Abstract: The disclosed wearable devices may include a body shaped and sized to be worn against a user's skin, a flexible vibrotactile actuator positioned on or in the body, and a tunable stiffness material adjacent to the flexible haptic actuator. The flexible vibrotactile actuator may be in a location to transmit a haptic sensation to the user's skin when the body is worn by the user. The tunable stiffness material may have an adjustable stiffness such that adjustment of the stiffness of the tunable stiffness material alters a haptic sensation induced by the flexible haptic actuator against the user's skin. Various other related methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes displaying, through a head-mounted display (HMD), virtual objects to a user wearing the HMD. The method then accesses a boundary definition that corresponds to a boundary within a physical space surrounding the user and generates a plurality of spatial points based on depth measurements of physical objects within the physical space. Based on the spatial points, a location at which a physical object is likely to exist is determined. The method determines whether the location of the physical object is inside the boundary definition and, in response to this determination, issues an alert to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling a user or third-party to select or adjust parameters of one or more statistical models used to generate a musculoskeletal representation. The method comprises providing as input to the statistical model(s), a plurality of neuromuscular signals recorded by a plurality of neuromuscular sensors during performance of at least one gesture by a user, wherein the at least one gesture is performed by the user while wearing a wearable device having the plurality of neuromuscular sensors arranged thereon, rendering at least one visual representation based on an output of the statistical model(s), and receiving user or third-party input to adjust parameters of the statistical model(s) based on the rendered at least one visual representation, the user input including a selection of a particular statistical model of the statistical model(s) and/or an adjustment of parameters associated with the particular statistical model.

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.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to generate a first raw output to represent a first intensity of incident light based on a first relationship, and to generate a second raw output to represent a second intensity of incident light based on a second relationship. The apparatus further comprises a post processor configured to: generate a first post-processed output based on the first raw output and based on the first relationship such that the first post-processed output is linearly related to the first intensity based on a third relationship, and to generate a second post-processed output based on the second raw output and based on the second relationship such that the second post-processed output is linearly related to the second intensity based on the third relationship.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for managing the thermal resistance and the planarity of a display package. According to certain embodiments, a device includes a display package having a molding compound; a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) dies arranged on a top surface of the display package, wherein each LED die of the plurality of LED dies includes a plurality of LEDs; a backplane die embedded within the molding compound of the display package, wherein the backplane die is electrically coupled to each LED die of the plurality of LED dies; and at least one spacer structure embedded within the molding compound of the display package. The backplane die and the at least one spacer structure together provide mechanical support and planar alignment for the plurality of LED dies arranged on the top surface of the display package. The at least one spacer structure has a first thermal conductivity, and the molding compound has a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity.

Abstract: An audio system for a wearable device dynamically updates acoustic transfer functions. The audio system is configured to estimate a direction of arrival (DoA) of each sound source detected by a microphone array relative to a position of the wearable device within a local area. The audio system may track the movement of each sound source. The audio system may form a beam in the direction of each sound source. The audio system may identify and classify each sound source based on the sound source properties. Based on the DoA estimates, the movement tracking, and the beamforming, the audio system generates or updates the acoustic transfer functions for the sound sources.

Abstract: A micro-light emitting diode (micro-LED) includes a current aperture to confine the current in a localized region such that the carrier recombination mostly occurs in the localized region to emit photons, thereby reducing the surface recombination and improving the quantum efficiency. The current confinement and localization are achieved using a localized breakthrough of a barrier layer by a localized contact, lightly p-doped active layers to suppress lateral transport of the carriers to the surface region, selective ion implantation, etching, or oxidation of a semiconductor layer, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer that can operate as a microphone (e.g., contact microphone) or a speaker is presented herein. The piezoelectric MEMS transducer includes a substrate, a proof mass and folded displacement sensing structures. Each folded displacement sensing structure comprises a continuous beam, a first piezoelectric stress sensor coupled to a first portion of the continuous beam, and a second piezoelectric stress sensor coupled to a second portion of the continuous beam. The first portion of the continuous beam is coupled to a respective portion of the proof mass, and the second portion of the continuous beam is coupled to a respective portion of the substrate. The first and second portions of the continuous beam come together at an acute angle. The first and second piezoelectric stress sensors output stress information responsive to a stress induced in the continuous beam by displacement of the proof mass.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure support a head-mounted display (HMD) wirelessly coupled to a console. The HMD includes a positional tracking system, a beam controller and a transceiver. The positional tracking system tracks position of the HMD and generates positional information describing the tracked position of the HMD. The transceiver communicates with a console via a wireless channel, in accordance with communication instructions, the communication instructions causing the transceiver to communicate over one directional beam of a plurality of directional beams. The beam controller determines a change in the positional information. Based on the change to the positional information, the beam controller determines a directional beam of the plurality of directional beams. The beam controller further generates the communication instructions identifying the determined directional beam, and provides the communication instructions to the transceiver.

