Facebook Patents

Facebook, Inc. operates a social media website and mobile app that enables people to connect, share and discover opinions, ideas, photos and videos. The company also owns Instagram, a mobile application for sharing photos and videos, as well as WhatsApp, a mobile messaging application.

Facebook Patents by Type
  • Facebook Patents Granted: Facebook patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Facebook Patent Applications: Facebook patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 11315329
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a plurality of points, wherein each point (1) corresponds to a spatial location associated with an observed feature of a physical environment and (2) is associated with a patch representing the observed feature, determining a density associated with each of the plurality of points based on the spatial locations of the plurality of points, scaling the patch associated with each of the plurality of points based on the density associated with the point, and reconstructing a scene of the physical environment based on at least the scaled patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Alexander Sorkine Hornung, Alessia Marra, Fabian Langguth, Matthew James Alderman
  • Patent number: 11309947
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) establishing a directional wireless link between a first computing device and a second computing device in a first direction, (2) exchanging, over the directional wireless link in the first direction, first data between the first computing device and the second computing device, (3) determining, via a sensor of the first computing device, a change to a position or an orientation of the first computing device, (4) redirecting, based on the change, the directional wireless link to a second direction, and (5) exchanging, over the directional wireless link in the second direction, second data between the first computing device and the second computing device. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Reza Tusi, Ohad Meitav
  • Patent number: 11308681
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, generating rays for casting into an artificial reality scene that includes one or more surfaces to determine whether the one or more surfaces are visible from a viewpoint. An origin and a trajectory of each ray are based on the viewpoint. The method includes applying a geometric transformation to the rays to modify their respective trajectory into the artificial reality scene. The geometric transformation is based on one or more distortion characteristics of a display system. The method includes determining, based on the modified trajectories of the rays, points of intersection of rays with the one or more surfaces in the artificial reality scene. The method includes providing, for display by the display system, color values generated based on the determined points of intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Larry Seiler, Alexander Nankervis, John Adrian Arthur Johnston, Jeremy Freeman
  • Patent number: 11306193
    Abstract: A method of forming a nanovoided composite polymer includes forming a resin-containing layer over a substrate, the resin-containing layer including a polymer-forming phase and a sacrificial phase, curing the polymer-forming phase to form a polymer matrix containing the sacrificial phase, and removing the sacrificial phase selectively with respect to the polymer matrix to form a nanovoided composite polymer including the polymer matrix and nanovoids dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. The nanovoids may be randomly or regularly dispersed throughout the matrix. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Austin Lane, Jack Lindsay, Katherine Marie Smyth, Thomas John Farrell Wallin, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Yigit Mengue
  • Patent number: 11307217
    Abstract: Described herein are accelerometers, apparatus and systems incorporating accelerometers, and techniques for controlling sensing operations in an accelerometer. In certain embodiments, an accelerometer is a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device including a proof mass, an anchor, a spring between the proof mass and the anchor, a drive electrode, and a sense beam. The anchor is located in an opening defined by a body of the proof mass. The spring and the proof mass form a spring system suspended from the anchor. The sense beam is configured to oscillate at a particular resonance frequency that changes according to a force generated by movement of the proof mass in response to acceleration. In some embodiments, a support structure couples the anchor to the spring and operates as a stress decoupling area that prevents or limits propagation of stress from the anchor to the sense beam and the spring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Doruk Senkal, Yuri Toride
  • Patent number: 11307647
    Abstract: This disclosure describes an artificial reality system that presents artificial reality content or artificial reality effects based on, or in response to, interactions with one or more physical objects within a physical environment. In one example, this disclosure describes a method that includes determining that a user has performed a trigger action on a trigger object; responsive to determining that the user has performed the trigger action, generating artificial reality content; presenting the artificial reality content on a display associated with a head-mounted display; determining that the user has performed a de-trigger action; and responsive to determining that the user has performed the de-trigger action, discontinuing presentation of the artificial reality content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lars Anders Bond, Christopher John Ocampo, Stefano Zanetti
