Patents by Inventor David R. Smith

David R. 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: 9806415
    Abstract: Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Pai-Yen Chen, Tom Driscoll, Siamak Ebadi, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Melroy Machado, Milton Perque, Jr., David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9804303
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems for tuning nanocube plasmonic resonators and methods for forming tunable plasmonic resonators. A tunable plasmonic resonator system can include a substrate and a nanostructure positioned on a surface of the substrate. The substrate can include a semiconductor material having a carrier density distribution. A junction can be formed between the nanostructure and the substrate forming a Schottky junction. Changing the carrier density distribution of the semiconductor material can change a plasmonic response of the plasmonic resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9806414
    Abstract: Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Pai-Yen Chen, Tom Driscoll, Siamak Ebadi, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Melroy Machado, Milton Perque, Jr., David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9806416
    Abstract: Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Pai-Yen Chen, Tom Driscoll, Siamak Ebadi, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Melroy Machado, Milton Perque, Jr., David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Publication number: 20170299784
    Abstract: Nanopatch antennas and related methods for enhancing and tailoring are disclosed. According to an aspect, an apparatus includes a conductive material defining a substantially planar surface. The apparatus also includes a conductive nanostructure defining a substantially planar surface. The conductive material and the conductive nanostructure are positioned such that the planar surface of the conductive material faces the planar surface of the conductive nanostructure, such that the planar surfaces are substantially parallel, and such that the planar surfaces are spaced by a selected distance. The apparatus also includes an optically-active material positioned between the planar surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Maiken H. Mikkelsen, David R. Smith, Gleb M. Akselrod
  • Publication number: 20170301963
    Abstract: Described is a reconfigurable energy storage system that is capable of switching an arrangement of energy storage cells from a series configuration to a parallel configuration, from a parallel configuration to a series configuration, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Pathion Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Smith, David C. Reuter, Daniel West
  • Publication number: 20170301907
    Abstract: Described is a distributed battery management system that utilizes circuit boards as direct current busses for primary power in large-scale battery energy storage systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Pathion Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Park, David R. Smith, David C. Reuter, Daniel West
  • Publication number: 20170302049
    Abstract: A method of pumping an optical resonator includes directing light generated by a pumping light at the optical resonator, exciting a propagating surface state of the optical resonator at an interface of the optical resonator, and changing a propagating frequency of the light proximate the interface, where the changed frequency corresponds to a propagation frequency of the surface state. The optical resonator includes a photonic crystal and a material, where the interface is formed between the photonic crystal and the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan Kundtz, Ruopeng Liu, Bruce M. McWilliams, John B. Pendry, Daniel A. Roberts, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood,, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170293053
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems for tuning nanocube plasmonic resonators and methods for forming tunable plasmonic resonators. A tunable plasmonic resonator system can include a substrate and a nanostructure positioned on a surface of the substrate. The substrate can include a semiconductor material having a carrier density distribution. A junction can be formed between the nanostructure and the substrate forming a Schottky junction. Changing the carrier density distribution of the semiconductor material can change a plasmonic response of the plasmonic resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Robert C. Petroski, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Nicholas W. Touran, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20170282912
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an occupant monitoring system and a processing circuit coupled to the occupant monitoring system. The occupant monitoring system is configured to acquire occupant data regarding an occupant of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to receive the occupant data; determine a vehicle operation command based on the occupant data, the vehicle operation command configured to affect operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is in a robotic driving mode; and provide the vehicle operation command to a vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 9776632
    Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Geoffrey F. Deane, Russell J. Hannigan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Philip A. Sullivan, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9768516
    Abstract: Complementary metamaterial elements provide an effective permittivity and/or permeability for surface structures and/or waveguide structures. The complementary metamaterial resonant elements may include Babinet complements of “split ring resonator” (SRR) and “electric LC” (ELC) metamaterial elements. In some approaches, the complementary metamaterial elements are embedded in the bounding surfaces of planar waveguides, e.g. to implement waveguide based gradient index lenses for beam steering/focusing devices, antenna array feed structures, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Ruopeng Liu, Tie Jun Cui, Qiang Cheng, Jonah N. Gollub
  • Publication number: 20170250017
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The apparatus includes a magnetic substrate at least partially covered by a first negative-permittivity layer comprising a first plasmonic outer surface. The apparatus includes a plasmonic nanoparticle having a magnetic element at least partially covered by a second negative-permittivity layer comprising a second plasmonic outer surface. The apparatus includes a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic outer surface and the second outer surface. The first plasmonic outer surface, the dielectric-filled gap, and the second plasmonic outer surface are configured to support one or more mutually coupled plasmonic excitations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Maiken H. Mikkelsen, Tony S. Pan, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20170236423
    Abstract: A vehicle collision detection system may be configured to coordinate with collision detection systems of other vehicles. The coordination may comprise sharing sensor data with other vehicles, receiving sensor information from other vehicles, using sensor information to generate a collision detection model, sharing the collision detection model with other vehicles, receiving a collision detection model from other vehicles, and the like. In some embodiments, vehicles may coordinate sensor operation to form a bistatic and/or multistatic sensor configuration, in which a detection signal generated at a first land vehicle is detected at a sensing system at a second land vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Geoffrey F. Deane, Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 9733354
    Abstract: A concealed radar imaging system includes a visible light mirror, a radar device positioned behind the visible light mirror, and a processing circuit coupled to the radar device. The visible light mirror includes a reflective layer configured to reflect visible light, and allow a radar signal to pass therethrough. The radar device is configured to transmit the radar signal, receive a reflection of the radar signal, and generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the radar device, receive the reflection data from the radar device, and generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9721726
    Abstract: An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9715159
    Abstract: Embodiments include a gain system and method. The system includes a gain medium with a plurality of plasmonic apparatus. Each plasmonic apparatus includes a substrate having a first plasmonic surface, a plasmonic nanoparticle having a second plasmonic surface, and a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic surface and the second plasmonic surface. A plasmonic cavity is created by an assembly of the first plasmonic surface, the second plasmonic surface, and the dielectric-filled gap, and has a first fundamental wavelength ?1 and second fundamental wavelength ?2. Fluorescent particles are located in the dielectric-filled gap. Each fluorescent particle has an absorption spectrum at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 and an emission spectrum at the second fundamental wavelength ?2. An excitation applied to the gain medium at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 produces an amplified electromagnetic wave emission at the second resonant wavelength ?2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventors: Gleb M. Akselrod, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Maiken H. Mikkelsen, Tony S. Pan, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9711852
    Abstract: Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventors: Pai-Yen Chen, Tom Driscoll, Siamak Ebadi, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Melroy Machado, Milton Perque, Jr., David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9711831
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for electromagnetic field modification. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of dielectric constants chosen to convert an electromagnetic radiation pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target electromagnetic radiation pattern that is different from the input electromagnetic radiation pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of dielectric constants that can be used to form a mode converting device for use with one or more transmission lines, such as waveguides. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9698558
    Abstract: A method of pumping an optical resonator includes directing light generated by a pumping light at the optical resonator, exciting a propagating surface state of the optical resonator at an interface of the optical resonator, and changing a propagating frequency of the light proximate the interface, where the changed frequency corresponds to a propagation frequency of the surface state. The optical resonator includes a photonic crystal and a material, where the interface is formed between the photonic crystal and the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan Kundtz, Ruopeng Liu, Bruce M. McWilliams, John B. Pendry, Daniel A. Roberts, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.