Patents by Inventor Brian Watson Cranton
Brian Watson Cranton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20260164008Abstract: Prescription profile information for corrective lenses used in conjunction with a near-eye display device is obtained by the near-eye display device to facilitate correction of aberrations introduced by the corrective lenses. The prescription profile information can be transmitted electronically to the near-eye display device, embedded on the lens surface of the corrective lens itself using a near invisible marking such as near-infrared ink that can be detected by a gaze-tracking camera of the near-eye display device, or the near-eye display device can infer the prescription profile information for the corrective lenses based on the locations of glints reflected by the corrective lenses and detected by the gaze-tracking camera. Based on the prescription profile information, the near-eye display device calibrates the display, sensors, and/or gaze-tracking circuitry to correct aberrations introduced by the corrective lenses.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2025Publication date: June 11, 2026Inventors: Jennifer Han, Brian Cousins, Brian Watson Cranton, David Hoffman
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Publication number: 20260153738Abstract: A wearable heads-up display (WHUD) reduces the prevalence of visual artifacts by employing a projector with a combiner including a plurality of combiner elements such as dichroic prisms. The projector is configured with one or more features that 1) reduce the amount of stray light generated at the combiner 2) change the path of the stray light so that the stray light is unable to exit the projector and thus is unable to create visual artifacts, or any combination thereof. By reducing the stray light that is generated and by changing the path of the stray light as described herein, the likelihood that a user will see a visual artifact is reduced, thus improving the user experience with the WHUD system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2023Publication date: June 4, 2026Inventors: Nan MA, Ian ANDREWS, Nam-Hyong KIM, Joseph MA, Christopher Charles TOWNSEND, Vance R. MORRISON, Benjamin WALES, Daniel J. EFFINGER, Geoff WHITE, Tyler G. ANDERSON, Brian Watson CRANTON
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Patent number: 12585114Abstract: A system and method of calibrating a head-mounted display (HMD) by positioning an optical combiner of the HMD into a holder of a calibration station such that the optical combiner is in a primary optical path of light provided from a micro-display of the HMD and a camera of the calibration station, adjusting a tunable correction unit to correct defocus caused by a corrective prescription of the optical combiner, capturing images of a reference target by the camera as viewed through the tunable correction unit and optical combiner, and generating a distortion model from the captured images and calibrating the HMD in order to apply the distortion model to images projected by the HMD.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 24, 2026Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Daniel David Albin Balzerson, Brian Watson Cranton, Qianli Ma, Haven John David Szostak
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Publication number: 20250335020Abstract: An illustrative display device preserves scotopic vision for a user. The display device includes a display configured to present image content, a memory storing instructions and operating parameters, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions. The operating parameters may include a color parameter and an additional parameter, such that the execution of the instructions allows the processor to switch the display device between: 1) a normal operating mode in which the color parameter is set to cause the display to present the image content in full color and the additional parameter is set to a first setting, and 2) a scotopic preservation mode in which the color parameter is set to cause the display to present the image content in red color and the additional parameter is set to a second setting different from the first setting. Corresponding methods and devices are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2024Publication date: October 30, 2025Inventors: Jennifer Sy-en Han, Brian Watson Cranton
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Patent number: 12455404Abstract: Systems, devices, and assemblies for implementing multi-focal lens portions in wearable heads-up displays are described. Multi-focal lens portions may include at least two regions having different optical power, and at least one transition region between regions having different optical power. If display light is directed through a transition region, aberrations or distortion may be visible in the display presented to the user. The present systems, devices, and assemblies address this issue through shaping, positioning, and orienting of regions of a multi-focal lens portion, through positioning, orientation, and aiming of display optics, and/or through arrangements of lens assemblies which prevent display light from travelling through a multi-focal lens portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: October 28, 2025Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Darren Edward Ihmels, Ian Andrews, Lloyd Frederick Holland
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Patent number: 12455616Abstract: An illustrative display device preserves scotopic vision for a user. The display device includes a display configured to present image content, a memory storing instructions and operating parameters, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions. The operating parameters may include a color parameter and an additional parameter, such that the execution of the instructions allows the processor to switch the display device between: 1) a normal operating mode in which the color parameter is set to cause the display to present the image content in full color and the additional parameter is set to a first setting, and 2) a scotopic preservation mode in which the color parameter is set to cause the display to present the image content in red color and the additional parameter is set to a second setting different from the first setting. Corresponding methods and devices are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2024Date of Patent: October 28, 2025Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Jennifer Sy-en Han, Brian Watson Cranton
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Patent number: 12386178Abstract: A lens specification for multiple lens layers of a lens structure is generated by one or more processors. A multifocal correction (MFC) component is assigned to at least one lens layer of the multiple lens layers. Parameters are generated for a display optics (DO) lens layer comprising an augmented reality (AR) display, the DO lens layer having a first side for facing an eye of the user and a second side for facing away from the eye of the user. Parameters are generated for one or more eye side (ES) lens layers of the multiple lens layers to be disposed adjacent to the first side of the DO lens layer, and for one or more world side (WS) lens layers to be disposed adjacent to the second side of the DO lens layer. The generated lens specification is provided for use in production of the lens structure for the user.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Darren Edward Ihmels, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Cecilia Abadie
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Publication number: 20240411138Abstract: The present disclosure describes tinting techniques in a lens stack assembly for a wearable head mounted display (WHMD). The lens stack assembly includes a waveguide disposed between two lenses, where the two lenses include tints to selectively reduce the amount of ambient light transmitted to the user while not reducing the amount of the display light in the WHMD. In addition, the tinting techniques described herein reduce or eliminate the generation of ghost images resulting from the reflection of outcoupled light from the waveguide away from the user back toward the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2022Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Daniel Adema, Syed Moez Haque, Thuy Hong Nguyen, Brian Watson Cranton, Lloyd Frederick Holland
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Patent number: 12117611Abstract: A system includes a head-mounted display (HMD) device configured to project digital images to a user's eye and a viewing device. The viewing device includes an optical relay unit having a world-facing surface and an eye-facing surface and a holder coupled to the optical relay unit and configured to support the HMD device near the world-facing surface. The optical relay unit is configured to transmit light projected by the HMD device to an eye-facing aperture disposed at the eye-facing surface of the optical relay. The system shifts an eyebox of the HMD by receiving light projected from an optical combiner of the HMD, transmitting the light through the optical relay unit of the viewing device to the eye-facing aperture of the optical relay unit, and outputting the light from the eye-facing aperture such that the light is focused at an eyebox in which a user's eye is located.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Lloyd Frederick Holland
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Publication number: 20230228994Abstract: A lens specification for multiple lens layers of a lens structure is generated by one or more processors. A multifocal correction (MFC) component is assigned to at least one lens layer of the multiple lens layers. Parameters are generated for a display optics (DO) lens layer comprising an augmented reality (AR) display, the DO lens layer having a first side for facing an eye of the user and a second side for facing away from the eye of the user. Parameters are generated for one or more eye side (ES) lens layers of the multiple lens layers to be disposed adjacent to the first side of the DO lens layer, and for one or more world side (WS) lens layers to be disposed adjacent to the second side of the DO lens layer. The generated lens specification is provided for use in production of the lens structure for the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Darren Edward Ihmels, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Cecilia Abadie
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Publication number: 20230118615Abstract: A system includes a head-mounted display (HMD) device configured to project digital images to a user's eye and a viewing device. The viewing device includes an optical relay unit having a world-facing surface and an eye-facing surface and a holder coupled to the optical relay unit and configured to support the HMD device near the world-facing surface. The optical relay unit is configured to transmit light projected by the HMD device to an eye-facing aperture disposed at the eye-facing surface of the optical relay. The system shifts an eyebox of the HMD by receiving light projected from an optical combiner of the HMD, transmitting the light through the optical relay unit of the viewing device to the eye-facing aperture of the optical relay unit, and outputting the light from the eye-facing aperture such that the light is focused at an eyebox in which a user's eye is located.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Lloyd Frederick Holland
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Publication number: 20220373802Abstract: A system and method of calibrating a head-mounted display (HMD) by positioning an optical combiner of the HMD into a holder of a calibration station such that the optical combiner is in a primary optical path of light provided from a micro-display of the HMD and a camera of the calibration station, adjusting a tunable correction unit to correct defocus caused by a corrective prescription of the optical combiner, capturing images of a reference target by the camera as viewed through the tunable correction unit and optical combiner, and generating a distortion model from the captured images and calibrating the HMD in order to apply the distortion model to images projected by the HMD.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2021Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Daniel David Albin Balzerson, Brian Watson Cranton, Qianli Ma, Haven John David Szostak
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Publication number: 20220268970Abstract: Systems, devices, and assemblies for implementing multi-focal lens portions in wearable heads-up displays are described. Multi-focal lens portions may include at least two regions having different optical power, and at least one transition region between regions having different optical power. If display light is directed through a transition region, aberrations or distortion may be visible in the display presented to the user. The present systems, devices, and assemblies address this issue through shaping, positioning, and orienting of regions of a multi-focal lens portion, through positioning, orientation, and aiming of display optics, and/or through arrangements of lens assemblies which prevent display light from travelling through a multi-focal lens portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2021Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Brian Watson Cranton, Darren Edward Ihmels, Ian Andrews, Lloyd Frederick Holland