  • Patent number: 11308972
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a system for reducing wind noise. A system includes one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to obtain signals respectively generated from two or more microphones during a time period, the signals representing acoustic energy detected by the two or more microphones during the time period, determine a coherence between the signals, and determine a filter based on the coherence. The filter is configured to reduce wind noise in one or more of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gongqiang Yu, Michael Smedegaard, Tetsuro Oishi
  • Patent number: 11307357
    Abstract: Techniques for overcoating slanted structures and devices obtained using the techniques are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming an overcoat layer on a surface-relief structure on a substrate includes receiving the substrate with the surface-relief structure. The surface-relief structure includes a plurality of ridges slanted with respect to the substrate, and a plurality of grooves each between two adjacent ridges. The method further includes depositing, in each cycle of a plurality of cycles, a uniform layer of an overcoat material on surfaces of the plurality of ridges and bottoms of the plurality of grooves. The deposited layers of the overcoat material and the plurality of ridges collectively form a light-coupling structure on the substrate. A surface of the overcoat layer is planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Nihar Ranjan Mohanty
  • Patent number: 11307654
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to eye illumination for eye tracking in a near-eye display system. One example of an eye illumination system includes a substrate transparent to visible light and infrared light and configured to be placed in front of an eye of a user, and a shortwave-pass filter on a first surface of the substrate. The shortwave-pass filter includes regions configured to transmit visible light and reflect infrared light in ambient light, and a plurality of windows configured to transmit both visible light and infrared light in the ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qi Zhang, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Robin Sharma, Brian Wheelwright, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 11308698
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may generate and display a virtual reality environment to a user. The computing system may determine a head pose of the user based on headset tracking data associated with a headset worn by the user. The computing system may determine a hand pose of the user based on hand tracking data associated with a device held or worn by a hand of the user. The computing system may access scene information associated with the displayed virtual reality environment. The computing system may determine a predicted focal point of the user within the virtual reality environment by processing the head pose, the hand pose, and the scene information using a machine-learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Kara Emery, Marina Zannoli, Lei Xiao
  • Patent number: 11307415
    Abstract: An optical system for a head mounted display (HMD) includes a display layer, an illumination layer, an optical combiner, and an active optics block. The display layer is configured to emit display light and the illumination layer includes an array of point light sources configured to emit calibration light. The optical combiner is configured to pass the display light to a front side of the optical system and to direct the calibration light to a camera. The active optics block includes an adjustable lens disposed between the illumination layer and the optical combiner, where the adjustable lens is configured to pass the calibration light to the optical combiner and to focus the display light for a user of the HMD. The active optics block is further configured to adjust an optical power of the adjustable lens based on a calibration image captured by the camera responsive to the calibration light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Katherine Marie Smyth, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao
  • Patent number: 11309464
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to micro light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) for a display system. A display system includes an array of micro light emitting diodes (micro-LEDs), an array of output couplers optically coupled to the array of micro-LEDs and configured to extract light emitted by respective micro-LEDs in the array of micro-LEDs, a waveguide display, and display optics configured to couple the light emitted by the array of micro-LEDs and extracted by the array of output couplers into the waveguide display. Each output coupler in the array of output couplers is configured to direct a chief ray of the light emitted by a respective micro-LED in the array of micro-LEDs to a different respective direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Lutgen, François Gérard Franck Olivier, Vasily Zabelin, William Padraic Henry, Markus Broell, Thomas Lauermann, David Massoubre, Daniel Bryce Thompson, Michael Grundmann
  • Patent number: 11307347
