Patents by Inventor Brian Wheelwright

Brian Wheelwright 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).

  • Publication number: 20260056413
    Abstract: A wearable head-mounted device may include (i) a display screen that comprises at least one cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) layer, wherein the CLC layer comprises a chiral layer such that incoming circular polarized light with a first handedness exhibits a narrow band reflectance around a resonant wavelength while incoming circular polarized light with an opposite handedness to the first handedness transmits through the CLC layer and (ii) a housing that houses the display screen in front of a wearer's eyes. In some embodiments, the device may also include a physical processor that transmits data to be displayed on the display screen. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventors: Ali Altaqui, Steven John Robbins, Brian Schowengerdt, Brian Wheelwright, Renate Eva Klementine Landig
  • Publication number: 20260051271
    Abstract: A display system includes a light source, a waveguide body extending from an input end to an output end, the waveguide body configured to guide light from the light source by total internal reflection from the input end to the output end, an input coupling element located proximate to the input end of the waveguide body and configured to couple light from the light source into the waveguide body, and an output coupling element located proximate to the output end of the waveguide body and configured to couple light out of the waveguide body, where the display system is configured to display images with a color gamut that varies as a function of spatial or angular location across a field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2025
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Inventors: Prathmesh Deshmukh, Sanchit Garg, Rahul Agarwal, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Brian Wheelwright, Charlene Mary Atlas, Rachel Sara Feher, Taha Masood, Hannah Noble, Emma Rae Mullen, Tingling Rao
  • Patent number: 12546992
    Abstract: Static non-uniformity effects in a coherent biresonant scanning projector are mitigated through correction factors for pulse events during one frame time. According to an analytical approach, a set of input parameters such as scan angle, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) obliquity, ridge spacing, etc. are used to optimize color-wise luminance uniformity. According to an optimization approach, pulse correction factors are determined using a custom-defined cost function that attempts to optimize for both luminance and color uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Guenther Greif, Brian Wheelwright, Zachary Kehs
  • Patent number: 12541092
    Abstract: A scanning projector is disclosed, including a light engine for providing a light beam, a beam scanner for scanning the light beam about two axes, and a controller operably coupled to the light engine and the beam scanner and configured to cause the beam scanner to non-linearly scan the light beam about the first and second axes within the field of view while varying brightness of the light beam to provide the image. The nonlinear scanning is performed such that consecutive scans provide conterminous portions of the image. This enables one to increase a local rate of providing the image across at least 75% of an area of the field of view is greater than 1500 degrees per second. The high local rate results in a significant reduction of artifacts caused by motion of displayed object, the users eyes or head, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Daniel Guenther Greif, Jacques Gollier
  • Patent number: 12474581
    Abstract: A head mounted display for virtual reality imaging includes a pixel array including multiple pixels configured in a two-dimensional surface, each pixel providing multiple light beams forming an image provided to a user. The head mounted display also includes a first optical element to provide a central portion of a field of view for the image through an eyebox that limits a volume including a pupil of the user, and a second optical element to provide a peripheral portion of the field of view for the image through the eyebox. The second optical element includes a lenslet array to provide a segmented view of the peripheral portion of the field of view that includes at least one of a free form lenslet, a liquid crystal lenslet, a Fresnel lenslet, or a pancake lenslet. A system and a method for using the above head mounted display are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Kieran Connor Kelly
  • