Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Ouderkirk

Andrew J. Ouderkirk 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: 20200333523
    Abstract: A coated optical element has at least six contact points not all in a same plane. Each contact point is an optical point of contact. Adjacent contact points subtend an angle between about 25 to about 35 degrees at a center of the coated optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Max Powers, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Bill H. Dodge, Erin A. McDowell, Robert R. Kieschke, Arokiaraj Jesudoss
  • Patent number: 10809531
    Abstract: A head mounted display is disclosed. More particularly, a head mounted display including one or more projection light sources, one or more eye-tracking light sources, a polarizing beam splitter, and a second polarizing beam splitter is disclosed. Light from the one or more projection light sources and the one or more projection light sources and the one or more eye-tracking light sources are both at least partially reflected by the polarizing beam splitter. An optical path between the polarizing beam splitter and the second polarizing beam splitter passes through air. A head mounted display that utilizes polarizing beam splitters having certain reflection bandedges over a range of incidence angles is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 10754159
    Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface, a partial reflector disposed between the image surface and the stop surface, a reflective polarizer disposed between the stop surface and the partial reflector, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector are described. The reflective polarizer is convex along two orthogonal axes. The reflective polarizer may be a thermoformed multilayer reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Patent number: 10754145
    Abstract: An apparatus may include an adjustable fluid lens that includes a deformable element and a fluid that is substantially transparent and that is contained at least in part by the deformable element. The apparatus may additionally include a sensor that detects a property of the fluid that indicates a viscosity of the fluid. The apparatus may further include a control element that regulates, based at least in part on the property of the fluid, a speed with which to apply a deforming force to the deformable element. Additionally, the apparatus may include an actuator that adjusts an optical property of the adjustable fluid lens by applying the deforming force to the deformable element at the regulated speed. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth, John M. Cooke, Matthew James Hancock, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Lu Lu, Nagi H. Elabbasi, Robin Sharma, Behnam Bastani
  • Patent number: 10747003
    Abstract: An optical system includes a reflective surface, a display adapted to emit image light toward the reflective surface, and a multilayer reflective polarizer disposed proximate the reflective surface. The multilayer reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. The image light is transmitted by the multilayer reflective polarizer after it is first reflected by the multilayer reflective polarizer. A head-mounted display includes a first optical system and a second optical system disposed proximate the first optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Patent number: 10747002
    Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface and an exit surface are described. First second and third optical lenses, a partial reflector, a multilayer reflective polarizer and a retarder are disposed between the image surface and the exit surface. At least one location on at least one layer of the multilayer reflective polarizer is substantially uniaxially oriented. Each chief light ray that passes from the image surface to the exit surface is incident on the multilayer reflective polarizer with an angle of incidence less than about 30 degrees. The optical system may include a plurality of major surfaces disposed between the image surface and the exit surface where each major surface is convex toward the image surface and where at least six different major surfaces have six different convexities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Patent number: 10739503
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of coating uniformly shaped and sized articles. The method includes providing a reactor having an arrayed inner surface, positioning the articles within the reactor, and coating the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Max Powers, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Bill H. Dodge, Erin A. McDowell, Robert R. Kieschke, Arokiaraj Jesudoss
  • Patent number: 10741735
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a configuration and technique of fabricating remote phosphor optics (such as lenses) for downconverting LEDs, replacing the prior art solid hemispherical lenses with a novel thin-shell hemispherical lens that can be used with a wide range of encapsulating materials, including low index materials such as air and methyl silicones. The present disclosure further provides a configuration and technique whereby the remote phosphor lenses can be used with an LED array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Erin A. McDowell, Nicholas T. Gabriel, Bill H. Dodge
  • Publication number: 20200241305
    Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface, a partial reflector disposed between the image surface and the stop surface, a reflective polarizer disposed between the stop surface and the partial reflector, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector are described. The reflective polarizer is convex along two orthogonal axes. The reflective polarizer may be a thermoformed multilayer reflective polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Publication number: 20200236780
    Abstract: Electrical conductors are disclosed. More particularly, undulating electrical conductors are disclosed. Certain disclosed electrical conductors may be suitable to be disposed on flexible or stretchable substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Gabriel, Ronald D. Jesme, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Ravi Palaniswamy, Andrew P. Bonifas, Alejandro Aldrin A. Narag, II, Robert M. Jennings, Robin E. Gorrell