Abstract: An optical device for a head-mounted display device includes a first partial reflector and a second partial reflector positioned relative to the first partial reflector so that the second partial reflector receives first light transmitted through the first partial reflector and reflects at least a portion of the first light toward the first partial reflector as second light. At least a portion of the second light is reflected by the first partial reflector as third light, and at least a portion of the third light is transmitted through the second partial reflector. At least one of the first partial reflector or the second partial reflector includes a reflective holographic element.

Abstract: Magnetic fluidic valves of the present disclosure may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a ferromagnetic gate transmission element disposed within the cavity, an inlet port, an outlet port, a permanent magnet configured to bias the gate transmission element to a closed position, and an electromagnetic coil configured to, upon actuation, overcome a magnetic force acting on the gate transmission element from the permanent magnet. The gate transmission element may be configured to move from the closed position blocking the inlet port to an open position unblocking the inlet port upon actuation of the electromagnetic coil. Various other fluidic systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes projecting a source image onto a surface using a lens approximation component, where the surface is associated with sampling points approximating photoreceptors of an eye, where each sampling point has a corresponding photoreceptor type, sampling color information from the projected source image at the sampling points, where the color information sampled at each sampling point depends on the corresponding photoreceptor type, accessing pooling units approximating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of the eye, where each pooling unit is associated with groups of one or more of the sampling points, calculating weighted aggregations of the sampled color information associated with the groups of one or more sampling points associated with each pooling unit, and computing a perception profile for the source image based on the weighted aggregations associated with each of the pooling units.

Abstract: The disclosed method may include bending, by an end-shaping tool, a portion of an end of a strap in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a plane of the strap. The bending may include extending the portion of the end of the strap over a raised area of a first portion of the end-shaping tool and connecting a second portion of the end-shaping tool to the first portion. The connecting may include placing a recessed area of the second portion over the raised area of the first portion. The method may include debossing, by an end-setting tool dimensioned to accommodate the strap as bent by the end-shaping tool, the portion of the end of the strap at the bend. Various other methods, systems, and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed system may include (1) a light source that emits light pulses into a field of view, (2) a light sensor array that captures light reflected from the field of view resulting from the light pulses, (3) a light control subsystem that (a) controls an emission timing of the light source and (b) controls a capture timing of the light sensor array relative to the emission timing of the light source, and (4) a depth measurement subsystem that generated depth measurements of at least some of the field of view based at least in part on output from the light sensor array, where operation of the light control subsystem is based at least in part on prior knowledge of the field of view. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed handheld controllers may include at least one finger force-feedback mechanism. The finger force-feedback mechanism may include a rotational element positioned to have an axis of rotation that is located along a palm side of a finger of an intended user's hand when holding the handheld controller, a proximal linkage element positioned and configured to rotate with the intended user's finger about the major knuckle when the user squeezes the handheld controller, and a distal linkage element positioned and configured to rotate relative to the proximal linkage element with the intended user's finger about the second knuckle when the user squeezes the handheld controller. Various other handheld controllers, artificial-reality systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A varifocal system comprises a stacked first-type liquid crystal (LC) lens structure and a stacked second-type LC lens structure in optical series. The stacked first-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of first-type LC lenses, and a first-type LC lens provides continuously variable optical states in a first step resolution. The stacked second-type LC lens structure includes a plurality of second-type LC lenses and provides a plurality of optical states in a second step resolution. The first step resolution is smaller than the second step resolution, such that when the stacked second-type LC lens structure is switched between two optical states, the first-type LC lenses provide a continuous adjustment of optical power between the two optical states. The stacked first-type LC lens structure and the stacked second-type LC lens structure together provide a continuous adjustment range of optical power for the varifocal system.

Abstract: An eye is illuminated with infrared illumination light. Illuminating the eye includes illuminating a near-eye ellipsoidal lensing structure. A tracking image of Purkinje reflections of the infrared illumination light is captured by a camera. An eye position of the eye is determined in response to the tracking image.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a display device including pixels arranged in rows and columns, where duty cycles of the pixels are dynamically programmed according to eye tracking information. For a display frame, the display device may determine a gaze region and a non-gaze region based on the eye tracking information. A control circuit of the display device controls a first subset of pixels in the gaze region to operate with a first duty cycle and controls a second subset of pixels in the non-gaze region to operate with a second duty cycle greater than the first duty cycle. The first subset of pixels emits light with greater brightness than the second subset of pixels.

Abstract: A mount includes an active area in which an optical element may be located. The mount is bonded to a neighboring mount using adhesives that are placed on a top side of a wall structure of the mount. Migration of the adhesives from the wall of the mount into the active area is prevented by use of groove-structures and micro-wall structures located in a buffer area of the mount that circumscribes the active area. In some embodiments, a diffuser is located in the buffer area of the mount to redirect the emitted light as desired for a particular application.