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a spatial light modulator includes a light source and an optical element. The light source is configured to provide illumination light. The optical element has a first surface, a second surface that is distinct from and non-parallel to the first surface, and a third surface that is distinct from and non-parallel to the first surface and the second surface. The optical element is configured to receive the illumination light at the first surface, propagate the illumination light via total internal reflection, and output the illumination light from the third surface. Also disclosed is a method performed by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Adrian Travis, Gang Li
  • Patent number: 11308284
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a user input from a user from a client system associated with the user, wherein the client system comprises one or more cameras, determining one or more points of interest in a field of view of the one or more cameras based on one or more machine-learning models and sensory data captured by the one or more cameras, generating a plurality of media files based on the one or more points of interest, wherein each media file is a recording of at least one of the one or more points of interest, generating one or more highlight files based on the plurality of media files, wherein each highlight file comprises a media file that satisfies a predefined quality standard, and sending instructions for presenting the one or more highlight files to the client system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Lisa Xiaoyi Huang, Eric Xiao, Nicholas Michael Andrew Benson, Yating Sheng, Zijian He
  • Patent number: 11308920
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may access an image to be displayed by a display. The system may determine one or more characteristics associated with a content of the image. The one or more characteristics may include a spatial frequency of the content in a spatial frequency domain. The system may determine a display persistence time period for the display to display the image based on the one or more characteristics associated with the content of the image. The system may configure the display to display the image using the display persistence time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Alexander Goettker, Thomas Scott Murdison, Kevin James MacKenzie, Larry Seiler
  • Patent number: 11305180
    Abstract: A capacitive sensing assembly comprises a nonconductive interface material, a conductive plastic, an electrode, and a controller. The capacitive sensing assembly is configured to detect a proximity of skin to the nonconductive interface material. The nonconductive interface material comprises a first surface and a second surface that are opposite one another. The first surface receives contact with the skin. The conductive plastic is coupled to the second surface of the interface material. The electrode is electrically coupled to the conductive plastic and configured to provide an electrical signal. The electrical signal corresponds to a surface capacitance of the nonconductive interface material that is based in part on the conductive plastic, the nonconductive interface material, and the proximity of the skin to the interface material. The controller determines the proximity of the skin based on the electrical signal that corresponds to the surface capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond Louis Nicoli
  • Patent number: 11298623
    Abstract: The disclosed handheld controller may include a handle shaped and sized to be gripped by a user's hand and a battery compartment in the handle. The battery compartment may be configured to receive a replaceable battery that has a first end portion with a negative terminal and a second, opposite end portion with a positive terminal. The battery compartment may include a spring-loaded negative contact for electrically coupling to the negative terminal of the battery and a spring-loaded positive contact for electrically coupling to the positive terminal of the battery. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Chin Yuan Cheng, Raymond Louis Nicoli, Balaji Chelladurai
  • Patent number: 11303816
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a strap, a base connected to the strap, a display detachably connected to the base, and a camera embedded within the display. The display is configured to rotate around a perimeter of the base to adjust the orientation of the camera with respect to the base. Rotating the display allows the camera to capture one or more fields-of-view at different positions with respect to the base. In some embodiments, the display includes two or more cameras having distinct lenses. In some embodiments, the lenses of the two or more cameras are macro lenses, prime telephoto lenses, optical zoom lenses, or normal lenses. In some embodiments, the wearable device includes a second alternative display having one or more embedded second cameras. The second display is configured to detachably couple to the base after detaching the first display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ingrid Anda Cotoros
  • Patent number: 11300793
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine a barycentric coordinate system associated with a target color value for a target image region. The system may determine barycentric weights for the target color value with respect to vertices of the barycentric coordinate system. The system may determine a number of pixel groups for the target image region based on the barycentric weights of the target color value and a dithering mask satisfying a spatial stacking constraint. Each pixel group may be associated with a color of a color space associated with the vertices of the barycentric coordinate system. The system may generate an image including the target image region by assigning pixels in the pixel groups to associated colors, respectively. The average color value of the target image region may substantially equal to the target color value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: Edward Buckley