  • Patent number: 10688768
    Abstract: A glass and polymer film assembly including a glass film and a polymer film bonded to a surface of the glass film. The polymer film is directly bonded to the glass film by applying the polymer to the glass film when the glass film is above a bonding temperature of the polymer film. The glass film may have a thickness less than about 1 mm and the polymer film may be an oriented semicrystalline homopolymer which is permanently bonded to a major surface of the glass film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 10692843
    Abstract: A flexible polymeric dielectric layer (12) having first and second major surfaces, the first major surface having a conductive layer (20) thereon, the dielectric layer having at least one conduit (10) extending from the second major surface to the first major surface, the conduit having at least one lateral dimension of at least about one centimeter and being at least partially filled with conductive material (18), the conductive layer including at least one conductive feature (21) substantially aligned with the conduit (10), the conductive feature (21) supporting a plurality of light emitting semiconductor devices (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Jian Xia Gao, Alejandro Aldrin A. Narag, II, Nathan P. Kreutter, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 10690921
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a proximal adjustable-focus lens. The apparatus may further include a distal adjustable-focus lens. The apparatus may additionally include an actuator coupled to both the proximal adjustable-focus lens and the distal adjustable-focus lens, such that mechanical action by the actuator simultaneously adjusts the proximal adjustable-focus lens and the distal adjustable-focus lens. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth, Lu Lu, John Cooke, Robin Sharma
  • Publication number: 20200192126
    Abstract: An optical lens including first and second polarizers, a partial reflector disposed between the first and second polarizers, a first phase retarder disposed between the first polarizer and the partial reflector, and a second phase retarder disposed between the partial reflector and the second polarizer is described. The optical lens is a single piece configured for use in an eyewear. Eyewear including at least one of the optical lenses is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Susan L. Kent, Erin A. McDowell, Timothy L. Wong, John D. Le, Michael L. Steiner
  • Publication number: 20200181413
    Abstract: A particle having a first portion and a second portion surrounding the first portion is described. A volume of the second portion is at least 50 percent of a volume of the particle. The second portion includes a material having a local composition or an effective refractive index that varies substantially continuously across the thickness of the second portion. The material includes a plurality of inorganic regions and may further include organic regions. The particle can be made via atomic or molecular layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Claire Hartmann-Thompson, Bill H. Dodge, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Christopher S. Lyons
  • Publication number: 20200183065
    Abstract: Optical films are disclosed that include a plurality of interference layers. Each interference layer reflects or transmits light primarily by optical interference. The total number of the interference layers is less than about 1000. For a substantially normally incident light in a predetermined wavelength range, the plurality of interference layers has an average optical transmittance greater than about 85% for a first polarization state, an average optical reflectance greater than about 80% for an orthogonal second polarization state, and an average optical transmittance less than about 0.2% for the second polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Adam D. Haag, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Robert D. Taylor, Zhaohui Yang
  • Patent number: 10678052
    Abstract: Optical systems including an image surface, a stop surface, a partial reflector disposed between the image surface and the stop surface, a reflective polarizer disposed between the stop surface and the partial reflector, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector are described. The reflective polarizer is convex along two orthogonal axes. The reflective polarizer may be a thermoformed multilayer reflective polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Zhisheng Yun, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Patent number: 10670867
    Abstract: An optical stack includes first and second lenses, a partial reflector, a reflective polarizer, and a retarder. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes and includes at least one layer that is substantially optically uniaxial at at least one location. An optical system includes the optical stack disposed between an image surface and an exit surface. The optical system is configured such that substantially any chief ray transmitted from the image surface to the exit surface is first incident on the reflective polarizer at an angle of incidence less than 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur
  • Publication number: 20200166766
    Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, hybrid polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate polymeric reflective polarizers aligned with MacNeille or wire grid reflective polarizers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Philip E. Watson, Yarn Chee Poon, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 10663727
    Abstract: A camera including an aperture, an image recording device, a reflective polarizer disposed between the aperture and the image recording device, a partial reflector disposed between the reflective polarizer and the image recording device, and a quarter wave retarder disposed between the reflective polarizer and the partial reflector. The reflective polarizer is curved about two orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun, Timothy L. Wong, Erin A. McDowell, Gregg A. Ambur