Patents by Inventor Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao

Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao 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: 20240094445
    Abstract: A liquid lens with flexible transparent active layers on both sides of a fluid is transformed along two distinct deformation axes. The flexible transparent active layers include piezoelectric materials that actuate the lens in response to applied voltage(s). The piezoelectric properties and actuation mechanism of the transparent layers are arranged to deform the lens cylindrically along different axes resulting in a net spherical deformation or a combination of spherical and cylindrical deformation with substantially less distortion than spherically deforming layers. The piezoelectric active layers may be polymer or ceramic with isotropic or anisotropic mechanical stiffness. Alternatively, a pair of transparent, internal layers are positioned between the front and rear surfaces. The active layers, front and/or rear, are dual layers affixed together with an adhesive or single layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nagi ELABBASI, Christopher Yuan Ting LIAO, Jonathan Robert PETERSON, Sheng YE, Eugene CHO, Spencer Allan WELLS, Andrew John OUDERKIRK, Emma MULLEN
  • Publication number: 20240084121
    Abstract: A mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer article is formed from a crystallizable fluoropolymer and a nucleating agent. The polymer article may be a thin film or a fiber, for example. A crystalline phase may constitute at least approximately 50% of the polymer article. In certain examples, a fluoropolymer may include vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinyl fluoride. The polymer article may include up to approximately 10 wt. % of the nucleating agent. Such a polymer article is optically transparent, has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 3 GPa, and an electromechanical coupling factor (k31) of at least approximately 0.15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Jinghui Yang, Rui Jian, Hao Mei, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Stephen Hsieh, Alexander Keener, Jonathan Robert Peterson
  • Publication number: 20240069265
    Abstract: A multilayer polymer thin film includes an anti-reflective coating directly overlying a reflective polarizer stack. The reflective polarizer stack includes alternating first and second polymer layers, where the first layers include an isotropic polymer thin film and the second layers include an anisotropic polymer thin film. The anti-reflective coating (ARC) includes alternating third and fourth layers, where the third layers include an isotropic polymer thin film or an anisotropic polymer thin film and the fourth layers include an isotropic polymer thin film. The multilayer polymer thin film may be formed by co-extrusion where the reflective polarizer stack and the anti-reflective coating are formed simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Weihua Gao, Sheng Ye, Silvio Grespan, Aiqing Chen, Rongzhi Huang, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Zhaoyu Nie, Liliana Ruiz Diaz
  • Patent number: 11885983
    Abstract: A liquid lens includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer polyurethane-based membrane overlying the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer polyurethane-based membrane. The multilayer polyurethane-based membrane, which may include thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer layers, may be formed by slot die coating or gravure coating one or more constituent layers and may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 5% while limiting the transpiration of fluid therethrough to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Stipe, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Hayden Erik Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11889763
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11885982
    Abstract: A liquid lens architecture includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based membrane overlying at least a portion of the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane-based membrane. The TPU-based membrane may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 2% and is configured to limit the transpiration of fluid to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Stipe, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Hayden Erik Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20240026099
    Abstract: A polymer thin film includes polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least approximately 250,000 g/mol, and has an elastic modulus of at least approximately 25 GPa, a tensile strength of at least approximately 0.8 GPa, and a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 5 W/mK. Formation of the polymer thin film may include forming a polymer solution from a crystallizable polyethylene and a liquid solvent, forming a gel from the polymer solution, forming a polymer thin film from the gel by calendering or solid state extrusion, and stretching the polymer thin film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Hao Mei, Arman Boromand, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Rongzhi Huang, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11860358
    Abstract: Angular sensors that may be used in eye-tracking systems are disclosed. An eye-tracking system may include a plurality of light sources to emit illumination light and a plurality of angular light sensors to receive returning light that is the illumination light reflecting from an eyebox region. The angular light sensors may output angular signals representing an angle of incidence of the returning light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Ruiting Huang, Robin Sharma, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Giancarlo Sigurd Sante Nucci, Clare Joyce Robinson
  • Patent number: 11848542
    Abstract: An optical system includes an illumination layer, an optical combiner, and an active optics block. The illumination layer includes an array of point light sources configured to emit calibration light. The optical combiner is configured to pass visible light to a front side of the optical system and to direct the calibration light to a camera that generates an image in response to the calibration light. The image includes an array of points corresponding to the array of point light sources. The active optics block includes an adjustable lens disposed between the illumination layer and the optical combiner and is configured to pass the calibration light to the optical combiner and to focus the visible light. The active optics block is further configured to adjust an optical power of the adjustable lens based on the image of the array of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao
  • Publication number: 20230367041
    Abstract: An example apparatus may include a display and an optical configuration configured to provide an image of a display, for example, in a head-mounted device. The optical configuration may include a Fresnel lens assembly including a Fresnel lens and a reflective polarizer. The Fresnel lens may have a structured surface including a plurality of facets, and there may be a step between pairs of neighboring facets. The reflective polarizer may include a plurality of reflective polarizer portions, where each reflective polarizer portion conforms to a corresponding facet of the Fresnel lens. The reflective polarizer may be configured to reflect a first polarization and transmit a second polarization of incident light. The optical configuration may form an image of the display viewable by a user when the user wears the apparatus. Other devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Sheng Ye, Ying Geng, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Taha Masood, Brent Bollman
