Patents by Inventor Jeff W. Ritchison

Jeff W. Ritchison 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).

  • Stress compensation for piezoelectric optical MEMS devices
    Patent number: 11148939
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens material forming a lens. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric capacitor over the lens material, where the piezoelectric capacitor is configured to change a shape of the lens material in response to a voltage across the piezoelectric capacitor to thereby change a focus of the lens. The apparatus further includes at least one stress compensation ring over a portion of the lens material and over at least a portion of the piezoelectric capacitor. The at least one stress compensation ring is configured to at least partially reduce bending of the lens material caused by stress on or in the lens material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: YungShan Chang, Ricky A. Jackson, Jeff W. Ritchison, Neng Jiang
  • STRESS COMPENSATION FOR PIEZOELECTRIC OPTICAL MEMS DEVICES
    Publication number: 20180179054
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens material forming a lens. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric capacitor over the lens material, where the piezoelectric capacitor is configured to change a shape of the lens material in response to a voltage across the piezoelectric capacitor to thereby change a focus of the lens. The apparatus further includes at least one stress compensation ring over a portion of the lens material and over at least a portion of the piezoelectric capacitor. The at least one stress compensation ring is configured to at least partially reduce bending of the lens material caused by stress on or in the lens material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: YungShan Chang, Ricky A. Jackson, Jeff W. Ritchison, Neng Jiang
  • Stress compensation for piezoelectric optical MEMS devices
    Patent number: 9890040
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens material forming a lens. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric capacitor over the lens material, where the piezoelectric capacitor is configured to change a shape of the lens material in response to a voltage across the piezoelectric capacitor to thereby change a focus of the lens. The apparatus further includes at least one stress compensation ring over a portion of the lens material and over at least a portion of the piezoelectric capacitor. The at least one stress compensation ring is configured to at least partially reduce bending of the lens material caused by stress on or in the lens material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: YungShan Chang, Ricky A. Jackson, Jeff W. Ritchison, Neng Jiang
  • STRESS COMPENSATION FOR PIEZOELECTRIC OPTICAL MEMS DEVICES
    Publication number: 20150378127
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens material forming a lens. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric capacitor over the lens material, where the piezoelectric capacitor is configured to change a shape of the lens material in response to a voltage across the piezoelectric capacitor to thereby change a focus of the lens. The apparatus further includes at least one stress compensation ring over a portion of the lens material and over at least a portion of the piezoelectric capacitor. The at least one stress compensation ring is configured to at least partially reduce bending of the lens material caused by stress on or in the lens material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: YungShan Chang, Ricky A. Jackson, Jeff W. Ritchison, Neng Jiang