  • Patent number: 11302841
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method for fabricating a light-emitting-diode (LED). A metal layer is deposited on a p-type semiconductor. The p-type semiconductor is on an n-type semiconductor. The metal layer is patterned to define a p-metal. The p-type semiconductor is etched using the p-metal as an etch mask. Similarly, the n-type semiconductor is etched using the p-metal and the p-type semiconductor as an etch mask to define individual LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Celine Claire Oyer, Allan Pourchet
  • Patent number: 11302063
    Abstract: A 3D conversation system can facilitate 3D conversations in an augmented reality environment, allowing conversation participants to appear as if they are face-to-face. The 3D conversation system can accomplish this with a pipeline of data processing stages, which can include calibrate, capture, tag and filter, compress, decompress, reconstruct, render, and display stages. Generally, the pipeline can capture images of the sending user, create intermediate representations, transform the representations to convert from the orientation the images were taken from to a viewpoint of the receiving user, and output images of the sending user, from the viewpoint of the receiving user, in synchronization with audio captured from the sending user. Such a 3D conversation can take place between two or more sender/receiving systems and, in some implementations can be mediated by one or more server systems. In various configurations, stages of the pipeline can be customized based on a conversation context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Keith Cabral, Albert Parra Pozo
  • Patent number: 11302085
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to creating and administering artificial reality collaborative working environments and providing interaction modes for them. An XR work system can provide and control such artificial reality collaborative working environments to enable, for example, A) links between real-world surfaces and XR surfaces; B) links between multiple real-world areas to XR areas with dedicated functionality; C) maintaining access, while inside the artificial reality working environment, to real-world work tools such as the user's computer screen and keyboard; D) various hand and controller modes for different interaction and collaboration modalities; E) use-based, multi-desk collaborative room configurations; and F) context-based auto population of users and content items into the artificial reality working environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James LeBeau, Manuel Ricardo Freire Santos, Aleksejs Anpilogovs, Alexander Sorkine Hornung, Bjorn Wanbo, Connor Treacy, Fangwei Lee, Federico Ruiz, Jonathan Mallinson, Jonathan Richard Mayoh, Marcus Tanner, Panya Inversin, Sarthak Ray, Sheng Shen, William Arthur Hugh Steptoe, Alessia Marra, Gioacchino Noris, Derrick Readinger, Jeffrey Wai-King Lock, Jeffrey Witthuhn, Jennifer Lynn Spurlock, Larissa Heike Laich, Javier Alejandro Sierra Santos
  • Patent number: 11300833
    Abstract: An optical diffuser includes optically anisotropic molecules arranged in a predefined configuration such that the optical diffuser diffuses first light having a first polarization and transmits second light having a second polarization that is different from the first polarization upon receiving the second light. In addition to polarization selectivity, the optical diffuser may also exhibit wavelength selectivity and/or incident angle selectivity. A method of diffusing light using the optical diffuser and a method of making the optical diffuser are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mengfei Wang, Gang Li, Lu Lu, Yunqi Li
  • Patent number: 11302844
    Abstract: A laser light is used to modify the surface of the gallium semiconductor layer of an LED. The parameters of the laser are selected so that the laser interacts with the gallium semiconductor layer in a desired manner to yield the desired surface properties. For example, if a particular surface roughness is desired, the power of the laser light is selected so that the laser light penetrates the gallium semiconductor layer to a depth matching the desired surface roughness. The same principles can also be applied in a process that creates features such as trenches, pits, lenses, and mirrors on the gallium semiconductor layer of an LED. The laser projector is operated to irradiate a region of the gallium semiconductor layer to create a region of metallic gallium. The desired surface roughness and the different features can advantageously improve the beam collimation, light extraction, and other properties of the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technlogies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Pourchet, Vincent Brennan
  • Patent number: 11301545
    Abstract: Disclosed herein includes a system, a method, and a device for multiply-accumulate operation. In one aspect, an input operand is received by control circuitry. In one aspect, the control circuitry determines a sparsity of the input operand, where the sparsity may indicate whether a value of the input operand has a predetermined value or not. In one aspect, the control circuitry determines a stationarity of the input operand, where the stationarity may indicate whether the value of the input operand changes over one or more clock cycles. In one aspect, the input operand is provided to multiply-accumulate circuitry as an input, according to the determined sparsity and stationarity of the input operand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Liangzhen Lai
