Patents by Inventor Theodore K. Ricks

Theodore K. Ricks 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: 11592672
    Abstract: A display apparatus has a display to emit image-bearing light to a prism assembly that defines an optical path between an incident surface of the prism assembly and an output surface that is orthogonal to within +/?30 degrees relative to the incident surface, wherein the prism assembly has a curved reflective surface opposite the incident surface. The prism assembly encases a beam splitter at an oblique angle to the defined optical path and to both the incident and the output surface of the prism assembly. A shim, in contact against the display surface and against the incident surface of the prism assembly, defines a sealed air gap for light between the display surface and the incident surface. A frame houses the display, the shim, and the incident surface of the prism assembly, wherein the frame further provides connection features for coupling the apparatus to a head-worn article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Six15 Technologies
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Rene Alexander Zickafoose
  • Patent number: 11543678
    Abstract: A display apparatus for wearing over corrective eyewear has a frame structure that supports left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein each protective lens has a rear surface disposed to face toward the corrective eyewear, and a front surface disposed to face the outside-world object scene. A bridging member is hinged to the frame between the left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein the bridging member extends a nose bridge engagement member toward a viewer nose position, wherein the bridging member further has a coupling configured to removably suspend at least one output element of an electronically energized display system over the front surface of the left- or right-side protective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Six15 Technologies
    Inventor: Theodore K. Ricks
  • Publication number: 20220011570
    Abstract: An optic providing reduction in secondary or ghost images includes a beam splitter, a reflective surface, and at least one baffle therebetween. A transmissive surface may be located between the beam splitter and the reflective surface. The baffle is positioned to intercept internally reflected ghost rays while being substantially parallel to outside light rays along a line of sight of the viewer, permitting use in see-through optics. The baffles may be formed of light absorbing material, diffusing structures, and combinations of both. Baffles intercept and absorb ghost rays to the exclusion of projected image rays that provide a desired projected image which are internally reflected through the optic. An assembly including such optic integrated with a wearable vision system, such as a head-mounted display, is also disclosed for near-eye application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: TDG Acquisition Company, LLC d/b/a Six15 Technologies
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Chris P Brophy, Nathan E Burdick
  • Patent number: 11181735
    Abstract: An optic providing reduction in secondary or ghost images includes a beam splitter, a reflective surface, and at least one baffle therebetween. A transmissive surface may be located between the beam splitter and the reflective surface. The baffle is positioned to intercept internally reflected ghost rays while being substantially parallel to outside light rays along a line of sight of the viewer, permitting use in see-through optics. The baffles may be formed of diffusing structures, light absorbing material, and combinations of both. Baffles intercept and scatter or absorb ghost rays to the exclusion of projected image rays that provide a desired projected image which are internally reflected through the optic. An assembly including such optic integrated with a wearable vision system, such as a head-mounted display, is also disclosed for near-eye application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TDG Acquisition Company, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore K Ricks, Chris P Brophy, Nathan E Burdick
  • Patent number: 11169381
    Abstract: A head-mounted display apparatus for a viewer has an optical imager having a display generator that is energizable to emit image-bearing light in a first direction and a prism that is configured to redirect the generated light in a second direction that is toward the viewer's eye and orthogonal to within +/?30 degrees relative to the first direction. A housing is configured to form a sealed chamber that encloses at least the display generator of the optical imager and to expose at least a portion of the prism extended from the sealed chamber. A releasable coupling formed onto a cover element of the sealed chamber is configured to cooperate with a mounting fixture formed on headgear worn by the viewer for mounting the housing and suspending the exposed portion of the prism into a field of view of the viewer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Six15 Technologies
    Inventor: Theodore K. Ricks
  • Publication number: 20210215950
    Abstract: A display apparatus for wearing over corrective eyewear has a frame structure that supports left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein each protective lens has a rear surface disposed to face toward the corrective eyewear, and a front surface disposed to face the outside-world object scene. A bridging member is hinged to the frame between the left- and right-side protective lenses, wherein the bridging member extends a nose bridge engagement member toward a viewer nose position, wherein the bridging member further has a coupling configured to removably suspend at least one output element of an electronically energized display system over the front surface of the left- or right-side protective lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Six15 Technologies
    Inventor: Theodore K. Ricks
  • Publication number: 20210173213
    Abstract: A display apparatus has a display to emit image-bearing light to a prism assembly that defines an optical path between an incident surface of the prism assembly and an output surface that is orthogonal to within +/?30 degrees relative to the incident surface, wherein the prism assembly has a curved reflective surface opposite the incident surface. The prism assembly encases a beam splitter at an oblique angle to the defined optical path and to both the incident and the output surface of the prism assembly. A shim, in contact against the display surface and against the incident surface of the prism assembly, defines a sealed air gap for light between the display surface and the incident surface. A frame houses the display, the shim, and the incident surface of the prism assembly, wherein the frame further provides connection features for coupling the apparatus to a head-worn article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Rene Alexander Zickafoose
  • Publication number: 20210173212
