With Additional Reflector (e.g., Serial Reflections, Etc.) Patents (Class 359/633)
  • Patent number: 11966058
    Abstract: An ultra-thin lens for augmented reality (AR) display includes: a primary lens, an intermediate lens, and a secondary lens. After entering the primary lens, image light undergoes two total reflections, then enters the intermediate lens and is partially reflected, then is directed to a human eye through the intermediate lens and the primary lens. The secondary lens is configured on the other side of the intermediate lens, and environmental light is directed to the human eye through the secondary lens, the intermediate lens, and the primary lens. According to the ultra-thin lens, total reflection and light splitting functions of the image light are realized respectively through the primary lens and the intermediate lens, so that the entire lens has a thin and light profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing NED+AR Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Yao, Yuhao Xiao, Dewen Cheng
  • Patent number: 11966057
    Abstract: Display systems, such as near eye display systems or wearable heads up displays, may include a laser projector having an optical switch assembly disposed an at input to an optical scanner of the laser projector. The optical switch assembly includes at least one optical switch, and a controller selectively modifies the orientation of each optical switch to selectively change an angle at which laser light is directed onto a scan mirror of the optical scanner. Changing this angle shifts the scan region over which the scan mirror scans the laser light and, relatedly, shifts a region of a field of view of the display. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to modify the optical switch orientation(s) to correct non-idealities in the angle of the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Adema
  • Patent number: 11960096
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes an image display unit (300a, 300b) configured to emit image light, a light guide member (100a, 100b) configured to guide the image light and emit the image light to eyes of a wearer who wears the head-mounted display device, and a relay optical system (201a, 201b) arranged between the image display unit and the light guide member, and configured to relay the image light from the image display unit to the light guide member, and form an intermediate image at least once before the image light enters the light guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Hirano, Yasuo Katano, Kenji Kameyama, Norikazu Igarashi, Satomi Tanaka, Naoki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11953695
    Abstract: It is provided the wearable electronic device including a skeletal member comprising a temple, a frame, and a bridge; a display fixed to the temple and configured to output visible light corresponding to a virtual image; a beam steering member comprising a liquid crystal and configured to adjust a direction of the visible light traveling from an exit pupil of the display to an input grating of an optical waveguide using the liquid crystal; the optical waveguide configured to adjust a path of the visible light and output the virtual image; an infrared output unit configured to output infrared light for tracking a gaze of a user; an infrared sensor configured to detect infrared light reflected from a pupil of the user; a bend sensor connected to the temple and the frame to measure a first bending state between the temple and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sungbin Hong, Yonghyun Park, Jongmin Yoon, Seungnyun Kim, Heonjun Ha, Junghee Hwang
  • Patent number: 11947123
    Abstract: An optical device, having at least first and second light-transmitting substrates, each having at least two external surfaces and an input aperture and an output aperture. The external surface of the first light-transmitting substrate is optically cemented to an external surface of the second light-transmitting substrate by an optical adhesive defining an interface plane. The refractive index of the optical adhesive is substantially lower than the refractive index of the first substrate. Part of the light waves entering the device through the input aperture and exiting the device through the output aperture impinge on the interface plane of the first substrate having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle. Another part of the light waves impinging on the interface plane have incidence angles higher than the critical angle. The interface plane is substantially transparent for the light waves impinging on interface plane having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: OORYM OPTICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yaakov Amitai, Nadav Amitai
  • Patent number: 11927830
    Abstract: Eyewear including a multi-layered display having an adhesive bonding the layers together at an offset distance inward from an outer edge of the layers. The display has an image display layer, such as an optical waveguide in one example, and a pair of layers encompassing the image display layer and which may comprise optically transparent substrates, such as glass. A respective adhesive is positioned the offset distance inward from the outer edge of the display layer between the image display layer and each of the pair of layers to reduce stress in the display. Each of the adhesives may be a continuous bead such that there is no adhesive between the pair of layers and the image display layer at the outer edges. In one example, the offset distance may be at least double the thickness of the image display layer to reduce stress in the image display layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventor: Benamanahalli K. Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 11908355
    Abstract: A projection method includes detecting a first section formed of a flat surface at a projection surface, detecting a second section formed of a concave surface at the projection surface, projecting image light in a first visual aspect onto the first section by a projector, and projecting image light in a second visual aspect different from the first visual aspect onto the second section by the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11906735
    Abstract: A head-up display device (10) includes one picture generation unit (20) that emits both first light (L1) and second light (L2) and includes an optical path adjuster (40) disposed in an optical path of at least one of the first light (L1) and the second light (L2) and having light transmission properties and substantially zero optical power. The optical path adjuster (40) gradually separates the first light (L1) and the second light (L2) as compared with a state before at least one of the first light (L1) and the second light (L2) enters the optical path adjuster (40) in such a manner that the first light (L1) creates a first virtual image (V1) in a position closer to an operator and the second light (L2) creates a second virtual image (V2) in a position farther from the operator than the first virtual image (V1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuri Hamada, Kazuomi Murakami, Takanobu Toyoshima, Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11892631
    Abstract: Disclosed are a near-eye display device and a near-eye display system. The excitation light source structure provides excitation light to the first waveguide structure, and the outgoing coupling grating structure corresponding to the first waveguide structure receiving the excitation light may be further irradiated by the excitation light, and be excited and output the light with a pixel color corresponding to the first waveguide structure. That is, the outgoing coupling grating structure corresponding to the first waveguide structure receiving the excitation light can derive the light with the corresponding pixel color emitted by the projection-based display, and be excited by the excitation light emitted by the excitation light source structure to output light with a pixel color corresponding to the first waveguide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoru Liu, Hongshu Zhang, Lianjie Qu, Xiaoling Xu, Jun Wu, Ruiyong Wang, Pingqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11874460
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a display device comprising a picture generating unit, a waveguide pupil expander and a viewer-tracking system. The picture generating unit comprises a first display channel, a second display channel and a controller. The first display channel is arranged to output first spatially-modulated light of a first colour. The first spatially-modulated light corresponds to a first picture. The second display channel is arranged to output second spatially-modulated light of a second colour. The second spatially-modulated light corresponding to a second picture. The controller is arranged to drive the first display channel and second display channel. The waveguide pupil expander comprises a pair of parallel reflective surfaces. The waveguide pupil expander defines an input port and a viewing window. The input port is arranged to receive the first spatially-modulated light and the second spatially-modulated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Envisics Lid
    Inventor: Jamieson Christmas
  • Patent number: 11846777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a diffractive waveguide display device comprising an image projector capable of emitting laser rays at one or more wavelengths, a waveguide body having a first surface and an opposite second surface and adapted to guide said laser rays from the image projector between the first surface and the second surface, an out-coupling diffractive optical element on said first surface for coupling said laser rays out of the waveguide body, and an anti-interference coating (35) arranged on the second surface of the waveguide body aligned with the out-coupling diffractive optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: DISPELIX OY
    Inventors: Juuso Olkkonen, Kasimir Blomstedt
  • Patent number: 11846776
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a head-up display apparatus further reduced in size, the head-up display apparatus having: an image display apparatus including a light source and a display element; and a virtual image optical system in which light emitted from the image display apparatus is reflected by a windshield or a combiner of the vehicle so that a virtual image is displayed in front of the vehicle, wherein the virtual image optical system has a concave mirror and a distortion correcting lens, and the distortion correcting lens is disposed between the image display apparatus and the concave mirror, the concave mirror is disposed in a housing including an outer case along a shape of an effective light path area of the image light from the image display apparatus, and the image display apparatus is attached to part of an outer periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Misawa, Nozomu Shimoda, Kazuomi Kaneko, Koji Hirata, Toshinori Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11835337
