Patents by Inventor Austin Howes

Austin Howes 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).

  • High-efficiency optical limiter using metasurface and phase-change material
    Patent number: 11209716
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a transmissive and all-dielectric optical component/limiter with great cutoff efficiency using Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) as the active component is disclosed. In some embodiments, Vanadium dioxide is used for an optical limiter due to the large contrast in optical constants upon undergoing the semiconductor to metal phase transition. When triggered optically, this transition occurs within 60 fs, making the device suitable for an ultrafast laser environment. In addition, the phase transition threshold is tunable by applying stress or doping; therefore, the device cutoff intensity can be adjusted to fulfill specific requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Vanderbuilt University
    Inventors: Jason G. Valentine, Richard F. Haglund, Zhihua Zhu, Austin Howes
  • HIGH-EFFICIENCY OPTICAL LIMITER USING METASURFACE AND PHASE-CHANGE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20200117070
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a transmissive and all-dielectric optical component/limiter with great cutoff efficiency using Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) as the active component is disclosed. In some embodiments, Vanadium dioxide is used for an optical limiter due to the large contrast in optical constants upon undergoing the semiconductor to metal phase transition. When triggered optically, this transition occurs within 60 fs, making the device suitable for an ultrafast laser environment. In addition, the phase transition threshold is tunable by applying stress or doping; therefore, the device cutoff intensity can be adjusted to fulfill specific requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jason G. Valentine, Richard F. Haglund, Zhihua Zhu, Austin Howes