Patents by Inventor Andrew John Ouderkirk

Andrew John 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).

  • Patent number: 11640054
    Abstract: An eyebox region is illuminated with first coherent light and second coherent light having a different wavelength than the first coherent light. A first self-mixed interferometer (SMI) signal is generated in response to first feedback light received back from the eyebox region. A second SMI signal is generated in response to second feedback light received back from the eyebox region. Eye data is generated in response to at least the first SMI signal and the second SMI signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maik Andre Scheller, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Marc Aurele Gilles, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 11635637
    Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane (that may be in elastic tension), a substrate, a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, such as a membrane attachment at a periphery of the membrane. The guide path may be configured to greatly reduce (or substantially eliminate) changes in the elastic energy of the membrane as the membrane profile is adjusted. The guide path may be configured so that the elastic force exerted by the membrane is generally normal to the guide path for each location on the guide path. Adjustment of the membrane profile may include applying an actuation force that is normal to the elastic force exerted by the membrane. Various other methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Alexander Herbert, Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Norman Llyn Jacoby, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11635622
    Abstract: A nanovoided spacer material that is used as a mechanical buffer between at least two optical components. The optical components may include gratings (e.g., Bragg gratings, moth-eye surfaces, etc.) having sensitive and fragile surfaces (e.g., patterned surfaces). The nanovoided spacers may have a predetermined thickness and concentration of nanovoids to provide a given optical property (e.g., a reflection coefficient at an interface between two optical elements). The nanovoided spacer may include a multilayer structure (e.g., two or more layers) of varying refractive index (e.g., to reduce reflections between surfaces of the optical elements). The nanovoided spacer may include from about 10% to 90% nanovoids by volume and may have an average index of refraction of about 1.15. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
  • Publication number: 20230117679
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Tingling Rao
  • Publication number: 20230119729
    Abstract: Outcoupling elements are disposed with a transparent layer. A transparent waveguide structure receives non-visible light and delivers the non-visible light to the outcoupling elements. The outcoupling elements outcouple the non-visible light as non-visible illumination light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Guohua Wei, Qi Zhang, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Matthew E. Colburn
  • Patent number: 11628656
    Abstract: An optically anisotropic polymer thin film includes a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer (e.g., via ?-? interactions) to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 50% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers include polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, as well as derivatives thereof. Example additives, which may occupy up to approximately 10 wt. % of the polymer thin film, include aromatic ester oligomers, aromatic amide oligomers, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, for example. The optically anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by a refractive index greater than approximately 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Li Yao, Lafe Joseph Purvis, II, Arman Boromand
  • Patent number: 11631818
    Abstract: An organic field effect transistor includes a channel structure having a photoalignment layer and an organic semiconductor layer disposed directly over the photoalignment layer, where a charge carrier mobility varies along a thickness direction of the channel structure. The channel structure may define an active area between a source and a drain of the transistor and may include alternating layers of at least two photoalignment layers and at least two organic semiconductor layers. Each photoalignment layer is configured to influence an orientation of molecules within an overlying organic semiconductor layer and hence impact the mobility of charge carriers within the device active area while also advantageously decreasing the OFF current of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tingling Rao, Lafe Purvis, Tanya Malhotra, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11632063
    Abstract: An actuator assembly includes (i) a first actuator stack having a first primary electrode, a first secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the first primary electrode, and a first electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the first primary electrode and the first secondary electrode, (ii) a second actuator stack having a second primary electrode, a second secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the second primary electrode, and a second electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the second primary electrode and the second secondary electrode; and (iii) a bonding layer disposed between the first actuator stack and the second actuator stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Kenneth Diest, Sheng Ye
  • Patent number: 11630242
    Abstract: A liquid lens fluid composition includes a polyphenyl ether molecule having from 2 to 7 aromatic rings, where the rings include ortho substitutions, meta substitutions, or a combination of ortho, meta, and para substitutions. Inter-ring linkages may include sulfur or oxygen. The liquid lens fluid composition may be characterized by a refractive index over the visible spectrum of at least 1.4, a viscosity at room temperature of less than approximately 1000 cP, and a freezing point of less than approximately ?10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Lafe Purvis, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Manuel Caraballo-Sánchez, Hayden Erik Hernández
  • Publication number: 20230116775
    Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed by gel casting a solution that includes a crystallizable polymer and a liquid solvent. The solvent may be configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the cast thin film. The thin film may also include up to approximately 90 wt. % of an additive and may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution of a crystallizable polymer where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. In some examples, the polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The anisotropic polymer thin film may be characterized by an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Hao MEI, Sheng YE, Christopher Yuan Ting LIAO, Jonathan Robert PETERSON, Rongzhi HUANG, Arman BOROMAND, Andrew John OUDERKIRK, Taha MASOOD