    Abstract: There is described an interferometer for use in an optical locker. The interferometer comprises at least two transparent materials having different thermal path length sensitivities. The interferometer is configured such that an input beam is split by the interferometer into first and second intermediate beams, which recombine to form an output beam, the first and second intermediate beams travelling along respective first and second intermediate beam paths which do not overlap. At least one of the intermediate beam paths passes through at least two of the transparent materials. A length of each intermediate beam path which passes through each transparent material is selected such that an optical path difference between the first and second intermediate beam path is substantially independent of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Lumentum Technology UK Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Perrin Janssen
  • Patent number: 11796799
    Abstract: A see-through head mounted display with controllable light blocking includes an optics module comprising a light source and image source positioned on a same side of an angled partially-reflective surface, wherein the light source projects light off the surface to the image source which reflects the light as image light to the surface which transmits the image light along a first axis. The display also includes a flat combiner positioned to reflect the image light off of a first side and simultaneously transmit incident light through the first and a second side, along an optical axis perpendicular to the first axis to provide a view of a displayed image overlaid onto a see-through view of the environment, and a controllable light blocking element arranged generally parallel to the flat combiner and in front of the second side to block light incident on the same optical axis as the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
    Inventor: John N. Border
  • Patent number: 11789270
    Abstract: An optical device including: a display device configured to display an image; and a lens including a plurality of reflectors that reflect the image from the display device to a first surface of the lens, wherein the plurality of reflectors include: a first reflector; and a second reflector having a size different from a size of the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Woo Park, Jae Joong Kwon, Ju Hwa Ha, Yong Seok Kim, Soo Min Baek, Ji Yeon Seo, Hyun Sup Lee, Su Bin Jung
  • Patent number: 11754839
    Abstract: A display module includes an image light generation device, a light-guiding member, a first reflection surface configured to reflect the imaging light incident via the light-guiding member, a first diffraction element configured to diffract the imaging light, and a second diffraction element configured to diffract the image light and form an exit pupil. The image light is sequentially incident on a first deflection surface, a second deflection surface, a second reflection surface, a third reflection surface, a fourth reflection surface, and a third deflection surface inside the light-guiding member, and a distance from a reference position where an optical axis of the exit pupil and an emission surface intersect to the second deflection surface is longer than a distance from the reference position to the first deflection surface and longer than a distance from the reference position to the second reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yonekubo, Mitsutaka Ide, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 11758119
    Abstract: A system for displaying a stereo image is disclosed. The system includes a stereoscopic head up display (HUD) that includes a combiner and a display configured to display a stereo image. The system further includes either a head tracking sensor or an eye tracking sensor configured to generate a tracking dataset. The system further includes a processor and a memory with instructions that cause the processor to receive the tracking dataset, generate a distortion map based on the tracking dataset and a distortion function, receive a media stereo image, generate a stereo signal based on the distortion map and the media stereo image, and transmit the stereo signal to the display. The system is capable of conveying an image to an operator in the absence of a relay lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Brown, Ian J. Bull, Tracy J. Barnidge, Daniel J. Henry
  • Patent number: 11750907
    Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are provided for taking high-magnification photographs confined to a small physical volume. In some embodiments the system is composed of at least one lens, one or more partially reflective elements, and a sensor. The partial reflectors reflect a portion of the light back and forth between them to allow a long path length for a portion of the light from the lens to the sensor which enables a high magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Edo Waks, Benjamin Shapiro
  • Patent number: 11740461
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a lens including a first surface and a plurality of side surfaces; a display device on a first side surface from among the plurality of side surfaces, the display device being configured to provide light to the first side surface; and a first reflector in the lens and configured to reflect the light provided by the display device after the light is reflected from a second side surface from among the plurality of side surfaces to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su Bin Jung, Jae Joong Kwon, Jeong Woo Park, Ju Hwa Ha
  • Patent number: 11719934
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to suppression of stray light in head worn computing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
    Inventor: John N. Border
  • Patent number: 11719876
    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: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Adrian Travis, Gang Li
  • Patent number: 11718178