  • Patent number: 11810908
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Maik Andre Scheller, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Ehsan Vadiee, John Goward, Anurag Tyagi, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11803024
    Abstract: A device includes a light source to emit light and a light detector to receive the light emitted by the light source. The device may include a high voltage optical transformer and may be configured such that the light detector is laterally spaced away from the light source. In some architectures, the light source and the light detector may be arranged in a common plane. A photonic integrated circuit may be used to couple light emitted from the light source to the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Peterson, John Goward, Maik Andre Scheller, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Giuseppe Calafiore, Alexander Koshelev
  • Patent number: 11796829
    Abstract: A near-eye optical device includes a transparent layer, an in-field illuminator, and a diffractive optical element (DOE). The in-field illuminator is configured to emit near-infrared light centered around a first wavelength. The diffractive optical element is configured to be illuminated by the near-infrared light emitted by the in-field illuminator. The DOE generates a structured light projection that includes dots that expand as the structured light projection propagates farther from the DOE. The structured light projection is directed to illuminate an eyebox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao
  • Publication number: 20230279585
    Abstract: Mechanically and piezoelectrically anisotropic polymer fibers may be formed by spinning a polymer solution or gel that includes a high molecular weight 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 spun fibers. The polymer solution may also include a low molecular weight additive. The high and low molecular weight polymers may each be characterized by a bimodal molecular weight distribution where the molecular weight of the additive is less than the molecular weight of the crystallizable polymer. The polymer(s) and the additive(s) may be independently selected from vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropene, vinyl fluoride, etc. The spun fibers may be oriented, annealed, poled, and woven or laminated to form a polymer thin film having a high elastic modulus and a high electromechanical coupling factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Sheng Ye, Jing Chen, Hao Mei, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Arman Boromand, Kristy Alana Jost, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao
  • Patent number: 11693443
    Abstract: A configuration circuit may be used with a power converter. The configuration circuit dynamically reconfigures one or more connections of output stages of a power converter to vary the output. A capacitive load may receive the output of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Peterson, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Maik Andre Scheller, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao
  • Publication number: 20230176443
    Abstract: A fluidic optical element includes a fluid bilayer having a first fluid layer and a second fluid layer defining a fluid interface therebetween, and an electrode disposed over a surface of the fluid bilayer. The geometry of the fluid interface and hence the optical response of the fluid bilayer to incident light may be manipulated using the principle of dielectrophoresis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Jonathan Robert Peterson, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, Hongtao Guo, Hsin-Ying Chiu, Matthew James Hancock, Li Yao
  • Publication number: 20230173741
    Abstract: A method includes applying a stress to a polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a first in-plane direction, and subsequently applying a stress to the polymer thin film to stretch the polymer thin film along a second in-plane direction orthogonal to the first in-plane direction to form an ultra-high modulus polymer thin film. Calendaring or hot pressing of the ultra-high modulus polymer thin film may improve its optical and/or thermal properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Arman Boromand, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao
  • Publication number: 20230166481
    Abstract: A polymer multilayer includes two or more laminated layers of ultra-drawn, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or high density polyethylene. A transparent laminated structure may include such a polymer multilayer disposed between a pair of transparent substrates. The polymer multilayer may be configured to induce a compressive stress in a near surface region of each transparent substrate, which may improve the toughness and fracture resistance of the laminated structure. A photothermal dye may be incorporated into the polymer matrix and the compressive stresses may be achieved using photothermal actuation of the dye-containing polyethylene layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Arman Boromand, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Rongzhi Huang, Hao Mei
  • Patent number: 11649935
    Abstract: A device includes a light source, a waveguide layer, and a light director layer. The light source emits illumination light. The waveguide layer includes a cladding layer and an optical waveguide. The cladding layer provides a top planar surface of the waveguide layer and the optical waveguide is immersed in the cladding layer and includes a light input coupler. The light director layer includes a bottom planar surface that is disposed on the top planar surface of the waveguide layer. The light director layer also includes a light director that receives and directs the illumination light to the light input coupler as shaped light. The light director is configured to tilt the illumination light to give the shaped light a tilt angle with respect to the light input coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guohua Wei, Maik Andre Scheller, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao, Qi Zhang, Joseph S. Corry
  • Patent number: 11650403
    Abstract: An example device may include a light source, an optical element, and, optionally, an encapsulant layer. A light beam generated by the light source may be received by the optical element and redirected towards an illumination target, such as an eye of a user. The optical element may include a material, for example, with a refractive index of at least approximately 2 at a wavelength of the light beam. The light source may be a semiconductor light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser. The optical element may be supported by an emissive surface of the light source. Refraction at an exit surface of the optical element, and/or within a metamaterial layer, may advantageously modify the beam properties, for example, in relation to illuminating a target. In some examples, the light source and optical element may be integrated into a monolithic light source module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Qi Zhang, Tanya Malhotra, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Maik Scheller, Sheng Ye, Gregory Olegovic Andreev, Guohua Wei