Abstract: An in-ear device comprises a transducer section, a front volume section, and a rear volume section. The transducer section includes a frame and piezoelectric actuators coupled to the frame. The piezoelectric actuators are configured to generate an acoustic pressure wave. The transducer section includes a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side. The front volume section is coupled to the first side to form a front cavity, the front volume section including an aperture from which the generated acoustic pressure wave exits the front volume section towards an ear drum of a user. The rear volume section is coupled to the second side to form a rear cavity. The transducer section, the front volume section, and the rear volume section are configured to fit entirely within the ear canal.

Abstract: The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a computing system may display a virtual-reality scene on a device worn by a user. The system may capture an image of a physical environment surrounding the user and detect an object of interest in the image. The system may determine, based on the detected object, that one or more alert criteria are satisfied. The system may generate depth measurements of at least the object. The system may generate, based on the depth measurements, a model representing the object. The system may render, based on a viewpoint of the user and the model, an output image depicting a visualization of the object. The system may display the output image on the device worn by the user in response to the determination that the one or more alert criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: A beam scanner of a projector-based near-eye display includes a prismatic element with a reflective polarizer and a quarter-wave waveplate (QWP). The beam-folding prismatic element receives a polarized light beam from a light source and couples the beam to a tiltable reflector, e.g. a 2D tiltable MEMS reflector, for angular scanning the beam. The light beam impinging onto the tiltable reflector is separated from the light beam reflected from the tiltable reflector by polarization. The polarization-based separation is achieved by causing the light beam to propagate through the QWP before and after impinging onto the tiltable reflector. Upon double propagation of the light beam through the QWP, the beam changes its polarization to an orthogonal polarization, which enables its separation from the impinging beam. The beam scanner may receive multiple light beams from multiple light sources. A projector and a near-eye display based on such beam scanners are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic display includes a display panel that operates in a single display mode to provide a single display, or a dual display mode to provide two displays separated by an inactive region. The electronic display includes the display panel and a panel driver. The display panel includes a left pixel region, a right pixel region, and a middle pixel region between the left and right pixel regions. In the single display mode of the electronic display, the panel driver provides first gate signals generated from first input data to the left, right, and middle pixel regions. In a dual display mode, the panel driver provides second gate signals generated from second input data to the left and right pixel regions. The first input data has a first resolution that is larger than a second resolution of the second input data.

Abstract: A speaker assembly presents audio content to an ear canal of a user. A speaker of the speaker assembly generates positive and negative acoustic pressure waves. A first vent assembly of the speaker assembly ports the positive acoustic pressure waves to an entrance of the ear canal of the user, whereas a second vent assembly ports the negative acoustic pressure waves to an area behind a pinna of the user. The first and second vent assembly are configured to provide improved audio content playback to the user.

Abstract: A wearable magnetic sensor system includes a wearable article that spatially arranges magnetic sensor components around a user's torso to obtain magnetic sensor data used for body pose tracking. The wearable magnetic sensor system includes magnetic sensor components that sense a magnetic field generated by a magnetic transmitter. One or more wearable articles spatially arrange the magnetic sensor components at different locations on a body of the user, such as the arms and torso. The one or more wearable articles include a transmitter attachment mechanism for affixing the magnetic transmitter at, e.g., a torso of the user, and receiver attachment mechanisms for affixing the magnetic sensor components at, e.g., locations of the body other than the torso. The magnetic sensor components are spatially arranged at different locations on the user's body so as to maximize tracking accuracy and minimize interference between the magnetic sensors and the transmitter.

Abstract: A camera captures image data at a target frame rate. The camera includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect light from a local area and includes a plurality of augmented pixels. Each augmented pixel comprises at least a first and a second gate. The first gates are configured to store a first plurality of image frames as first image data according to a first activation pattern. The second gates are configured to store a second plurality of image frames as second image data according to a second activation pattern. The controller reads out the image data to generate a first image from the first image data and a second image from the second image data. The first and second images may be used to reconstruct a combined set of image frames at the target frame rate with a reconstruction algorithm.

