Patents by Inventor Clinton Smith
Clinton Smith 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: 12481119Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a varifocal actuation block and an optics block coupled to the varifocal actuation block. An anti-creep system located in the varifocal actuation block includes a plurality of anti-creep mechanisms that are configured to prevent bearing ball creep associated with bearing balls in the varifocal actuation block. The bearing balls are used to move a movable carriage that is coupled to a fixed carriage in the head-mounted display via the anti-creep mechanism. The anti-creep mechanisms prevent bearing ball creep associated with the bearing balls from occurring in the varifocal actuation block by limiting the movement in an angular direction of the bearing balls that are used to move the movable carriage in a first direction in the head-mounted display.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventor: Clinton Smith
-
Patent number: 12481162Abstract: In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device includes an optics block and a varifocal actuation system coupled to the optics block. The varifocal actuation system utilizes at least one of a tandem retaining configuration, a tandem guidance system, and a tandem preload configuration to minimize parasitic motion errors associated with the head-mounted display device. In some embodiments, the tandem retaining configuration includes a hooking structure or a washer-based structure, the tandem guidance system includes an anti-creep system, and the tandem preload configuration includes a preload magnet and a preload target.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Clinton Smith, Samuel Pepperwood
-
Publication number: 20240408641Abstract: An apparatus having a roller assembly and a trigger mechanism is disclosed. The roller assembly may include a first collar disposed at a roller assembly proximal end and a second collar disposed at a roller assembly distal end. The roller assembly may further include a guide rod having a guide rod proximal end and a guide rod distal end. The guide rod distal end may be attached to the second collar, and the guide rod may be disposed between the first collar and the second collar. The roller assembly may further include a plurality of deformable rods disposed between the first collar and the second collar. The plurality of deformable rods may be configured to move between a tensioned state and an un-tensioned state. The apparatus may further include a trigger mechanism configured to move the plurality of deformable rods between the tensioned state and the un-tensioned state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2023Publication date: December 12, 2024Applicant: LEG UPInventor: Clinton Smith
-
Publication number: 20240251176Abstract: According to examples, an image capture device may include a lens array including lenses supported by a lens support structure, in which the lenses are arranged to capture light rays from multiple view-points. The image capture device may also include a sensor to capture light and convert the captured light into data that is used to form an image and a plurality of apertures positioned between the lenses and the sensor, in which the apertures are positioned with respect to the lenses and the sensor to allow rays of light that would have reached a certain reference location spaced from the sensor to pass through the plurality of apertures. An optimization algorithm may be applied to the collected sensor data to reproduce an image of a scene at a perspective that is intended to match a virtual eye position that is offset from the location of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Nathan MATSUDA, Grace Elizabeth KUO, Douglas Robert LANMAN, Eric PENNER, Clinton SMITH, Seth MOCZYDLOWSKI, Alexander CHING
-
Patent number: 11774705Abstract: The disclosed system for varifocal adjustments may include a frame, an optical lens pair supported by the frame, and a brake mechanism coupled to the frame. The optical lens pair may include a first lens that is movably coupled to the frame and a second lens that is fixedly coupled to the frame. The brake mechanism may be configured to frictionally stop movement of the first lens and to maintain a position of the first lens. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Michael Ebert, Clinton Smith, David C. Lindberg, Nathaniel David Ginzton, Seth Robert Moczydlowski
-
Patent number: 11662550Abstract: The disclosed systems for varifocal adjustments may include a frame, an optical lens pair supported by the frame, and a flexure assembly. The optical lens pair may include a first lens that is movably coupled to the frame and a second lens that is fixedly coupled to the frame. The flexure assembly may be configured to constrain movement of the first lens to a substantially linear pathway. The flexure assembly may include at least one substantially planar flexure element having a first movable end portion coupled to the first lens and a second fixed end portion coupled to the frame. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Clinton Smith, Ryan Michael Ebert, David C. Lindberg, Nathaniel David Ginzton, Seth Robert Moczydlowski
-
Publication number: 20230122116Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a varifocal actuation block and an optics block coupled to the varifocal actuation block. An anti-creep system located in the varifocal actuation block includes a plurality of anti-creep mechanisms that are configured to prevent bearing ball creep associated with bearing balls in the varifocal actuation block. The bearing balls are used to move a movable carriage that is coupled to a fixed carriage in the head-mounted display via the anti-creep mechanism. The anti-creep mechanisms prevent bearing ball creep associated with the bearing balls from occurring in the varifocal actuation block by limiting the movement in an angular direction of the bearing balls that are used to move the movable carriage in a first direction in the head-mounted display.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: META PLATFORMS, INC.Inventor: Clinton Smith
-