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure having a head-up display, includes: a window that defines a cabin and is used as a reflector of the head-up display; and an image projection device that projects an image toward the window. An image projection surface of the window that is positioned closest to the cabin includes a prescribed image projection area onto which the image is projected and a surrounding area that surrounds the image projection area. Of the image projection area and the surrounding area of the image projection surface, only the surrounding area is formed with a moth-eye structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Kurihara, Kazuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11714287
    Abstract: A display device includes a display, an optical assembly, and a display-moving assembly connected to the display for moving the display between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the display outputs image light in a first direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly. When in the second position, the display is positioned away from the optical axis of the optical assembly. The display device also includes a partial reflector and a partial reflector-moving assembly connected to the partial reflector for moving the partial reflector between a third position and a fourth position. When the partial reflector is in the third position, the display is in the first position and the display is disposed between the optical assembly and the partial reflector. When the partial reflector is in the fourth position, the display is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Weichuan Gao, Kieran Connor Kelly, Stephen Choi
  • Patent number: 11709408
    Abstract: A device and system for augmenting the focal length of an electronic display. The device may comprise a display, a first mirror, a second mirror, and a lens. The display is operable to emit light corresponding to a first image in a first direction. The first mirror has a first focal length and is operable to reflect light from the first direction to a second direction. The second mirror has a second focal length and is operable to reflect light from the second direction to a third direction. The lens has a third focal length and is operable to transmit light from the third direction. Further, the light transmitted by the lens is viewable by a user as a second image. Additionally, the perceived distance from the user to the second image is greater than a distance from the user to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew D. Weller
  • Patent number: 11703689
    Abstract: Provided is a device configured to enlarge an exit pupil area of a visual optical apparatus, the device including a diffraction grating configured to output a plurality of diffracted light beams of a plurality of diffraction orders by diffracting an incident light beam, and a waveguide provided on the diffraction grating and configured to form an exit pupil based on a first diffracted light beam among the plurality of diffracted light beams output from the diffraction grating and to form exit pupil orders based on a second diffracted light beam among the plurality of diffracted light beams output from the diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Andrey N. Putilin, Aleksander V. Morozov, Vladislav V. Druzhin, Sergey E. Dubynin, Kseniia I. Lvova, Polina I. Malinina, Sergey S. Kopenkin, Yurii P. Borodin, Anastasiia S. Perevoznikova, Bongsu Shin, Sunil Kim
  • Patent number: 11675191
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an optical element useful in an optical device for illuminating the pupil of an eye, particularly for use with a head mountable display that can include eye-tracking. The optical device includes a light source and an optical element that transmits light, where light emitted from the light source is directed by the optical element toward the pupil of the eye, and attributes of the eye can then be detected by an optical sensor such as a camera. The light source can emit infrared light that is not visible to the human eye, so that world view images and/or combined digital images of the head-mountable display are not compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Timothy L. Wong, Kandyce M. Bohannon, Gilles J. Benoit
  • Patent number: 11669004
    Abstract: A light source optical system includes: a first optical system configured to guide a first light beam having a first wavelength emitted from a light source to a wavelength conversion element; the wavelength conversion element configured to convert the first light beam into a second light beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and emit the second light beam; and a second optical system through which the second light beam emitted from the light conversion element passes. The second optical system includes a light guide element configured to guide a portion of the second light beam from one end surface of the light guide element to the other end surface of the light guide element to separate the portion of the second light beam from the second light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hirakawa, Yohei Takano, Kasumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11662591
    Abstract: An optical subsystem for use in a display system or an imaging system comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces collectively arranged to provide variable control of device-internal path lengths of light coming to an imaging sensor or traveling a path to an eye of a viewer. The optical subsystem can be used to provide multiple images concurrently at different apparent depths as perceived by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BRELYON Inc.