Abstract: The disclosed touch-simulation apparatus includes (1) a set of opposing surfaces and (2) an electric actuator assembly coupled between the set of opposing surfaces, wherein (A) the electric actuator assembly includes an actuator layer and (B) a set of mechanical amplifiers coupled between opposing sides of the actuator layer and the set of opposing surfaces. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a distortion mesh defined in a 3D space by a plurality of mesh coordinates that are respectively associated with a plurality of predetermined points in a screen representation, where each mesh coordinate specifies a trajectory for a ray cast from the associated predetermined point into the 3D space; determining a sampling point within the screen representation; selecting a set of mesh coordinates from the plurality of mesh coordinates based on proximities between the sampling point and the predetermined points associated with the set of mesh coordinates; computing a sampling trajectory for the sampling point based on the selected set of mesh coordinates; casting a ray into the 3D space using the sampling trajectory; computing an intersection location between the cast ray and an object in the 3D space; and determining a color value for the sampling point based on the intersection location.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality contents to a wearer includes a first light projector and a first Fresnel combiner. The first light projector is configured to project light for rendering images based at least on the augmented reality contents. The first Fresnel combiner is configured to combine the light from the first light projector and light from an outside of the head-mounted display device for providing an overlap of the rendered image and a real image that corresponds to the light from the outside of the head-mounted display device.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device for providing augmented reality contents to a wearer includes a light projector, and eye tracker, and a beam steerer. The light projector is configured to project light for rendering images based at least on the augmented reality contents. The eye tracker is configured to determine a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer. The beam steerer is configured to change a direction of the light from the light projector based on the position of the pupil.

Abstract: A mechanical eyeball includes an outer housing shaped as an ocular surface configured to rotate about a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis that intersect at a fixed center point. The outer is housing is coupled to a mechanical assembly, and the mechanical assembly is contained within a volume associated with the mechanical eyeball. The mechanical assembly can include a stationary gear train and rotatable components that rotate relative to the gear train. The rotatable components are configured to cause rotation of the outer housing about one or more rotational axes. The volume may be substantially the same volume of a human eye. The mechanical assembly is coupled to one or more drivers configured to actuate rotation of the outer housing.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes starting an application as a first process within a user space of an operating system. The application instantiates a data storage system associated with the operating system. The method also includes starting a block device service as a second process within the user space of the operating system, the block device service being configured to manage a persistent storage device of the computing device. In addition, the method includes receiving, by a kernel of the operating system, a system call request from the application to communicate with the block device service, the system call request is generated by the application using the data storage system and comprises an access request to access the persistent storage device. The method further includes providing the application, in response to the system call request, access to the block device service through the IPC channel.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) optimizes illumination and image capture of a local area to generate depth information of the local area. The DCA determines depth information for a first portion of the local area viewable at a first pose. The DCA is moved from the first pose to a second pose, where a second portion of the local area is viewable and overlaps with the first portion. The overlapping region is not illuminated by the DCA. A non-overlapping portion of the second portion is illuminated, captured, and depth information determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a virtual space for multiple devices can include a first device having at least one sensor configured to acquire a spatial information of a physical space of the first device. The first device may include at least one processor configured to establish, according to the acquired spatial information, a virtual space corresponding to the physical space, that is accessible by a user of the first device via the first device. The at least one processor may further be configured to register a second device within the physical space, to allow a user of the second device to access the virtual space via the second device.

Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a first lens assembly controllable to switch between a first plurality of optical powers. The first lens assembly includes a plurality of directly optically coupled lenses. The device also includes a second lens assembly controllable to switch between a second plurality of optical powers that are the opposite of the first plurality of optical powers. The device further includes a half-wave plate disposed between the first adaptive lens assembly and the second adaptive lens assembly.

Abstract: In an example of the described techniques, a wireless communication system includes first memory, second memory, a direct memory access (DMA) controller, an encryption engine in-line between the DMA controller and the second memory, a first microprocessor, and a second microprocessor. The first microprocessor communicates with other systems that generate application data to be wirelessly transmitted. The application data to be wirelessly transmitted is stored in the second memory and programs the DMA controller to transfer packets of the application data to the first memory from the second memory. The encryption engine receives the packets of the application data from the DMA controller, encrypts the packets to generate encrypted application data packets, and outputs the encrypted application data packets for storage to the first memory.

Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.