Patent number: 11619601Abstract: A gas monitor apparatus includes a sorbent material that adsorbs a target gas based on a concentration of the target gas in a monitored environment and a reference material that does not respond to the target gas. The gas monitor also includes a first thermistor disposed within the sorbent material and a second thermistor disposed within the reference material, the first thermistor to provide a first indication of a first temperature of the sorbent material and the second thermistor to provide a second indication of a second temperature of the reference material. A processing device determines a concentration of the target gas based at least in part on a differential measurement between the first temperature and the second temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
-
Patent number: 11585771Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
-
Patent number: 11454992Abstract: A flexure based guidance system for precision motion control includes a base that is fixed in position, a carriage that can move relative to the base, an actuator provides the force to move the carriage relative to the base, and one or more flexures arrays that each comprise two or more leaf flexure elements. The actuator causes the carriage to move relative to the base, which causes the flexure elements in the flexure array to flex. The leaf flexure elements are thin, compliant and deform, bend, or deflect in a deterministic manner when mechanically stressed. In some embodiments, stiffeners can be added to the flexures. The guidance system can be integrated into a varifocal head mounted display (HMD) to adjust a location of one or moveable elements in an optical system of the HMD to control a location of an image plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Clinton Smith, Ryan Michael Ebert
-
Publication number: 20220178859Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
-
Patent number: 11327036Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
-
Patent number: 11273711Abstract: The present invention relates to a power distribution system for and a method of controlling operation of loads of a vehicle or a towed vehicle, including configuring a controller, adapted to be mounted in a towed vehicle and adapted to be configured to control operation of loads in the towed vehicle, to output state commands to the loads to control the loads.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: REDARC TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD [AU/AU]Inventors: Timothy Bates, Clinton Smith, Zacharias Johannes Prinsloo
-
Patent number: 11072531Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of providing carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer coated metal nanoparticles. Then, annealing the metal coated carbon nanotubes to reduce a quantity of hydrophilic components of the polymer coating.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignees: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NASA, BAY SYSTEMS CONSULTING, INC.Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Beomseok Kim, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, Junhua Wei, David Eric Schwartz, Meyya Meyyappan, Rahul Pandey, Yong Zhang
-
Publication number: 20210061105Abstract: The present invention relates to a power distribution system for and a method of controlling operation of loads of a vehicle or a towed vehicle, including configuring a controller, adapted to be mounted in a towed vehicle and adapted to be configured to control operation of loads in the towed vehicle, to output state commands to the loads to control the loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Timothy Bates, Clinton Smith, Zacharias Johannes Prinsloo
-
Publication number: 20210041382Abstract: A gas monitor apparatus includes a sorbent material that adsorbs a target gas based on a concentration of the target gas in a monitored environment and a reference material that does not respond to the target gas. The gas monitor also includes a first thermistor disposed within the sorbent material and a second thermistor disposed within the reference material, the first thermistor to provide a first indication of a first temperature of the sorbent material and the second thermistor to provide a second indication of a second temperature of the reference material. A processing device determines a concentration of the target gas based at least in part on a differential measurement between the first temperature and the second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
-
Patent number: 10915162Abstract: A varifocal head mounted display (HMD) includes an electronic display, an optical system, and the guidance system. The electronic display presents content. The optical system includes one or more optical elements and provides the content to an eyebox of the HMD. The guidance system is a flexure based guidance system that includes an actuator and a first and second flexure elements (e.g., parallel beam, dual Roberts, etc.) guiding movement of the electronic display along an optical axis of the optical system in order to adjust a location of one or moveable elements in the optical system and, thereby, control a location of an image plane. The first and second flexure elements are able to flex or bend with movement of the actuator to adjust the location of the one or moveable elements that includes the electronic display and/or one or more optical elements of the optical system.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Michael Ebert, David C. Lindberg, Seth Robert Moczydlowski, Clinton Smith
-
Patent number: 10883947Abstract: A gas monitor apparatus includes a sorbent material that adsorbs a target gas based on a concentration of the target gas in a monitored environment and a reference material that does not respond to the target gas. The gas monitor also includes a first thermistor disposed within the sorbent material and a second thermistor disposed within the reference material, the first thermistor to provide a first indication of a first temperature of the sorbent material and the second thermistor to provide a second indication of a second temperature of the reference material. A processing device determines a concentration of the target gas based at least in part on a differential measurement between the first temperature and the second temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
-
Publication number: 20200378914Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
-
Patent number: 10830721Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of compositions for gas sensing and sensors utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a composition comprises carbon nanotubes and and polymer-coated metal nanoparticles bound to the carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam