Patents Assigned to Facebook Technologies, LLC
  • Patent number: 11240488
    Abstract: A volumetric display may include a two-dimensional display; a varifocal optical system configured to receive image light from the two-dimensional display and focus the image light; and at least one processor configured to: control the two-dimensional display to cause a plurality of sub-frames associated with an image frame to be displayed by the display, wherein each sub-frame of the plurality of sub-frames includes a corresponding portion of image data associated with the image frame; and control the varifocal optical system to a corresponding focal state for each respective sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Afsoon Jamali, Yang Zhao, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Lu Lu, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11237397
    Abstract: A scanning display includes a light source and a scanning assembly. The light source is configured to emit source light from a plurality of rows of emitters that are arranged parallel to a first dimension. The scanning assembly includes at least one optical element that conditions the source light. The scanning assembly is configured to scan the conditioned source light along a second dimension that is orthogonal to the first dimension. The scanning assembly configured to output the scanned light over a portion of a target area of an output waveguide. And a brightness of the scanned image light offsets dimming caused by the output waveguide expanding the scanned light in at least one dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanli Chi, Yijing Fu, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 11239400
    Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) array is formed by bonding an LED chip or wafer to a backplane substrate via curved interconnects. The backplane substrate may include circuits for driving the LED's. One or more curved interconnects are formed on the backplane substrate. A curved interconnect may be electrically connected to a corresponding circuit of the backplane substrate, and may include at least a portion with curvature. The LED chip or wafer may include one or more LED devices. Each LED device may have one or more electrical contacts. The LED chip or wafer is positioned above the backplane substrate to spatially align electrical contacts of the LED devices with the curved interconnects on the backplane substrate. The electrical contacts are bonded to the curved interconnects to electrically connect the LED devices to corresponding circuits of the backplane substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Sung Chio, Daniel Brodoceanu, Oscar Torrents Abad, Ali Sengül, Pooya Saketi, Jeb Wu, Chao Kai Tung, Remi Alain Delille, Tennyson Nguty, Allan Pourchet
  • Patent number: 11235245
    Abstract: A rhythm-based video game (“game”) is disclosed. In the game, a player slashes blocks representing musical beats using a pair of energy blades resembling a lightsaber. A gaming console renders multiple digital objects, e.g., digital blocks, digital mines and digital obstacles, that are approaching a player in a virtual space. The gaming console also renders a digital representation of an instrument, e.g., a lightsaber (“digital saber”), using which the player slashes, cuts or otherwise interacts with the digital blocks to cause a digital collision between the digital saber and the digital blocks. The player can score by slashing the digital blocks, not hitting the digital mines and avoiding the digital obstacles. The game presents the player with a stream of approaching digital objects in synchronization with music, e.g., a song's beats, being played in the game. The pace at which the digital blocks approach the player increases with the beats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimír Hrin{hacek over (c)}ár, Ján Ilavskÿ
  • Patent number: 11239399
    Abstract: For small, high-resolution, light-emitting diode (LED) displays, such as for a near-eye display in an artificial-reality headset, LEDs are spaced closely together. A backplane can be used to drive an array of LEDs in an LED display. A plurality of interconnects electrically couple the backplane with the array of LEDs. As spacing between LEDs becomes smaller than interconnect spacing, a thin-film circuit layer can be used to reduce a number or interconnects between the backplane and the array of LEDs, so that interconnect spacing can be larger than LED spacing. This can allow LEDs in the LED display to be more densely arranged while still allowing use of a silicon backplane with drive circuitry to control operation of the LEDs in the LED display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Henry Morris, John Goward, Chloe Astrid Marie Fabien, Michael Grundmann
  • Patent number: 11236993
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a light generator emitting a beam of light into a local area and a detector. The detector captures light from the beam reflected by objects in the local area to a portion of an array of pixels that each include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The location of the portion of the array is based in part on the angle of the beam emitted from the projector. The DCA identifies a set of pixels of the array corresponding to the portion and selectively retrieves current generated from the reflected light by the pixels in the portion of the array without retrieving current generated by pixels in other portions of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11237402
    Abstract: A multipass scanner usable e.g. in a near-eye display is disclosed. The multipass scanner scans a light beam angularly, forming an image in angular domain. The multipass scanner includes a light source, a tiltable reflector, and a multipass coupler that couples light emitted by the light source to the tiltable reflector, receives the reflected light and couples it back to the tiltable reflector to double the scanning angle. Then, the multipass coupler couples the light reflected at least twice from the tiltable reflector to an exit pupil of the scanner. A pupil-replicating waveguide disposed at the exit pupil of the scanner extends the image in angular domain. Multiple reflections of the light beam from the tiltable reflector enable one to increase the angular scanning range and associated field of view of the display without having to increase the angular scanning range of the tiltable reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Babak Amirsolaimani, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11238340
    Abstract: A system predicts future positions or vergence depth of the user's eyes and generates gaze contingent content, such as for a head-mounted display (HMD), based on the predicted positions or vergence depth. The system includes an eye tracking controller that creates eye tracking information defining positions of a first eye and a second eye of a user over time. The eye tracking information is input to a neural network model that outputs the predicted positions or vergence depth. The predicted positions or vergence depth is then used to render the gaze contingent content, or to change other configurations of the HMD. Latency between the detection of user eye movement and the output of corresponding content is reduced to provide a more immersive real-time user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Grant Anderson, Alexander Jobe Fix, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 11238159
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for improving security of a boot sequence of an application processor. In some examples, a computing device includes a first processor coupled to a first storage device, the first processor and first storage device configured to obtain firmware from a storage device external to the first processor; run a verification routine on the firmware; and in response to validation of the firmware with the verification routine, communicate the firmware to a second processor; and the second processor coupled to a second storage device, the second processor and second storage device configured to load the firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Teman David Clark-Lindh, Benjamin Joseph Mossawir, David Stanley Bormann
  • Patent number: 11238239
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a video call between multiple client systems while persistently maintaining access to an assistant system during the video call. A request to be performed by the assistant system during the video call may then be received from a first client system; this request may reference one or more second users in the video call. An intent of the request and one or more user identifiers of these one or more second users referenced by the request may be determined, and the assistant system may be instructed to execute the request based on the determined intent and user identifiers. Finally, a response to the request may be sent to one more of the multiple client systems while maintaining the video call between these client systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohu Liu, Baiyang Liu, Rajen Subba
  • Patent number: 11236846
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a fluidic channel connecting an inlet port and an outlet port. The apparatus may further include a gate transmission element configured to limit fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. Still further, the apparatus may include a primary gate terminal connected to a second fluidic inlet port, where pressure or force at the primary gate may at least partially control movement of the gate transmission element. The apparatus may also include a secondary gate terminal connected to the second fluidic inlet port. Pressure or force at the secondary gate may at least partially control movement of the gate transmission element. Various other associated methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Casey Glick, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Erik Samuel Roby, Jack Lindsay
  • Patent number: 11238598
    Abstract: A head mounted display comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye tracking using polarization. The eye tracking system includes one or more illumination sources and an optical detector comprising polarization sensitive pixels. The one or more illumination sources are configured to illuminate a user's eye and generate reflections directed towards the optical detector. The eye tracking system determines, for each polarization sensitive pixel in a subset of the polarization sensitive pixels, one or more estimation parameters. The eye tracking system determines, for the subset of the polarization sensitive pixels, depth information for one or more glints associated with one or more surfaces of the eye, based in part on the polarization of the reflections and the one or more estimation parameters. The determined depth information is used to update a model of the eye. The eye tracking system determines eye tracking information based on the updated model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Ruonan Yang
  • Patent number: 11235326
    Abstract: The disclosed method of manufacturing may include positioning a membrane on top of a channeled layer where the channeled layer includes a shim portion that is dimensioned to limit the amount of compression appliable to the membrane. The membrane may be positioned at a juncture in the channeled layer. The method may next include positioning a transmission housing layer membrane and the channeled layer. The method may also include fastening the channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer together. The channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer may be held together with at least one fastening member. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Roby, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Nicholas Roy Corson, Katherine Healy, Robert Manson, Jack Lindsay
  • Patent number: 11231055
    Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a first fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive a fluidic input and provide a first stage fluidic output, and a second fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive the first stage fluidic output and provide a second stage fluidic output. The first fluidic amplifier stage may include a fluidic valve, for example having a source, a gate, and a drain. The fluidic input may be connected to the gate of the fluidic valve through a fluid channel, and a fluid flow between the source and the drain of the fluidic valve may be controlled by the fluidic input. An example device may be configured to provide a fluidic output, wherein the fluidic output is based on the fluidic input, and the fluidic output may be provided to a fluidic load such as an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Jack Lindsay, Casey Glick, Erik Roby
  • Patent number: 11234096
    Abstract: A system for generating individualized HRTFs that are customized to a user of a headset. The system includes a server and an audio system. The server determines the individualized HRTFs based in part on acoustic features data (e.g., image data, anthropometric features, etc.) of the user and a template HRTF. The server provides the individualized HRTFs to the audio system. The audio system presents spatialized audio content to the user using the individualized HRTFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Owen Brimijoin, II, Henrik Gert Hassager, Vamsi Krishna Ithapu, Philip Robinson
  • Patent number: 11231592
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device for providing images to a wearer includes a focus-supporting light projector and a beam steerer. The focus-supporting light projector is configured to project light for rendering images based at least on virtual reality contents and/or augmented reality contents. The light projected from the focus-supporting light projector corresponds to an image plane that is selected based at least in part on a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer. The beam steerer is configured to change a path of the light projected from the focus-supporting light projector based on the position of the pupil of the eye of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11232591
    Abstract: A system generates a user hand shape model from a single depth camera. The system includes the single depth camera and a hand tracking unit. The single depth camera generates single depth image data of a user's hand. The hand tracking unit applies the single depth image data to a neural network model to generate heat maps indicating locations of hand features. The locations of hand features are used to generate a user hand shape model customized to the size and shape of the user's hand. The user hand shape model is defined by a set of principal component hand shapes defining a hand shape variation space. The limited number of principal component hand shape models reduces determination of user hand shape to a smaller number of variables, and thus provides for a fast calibration of the user hand shape model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher David Twigg, Robert Y. Wang, Yuting Ye
  • Patent number: 11231593
    Abstract: A Pancharatnam Berry Phase (PBP) color corrected structure is presented that comprises a plurality of switchable gratings and a plurality of PBP active elements. Each switchable grating has an inactive mode when reflects light of a specific color channel, of a set of color channels, and transmits light of other color channels in the set of color channels, wherein the specific color channel is different for each of the plurality of switchable gratings, and to have an active mode to transmit light that is inclusive of the set of color channels. The PBP active elements receive light output from at least one of the plurality of switchable gratings. Each of the PBP active elements is configured to adjust light of a different color channel of the set of color channels by a same amount to output light corrected for chromatic aberration for the set of color channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Scott Charles McEldowney, Nada O'Brien, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 11231266
    Abstract: A wearable device comprises one or more deformable signaling pathways wherein each deformable signaling pathway is configured to enable an electrical connection between two devices electrically connected to each other via the deformable signaling pathway. Deformable signaling pathways enable the conduction of electrical signals between various circuit elements similar to one or more circuit elements such as electronic traces or wires. A deformable signaling pathway includes one or more conductive elements surrounded by a conductive gel. Both the conductive gel and the one or more conductive elements are encased in an elastomeric shell. The elastomeric shell is attached to terminals (e.g., one on either end). The one or more connectors are attached to one another such that the one or more connectors span the length of the elastomeric shell and form a low resistance contact between the terminals of the deformable signaling pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King, Vincenzo Casasanta, III
  • Patent number: 11234073
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include accessing environment information identifying an undesired sound source within an environment. The method may further include determining, based on the accessed environment information, a spatial location of the undesired sound source in the environment that is to be attenuated using an active noise cancelling (ANC) signal. The method may also include forming a microphone beam, using two or more microphones, directed at the determined spatial location, where the microphone beam is configured to capture audio information from the determined spatial location. Still further, the method may include generating an ANC signal using the audio information captured using the microphone beam, and playing back the generated ANC signal to attenuate the undesired sound source at the determined spatial location. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Buye Xu, Antonio John Miller, Jacob Ryan Donley