  • Patent number: 11300999
    Abstract: An artificial-reality headset assembly includes an artificial-reality headset, a battery pack, and a plurality of head straps. One end of each of the head straps is coupled to the artificial-reality headset and the respective opposite end is coupled to the battery pack. The plurality of head straps includes one or more side straps configured to be worn around a user's head. The battery pack is located in proximity to a posterior portion of the user's head when the artificial-reality headset is worn. The position and weight of the battery pack function to counterbalance weight of the artificial-reality headset, creating a symmetric balance along an axis of the user's head and maintaining the position of the battery pack regardless of adjustment to the one or more side straps. In some embodiments, the plurality of head straps includes an overhead strap (e.g., an adjustable ergonomic strap).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Kadirvel, Jason Howard, Myuran Kangatharalingam
  • Patent number: 11302234
    Abstract: A display device has an image processing unit that determines an error for a pixel location that is based on the difference between an input color dataset and an output color dataset. The error is fed back to the image processing unit to propagate and spread across other neighboring pixel locations. In generating the output color dataset, an error-modified dataset that includes the input dataset and the error may first be generated. The error-modified dataset is examined to ensure the color values fall within the display gamut. The color dataset is also quantized and dithered to make the output dataset having a bit depth that is compatible with what the light emitters can support. Lookup tables and transformation matrices may also be used to account for any potential color shifts of the light emitters due to different driving conditions such as driving currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Edward Buckley
  • Patent number: 11294278
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a nano-sized structure in a resin element by nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The method reduces adhesive failure during NIL demolding by forming a layer of polymerization inhibiting compound at the interface of the resin element and template. The resin element is made with a mixture of a polymerization inhibiting compound (e.g., a perfluorinated compound) and a resin (e.g., a fluorine resin). The method includes aging the resin element to promote migration of the polymerization inhibiting compound to an interface of the resin element with air. The method also includes pressing a surface of a template having a nano-sized pattern onto the surface of the resin element exposed to the air to form the nano-sized structure in the resin element. The method further includes curing the resin element after the nano-sized structure is formed and then removing the template from the resin element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Austin Lane, Tingling Rao
  • Patent number: 11295503
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to creating interactive avatars that can be pinned as world-locked artificial reality content. Once pinned, an avatar can interact with the environment according to contextual queues and rules, without active control by the avatar owner. An interactive avatar system can configure the avatar with action rules, visual elements, and settings based on user selections. Once an avatar is configured and pinned to a location by an avatar owner, when other XR devices are at that location, a central system can provide the avatar (with its configurations) to the other XR device. This allows a user of that other XR device to discover and interact with the avatar according to the configurations established by the avatar owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Campbell Orme, Matthew Adam Hanson, Daphne Liang, Matthew Roberts, Fangwei Lee, Bryant Jun-Yao Tang
  • Patent number: 11294187
    Abstract: A device for redirecting light in two dimensions (2D) includes a wavelength-tunable light source for providing light having a spectral component at a first wavelength. A 1D redirector redirects the light in a first plane. A thin waveguide is disposed in the first plane. The thin waveguide includes a slab waveguide portion coupled to the 1D redirector for propagating light redirected by the 1D redirector. The slab waveguide portion includes a wavelength-sensitive out-coupler out-coupling the light in a second plane at an angle dependent on the first wavelength. Thus, the light is redirected in two dimensions. A display device providing image in angular domain may be based on the device for redirecting light in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Giuseppe Calafiore, Alexander Koshelev
  • Patent number: 11296268
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) array is formed by bonding an LED substrate to a backplane substrate via magnetized interconnects. The backplane substrate may include circuits for driving the LED array, and each of the magnetized interconnects electrically connect a LED device to a corresponding circuit of the backplane substrate. The magnetized interconnects may be formed by electrically connecting first structures protruding from the backplane substrate to second structures protruding from the LED substrate. At least one of the first structure and the second structure includes ferromagnetic material configured to secure the first structure to the second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Sengül, Oscar Torrents Abad, Daniel Brodoceanu, Zheng Sung Chio, Jeb Wu, Chao Kai Tung, Tennyson Nquty, Allan Pourchet