    Abstract: A head-mounted display apparatus for a viewer has an optical imager having a display generator that is energizable to emit image-bearing light in a first direction and a prism that is configured to redirect the generated light in a second direction that is toward the viewer's eye and orthogonal to within +/?30 degrees relative to the first direction. A housing is configured to form a sealed chamber that encloses at least the display generator of the optical imager and to expose at least a portion of the prism extended from the sealed chamber. A releasable coupling formed onto a cover element of the sealed chamber is configured to cooperate with a mounting fixture formed on headgear worn by the viewer for mounting the housing and suspending the exposed portion of the prism into a field of view of the viewer's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Theodore K. Ricks
  • Publication number: 20210157084
    Abstract: An apparatus has a monocular optic for viewing from either a right eye or a left eye of a viewer. A bilateral connecting arm extends between the monocular optic and a coupling on a head-worn article worn by the viewer. The bilateral connecting arm is configured for repeatably decoupling from, and recoupling to, the head-worn article for switching between a first orientation that disposes the monocular optic in a left eye viewing position and a second orientation that disposes the monocular optic in a right eye viewing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Stanley W. Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20190250400
    Abstract: An optic providing reduction in secondary or ghost images includes a beam splitter, a reflective surface, and at least one baffle therebetween. A transmissive surface may be located between the beam splitter and the reflective surface. The baffle is positioned to intercept internally reflected ghost rays while being substantially parallel to outside light rays along a line of sight of the viewer, permitting use in see-through optics. The baffles may be formed of diffusing structures, light absorbing material, and combinations of both. Baffles intercept and scatter or absorb ghost rays to the exclusion of projected image rays that provide a desired projected image which are internally reflected through the optic. An assembly including such optic integrated with a wearable vision system, such as a head-mounted display, is also disclosed for near-eye application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: TDG Acquisition Company, LLC d/b/a Six15 Technologies
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Chris P. Brophy, Nathan E. Burdick
  • Publication number: 20130141655
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display comprising, in order, a support, a first patterned conductor, a first level of electrically modulated imaging material, a coextensive common electrode conductor, a second level of electrically modulated imaging material, and a second patterned conductor and a method of imaging the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, Charles M. Rankin, JR., Theodore K. Ricks
  • Publication number: 20130096390
    Abstract: This invention relates to a medical device comprising at least one bioprobe for collecting data, a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe, a control module, and a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, and a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Laura Weller-Brophy, Theodore K. Ricks
  • Patent number: 8102362
    Abstract: A system and method for writing bistable media with a writehead is described. The media has two or more discrete write areas, each area defined by at least one electrical contact, and the media further has at least one alignment feature positioned with regard to one or more discrete write area. The writehead has corresponding alignment features and electrical conductors to the alignment features and electrical contacts of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Robert G. Capurso, David M. Johnson, Domenic Maiola
  • Patent number: 7901072
    Abstract: An ocular device includes a housing, a rotatable ring, a first prism fixed in the rotatable ring, an indexable ring and a second prism fixed in the indexable ring. The housing has a stepped inner profile defining first and second circular tracks in the housing, the tracks being concentric about a rotational axis. The rotatable ring is disposed in the first circular track and is freely rotatable about the rotational axis with respect to the housing. The indexable ring is disposed in the second circular track and is indexable about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Barry T. Eagan, Paul J. Travers, Theodore K. Ricks, Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7755610
    Abstract: A system and method for writing bistable media is described, wherein the media has at least one through hole that interacts with at least one protrusion on a writer to align the media with the writer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Robert G. Capurso, Theodore K. Ricks, David M. Johnson, Domenic Maiola
  • Patent number: 7685692
    Abstract: A process for skiving a substrate is described, wherein the substrate is skived with a roller or a device or apparatus including the roller. The roller provides a cleaner skive than previously known methods without damage to underlying materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Charles M. Rankin, Jr., Theodore K. Ricks, Megan L. Weiner, John P. Macauley, Rusty J. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20100020039
    Abstract: An electrically updatable device having a touch sensor and a flexible display is disclosed, wherein the display is between the touch sensor and a viewer. The display comprises a pressure-insensitive imaging layer of polymer-dispersed imaging material, wherein the thickness of the imaging layer is defined by the polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Mitchell S. Burberry, David M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7629026
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for assembling a structure on a support having a pattern of binding sites. In accordance with the method, a first fluid is provided on the surface of the support with the first fluid being of a type that that increases viscosity when heated, the first fluid having first micro-components suspended therein each adapted to engage the binding sites. The first fluid proximate to selected binding sites is heated to increase the viscosity of the responsive fluid proximate to the selected binding sites so that the first micro-components suspended in the first fluid are inhibited from engaging the selected binding sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ravi Sharma, Daniel D. Haas, Theodore K. Ricks
  • Patent number: D682268
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore K. Ricks, Tyler Porter
  • Patent number: D1022994
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Six15 Technologies
    Inventor: Theodore K. Ricks