Patents by Inventor Allan Wells
Allan Wells 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).
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Publication number: 20220276483Abstract: An electromechanical actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive layer has a first curvature when zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a second curvature when a non-zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2021Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Nagi Elabbasi, Christopher Stipe, Spencer Allan Wells, Kenneth Alexander Diest, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Taha Masood, Laura Cressman, James Ransley
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Patent number: 11428964Abstract: A transparent optical element may include a layer of an electroactive ceramic disposed between transparent electrodes, such that the electrodes are each oriented perpendicular to a non-polar direction of the ceramic layer. Optical properties of the optical element, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be improved by the application of a voltage to the electroactive ceramic, and an associated phase transformation.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20220271214Abstract: An actuator may be integrated into an optical element such as a liquid lens and configured to create spherical curvature as well as a variable cylinder radius and axis in a surface of the optical element. An example actuator may include a stack of electromechanical layers, and electrodes configured to apply an electric field independently across each of the electromechanical layers. Within the stack, an orientation of neighboring electromechanical layers may differ, e.g., stepwise, by at least approximately 10°.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Spencer Allan Wells, Christopher Stipe, Kenneth Alexander Diest, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, James Howard Thomas Ransley, Taha Masood, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Laura Cressman
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Patent number: 11396586Abstract: A nanovoided polymer-based material may include a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and an interfacial film disposed at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. The interfacial film may include one or more layers of material. A method of forming a nanovoided polymer-based material may include (1) forming a bulk polymer material defining a plurality of nanovoids and (2) forming an interfacial film at an interface between each of the plurality of nanovoids and the bulk polymer material. Various other methods, systems, and materials are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth Diest, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth
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Patent number: 11398594Abstract: A bender beam actuator includes a first layer of piezoelectric material and a second layer of piezoelectric material overlying a portion of the first layer of piezoelectric material, where a length of the first layer of piezoelectric material is at least 2% greater than a length of the second layer of piezoelectric material.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Allan Wells, James Ransley, Nagi Elabbasi
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Patent number: 11175521Abstract: A transparent optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a control system operably coupled to at least one of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode and adapted to provide a drive signal to actuate the electroactive layer within an aperture of the transparent optical element.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Allan Wells, Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 11079518Abstract: An optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a structurally-modified and transparent electroactive polymer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. An optical device may include a tunable lens and an optical element disposed over at least one surface of the tunable lens.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Spencer Allan Wells
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Patent number: 11025175Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a planarization layer disposed on a surface of the nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode disposed on the planarization layer, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. The planarization layer may be located between the nanovoided polymer element and the first electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Kenneth Diest, Spencer Allan Wells, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye
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Patent number: 10980415Abstract: Eye-tracking systems of the present disclosure may include at least one light source configured to emit modulated radiation toward an intended location for a user's eye. The modulated radiation may be modulated in a manner that enables the light source to be identified by detection and analysis of the modulated radiation. At least one optical sensor including at least one sensing element may be configured to detect at least a portion of the modulated radiation. A processor may be configured to identify, based on the modulated radiation detected by the optical sensor, the light source that emitted the modulated radiation. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Barry David Silverstein, Brian Wheelwright, Robin Sharma, Spencer Allan Wells
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Patent number: 10962844Abstract: An optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The optical element is configured to have a first optical transmittance and a first optical reflectance when a first voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and at least one of a second optical transmittance different from the first optical transmittance or a second optical reflectance different from the first optical reflectance when a second voltage different from the first voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Spencer Allan Wells, Robin Sharma
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Publication number: 20210083141Abstract: An optical transformer includes a light source and an array of photovoltaic cells optically coupled to the light source, where at least a portion of the photovoltaic cells are connected in series. An optical connector such as a waveguide or an optical fiber may be disposed between an output of the light source and an input of the array of photovoltaic cells. Configured to generate a high voltage output, the optical transformer may be configured to power a device such as an actuator that provides a tunable displacement as a function of voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Maik Andre Scheller, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Daniele Piazza, Jeremy Thomas Braun, Kenneth Diest, Spencer Allan Wells, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Tanya Malhotra
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Publication number: 20210066574Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive polymer layer includes a non-vertical (e.g., sloped) sidewall with respect to a major surface of at least one of the electrodes. The electroactive polymer layer may be characterized by a non-axisymmetric shape with respect to an axis that is oriented orthogonal to an electrode major surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Kenneth Diest, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Allan Wells, Tingling Rao, Sheng Ye, Eric Schmitt, Nagi Elabbasi, Bachir Ahmed Abeid
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Publication number: 20210055580Abstract: A transparent optical element may include a layer of an electroactive ceramic disposed between transparent electrodes, such that the electrodes are each oriented perpendicular to a non-polar direction of the ceramic layer. Optical properties of the optical element, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be improved by the application of a voltage to the electroactive ceramic, and an associated phase transformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 10928556Abstract: An electroactive ceramic may be incorporated into a transparent optical element and may characterized by an average grain size of less than 200 nm, a relative density of at least 99%, and a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least 50%, while maintaining a d33 value of at least 20 pC/N. Optical properties of the electroactive ceramic, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be substantially unchanged during actuation of the optical element and the attendant application of a voltage to a layer of the electroactive ceramic.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 10895737Abstract: The disclosed transparent electroactive systems may include at least one transparent electroactive material, a first electrode material disposed over a first surface of the transparent electroactive material, and a second electrode material disposed over a second, opposite surface of the transparent electroactive material. The first and second electrode materials may be configured to apply a sufficient voltage to the transparent electroactive material to deform the transparent electroactive material. At least the first electrode material may include conductive traces that are nonlinear. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
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Publication number: 20200386916Abstract: An electroactive ceramic may be incorporated into a transparent optical element and may characterized by an average grain size of less than 200 nm, a relative density of at least 99%, and a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least 50%, while maintaining a d33 value of at least 20 pC/N. Optical properties of the electroactive ceramic, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be substantially unchanged during actuation of the optical element and the attendant application of a voltage to a layer of the electroactive ceramic.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20200387014Abstract: A transparent optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a control system operably coupled to at least one of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode and adapted to provide a drive signal to actuate the electroactive layer within an aperture of the transparent optical element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, Spencer Allan Wells, Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20200373476Abstract: An electroactive ceramic may be incorporated into a transparent optical element between transparent electrodes and may characterized by a preferred crystallographic orientation. The preferred crystallographic orientation may be aligned along a polar axis of the electroactive ceramic and substantially parallel to each of the electrodes. Optical properties of the optical element, including transmissivity, haze, and clarity may be substantially unchanged during actuation thereof and the attendant application of a voltage to the electroactive ceramic.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Publication number: 20200309995Abstract: An anti-reflective coating may include an optically transparent electrically conductive layer disposed over a substrate, and a dielectric layer disposed over the electrically conductive layer. The substrate may include an electroactive material. An optical element may include such an anti-reflective coating, where a primary anti-reflective coating may be disposed over a first surface of the electroactive layer and a secondary anti-reflective coating may be disposed over a second surface of the electroactive layer opposite the first surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 10698483Abstract: Eye-tracking systems of the present disclosure may include at least one light source configured to emit radiation toward a location intended for an eye of a user and at least one optical sensor comprising at least one sensing element configured to detect at least a portion of the radiation emitted by the at least one light source. The at least one sensing element may have a lateral width of at least about 5 ?m and a lateral length of at least about 5 ?m. The eye-tracking system may be configured to track the user's eye using data generated by at least the optical sensor. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Barry David Silverstein, Brian Wheelwright, Robin Sharma, Spencer Allan Wells