Patents by Inventor William Frederick Smith
William Frederick 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).
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Patent number: 11762138Abstract: A light emitting structure includes a pixel layer having at least one subpixel, a microlens layer having at least one microlens, the at least one microlens aligned with the at least one subpixel for providing a narrowly-confined on-axis emission profile along an on-axis direction, a first filler material layer and a second filler material layer between the pixel layer and the microlens layer, an interface between the first filler material layer and the second filler material layer configured for reflecting a portion of off-axis emissions from the at least one subpixel by total internal reflection (TIR).Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery
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Publication number: 20230204963Abstract: An optical system and, specifically an HMD, is disclosed for increasing brightness efficiency of light transmitted from a display. By including one polarization selective mirror between a half mirror and a display and another polarization selective mirror between the half mirror and a lens, brightness efficiency is increased without a substantial increase in thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, DAVID JAMES MONTGOMERY
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Patent number: 11604350Abstract: An optical system and, specifically an HMD, is disclosed for increasing brightness efficiency of light transmitted from a display. By including one polarization selective mirror between a half mirror and a display and another polarization selective mirror between the half mirror and a lens, brightness efficiency is increased without a substantial increase in thickness.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery
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Patent number: 11592670Abstract: A wide field of view display device employs curved optical components for enhanced performance with a compact arrangement. A wide field of view display includes a curved display device; a first curved lens having a display side and an exit side, wherein the display side is facing the curved display device; a first plurality of Fresnel facets disposed on the display side of the first curved lens; a second curved lens having a display side and an exit side, wherein the display side is facing the exit side of the first curved lens; and a second plurality of Fresnel facets disposed on the display side of the second curved lens, wherein the first plurality of Fresnel facets is configured to focus light from the curved display device on the second plurality of Fresnel facets, and wherein the second plurality of Fresnel facets is configured to focus light from the first plurality of Fresnel facets on a central image point.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery, Chengze Song
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Publication number: 20220206200Abstract: A light emitting structure includes a pixel layer having at least one subpixel, a microlens layer having at least one microlens, the at least one microlens aligned with the at least one subpixel for providing a narrowly-confined on-axis emission profile along an on-axis direction, a first filler material layer and a second filler material layer between the pixel layer and the microlens layer, an interface between the first filler material layer and the second filler material layer configured for reflecting a portion of off-axis emissions from the at least one subpixel by total internal reflection (TIR).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, DAVID JAMES MONTGOMERY
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Patent number: 11281005Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) has an enhanced optical arrangement that permits high-resolution imaging in a compact device. The HMD system includes an optical arrangement; a first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the first image panel along a first optical pathway having a first length; and a second image panel arranged orthogonal to the first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the second image panel along a second optical pathway different from the first optical pathway having a second length. The first length is equal to the second length, and the optical arrangement is configured such that light from the first image panel and the second image panel are emitted from the HMD system in a combined fashion in a first eye direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chengze Song, William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery
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Patent number: 11175483Abstract: A wide field view display device has an enhanced FOV while maintaining a simplified and compact configuration. The wide field of view display includes a display device configured to emit a central set of rays and a peripheral set of rays, and an optics block. The optics block includes a central lens region configured to direct the central set of rays to a central image point, and a prism coupled to a periphery of the central lens region, wherein the prism is configured to direct the peripheral set of rays to a peripheral image point. The prism includes an entry surface that is configured to refract the peripheral set of rays to direct the peripheral set of rays to the reflecting surface; a reflecting surface that is configured to reflect the peripheral set of rays to the exit surface, and an exit surface that is configured to refract the peripheral set of rays to direct the peripheral set of rays to the peripheral image point.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: William Frederick Smith
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Publication number: 20210271082Abstract: An optical system and, specifically an HMD, is disclosed for increasing brightness efficiency of light transmitted from a display. By including one polarization selective mirror between a half mirror and a display and another polarization selective mirror between the half mirror and a lens, brightness efficiency is increased without a substantial increase in thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery
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Publication number: 20210041698Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) has an enhanced optical arrangement that permits high-resolution imaging in a compact device. The HMD system includes an optical arrangement; a first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the first image panel along a first optical pathway having a first length; and a second image panel arranged orthogonal to the first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the second image panel along a second optical pathway different from the first optical pathway having a second length. The first length is equal to the second length, and the optical arrangement is configured such that light from the first image panel and the second image panel are emitted from the HMD system in a combined fashion in a first eye direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Chengze Song, William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery
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Publication number: 20210033865Abstract: A wide field of view display device employs curved optical components for enhanced performance with a compact arrangement. A wide field of view display includes a curved display device; a first curved lens having a display side and an exit side, wherein the display side is facing the curved display device; a first plurality of Fresnel facets disposed on the display side of the first curved lens; a second curved lens having a display side and an exit side, wherein the display side is facing the exit side of the first curved lens; and a second plurality of Fresnel facets disposed on the display side of the second curved lens, wherein the first plurality of Fresnel facets is configured to focus light from the curved display device on the second plurality of Fresnel facets, and wherein the second plurality of Fresnel facets is configured to focus light from the first plurality of Fresnel facets on a central image point.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: William Frederick Smith, David James Montgomery, Chengze Song
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Patent number: 10795477Abstract: A flexible electronic device is used to receive user inputs via flex gestures. The electronic device includes a flexible substrate, a shape sensor configured to determine an axis of bending and a degree of flex of the flexible substrate, and a processor coupled to the shape sensor and configured to determine a flex gesture associated with the axis of bending and the degree of flex, wherein the processor updates an output of the electronic device based on the flex gesture. The output includes display information, user interface elements, and a flex gesture input for a device that is coupled to the electronic device. The flex gestures can be assigned to functions such as moving, zooming, scrolling, cropping, rotating, and selection to manipulate content associated with the flexible electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Andrew Kay, William Frederick Smith, Paul Antony Gass, Hywel Hopkin
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Publication number: 20200272266Abstract: A flexible electronic device is used to receive user inputs via flex gestures. The electronic device includes a flexible substrate, a shape sensor configured to determine an axis of bending and a degree of flex of the flexible substrate, and a processor coupled to the shape sensor and configured to determine a flex gesture associated with the axis of bending and the degree of flex, wherein the processor updates an output of the electronic device based on the flex gesture. The output includes display information, user interface elements, and a flex gesture input for a device that is coupled to the electronic device. The flex gestures can be assigned to functions such as moving, zooming, scrolling, cropping, rotating, and selection to manipulate content associated with the flexible electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Andrew Kay, William Frederick Smith, Paul Antony Gass, Hywel Hopkin
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Publication number: 20200233189Abstract: A wide field view display device has an enhanced FOV while maintaining a simplified and compact configuration. The wide field of view display includes a display device configured to emit a central set of rays and a peripheral set of rays, and an optics block. The optics block includes a central lens region configured to direct the central set of rays to a central image point, and a prism coupled to a periphery of the central lens region, wherein the prism is configured to direct the peripheral set of rays to a peripheral image point. The prism includes an entry surface that is configured to refract the peripheral set of rays to direct the peripheral set of rays to the reflecting surface; a reflecting surface that is configured to reflect the peripheral set of rays to the exit surface, and an exit surface that is configured to refract the peripheral set of rays to direct the peripheral set of rays to the peripheral image point.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventor: William Frederick Smith
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Patent number: 7073668Abstract: A magnetic separator includes a chamber 11 having inlets and outlets 12, 13 which together define a flow path 14. Axially extending tubes 15 are disposed in an array around the cross-section of the chamber 11 and the perforated baffle plate 18 divides the chamber 11 into top and bottom components 16, 17. Each tube contains a magnetic shuffle 19, which can be moved up and down the tube between separator and release positions using a pneumatic control system.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) LimitedInventors: Nicholas Mark Alford, William Frederick Smith-Haddon
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Publication number: 20040035760Abstract: This invention relates to magnetic separators and in a particular embodiment the separator includes a chamber 11 having inlets and outlets 12, 13 which together define a flow path 14. Axially extending tubes 15 are disposed in an array around the cross-section of the chamber 11 and the perforated baffle plate 18 divides the chamber 11 into top and bottom compartments 16, 17. Each tube contains a magnetic shuttle 19, which can be moved up and down the tube between separator and release positions using a pneumatic control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Nicholas Mark Alford, William Frederick Smith-Haddon
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Publication number: 20020117440Abstract: A spring filter element having a plurality of coils. The coils are pre-tensioned with the degree of pre-tension varied progressively along the length of the filter such that any part of the filter, in one vertical orientation of the element, supports the dependent remainder of the filter to maintain a closed coil state during normal use. This allows substantially equal opening of the filter gaps between the coils when the element is extended and submerged in fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: August 29, 2002Applicant: CROSS MANUFACTURING (1938) LIMITEDInventors: Edward Henry Cross, William Frederick Smith-Haddon, Peter Roy Smith
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Patent number: 6197192Abstract: A filtration apparatus includes an array of filters arranged in parallel about a rotatable assembly 24 for successively backwashing each of the filter elements 19 within the array. The rotatable assembly includes a connector bachwash shoe 26 and a cage having an annular circlip 33 supporting a valve element 31 therein. During normal filtration, water flows up the inlet tube 11, through a respective opening 17 into filtration chamber 13, and then through a respective filter element. The filtrate flows upwardly into plenum 16 and out through outlet 14. In a backwashing mode, the assembly 24 is rotated by a moving means that includes shaft 22 driven by a stepper motor 34 such that the valve element is radially unseated out of the backwash outlet 30. Each filter element is then backwashed in turn as an L-shaped passage 27 of the bachwash shoe is aligned with a respective opening 17 allowing backwash fluid to flow out opening 28a to the backwash outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Cross Manufacturing CompanyInventors: William Frederick Smith-Haddon, Thomas Damian Cross, Robert Francis Campbell