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: 12481119
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Clinton Smith
  • Patent number: 12481162
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Smith, Samuel Pepperwood
  • Publication number: 20240408641
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: LEG UP
    Inventor: Clinton Smith
  • Publication number: 20240251176
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan MATSUDA, Grace Elizabeth KUO, Douglas Robert LANMAN, Eric PENNER, Clinton SMITH, Seth MOCZYDLOWSKI, Alexander CHING
  • Patent number: 11774705
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Michael Ebert, Clinton Smith, David C. Lindberg, Nathaniel David Ginzton, Seth Robert Moczydlowski
  • Patent number: 11662550
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Smith, Ryan Michael Ebert, David C. Lindberg, Nathaniel David Ginzton, Seth Robert Moczydlowski
  • Publication number: 20230122116
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: META PLATFORMS, INC.
    Inventor: Clinton Smith
  • Patent number: 11619601
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11585771
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
  • Patent number: 11454992
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Smith, Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Publication number: 20220178859
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
  • Patent number: 11327036
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
  • Patent number: 11273711
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: REDARC TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD [AU/AU]
    Inventors: Timothy Bates, Clinton Smith, Zacharias Johannes Prinsloo
  • Patent number: 11072531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: 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: 20210061105
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Bates, Clinton Smith, Zacharias Johannes Prinsloo
  • Publication number: 20210041382
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
  • Patent number: 10915162
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Michael Ebert, David C. Lindberg, Seth Robert Moczydlowski, Clinton Smith
  • Patent number: 10883947
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Jianer Bao, Clinton Smith, Eric Cocker, David Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20200378914
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam
  • Patent number: 10830721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Clinton Smith, David Eric Schwartz, Yong Zhang, Vedasri Vedharathinam