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: 11559201
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Barry David Silverstein, Brian Wheelwright, Robin Sharma, Spencer Allan Wells
  • Patent number: 11550160
    Abstract: An off-axis optical combiner includes a parabolic lensing structure that selects collimated infrared image light received from an eyebox area for focusing to a focus of the off-axis optical combiner. Selecting the collimated infrared image light for focusing allows the parabolic lensing structure to form a same-sized image of an object having variable depth from the parabolic lensing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Qi Zhang, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11536555
    Abstract: Self-mixed interferometer (SMI) devices and techniques are described for measuring depth and/or velocity of objects. The SMI devices and techniques may be used for eye-tracking. A light source of an SMI sensor emits coherent light that is directed to a target location with a scanning module. One or more SMI signals are measured. The one or more SMI signals are generated by the SMI sensor in response to feedback light received from the target location. The feedback light is a portion of the coherent light that illuminated the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maik Andre Scheller, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Marc Aurele Gilles, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 11526129
    Abstract: An interference structure having a nanovoided hologram material is described. The nanovoided hologram material may have an index of refraction difference of approximately 0.4. The interference structure may include about 10% to 90% nanovoids by volume. The interference structure may be formed using a mixture of a monomer, an initiator, and solvent. The mixture may be disposed on a substrate and irradiated with two sources of light spaced apart from each other and shining on the same region of the mixture to generate an interference pattern in the mixture, leading to the selective polymerization of regions of the mixture where there is constructive interference of light. Various other devices, methods, and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11515463
    Abstract: An optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electrostrictive ceramic layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electrostrictive ceramic may be characterized by a relative density of at least approximately 99%, an average grain size of at least approximately 300 nm, a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 70%, and bulk haze of less than approximately 10%. Optical properties of the electrostrictive ceramic may be substantially unchanged during the application of a voltage to the electrostrictive ceramic layer and the attendant actuation of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer Allan Wells, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11513259
    Abstract: An actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, a nanovoided polymer layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, the nanovoided polymer layer having a plurality of nanovoids dispersed throughout a polymer matrix, and a sealing layer at least partially encapsulating the nanovoided polymer layer, where the nanovoids include a fill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Spencer Allan Wells, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Kenneth Diest, Renate Eva Klementine Landig
  • Patent number: 11515469
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to optical systems. The optical systems may include a proximal lens that may transmit light toward an eye of a user. The optical systems may also include a distal lens that may, in combination with the proximal lens, correct for at least a portion of a refractive error of the eye of the user. The optical systems may further include a selective transmission interface. The selective transmission interface may couple the proximal lens to the distal lens, transmits light having a selected property, and does not transmit light that does not have the selected property. The optical system can also include an accommodative lens, such as a liquid lens. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Katherine Marie Smyth, Robin Sharma
  • Publication number: 20220375910
    Abstract: A method of forming a high voltage optical transformer includes forming a via through a transparent carrier wafer, forming a conductive layer within the via, bonding a solid state lighting (SSL) package to a first side of the carrier wafer, and bonding a photovoltaic (PV) wafer to a second side of the carrier wafer opposite to the first side. The photovoltaic wafer may include an active area and a conductive area located outside of the active area that is in electrical contact with the conductive layer. The method further includes forming both an SSL contact with the solid state lighting package and a PV contact with the conductive layer on the same side of the carrier wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Maik Andre Scheller, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Ehsan Vadiee, John Goward, Anurag Tyagi, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11506825
    Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a fluid lens having a substrate and a membrane connected to the substrate using a flexure. The fluid lens may include a fluid located within a cavity at least partially defined by the substrate and the membrane. The flexure may include a membrane attachment and an elastic element. The device may be configured so that a displacement of the membrane attachment adjusts a profile of the membrane, and may induce a compression of at least a portion of the elastic member. In some examples, a flexure may include a plurality of elastic elements, which may be attached to the substrate (e.g., through a flexure support), and a rigid element, that may include or be connected to the membrane attachment. Example devices include head-mounted devices, such as augmented reality or virtual reality devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth, John Cooke, James Ransley, Nagi Elabbasi
  • Publication number: 20220365247
    Abstract: A method may include stretching a deformable bounding element into a stretched state. The method may further include coating the deformable bounding element with at least one layer of an anti-reflective material while the deformable bounding element is in the stretched state and assembling an optical lens assembly including the deformable bounding element, such that the optical lens assembly adjusts at least one optical property by controlling a shape of the deformable bounding element. The deformable bounding element may have less tension when in a neutral state than the deformable bounding element has when in the stretched state. The method may additionally include coating the deformable bounding element with at least one layer of an anti-reflective material while the deformable bounding element is not in a stretched state. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
  • Publication number: 20220365343
    Abstract: The disclosure includes near-eye optical elements configured to suppress stray infrared light. Infrared light sources illuminate an eyebox area. A combiner layer may receive reflected infrared light and direct the reflected infrared light to a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: QI ZHANG, ROBIN SHARMA, ANDREW JOHN OUDERKIRK, KAROL CONSTANTINE HATZILIAS, CHRISTOPHER YUAN-TING LIAO, GREGORY OLEGOVIC ANDREEV
  • Patent number: 11500185
    Abstract: A near-eye optical element includes one or more infrared light sources and an optical structure. The one or more infrared light sources emit infrared beams. The optical structure includes an optically transparent material disposed over the emission aperture(s) of the infrared light source(s). The optical structure includes one or more facets that diverge the infrared beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erfan M. Fard, Robin Sharma, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11502240
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11495937
    Abstract: Near-infrared pulses are emitted from a pulsed light source. A scanner directs the near-infrared pulses as scanned light. An optical element directs the scanned light into the eye. The scanned light is scanned in two dimensions to form an image on the eye. Photon-pairs of the near-infrared pulses deliver a photon energy that is perceived as visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Publication number: 20220348747
    Abstract: An optically clear, high strength, high modulus, and high thermal conductivity polyethylene thin film may be formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the crystallizable polymer to facilitate crystallite alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polyethylene thin film. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example crystallizable polymers may include high molecular weight polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Example additives may include low molecular weight polyethylene and polyethylene oligomers. The polyethylene thin film may be characterized by a Young's modulus of at least approximately 10 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Arman Boromand, Christopher Stipe, Hao Mei, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao
  • Publication number: 20220350065
    Abstract: A multilayer organic thin film includes a plurality of biaxially-oriented layers, where each layer is characterized by mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3. In example structures, the corresponding in-plane refractive indices of adjacent layers may be rotated with respect to each other by a predetermined angle. Such a multilayer may be incorporated into a circular reflective polarizer, for example, which may be used in display systems to provide high broadband efficiency and high off-axis contrast. In an example process, individual organic thin films may be molded, and then oriented and stacked to form a multilayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tingling Rao, Yuge Huang, Lafe Joseph Purvis, II, Kimberly Kay Childress, Arman Boromand, Tanya Malhotra, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Lu Lu, Poer Sung
  • Publication number: 20220350148
    Abstract: An example apparatus may include a display, a beamsplitter having a first region and a second region, and a reflective polarizer. The reflectance of the second region of the beamsplitter may be appreciably greater than the reflectance of the first region; for example, at least approximately 20% greater. In some examples, the second region may be a peripheral region surrounding a generally centrally located first region. An example apparatus may be configured so that at least some light emitted by the display is transmitted through the first region of the beamsplitter, reflects from the reflective polarizer, reflects from the second region of the beamsplitter, and is then directed through the reflective polarizer to an eye of a user when the user wears the apparatus. Other devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Robin Sharma, Hannah Noble
  • Publication number: 20220348729
    Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer thin film is formed from a crystallizable polymer and an additive configured to interact with the polymer to facilitate chain alignment and, in some examples, create a higher crystalline content within the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film and its method of manufacture may be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive may be less than approximately 5% of the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. Example polymers may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. Example additives may occupy up to approximately 60 wt. % of the polymer thin film. The polymer thin film may be characterized by a piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least approximately 5 pC/N or an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Hao Mei, Cody Wayne Weyhrich, Arman Boromand, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Emma Rae Mullen, Christopher Stipe, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, Rui Jian
  • Publication number: 20220350063
    Abstract: A thin film assembly includes an optical thin film and a discontinuous spacer layer disposed over a major surface of the optical thin film. Within a multilayer stack of optical thin films, the spacer layer may be located between opposing regions of adjacent thin films such that the spacer layer separates the adjacent thin films and inhibits or prevents surface-to-surface contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Arman Boromand
  • Publication number: 20220348730
    Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and is characterized by a Young's modulus along an in-plane dimension of at least 4 GPa, an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least 0.1 at room temperature. A method of manufacturing such a polymer thin film may include forming a polymer composition into a polymer thin film, applying a tensile stress to the polymer thin film along at least one in-plane direction and in an amount effective to induce a stretch ratio of at least approximately 5 in the polymer thin film, and applying an electric field across a thickness dimension of the polymer thin film. Annealing and poling steps may separately or simultaneously accompany and/or follow the act of stretching of the polymer thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Arman Boromand, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Laura Cressman, Emma Rae Mullen, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Hao Mei, Cody Wayne Weyhrich, Rui Jian