  • Patent number: 11294184
    Abstract: Various embodiments set forth a foveated display system and components thereof. The foveated display system includes a peripheral display module disposed in series with a foveal display module. The peripheral display module is configured to generate low-resolution, large field of view imagery for a user's peripheral vision. The foveal display module is configured to perform foveated rendering in which high-resolution imagery is focused towards a foveal region of the user's eye gaze. The peripheral display module may include a diffuser that is disposed within a pancake lens, which is a relatively compact design. The foveal display module may include a Pancharatnam-Berry Phase grating stack that increases the steering range of a beam-steering device such that a virtual image can be steered to cover an entire field of view visible to the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Gang Li, Seungjae Lee, Mengfei Wang
  • Patent number: 11296274
    Abstract: An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Spann, Eric Schmitt, Nagi Elabbasi, Kenneth Diest, Katherine Marie Smyth, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11296266
    Abstract: In a flip-chip LED assembly having an array of LEDs formed on the same substrate, different LEDs of the array have different distances to the n-contacts of the assembly. This may cause current crowding as current has to spread from the n-contacts through the substrate to each the farthest LEDs of the LED array, requiring LEDs that are farther away to be driven with a higher voltage in order to receive a desired amount of current. To spread current more evenly through the LED assembly and reduce a voltage difference between the closest and farthest LEDs of the array, a current spreading layer having a conductive material (e.g., a conductive oxide) is formed on a surface of the substrate of the LED assembly. The current spreading layer may be a bulk layer or be patterned to increase light extraction from the LEDs of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christophe Antoine Hurni, John Michael Goward, Chloe Astrid Marie Fabien
  • Patent number: 11294137
    Abstract: Aspects of an optical element are provided herein for use in an optical assembly. The optical element may include an optical substrate, an optical component (e.g., a lens), and a plurality of alignment features. The optical component is configured to receive light and is included in a middle region of the optical substrate. The alignment features are included in a periphery region on a surface of the optical substrate. The alignment features are configured to contact a corresponding plurality of alignment features included in another optical element of the optical assembly to provide a kinematic coupling between the optical element and the other optical element for aligning the optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander Sohn
  • Patent number: 11294475
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein disclose methods and systems directed to input mode selection in artificial reality. In some implementations, various input modes enable a user to perform precise interactions with a target object without occluding the target object. Some input modes can include rays that extend along a line that intersects an origin point, a control point, and an interaction point. An interaction model can specify when the system switches between input modes, such as modes based solely on gaze, using long or short ray input, or with direct interaction between the user's hand(s) and objects. These transitions can be performed by evaluating rules that take context factors such as whether a user's hands are in view of the user, what posture the hands are in, whether a target object is selected, and whether a target object is within a threshold distance from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Etienne Pinchon, Jennifer Lynn Spurlock, Nathan Aschenbach, Gerrit Hendrik Hofmeester, Roger Ibars Martinez, Christopher Alan Baker, Chris Rojas
  • Patent number: 11297286
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises two cameras and a processor. A first camera comprises a first grid of pixels configured to detect light in a broadband channel and a plurality of clusters of color filters sparsely arranged over the first grid of pixels. Each color filter passes light in a color channel to the grid of pixels. A second camera comprises a second grid of pixels configured to detect light in a broadband channel. The processor is configured to generate an aggregate image by combining a first image captured by the first camera and a second image captured by the second camera. The processor is also configured to add color values to the aggregate image based on color data captured by the first camera with the clusters of color filters. Additionally, the processor is configured to present the aggregate image with added color values on an electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Bikumandla, Andrew Matthew Bardagjy
  • Patent number: 11296253
