprising such microstructures, the microstructures, and replications thereof, where the microstructures are part of a structured surface configured as a security article. Some of the microstructures are configured differently from others to define an optically detectable indicia in the structured surface. Microstructures in a first group may for example differ from microstructures in a second group in terms of one or more of size, orientation, cube corner type, and dihedral angle value(s), to define the indicia or a portion thereof. The microstructures may comprise full or truncated cube corner elements, and the article may be a retroreflective sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Nelson D. Sewall, Christopher S. Grinde
  • Patent number: 11803057
    Abstract: An optical device includes a light source section configured to emit light; a converging reflector configured to converge and reflect the light from the light source section to an irradiation surface having a curvature; and a position detector configured to detect a light-receptive position of the light reflected from the irradiation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Sangu, Tatsuya Shimokawa, Kazuhiko Adachi, Shu Tanaka, Shuichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11796791
    Abstract: Described are scanning micromirror devices, methods of making scanning micromirror devices, two-dimensional optical scanning systems that incorporate scanning micromirror devices, and methods of projecting light and images using two-dimensional optical scanning systems. The disclosed two-dimensional optical scanning systems can incorporate a first scanning micromirror device oscillating at a relatively higher frequency, which directs reflected light onto a second scanning micromirror device oscillating at a relatively lower frequency, which directs reflected light for projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Gamet, Stephan Arthur Gamper
  • Patent number: 11794649
    Abstract: A rearview device for a motor vehicle includes a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly having a fixed part and a moveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly, a motor cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly. A method of assembling a rearview device comprises providing the rearview device and attaching the actuator assembly to the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Lettis, Graham Rehill, Callum Scott-Collins
  • Patent number: 11782273
    Abstract: Optical systems having comb-shifted sets of holograms across different regions of a grating medium are disclosed. A first set of holograms may be formed in a first region of the grating medium and a second set of holograms may be formed in a second region of the grating medium. Each of the holograms in the first set may have a different respective grating frequency from a first set of grating frequencies. Each of the holograms in the second set may have a different respective grating frequency from a second set of grating frequencies. The second set of grating frequencies may be located within adjacent frequency gaps between the grating frequencies in the first set of grating frequencies. Comb-shifted sets of holograms may be used to perform pupil equalization, output coupling, input coupling, cross coupling, or other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Akonia Holographics LLC
    Inventors: Adam Urness, Mark R. Ayres, Jonathan Pfeiffer, Friso Schlottau, Kenneth E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11782266
    Abstract: A method of dispersion compensation in an optical device is disclosed. The method may include identifying a first hologram grating vector of a grating medium of the optical device. The first hologram grating vector may correspond to a first wavelength of light. The method may include determining a probe hologram grating vector corresponding to a second wavelength of light different from the first wavelength of light. The method may also include determining a dispersion-compensated second hologram grating vector based at least in part on the probe hologram grating vector and the first hologram grating vector. A device for reflecting light is disclosed. The device may include a grating medium and a grating structure within the grating medium. The grating medium may include a dispersion compensated hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Akonia Holographics LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth E. Anderson, Friso Schlottau
  • Patent number: 11782384
    Abstract: There are provided volume holograms and combinations of lenticular lenses and holograms in particular for security applications. In embodiments, a volume hologram comprises a holographic medium (102) including a first optical interference structure which, upon illumination, replays a first image (110); wherein the first image includes a lenticular lens layer (111) including an array of lenticules and a lenticular image layer (113) including first (114) and second (115) interlaced images corresponding with the array of lenticules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: H010 Limited
    Inventors: Charles Franklin Gale, Martin John Richardson
  • Patent number: 11774748
    Abstract: A scanline curvature correction mechanism includes a holding mechanism to extend in a main scanning direction and hold an optical element in the main scanning direction, a pressing member provided near a center of the optical element in the main scanning direction and press the optical element of the optical scanning device in the sub-scanning direction, and a curvature adjustment mechanism provided on an opposite side of the pressing member with the optical element interposed therebetween and to adjust a curvature of the optical element in the sub-scanning direction. The curvature adjustment mechanism includes an eccentric cam to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to an optical axis of the optical element and include a cam portion of which an outer peripheral surface is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, and a fixing mechanism to stepwisely fix an angular position of rotation of the eccentric cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 11768461
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a holographic optical element, including: irradiating a first surface of a photosensitive substrate with a first layer, and irradiating a second surface of the photosensitive substrate with a second laser. The light emitted by the first laser is spread in an irradiation direction and the light emitted by the second laser is collected in the irradiation direction to form a plurality of groups and a plurality of overlapping angles formed by a progress direction of the light emitted by the first laser and the progress direction of the light emitted by the second laser at a predetermined location of a photosensitive area, and each of the plurality of the overlapping angles are different from each other. A display device including the holographic optical element measured using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Han Seo, Jae Jin Kim, Min Soo Song, Bu Gon Shin
  • Patent number: 11768463
    Abstract: Provided are a method of displaying a digital holographic image and a digital hologram display apparatus, the method including generating and converting a digital hologram, recording the digital hologram in a spatial light modulator, radiating coherent parallel light to the spatial light modulator, removing an aliasing noise image, and implementing a reconstructed image reconstructed by the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Byung Gyu Chae
  • 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: 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: 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: 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