Patents Examined by Loha Ben
  • Patent number: 9606409
    Abstract: An electrochromic insert adapted to be fitted into an existing window frame allowing an existing window to be retrofit to have the benefits of electrochromics. The insert may have a scaffold that fits into a window frame. Securing the insert to the frame may occur through a variety of ways including a bracket, a flexible tab, a brace, a screw, a bolt, a projection, a detent, and an adhesive. The technology allows for the electrochromic insert to include an electrochromic device, energy collection device, an energy storage device, and an electrochromic device controller. Such a configuration may be considered autonoumous such that it need not draw power from another source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ITN Energy Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Spencer Berland, Michael Wayne Stowell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9594263
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Patent number: 9588260
    Abstract: A microlens substrate includes a light receiving section that includes a light receiving surface configured to receive light, a supporting member that fixes the light receiving section, a microlens array that includes a plurality of microlenses configured to guide the light to the light receiving section, a lens holding member that holds the microlens array, and a fixing member that fixes the supporting member and the lens holding member. The fixing member includes a first fixing part that fixes the lens holding member and a second fixing member that fixes the supporting member. The lens holding member includes a lens holding part that holds the microlens array. The lens holding part is disposed at a position between the first fixing part and the second fixing part in a direction orthogonal to the light receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Eichi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9588336
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrowetting display may include depositing a sacrificial layer on a support plate, etching portions of the sacrificial layer to form liquid duct forms on the support plate, depositing a photoresist layer on the liquid duct forms and the support plate, etching portions of the photoresist layer to form a spacer grid, and removing the liquid duct forms to form liquid ducts between the support plate and the portions of the spacer grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerben Boon, Christian Etienne Hendriks, Daniel Figura
  • Patent number: 9581804
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrowetting device includes dispensing a first liquid on a surface of a support plate and dispensing a second liquid to adjoin the first liquid. The first liquid is a solution. A first portion of the first liquid transfers into the second liquid to form a first layer of liquid and a second layer of liquid substantially immiscible with the first layer. The first layer comprises a second portion of the first liquid and the second layer comprises the second liquid and the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin Leguijt
  • Patent number: 9575319
    Abstract: A system or apparatus for reducing motion blur includes an active shutter system, shutter control and processing components, an optional optical sensor, one or more optional movement sensors, and a power source, and can cooperate with a virtual or augmented reality system and display. The shutter system is optimally positioned between a user and the display so that one or more shutters of the system can be activated to block a user's view of the display. The shutter system is activated to block refresh lines or other artifacts present when the display refreshes. The shutter system also can be activated according to movement of the user. The shutter system can be one or more independent shutters and each shutter can have one or more shutter segments. Additionally, the shutter system can include multiple cooperating layers of shutters. The shutter system further can be incorporated in a multi-lens optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Thurber, Jorrit Jongma, Von Ertwine
  • Patent number: 9575340
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator for high voltage applications exhibits reduced corona and arcing by utilizing dielectric-coated electrodes in conjunction with a non-centrosymmetric crystal. The inclusion of an insulative coating (i.e., a dielectric material) on at least a portion of the electrodes reduces the possibility of arcing or corona, without requiring the application of any type of coating material directly on the crystal itself. Thus, the birefringent response of the crystal is not impacted by this coated electrode configuration of the present invention. In one configuration, the exposed surfaces of the electrodes are coated with an insulative material, while maintaining a direct contact between the electrodes and the surface of the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: II-VI Incorporated
    Inventors: Elgin Eissler, Gary Herrit, Stephen Rummel, Wen-Qing Xu, Travis Miller
  • Patent number: 9575320
    Abstract: A video display device is provided that naturally displays a video without blocking an observer's field of view, and includes the following: a display optical system that displays a video; an ocular optical system that guides video light emitted from the display optical system to the optical pupil of an observer; and a support that supports the ocular optical system upon the light path of video light emitted from the display optical system. The support includes a first support plate and a second support plate that face each other, and the ocular optical system is located between the first support plate and the second support plate. An opening through which the observer's line of sight passes is formed at least partially between the first support plate and the second support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TELEPATHY HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahito Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9575323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biochip image-forming system including a case having a cavity, an optical assembly, a chip-holding assembly and an electricity storage assembly. The cavity communicates with a chip inlet for a biochip to be inserted into the cavity through the chip inlet and an image outlet for an image of the biochip to be outputted from the cavity via the image outlet. The optical assembly is received in the cavity and aligned with the image outlet for forming the image of the biochip. The chip-holding assembly is received in the cavity and arranged between the optical assembly and a heating component. The chip-holding assembly aligns with the chip inlet for the biochip to be placed thereon. The electricity storage assembly is electrically connected with the optical assembly and the heating component. As such, a biochip can be analyzed conveniently using said biochip image-forming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL PINGTUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Lung-Ming Fu, Wei-Jhong Ju
  • Patent number: 9568799
    Abstract: A variable transmittance optical filter comprising: a first layer comprising a first substantially transparent substrate with a substantially co-planar (SC) electrode system disposed thereon, the SC electrode system made of transparent electrically conductive material and comprising at least one pair of electrically separate electrodes arranged in a substantially co-planar manner on the first substantially transparent substrate, each pair of electrically separate electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, a second layer proximate to the first layer and comprising a transition material that darkens in response to a non-electrical stimulus and lightens in response to application of an electric voltage; and an electrical connection system for electrically connecting the SC electrode system to a source of electric voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SWITCH MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Duhane Lam, Neil Robin Branda