    Abstract: A emitting diode (LED) includes an epitaxial structure defining a base and a mesa on the base. The base defines a light emitting surface of the LED and includes current spreading layer. The mesa includes a thick confinement layer, a light generation area on the thick confinement layer to emit light, a thin confinement layer on the light generation area, and a contact layer on the thin confinement layer, the contact layer defining a top of the mesa. A reflective contact is on the contact layer to reflect a portion of the light emitted from the light generation area, the reflected light being collimated at the mesa and directed through the base to the light emitting surface. In some embodiments, the epitaxial structure grown on a non-transparent substrate. The substrate is removed, or used to form an extended reflector to collimate light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Lutgen, David Massoubre
  • Patent number: 11294430
    Abstract: A media device may include (i) a display device having a front side including a display surface, (ii) a support housing for supporting the display device in each of a plurality of alternative orientations on an external surface, the support housing extending from a back side of the display device between a mounting surface of the support housing abutting the back side of the display device and a distal end of the support housing, (iii) a coupling member disposed at the mounting surface of the support housing and mounted to the display device, and (iv) a battery power supply disposed within the support housing and electrically coupled to the display device via an electrical path extending through the coupling member. Various other systems, devices, assemblies, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Wesley Bristol, Chunli Chen
  • Patent number: 11287885
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of artificial reality wearables may include a wearable dimensioned to be donned by a user of an artificial reality system. The apparatus may also include a sensor incorporated into the wearable. The sensor may detect physical interactions between the wearable and at least one specific body part of the user. The apparatus may further include a processing device communicatively coupled to the sensor. The processing device may determine, based at least in part on one or more physical interactions between the wearable and the specific body part of the user, a change in a position of the wearable relative to the specific body part of the user. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wolf Kienzle, Hrvoje Benko, Joseph Davis Greer, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Raymond King, Yanjun Ma
  • Patent number: 11287648
    Abstract: A near-eye optic includes a substrate having a clear aperture for propagating light. An inconspicuous electrical circuit is supported by the substrate in the clear aperture of the substrate. The inconspicuous electrical circuit includes a plurality of inconspicuous conductive traces disposed in an inconspicuous pattern and electrically coupled to a plurality of inconspicuous electrical components. The inconspicuous pattern may include e.g. an asymmetric pattern, an aperiodic pattern, a pseudo-random pattern, a meandering pattern, a periodic pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations, or a non-rectangular pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Robin Sharma, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Andrew Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11288543
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may capture one or more images of an object using one or more cameras. The system may detect features of the object depicted in the one or more images. The system may compute, based on the detected features in the one or more images, depth measurements for the object. The system may generate confidence scores associated with the depth measurements. The system may refine the computed depth measurements of the object by processing the depth measurements, the associated confidence scores, and at least one of the one or more images using a machine-learning model trained to refine depth measurements. The trained machine-learning model is configured to process one or more input images to refine the processed depth measurements in the input images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: Andrey Tovchigrechko
  • Patent number: 11287656
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for aligning a collimator assembly with an array of LEDs. According to certain embodiments, a method includes using lithography to form a first plurality of contact pads and a second plurality of contact pads on a backplane; bonding a plurality of dies to the first plurality of contact pads, wherein each of the plurality of dies comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes; forming a first plurality of features on the second plurality of contact pads; and aligning a plurality of lenses on an assembly with the plurality of dies by coupling a second plurality of features on the assembly with the first plurality of features on the second plurality of contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rajendra D. Pendse
  • Patent number: 11288503
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting an image based on pupil size are disclosed. Particularly, a system for adjusting an image being presented on a display includes a processor. The processor is configured to identify a size of a pupil of a user viewing an image presented on the display, determine an intensity map based at least on the size of the pupil, and adjust the intensity values of at least a portion of the image using the intensity map. The intensity map indicates an amount of adjustment to intensity values of at least a portion of the image being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Barry David Silverstein, Bo Zhang, Yijing Fu
