Abstract: An optical element includes a linear polarizer layer and a transparent optical layer. The linear polarizer layer includes surfaces waviness and the transparent optical layer smooths the surfaces waves of the linear polarizer layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including an LCD panel and a backlight. The backlight includes a plurality of light sources to emit light, and a reflective stack. The reflective stack is positioned to receive light emitted from the light sources and transmit the light to the LCD panel. The reflective stack includes optical elements providing a folded beam path for the light emitted from the light sources to the LCD panel. The light emitted from the light sources is diffused while propagating towards and away from the LCD panel along the folded beam path. The folded beam path has an optical distance that is longer than the spatial distance between the light sources and the LCD panel to improve light diffusion by the backlight without substantially increasing backlight thickness.

Abstract: A distortion calibration system generates a distortion map for a head-mounted display (HMD). The system includes a camera that takes pictures of a test pattern displayed by the HMD. The images are taken at different camera positions and/or states of the HMD. The system determines a distortion map using the captured images, and uploads it to the HMD as part of, e.g., an optical model. The HMD comprises an electronic display, an eye tracking unit, an optics block, and a module. The module estimates distortion values based on eye tracking information from the eye tracking unit, an optical model, and a state of the HMD (e.., a distance between the optics block and the electronic display). The module determines an adjusted state of the HMD using the estimated distortion values, the eye tracking information, and the optical model, and adjusts the state of the HMD to the adjusted state.

Abstract: A display includes a display pixel array and a light bending assembly. The display pixel array is configured to generate display light. The light bending assembly is disposed over the display pixel array to receive the display light and generate compensated display light. The light bending assembly bends a given ray of the display light based on an incidence position that the given ray of the display light becomes incident upon the light bending assembly.

Abstract: A headset includes a display block and an optics block. The display block includes a waveguide configured to receive light from a light source assembly, a plurality of extraction features that have a spatial distribution across one or more surfaces of the waveguide, wherein the plurality of extraction features out-couple light from the waveguide, and the spatial distribution is such that out-coupled light has a first non-uniform brightness distribution, and a display panel configured to modulate the out-coupled light to form image light, wherein the image light has a brightness distribution based in part on the first non-uniform brightness distribution. The optics block includes optical elements configured to direct the image light to an eyebox, and the optics block adds a second non-uniform brightness distribution that is offset by the first non-uniform brightness distribution, such that the image light directed to the eyebox has a target brightness distribution.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and/or systems for depth mapping. In one aspect, a method of depth mapping is performed at an apparatus including a projector, a camera, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes identifying one or more areas of interest in a scene in accordance with variation of depth in the scene as detected at a first resolution. The method also includes, for each area of interest: (1) applying, via the projector, a respective structured-light pattern to the area of interest; (2) capturing, via the camera, an image of the area of interest with the respective structured-light pattern applied to it; and (3) creating a respective depth map of the area of interest using the captured image, the respective depth map having a higher resolution than the first resolution.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and/or devices for directing flash illumination. In one aspect, a method is performed at a device including a camera, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes directing flash illumination to an identified area of interest in a scene by adjusting power supplied to respective elements of a flash array. The method further includes capturing, via the camera, an image of the scene as illuminated by the flash illumination.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including an LCD panel and a backlight. The backlight includes a plurality of light sources to emit light, and a reflective stack. The reflective stack is positioned to receive light emitted from the light sources and transmit the light to the LCD panel. The reflective stack includes optical elements providing a folded beam path for the light emitted from the light sources to the LCD panel. The light emitted from the light sources is diffused while propagating towards and away from the LCD panel along the folded beam path. The folded beam path has an optical distance that is longer than the spatial distance between the light sources and the LCD panel to improve light diffusion by the backlight without substantially increasing backlight thickness.

Abstract: A headset includes a display block and an optics block. The display block includes a waveguide configured to receive light from a light source assembly, a plurality of extraction features that have a spatial distribution across one or more surfaces of the waveguide, wherein the plurality of extraction features out-couple light from the waveguide, and the spatial distribution is such that out-coupled light has a first non-uniform brightness distribution, and a display panel configured to modulate the out-coupled light to form image light, wherein the image light has a brightness distribution based in part on the first non-uniform brightness distribution. The optics block includes optical elements configured to direct the image light to an eyebox, and the optics block adds a second non-uniform brightness distribution that is offset by the first non-uniform brightness distribution, such that the image light directed to the eyebox has a target brightness distribution.

