Patents by Inventor Eli Hughes
Eli Hughes 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).
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Patent number: 7556388Abstract: A thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth J. Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20090027788Abstract: A thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: QORTEK, INC.Inventors: Gareth J. Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 7429113Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20080007851Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 7281808Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20070171058Abstract: A flooring system comprising a plurality of electrode pairs in contact with a metaplastic composite material. The metaplastic material is such that it locally conducts electrical current in an area where any load is applied to the metaplastic. An electric potential is applied to one or more interdigitated electrodes located at a face of the metaplastic material in line with applied loads. Larger area coverage can be obtained either by pre-installing a subsurface layer comprising of an array of interdigitated electrodes and their trace line outputs and then covering this layer with a tiling of metaplastic material sheets that is in direct contact with the array of interdigitated electrodes, or, by directly attaching one or more interdigitated electrodes and their output trace lines to an individual sections of metaplastic material and electrically interconnecting their outputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 7154813Abstract: A sensor with sound navigation and ranging applications is presented. The invention includes a pressure conduction composite sandwiched between electrically conductive elements so as to sense pressure associated with an acoustic wave via a change in conductance within the composite. One electrically conductive element is rigid and includes the hull of a vessel or wall of a sea-based device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a non-conductive matrix having a conductive fill at or near the percolation threshold of the material system. The pressure conduction composite is highly resistive in its uncompressed state. However, resistance decreases with increasing compression. In preferred embodiments, sensors are arranged in an array architecture including planar and conformal configurations. The present invention has immediate application in submarines, ships, and sonobuoys.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 7151506Abstract: The present invention relates generally to reconfigurable, solid-state matrix arrays comprising multiple rows and columns of reconfigurable secondary mechanisms that are independently tuned. Specifically, the invention relates to reconfigurable devices comprising multiple, solid-state mechanisms characterized by at least one voltage-varied parameter disposed within a flexible, multi-laminate film, which are suitable for use as magnetic conductors, ground surfaces, antennas, varactors, ferrotunable substrates, or other active or passive electronic mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Patent number: 7080562Abstract: A high-sensitivity pressure conduction sensor is presented. The present invention includes a pair of locally resilient conductive layers and a locally resilient pressure conduction composite disposed between and contacting both conductive layers. Alternate embodiments include at least three locally resilient conductive layers and at least two locally resilient pressure conduction composites, each having a critical percolation threshold. Each composite is disposed between and contacting two conductive layers in a multi-layer fashion. Other embodiments include a locally resilient pressure conduction composite, a flexible substrate completely surrounding the composite so as to seal it therein, and a pair of electrical leads contacting the composite and terminating outside of the flexible substrate. Pressure conduction composites are composed of a plurality of conductive particles electrically isolated within a non-conductive matrix.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: QorTek, Inc.Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20060002235Abstract: A sensor with sound navigation and ranging applications is presented. The invention includes a pressure conduction composite sandwiched between electrically conductive elements so as to sense pressure associated with an acoustic wave via a change in conductance of the composite. One electrically conductive element is rigid and may include the hull of a vessel or wall of a sea-based device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a non-conductive matrix having a conductive fill at or near the percolation threshold of the material system. The pressure conduction composite is highly resistive in its uncompressed state. However, resistance decreases with increasing compression. In preferred embodiments, sensors are arranged in an array architecture including planar or conformal configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2004Publication date: January 5, 2006Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20050081640Abstract: A high-sensitivity pressure conduction sensor is presented. The present invention includes a pair of locally resilient conductive layers and a locally resilient pressure conduction composite disposed between and contacting both conductive layers. Alternate embodiments include at least three locally resilient conductive layers and at least two locally resilient pressure conduction composites, each having a critical percolation threshold. Each composite is disposed between and contacting two conductive layers in a multi-layer fashion. Other embodiments include a locally resilient pressure conduction composite, a flexible substrate completely surrounding the composite so as to seal it therein, and a pair of electrical leads contacting the composite and terminating outside of the flexible substrate. Pressure conduction composites are composed of a plurality of conductive particles electrically isolated within a non-conductive matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20050002087Abstract: A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes
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Publication number: 20040201526Abstract: The present invention relates generally to reconfigurable, solid-state matrix arrays comprising multiple rows and columns of reconfigurable secondary mechanisms that are independently tuned. Specifically, the invention relates to reconfigurable devices comprising multiple, solid-state mechanisms characterized by at least one voltage-varied parameter disposed within a flexible, multi-laminate film, which are suitable for use as magnetic conductors, ground surfaces, antennas, varactors, ferrotunable substrates, or other active or passive electronic mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Gareth Knowles, Eli Hughes