    Inventors: Barmak Heshmat Dehkordi, Christopher Barsi, I-Hung Ting, Albert Redo Sanchez, Alok Ajay Mehta
  • Patent number: 11646792
    Abstract: An optical communications terminal including a polarizing element responsive to a first linearly polarized optical beam and rotating the first linearly polarized optical beam in a first linear direction, a beam separator responsive to and passing the first linearly polarized optical beam, and a circular polarizing element responsive to the first linearly polarized optical beam from the beam separator and circularly polarizing the first linearly polarized optical beam for transmission, where the circular polarizing element is switchable between two orthogonal switching states. The terminal receives a circularly polarized optical beam from another terminal and linearly polarizes the circularly polarized optical beam from the other terminal in a second linear direction that is orthogonal to the first linear direction and the beam separator directs the circularly polarized optical beam from the other terminal in a direction away from the polarizing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel W Lam, James M Zamel, Arthur B O'Connor, Donald G Heflinger
  • Patent number: 11644671
    Abstract: Within applications for Near-to-Eye (NR2I) displays, irrespective of whether they are for short-term, long-term, low vision, augmented reality, etc., there is a conflicting tradeoff between user comfort, ease of attachment, minimizing intrusiveness and aesthetics which must be concurrently balanced with and are often in conflict with providing an optical vision system within the NR2I display that provides the user with a wide field of view and high image resolution whilst also offering a large exit pupil for eye placement with sufficient eye clearance. Embodiments of the invention address these issues and provide a high performance optical system through the design of the optical eyepiece design to overcome these limitations within a bioptic configuration with laterally disposed displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: eSight Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Jones, James Benson Bacque, Robert Hilkes, Mehdi Arezoomand Ersdhadi, Mark Harris, Jon Pawson
  • Patent number: 11640065
    Abstract: An optical device, having at least first and second light-transmitting substrates, each having at least two external surfaces and an input aperture and an output aperture. The external surface of the first light-transmitting substrate is optically cemented to an external surface of the second light-transmitting substrate by an optical adhesive defining an interface plane. The refractive index of the optical adhesive is substantially lower than the refractive index of the first substrate. Part of the light waves entering the device through the input aperture and exiting the device through the output aperture impinge on the interface plane of the first substrate having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle. Another part of the light waves impinging on the interface plane have incidence angles higher than the critical angle. The interface plane is substantially transparent for the light waves impinging on interface plane having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: OORYM OPTICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yaakov Amitai, Nadav Amitai
  • Patent number: 11619835
    Abstract: Eyewear including a multi-layered display having an adhesive bonding the layers together at an offset distance inward from an outer edge of the layers. The display has an image display layer, such as an optical waveguide in one example, and a pair of layers encompassing the image display layer and which may comprise optically transparent substrates, such as glass. A respective adhesive is positioned the offset distance inward from the outer edge of the display layer between the image display layer and each of the pair of layers to reduce stress in the display. Each of the adhesives may be a continuous bead such that there is no adhesive between the pair of layers and the image display layer at the outer edges. In one example, the offset distance may be at least double the thickness of the image display layer to reduce stress in the image display layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventor: Benamanahalli K. Nagaraj
  • Patent number: 11586057
    Abstract: Eyewear including an optical functional member, control electronics, and a sealed electrical connective element connecting the electronics to the optical functional member. The connective element can directly connect the electronics to the optical functional member, or can connect through an intermediate contact, e.g., a plug-and-receptacle. The connective element can be muted from the electronics, around a rimlock of the eyewear to the optical functional member. The connective element can be a conductive compressible member, such as conductive rubber. In some embodiments, the connective element can be a multiconductor cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: E-Vision, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, William Kokonaski, Claudio Dalla Longa, Mark Graham, Joshua Haddock, Charles Willey, Tiziano Tabacchi, Martin Boch, Massimo Pinazza, Scott N. Richman, Volkan Ozguz
  • Patent number: 11586044
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compact optical device for augmented reality having a ghost image blocking function and a wide field of view. The compact optical device includes: an optical means configured to transmit at least part of real object image light therethrough toward the pupil of an eye of a user; a first reflective means disposed inside the optical means and configured to transfer the augmented reality image light output from an image output unit to a second reflective means; and a second reflective means disposed inside the optical means and to reflect the augmented reality image light, transferred from the first reflective means, and transfer the augmented reality image light to the pupil of the eye of the user, thereby providing an image for augmented reality to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: LETINAR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jeong Hun Ha
  • Patent number: 11550160
    Abstract: An off-axis optical combiner includes a parabolic lensing structure that selects collimated infrared image light received from an eyebox area for focusing to a focus of the off-axis optical combiner. Selecting the collimated infrared image light for focusing allows the parabolic lensing structure to form a same-sized image of an object having variable depth from the parabolic lensing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Qi Zhang, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11543884
    Abstract: An example non-transitory machine-readable medium includes instructions executable by a processor to capture a biometric signal from a biometric sensor at a headset that includes a stereoscopic display, capture a facial motion signal from a facial motion sensor associated with the headset, determine facial movement of a wearer of the headset based on the facial motion signal, apply a weight to the biometric signal based on the facial movement to obtain a weighted biometric signal, and use the weighted biometric signal to determine an emotional state of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mithra Vankipuram, Sarthak Ghosh, Kevin Lee Smathers, Rafael Antonio Ballagas
  • Patent number: 11526003
    Abstract: An optical system includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) (100) having a pair of parallel major external surfaces (102, 104) and a set of mutually-parallel reflector surfaces (106a, 106b, 106c) obliquely angled within the LOE. At least one of the reflector surfaces has high reflectivity for angles of incidence above 60 degrees to the normal and partial reflectivity for angles of incidence less than 35 degrees to the normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LUMUS LTD.