  • Patent number: 11290837
    Abstract: A system that uses persistent sound source selection to augment audio content. The system comprises one or more microphones coupled to a frame of a headset. The one or more microphones capture sound emitted by sound sources in a local area. The system further comprises an audio controller integrated into the headset. The audio controller receives sound signals corresponding to sounds emitted by sound sources in the local area. The audio controller further updates a ranking of the sound sources based on eye tracking information of the user. The audio controller further selectively applies one or more filters to the one or more of the sound signals according to the ranking to generate augmented audio data. The audio controller further provides the augmented audio data to a speaker assembly for presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Owen Brimijoin, II, Nils Thomas Fritiof Lunner, Nava K. Balsam
  • Patent number: 11288788
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine, for a pixel, a sampling location within a texture that comprises a plurality of texels, and based on the sampling location, select a set of texels in the plurality of texels. Each texel in the set of texels may encode a distance field. An interpolated distance field associated with the sampling location may be computed based on the distance fields associated with the set of texels. The interpolated distance field may represent a relative distance between the sampling location and a texture edge. According to a blending proportion based on the interpolated distance field, the computing system may determine a blended color for the sampling location by blending, a first and second color associated with a first side of the edge and a second side of the edge, and output a color for the pixel based on the blended color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: Larry Seiler
  • Patent number: 11280956
    Abstract: A waveguide includes an input area, a multi-layered substrate, and an output area. The multi-layered substrate includes a plurality of layers of at least a substrate and at least one partially reflective layers. The input area in-couples light in a first band into the waveguide. The one or more partially reflective layers are partially reflective to light in the first band. Each of the one or more partially reflective layers are located between respective layers of the plurality of layers of the substrate. The output area out-couples light from the waveguide. The pupil replication density of the out-coupled light is based in part on a number of the one or more partially reflective layers and respective locations of the one or more partially reflective layers in the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maxwell Parsons, Giuseppe Calafiore, Wanli Chi
  • Patent number: 11281293
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods are generally directed to providing a musculoskeletal representation of a hand. The system comprises one or more neuromuscular sensors configured to record a plurality of neuromuscular signals from a user and at least one computer processor. The computer processor is programmed to provide the plurality of neuromuscular signals as input to one or more trained inference models. The one or more trained inference models may include a smoothing function such as a loss function, such as a total variation loss function, a finite difference loss function, or another suitable loss function, to generate a temporally smooth output based on the processed neuromuscular signals. The computer processor is further programmed to determine the musculoskeletal representation of the hand based on the temporally smooth output. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Xavier Hernández, Daniel Wetmore
  • Patent number: 11281008
    Abstract: An electronic display assembly includes a display element and a corrective element coupled to the display element. The display element has a first plurality of sub-pixels of a first type and a second plurality of sub-pixels of a second type. Two adjacent sub-pixels of the first plurality of sub-pixel are separated by a sub-pixel distance. The corrective element has a plurality of features configured to diffuse light emitted by the first plurality of sub-pixels such that an apparent distance between the two adjacent sub-pixels of the first type, viewed at a viewing distance away from the electronic display assembly, is less than the sub-pixel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Alexander Sohn, Matthew E. Colburn
  • Patent number: 11280997
    Abstract: A beam scanner of a near-eye display includes a pair of tiltable reflectors and a beam-folding pupil relay coupling the tiltable reflectors optically together. The beam-folding pupil relay includes a beamsplitter for receiving the light beam reflected by the first tiltable reflector, and a first curved reflector for receiving the light beam from the beamsplitter, and for reflecting the light beam back towards the beamsplitter. The beam-folded pupil relay is configured to couple the light beam reflected by the first curved reflector to the second tiltable reflector. A second curved reflector may be provided for coupling the light beam scanned by the tiltable reflectors to a pupil-replicating waveguide. A controller may be provided for scanning the light beam in coordination with operating the light source at varying levels of brightness or color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Weichuan Gao