  • Patent number: 11626390
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel having a first emission region and a second emission region that surrounds the first emission region. The display device includes a first plurality of light emitters arranged in the first emission region, a plurality of activation lines for the first emission region, a second plurality of light emitters arranged in the second emission region, and a plurality of activation lines for the second emission region. A single activation line of the plurality of activation lines for the first emission region is electrically coupled with a first number of light emitters in the first emission region and a single activation line of the plurality of activation lines for the second emission region is electrically coupled with a second number, distinct from the first number, of light emitters in the second emission region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, James Ronald Bonar, Jasmine Soria Sears
  • Patent number: 11624967
    Abstract: A hybrid lens includes a transmissive adaptive liquid lens and an optical element including liquid crystals. The adaptive liquid lens includes a layer of optical fluid on a substrate. A focal length of the adaptive liquid lens is adjustable. The optical element including liquid crystals is optically coupled with the adaptive liquid lens. The optical element including liquid crystals is configured to adjust a refractive index across the optical element including liquid crystals in conjunction with adjusting the focal length of the adaptive liquid lens so that the optical element reduces optical artifacts caused by the adaptive liquid lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Scott Charles McEldowney
  • Publication number: 20230105227
    Abstract: An optical transformer includes a plurality of light emitters, a plurality of photovoltaic cells positioned to receive light from at least a first subset of the plurality of light emitters, the plurality of photovoltaic cells including at least a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, and one or more optically triggered switches positioned to receive light from at least a second subset of the plurality of light emitters, the one or more optically triggered switches including at least a first optically triggered switch electrically coupled to the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell. A method of operating the optical transformer is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Maik Andre SCHELLER, Christopher Yuan Ting LIAO, Jonathan Robert PETERSON, Andrew John OUDERKIRK
  • Patent number: 11619280
    Abstract: A vibration control element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first damping coefficient and a first resonance frequency in a first state and a second damping coefficient and a second resonance frequency in a second state, where the first damping coefficient is different from the second damping coefficient and the first resonance frequency is different from the second resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Kenneth Diest, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11619817
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a pancake lens block. The pancake lens block includes a first waveplate to form first nonlinearly polarized light, a Fresnel surface to reflect and transmit a portion of the first nonlinearly polarized light, a second waveplate to form first linearly polarized light, and a linear reflective polarizer to transmit linear polarized light of a particular polarization rotation direction and to reflect light of other polarization rotation directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11613090
    Abstract: A casting method involves providing a precursor to a mold that includes a deformable surface overlying a chamber, shaping the deformable surface according to a surface profile by adjusting a fluid pressure within the chamber and driving one or more actuators that are configured to distort the deformable surface, and solidifying the precursor while the deformable surface is shaped according to the surface profile to form an optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, John Cooke, Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11614570
    Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element and at least one adaptive element positioned at a peripheral region of the deformable optical element. The deformable optical element may include a substantially transparent electroactive element positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the deformable optical element. An electrical driving circuit may be configured to apply a voltage to the electroactive element to deform the electroactive element and thus change at least one optical property of the deformable optical element. The at least one adaptive element may be positioned outside of the optical aperture and may be configured to alter a physical boundary condition of the deformable optical element. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Marie Smyth, John Cooke, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Spencer Allan Wells
  • Publication number: 20230087535
    Abstract: An eye is illuminated with illumination light. A wavefront image of retina-reflected light is generated and an accommodative eye state value is determined based at least in part on the wavefront image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11609424
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to a near-eye display system. One example of an eye-tracking system includes a substrate transparent to visible light and infrared light and a reflective holographic grating conformally coupled to a surface of the substrate. The reflective holographic grating is configured to transmit the visible light and reflectively diffract infrared light in a first wavelength range for eye tracking. The refractive index modulation of the reflective holographic grating is apodized in a direction along a thickness of the reflective holographic grating to reduce optical artifacts in the visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Olegovic Andreev, Gang Li, Erik Shipton, Yingfei Jiang, Wanli Chi, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11604366
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes an optically transparent substrate and a first lens removably coupled with the optically transparent substrate by one or more adhesive layers. The one or more adhesive layers are positioned between the optically transparent substrate and the first lens. Also disclosed are an eye-tracker and a display device, each of which includes the optical assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robin Sharma, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Sheng Ye, Sebastian Sztuk, Kirk Erik Burgess, Javier San Agustin Lopez, Neeraj Choubey, Bo Asp Andersen, Kurt Jenkins