    Inventor: Eitan Ronen
  • Patent number: 11487115
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a head-up display apparatus further reduced in size, the head-up display apparatus having: an image display apparatus including a light source and a display element; and a virtual image optical system in which light emitted from the image display apparatus is reflected by a windshield or a combiner of the vehicle so that a virtual image is displayed in front of the vehicle, wherein the virtual image optical system has a concave mirror and a distortion correcting lens, and the distortion correcting lens is disposed between the image display apparatus and the concave mirror, the concave mirror is disposed in a housing including an outer case along a shape of an effective light path area of the image light from the image display apparatus, and the image display apparatus is attached to part of an outer periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Akio Misawa, Nozomu Shimoda, Kazuomi Kaneko, Koji Hirata, Toshinori Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11480722
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optical expander device with its display device, and a method of light output and image display, including a waveguide plate, the first optical diffractive in-coupling element, the first retrieval unit, the second retrieval unit, the second optical diffractive expander element, the third optical diffractive expander element, and the fourth optical diffractive out-coupling element. The fourth optical diffractive out-coupling element forms part of the first output light (OB4), by diffracting guided light, the third retrieval light (B3a), and the fourth retrieval light (B4a) to the same direction; simultaneously, the fourth optical diffractive out-coupling element diffracts the first direct-through light (B1b) and the second direct-through light (B2b) to the same direction, forming the other part of the first output light (OB4). This device of the present disclosure may greatly improve the uniformity of the intensity distribution of the output light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventors: Houqiang Jiang, Tapani Kalervo Levola, Yisheng Zhu, Yifan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11474299
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are wavelength-division multiplexing devices using different angles of incidence (AOIs) at the WDM filters to provide for variable placement and orientation of WDM filters and channel ports, thereby decreasing the device footprint and allowing for shorter overall optical signal paths to increase signal performance and reliability. Also disclosed are stacked WDM filters for increased signal isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Gui, Yao Li, Shudong Xiao, Andy Fenglei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11474371
    Abstract: A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: John Graham Macnamara
  • Patent number: 11467535
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including a light source configured to emit light, a spatial light modulator configured to provide a first image by modulating the light emitted from the light source, and an optical system configured to transmit the first image provided by the spatial light modulator to a viewer, wherein the optical system is configured such that a travelling path of the first image provided by the spatial light modulator includes a first optical path in a first direction, a second optical path in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a third optical path in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, respectively, and wherein the optical system is configured such that the first image and a second image provided from an optical path different from the travelling path of the first image are provided to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., EPICOPTIX
    Inventors: Wontaek Seo, Youngil Kim, Byeongsoo Son, Changkun Lee, Gyewon Seo, Geeyoung Sung
  • Patent number: 11442276
    Abstract: An optical device, having at least first and second light-transmitting substrates, each having at least two external surfaces and an input aperture and an output aperture. The external surface of the first light-transmitting substrate is optically cemented to an external surface of the second light-transmitting substrate by an optical adhesive defining an interface plane. The refractive index of the optical adhesive is substantially lower than the refractive index of the first substrate. Part of the light waves entering the device through the input aperture and exiting the device through the output aperture impinge on the interface plane of the first substrate having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle. Another part of the light waves impinging on the interface plane have incidence angles higher than the critical angle. The interface plane is substantially transparent for the light waves impinging on interface plane having incidence angles smaller than the critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: OORYM OPTICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yaakov Amitai, Nadav Amitai
  • Patent number: 11409107