  • Patent number: 9563097
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrochromic device is provided. The method includes applying a constant supply current to the electrochromic device and determining an amount of charge transferred to the electrochromic device, as a function of time and current supplied to the electrochromic device. The method includes ceasing the applying the constant supply current, responsive to a sense voltage reaching a sense voltage limit and applying one of a variable voltage or a variable current to the electrochromic device to maintain the sense voltage at the sense voltage limit, responsive to the sense voltage reaching the sense voltage limit. The method includes terminating the applying the variable voltage or the variable current to the electrochromic device, responsive to the determined amount of charge reaching a target amount of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ziebarth, Howard S. Bergh
  • Patent number: 9564088
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles H. Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Patent number: 9563065
    Abstract: An optical module includes: a pedestal; a glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer fixed onto the pedestal via a UV adhesive; and a metal block which is smaller than the glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer and is fixed to a top surface of the glass optical multiplexer/demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yasui, Koichi Nakamura, Tatsuo Hatta, Tetsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 9550457
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly is provided that includes a first substantially transparent substrate comprising: a first surface, a second surface, and a first peripheral edge, the second surface comprises a first electrically conductive layer and a first isolation area. The assembly further includes a second substrate comprising: a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second peripheral edge, the third surface comprises a second electrically conductive layer. The assembly also includes a primary seal between the second and third surfaces, wherein the seal and the second and third surfaces define a substantially hermetic cavity; an electro-optic medium at least partially disposed in the cavity; and an electrically conductive solder that is disposed on at least portions of at least one of the first and second peripheral edges in electrical contact with one of the first and second electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kristopher R. Green, Joel A. Stray, William L. Tonar
  • Patent number: 9547168
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an electrowetting display comprising: a dielectric barrier layer formed on a substrate; a hydrophobic layer formed on the dielectric barrier layer, wherein the dielectric barrier layer maintains a separation between the hydrophobic layer and the substrate; a patterned pixel grid formed on the hydrophobic layer, wherein the patterned pixel grid comprises rows and columns of pixel walls that form field pixels and border pixels; an oil film overlying the hydrophobic layer, wherein the oil film is partitioned by the patterned pixel grid; and an electrolyte overlying the oil film and the patterned pixel grid, wherein one or more of the rows or the columns of pixel walls of the patterned pixel grid includes a substantially nonlinear-shaped portion to reduce sheer stress between the patterned pixel grid and the hydrophobic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Figura, Toru Sakai, Christian Etienne Hendriks
  • Patent number: 9547185
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator based on a metamaterial structure and a preparation method thereof. The spatial light modulator includes an array of optical function elements and a control circuit. The optical function element includes a metamaterial structure formed by a metal nanostructure layer and a metal reflector layer, with a medium layer and nonmetal conducting material layer being provided between the metal nanostructure layer and the metal reflector layer. The spatial light modulator is simple in structure, high in integration, easy in manufacture and low in cost. Furthermore, the spatial light modulator is capable of high-speed modulation, the depth of modulation is controlled easily, and a low drive voltage may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Qin Chen, Shichao Song
  • Patent number: 9547167
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrowetting display may include disposing an etching barrier on a substrate to delineate a first region and a second region of the substrate, the etching barrier covering the second region of the substrate; etching the first region of the substrate to form an etched first region of the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the second region of the substrate is a protrusion formed in response to the etching of the first region; removing the etching barrier; disposing a black matrix on the second region of the substrate; and forming a spacer over the black matrix disposed on the second region of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Sakai, Jeroen Cornelis van der Gaag, Ivar Schram
  • Patent number: 9535252
    Abstract: A virtual image display apparatus includes a video image display element which generates video image light, a light guiding member which includes a plurality of optical surfaces and guides the video image light by reflecting on inner surface side, and an optical device portion such as a projector lens through which the video image light passes when the video image light is made to foe incident on the light guiding member. Here, the light guiding member is a block-shaped member including a pair of facing first and third surfaces which extend substantially in parallel with each other and fully reflect the video image light, and first reference optical axis of the optical device portion on a light emitting side extends in a direction in which the first reference optical axis forms an obtuse angle with respect to a traverse reference axis corresponding to an eye alignment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriaki Hiraide
  • Patent number: 9535306
    Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a stack successively including: a first current collector, an electrochromic electrode made of a material capable of reversibly inserting metal ions, an electrolyte, a second current collector, a reflective substrate contacting the first current collector or with the second current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Sami Oukassi, Philippe Pantigny, Raphaƫl Salot
  • Patent number: 9529240
    Abstract: An electro-optic display containing a two-phase, light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer comprising a first phase made of a highly electronically-conductive matrix and a second phase made of a polymeric material composition having a controlled volume resistivity. The matrix of the first phase may be formed from carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, a metal coated open foam structure, or a printed mesh of wires. The polymeric material composition of the second phase may be a conductive polymer, or a polymer and an additive such as a salt, a polyelectrolyte, a polymer electrolyte, or a solid electrolyte, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Stephen J. Telfer