Patents Assigned to Meta Platform Technologies, LLC
  • Patent number: 11740536
    Abstract: Optical systems that can produce digitally switchable optical power, optical pathlength, or both. It can apply to reconfigurable wide-angle optical systems that are compact, light-weight, and light-efficient. Architectures that increase pathlength can utilize polarization splitters to produce an additional round-trip of one or more optical cavities. Changing the focus distance of synthetic imagery in augmented/virtual reality systems is an example of an application where the techniques taught herein are particularly well suited. Passive double-cavity systems can be used to increase the throughput and decrease the stray-light/ghosts in polarization-based compact wide-angle lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Anthony D. McGettigan
  • Patent number: 11743640
    Abstract: An audio system includes a speaker and a processor. The processor determines a privacy setting for an audio signal. The privacy setting may be selected by a user. The privacy setting may indicate activation of a private mode, or may indicate a privacy level from a range of privacy levels. The processor determines an audio filter that adjusts the audio signal to mitigate sound leakage when presented by the speaker based on the privacy setting. The audio filter may include a low-pass filter and a multiband compressor. The parameters of the audio filter may vary based on the privacy setting. The processor applies the audio filter to the audio signal to generate a filtered audio signal and provides the filtered audio signal to the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuro Oishi, Gelmont Rios
  • Patent number: 11740476
    Abstract: The disclosed head-mounted display systems may include an optical element supported by a head-mounted display frame, a projector mounted to the head-mounted display frame, and at least one voice coil actuator mounted on the head-mounted display frame. The projector may be configured to project, via the optical element, an image toward an eye of a user of the head-mounted display system. The at least one voice coil actuator may be coupled to at least one of the projector or the optical element. When actuated, the at least one voice coil actuator may translate at least one of the projector or the optical element in at least one direction relative to the head-mounted display frame. Various other methods, systems, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11740075
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) determines depth information. The DCA projects a dynamic structured light pattern into a local area and captures images including a portion of the dynamic structured light pattern. The DCA determines regions of interest in which it may be beneficial to increase or decrease an amount of texture added to the region of interest using the dynamic structured light pattern. For example, the DCA may identify the regions of interest based on contrast values calculated using a contrast algorithm, or based on the parameters received from a mapping server including a virtual model of the local area. The DCA may selectively increase or decrease an amount of texture added by the dynamic structured light pattern in portions of the local area. By selectively controlling portions of the dynamic structured light pattern, the DCA may decrease power consumption and/or increase the accuracy of depth sensing measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Xinqiao Liu, Zhaoming Zhu, Rajesh Lachhmandas Chhabria, Huixuan Tang, Shuochen Su, Zihe Gao
  • Patent number: 11740473
    Abstract: A headset for virtual reality imaging is provided. The headset includes a first display configured to generate multiple light beams from a central portion of a field of view in an image provided to a user, a first optical element configured to provide the light beams forming a central portion of the field of view through an eyebox of the headset that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second display configured to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox, wherein the second display includes multiple light emitting pixels arranged in a two-dimensional surface. A system and a method for using the above headset are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Kieran Connor Kelly
  • Patent number: 11743435
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a headset display device includes a central processor and multiple projector integrated circuits for eyes of a wearer of the headset display device. Each eye of the wear is associated with at least three projector integrated circuits. Each of the three projector integrated circuits is communicatively coupled to the central processor. Each projector integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit including a light emitter array having monochrome light emitters of a single color, and a second integrated circuit coupled to the first integrated circuit. The second integrated circuit includes a graphics processor configured to generate transformed image data. The graphics processor is configured to provide the transformed image data to the first integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit is configured to output the transformed image data using the light emitter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Seiler, William Thomas Blank, Warren Andrew Hunt, Michael Yee
  • Patent number: 11741649
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include establishing a virtual boundary for a virtual-world environment in reference to a real-world environment, and determining whether the virtual boundary requires a correction. The method may include providing, in response to determining that the virtual boundary requires the correction, and alert and, in response to the alert, receiving a request from a user to modify the virtual boundary. The method may further include monitoring, in response to the request from the user, an orientation of a direction indicator to generate orientation data, and modifying the virtual boundary based on the orientation data. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Pollard, Jimmy K. Yun, Jason Dong Uk Kim
  • Patent number: 11740392
    Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a structural support element, a deformable element coupled to the structural support element, and a deformable medium positioned between the deformable element and the structural support element. The deformable element may include a base element that, when deformed, alters an optical property of the optical lens assembly. The deformable element may have a non-uniform stiffness. Related methods of fabricating an optical lens assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Katherine Marie Smyth
  • Patent number: 11740697
    Abstract: The disclosed flexible vibrotactile devices may include a dielectric support material, at least one flexible electroactive element coupled to the dielectric support material, a first conductive electrode material, and a second conductive electrode material. The dielectric support material may include at least one hole therethrough for securing the flexible vibrotactile device to a textile by threading at least one fiber through the at least one hole. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniele Piazza, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Charles Stewart, David R. Perek, Adam Ahne, Slava Karulin, Erik Roby
  • Patent number: 11740391
    Abstract: Disclosed devices may include a membrane having a membrane curvature, a substrate, an enclosure (defined at least in part by the membrane and the substrate) enclosing a fluid, a peripheral structure configured to adjust the membrane curvature, and a sensor configured to provide a sensor signal that is a function of the membrane curvature. The device may also include a controller configured to control the membrane curvature using a control signal. For example, the control signal may be provided to at least one actuator. The controller may receive a sensor signal from the sensor and modify the control signal based on the sensor signal. Examples also include associated methods and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Peterson, Kenneth Alexander Diest, Renate Eva Klementine Landig, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Robin Sharma