Abstract: A display includes a display pixel array and a light bending assembly. The display pixel array is configured to generate display light. The light bending assembly is disposed over the display pixel array to receive the display light and generate compensated display light. The light bending assembly bends a given ray of the display light based on an incidence position that the given ray of the display light becomes incident upon the light bending assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating pixels or regions of a display panel includes a measuring device configured to measure a parameter of light emitted by one or more pixels of each region of the display panel. The apparatus includes a parameter comparator operably coupled to the measuring device and configured to select one or more pixels or one or more regions of the display panel such that the measured parameter of light emitted by the one or more pixels or the one or more regions exceeds a threshold value. The apparatus also includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam onto the selected one or more pixels or the selected one or more regions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a sonic signal from a beacon device at a mobile device, receiving a wireless signal from the beacon device at the mobile device, detecting a presence of an enclosure surrounding the beacon device by the mobile device based on a disparity between a normalized strength of the sonic signal and a normalized strength of the wireless signal, and determining whether the detected enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device by the mobile device.

Abstract: A Fresnel optical element includes a Fresnel surface formed in a material. The Fresnel surface includes a plurality of Fresnel feature that include an active surface and a draft surface. A light absorptive layer is selectively disposed over the draft surface of the Fresnel features. The light absorptive surface is configured to absorb a majority of visible light encountering the light absorptive layer.

Abstract: A method of providing display uniformity in a display apparatus comprises retrieving first calibration data representing display characteristics of a display panel of the display apparatus, the first calibration data representing luminance responses or color responses of both left and right panel regions of the display panel when corresponding pixels of both the left and right panel regions are supplied same input image data; receiving stereoscopic image data comprising left and right image data to be supplied to the left and right panel regions; and modifying the received stereoscopic image data in accordance with the first calibration data to display a stereoscopic image with a substantially same luminance response or substantially same color response in both the left panel region and right panel region when the first calibration data indicates discrepancy between the luminance response or color responses between corresponding pixels of the left and right panel regions.

Abstract: A distortion calibration system generates a distortion map for a head-mounted display (HMD). The system includes a camera that takes pictures of a test pattern displayed by the HMD. The images are taken at different camera positions and/or states of the HMD. The system determines a distortion map using the captured images, and uploads it to the HMD as part of, e.g., an optical model. The HMD comprises an electronic display, an eye tracking unit, an optics block, and a module. The module estimates distortion values based on eye tracking information from the eye tracking unit, an optical model, and a state of the HMD (e., a distance between the optics block and the electronic display). The module determines an adjusted state of the HMD using the estimated distortion values, the eye tracking information, and the optical model, and adjusts the state of the HMD to the adjusted state.

Abstract: A method for calibrating includes obtaining a head-mounted display device that includes an electronic display having an array of display elements and an array of beam steerers located over an inner left portion and an inner right portion of the electronic display. The method also includes obtaining alignment information by selecting a first respective subset of the array of display elements and causing it to emit light, and determining whether the light is received by a first optical sensor in a first position or a second optical sensor in a second position, thereby determining whether the first respective subset of the array of display elements is aligned for the first or the second optical sensor. The method also includes repeating the selecting, causing, and determining operations for a second subset of the array of display elements, and storing the alignment information for calibrating images for presentation by the electronic display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a sonic signal from a beacon device at a mobile device, receiving a wireless signal from the beacon device at the mobile device, detecting a presence of an enclosure surrounding the beacon device by the mobile device based on a disparity between a normalized strength of the sonic signal and a normalized strength of the wireless signal, and determining whether the detected enclosure complies with installation guidelines associated with the beacon device by the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for preparing a die for molding of a Fresnel lens includes obtaining a first die block that defines at least one or more portions of a Fresnel lens. The one or more portions defined in the first die block correspond to a plurality of slope facets and a plurality of draft facets. The method also includes adding textures to one or more portions of the first die block that correspond to at least a portion of the plurality of draft facets. A method of making a Fresnel lens includes obtaining the first die block, obtaining a second die block, and coupling the first and the second die blocks. The method also includes providing a molding material into a space defined between the first and the second die blocks, curing the molding material, and removing the Fresnel lens from the first and/or the second die block.

Abstract: An optical characterization system tests optical elements of head-mounted displays (HMD) such as lenses. The system emits a test pattern of light through an aperture of a hollow truncated cone. The hollow truncated cone may be rotated to different angles of test positions, for example, to mimic rotation of a human eye of a user wearing an HMD. The emitted light is refracted by a test lens and captured by a detector assembly. Using images captured by the detector assembly, the system determines one or more quality metrics of the test lens. Quality metrics may describe various types of optical aberrations, which may be determined as a function of the test positions (e.g., angle and/or position of the hollow truncated cone relative to the test lens). In addition, the system may generate an optical profile of the test lens using the quality metrics.

Abstract: Beacon devices transmit wireless beacon messages to alert an application on a mobile phone of the Beacon device's proximity. Contemplated beacon devices may also include an ultrasonic emitter and one or more microphones. The ultrasonic emitter may be used to complement other beacon operations, communicate information to a user mobile device, and monitor the beacon device's environment. Ultrasonic data may also be used to determine if a person or object is in proximity to the beacon device. Short echolocation travel times may be used to indicate that a user is “touching” the beacon device. Inter-beacon device communication may also be accomplished using the ultrasonic emitter.