Brett A Miller

US Patent:

20210341734, Nov 4, 2021

Filed:

Apr 30, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/863988

Inventors:

- Waltham MA, US
Brett A. Miller - McKinney TX, US
Stephen T. Fasolino - McKinney TX, US

International Classification:

G02B 27/00
G02B 26/08

Abstract:

A deformable mirror can include a reservoir containing a ferrofluid. The deformable mirror can also include a reflective face sheet covering a front side of the reservoir such that a back side of the reflective face sheet is exposed to the ferrofluid. The reflective face sheet can have a reflective surface on a front side of the reflective face sheet opposite the back side. The reflective face sheet can have a non-uniform thickness between the front and back sides of the reflective face sheet to provide stiffness for the reflective face sheet. In addition, the deformable mirror can include one or more electromagnets operable to generate a magnetic field that acts on the ferrofluid to deform the reflective face sheet. A deformable mirror system can further include a control system operably coupled to the one or more electromagnets to control the magnetic field and thereby a deformation of the reflective face sheet.

US Patent:

20190264720, Aug 29, 2019

Filed:

Feb 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/905736

Inventors:

- Waltham MA, US
Brett A. Miller - McKinney TX, US

International Classification:

F16B 13/08

Abstract:

A radial expansion system for a fastener is disclosed. The radial expansion system can include a plurality of wedge guides. Each wedge guide can have at least one guide surface. The plurality of wedge guides can be operable to be movably arranged along an axis with the guide surfaces of adjacent wedge guides opposing one another. The radial expansion system can also include a plurality of expansion wedges. Each expansion wedge can have wedge surfaces configured to slidingly interface with the at least one guide surface. Each expansion wedge can also have a clamp surface operable to interface with an interior portion of a first component. The plurality of expansion wedges can be operable to be disposed between adjacent wedge guides such that the wedge surfaces interface with the opposing guide surfaces. A second component and the plurality of wedge guides can be operable to be drawn toward one another by a fastener to cause the plurality of expansion wedges to displace radially outward from the axis such that the clamping surfaces engage and apply a clamping force to the interior portion of the first component, and thereby couple the first and second components to one another.

US Patent:

20170291719, Oct 12, 2017

Filed:

Apr 7, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/093341

Inventors:

- Waltham MA, US
Brian M. Graue - McKinney TX, US
Brett A. Miller - Garland TX, US

International Classification:

B64D 47/08
F16F 15/067
B64C 39/02
F16M 13/02

Abstract:

A shock-resisting device includes a snubber that may be selectively moved from a retracted position to an engaged position to selectively create a stiff attachment between a vibration-isolated gimbal of the device, and an outer shell of the device. The gimbal is movable relative to the outer shell. The snubber includes a retainer maintaining the snubber in the retracted position, wherein the snubber is configured to move from the retracted position to the engaged position in response to loss of power to the retainer.