  • Patent number: 11740481
    Abstract: An imaging system that contains a display, a polarization folded path lens with an intended image signal path and an exit pupil wherein light entering the PFP lens from the display substantially follows the intended signal path. A variant of this system is disclosed where the light entering the PFP lens substantially follows the signal path and leaves via the Exit pupil (as opposed to being aperture). Compared to the prior art, the techniques described herein improve transmission efficiency and reduce corruption of the image by non-signal path light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony D. McGettigan, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 11743064
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a computing system that automatically detects users in visual proximity and adds the users to a private collaboration space enabling the users to share digital content. In one example, the computing system includes a video processing engine configured to detect, from first image data representative of a first physical environment that includes a second user, the second user, wherein the first image data is captured by an image capture system of a head-mounted display (HMD) worn by a first user. The computing system also includes a collaboration application configured to add, in response to detection of the second user, the second user to a set of users associated with a private collaboration space in which the set of users access shared digital content, wherein the set of users includes the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Charles Cheung
  • Patent number: 11741898
    Abstract: A power supply unit adapts based on an image to be displayed by a display panel. The power supply unit includes a controller circuit for generating a power control signal, and a power supply circuit for generating one or more power supply voltages having a waveform based the power control signal. The controller circuit receives a set of configuration parameters from a display device and generates the power control signal based on the set of configuration parameters. The configuration parameters are stored in a look-up table of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Klement, Aaron Jacob Steyskal, Donghee Nam, Wenhao Qiao, Wonjae Choi
  • Patent number: 11733524
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly for depth sensing of a local area includes an illumination source, an imaging device, and a controller. The illumination source illuminates a local area with light emitted in accordance with emission instructions generated by the controller. The illumination source includes an array of optical sources and an optical assembly. Operation of each optical source in the array is controllable based in part on the emission instructions. The optical assembly is configured to project the light into the local area. The imaging device captures one or more images of at least a portion of the light reflected from one or more objects in the local area. The controller determines depth information for the one or more objects based in part on the captured one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhaoming Zhu, Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Patent number: 11734905
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for lighting subjects for artificial reality scenes may include (i) identifying (a) a physical camera configured to capture a physical subject for insertion into an artificial reality scene, (b) a physical light source that is positioned such that the physical light source lights the physical subject recorded by the physical camera, and (c) lighting conditions in the artificial reality scene, (ii) determining at least one lighting parameter to light the physical subject such that lighting conditions of the physical subject blend visually with the lighting conditions in the artificial reality scene, and (iii) configuring the physical light source to light the physical subject according to the at least one lighting parameter. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Colleen Kelly Henry
  • Patent number: 11734858
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method involves accessing a first pixel block of an image, the first pixel block comprising pixels, each associated with multiple pixel components, determining whether to separately or jointly encode the multiple pixel components of each of the pixels of the first pixel block, determining that the multiple pixel components of each of the pixels in the first pixel block are to be jointly encoded based on (1) determining, based on the multiple pixel components of each of the pixels, a line defined within a three-dimensional coordinate system in which each of the pixels is represented as a three-dimensional point and (2) determining that the line satisfies a predetermined criteria, and encoding the multiple pixel components of each of the pixels in the first pixel block as a single quantized value based on a projection of the three-dimensional point associated with that pixel onto the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cheng Chang, Richard Webb, Richard Lawrence Greene
  • Patent number: 11734808
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a source image and its associated parameters from each of multiple image sources, associating each of the source images with a layer in a range of layers based on the parameters associated with the source images, the range of layers specifying a composition layering order of the source images, generating a corresponding customized distortion mesh for each particular source image in the source images based on the parameters associated with the particular source image and at least a portion of the parameters associated with each of the source images that is associated with any layer preceding a layer associated with the particular source image, modifying each of the source images using the corresponding customized distortion mesh, generate a composite image using the modified source images, and display the composite image as a frame in a video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rohit Rao Padebettu, Steven Paul Lansel, Todd Douglas Keeler
  • Patent number: 11736679
    Abstract: A device for providing a reverse pass-through view of a user of a headset display to an onlooker includes an eyepiece comprising an optical surface configured to provide an image to a user on a first side of the optical surface. The device also includes a first camera configured to collect an image of a portion of a face of the user reflected from the optical surface in a first field of view, a display adjacent to the optical surface and configured to project forward an image of the face of the user, and a screen configured to receive light from the display and provide the image of the face of the user to an onlooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Brian Wheelwright, Joel Hegland
  • Patent number: 11733773
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine, for a current frame, that a current eye position of a viewer with respect to a display is inside and within a first threshold distance to an outer edge of the display. The system may identify, based on the current eye position, pre-determined internal eye positions inside the outer edge and pre-determined external eye positions outside the outer edge, obtain pre-determined arrays of scaling factors associated with the pre-determined internal eye positions, and obtain additional arrays of scaling factors associated with the pre-determined external eye positions. The system may generate a single array of scaling factors based on the pre-determined and additional arrays, adjust pixel values of the current frame based on the single array, and output the current frame with the adjusted pixel values to the display. The arrays and adjusted pixel values may be associated with a particular color channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Buckley, Thomas Scott Murdison
  • Patent number: D997165
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Enric Vial Roig, Mauricio Romano, David Michael Pickett, Peter Allan Chase Newbury, Quintin Morris, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Glen Jason Tompkins, Joel Bernard Jacobs