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultra-thin optical component, including a mirror projection device and a reflector, where the mirror projection device is configured to refract image light symmetrically, then form a real image, and project the real image to the reflector, where the real image is located between a human eye and the reflector; and the reflector is configured to reflect the image light to the human eye. The present invention further provides a display device using the ultra-thin optical component and a virtual imaging method. By means of the ultra-thin optical component, the display device, and the imaging method in the present invention, an optical component is made thinner and lighter, and an image source display device is easier to configure and package, to achieve the appearance of ordinary glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING NED+AR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dewen Cheng, Qichao Hou, Qiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 11391889
    Abstract: A device for manipulating a light radiation by reflecting the light radiation multiple times on at least two reflecting surfaces of a monolithic block made of homogenous transparent material comprises a first and second zone on surfaces of the block for injecting the light radiation to be manipulated, and for extracting the light radiation after manipulation. At least one of the reflective surfaces is micro-structured to impart a determined spatial phase transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CAILabs
    Inventors: Guillaume Labroille, Bertrand Denolle, Olivier Pinel
  • Patent number: 11366316
    Abstract: A head up display can be used in compact environments. The head up display includes a combiner system including at least one light pipe and a waveguide. The at least one light pipe includes a turning grating or mirror array for providing light into the waveguide from the light pipe. An additional light pipe can also be provided. The combiner system can be headworn or stand-alone and can provide dual axis pupil expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Yu, Eric P. Stratton, Robert D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11237332
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optically transparent slab waveguide including first and second, mutually-parallel planar faces and an edge non-parallel to the planar faces. A radiation source directs a beam of optical radiation to enter the waveguide through the first planar face at an entrance location and entrance angle selected so that the beam subsequently exits the waveguide at an exit location in a surface selected from among the second planar face and the edge. A scanning mirror is positioned to receive the beam that has exited through the surface and to reflect the beam back through the surface into the waveguide while the scanning mirror rotates about an axis parallel to the surface over a range of angles selected so as to cause the beam, after reflection back into the waveguide through the surface, to propagate within the waveguide by total internal reflection (TIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Arman Hajati, Robert S. Upton, Yuval Gerson
  • Patent number: 11169358
    Abstract: A virtual scene may be projected onto a two-dimensional screen of a head mounted display. The two-dimension screen may be substantially perpendicular to a visual axis of a user wearing the head mounted display. A lens assembly of the projector may be adjusted to focus on a viewing portion of the virtual scene on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wei Rong
  • Patent number: 11119262
    Abstract: A optical device includes a waveguide plate, which includes an in-coupling element to form first guided light (B1) and a second guided light (B2) by diffracting input light (IN1), an expander element to form third guided light (B3) by diffracting the first guided light (B1), an out-coupling element to form first output light (OB3) by diffracting the third guided light (B3), a bypass element to form fourth guided light (B4) by diffracting the second guided light (B2), wherein the first guided light (B1) propagates in a first direction, the second guided light (B2) propagates in a second direction, and the angle ?12 between the first direction) and the second direction is in the range of 60° to 120°, wherein the out-coupling element includes one or more augmenting regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN OPTIARK SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Tapani Kalervo Levola, Houqiang Jiang, Yisheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11106040
    Abstract: To provide a wide eye box and are capable of displaying a video having uniform luminance, it is provided a video display apparatus comprising: a video projection unit configured to project video light; a video light replication unit configured to replicate the video light; and a light guiding unit configured to transmit the video light through an inside of the light guiding unit, wherein the video light replication unit is configured to transmit the video light emitted from the video projection unit to the light guiding unit, wherein the light guiding unit is configured to transmit the video light that has entered through the inside to output the video light, and wherein the video light replication unit is configured to replicate the video light that has entered the video light replication unit so that a luminance distribution of the video light output from the light guiding unit is uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI-LG DATA STORAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Ryuji Ukai, Toshiteru Nakamura, Takuma Kuno, Satoshi Ouchi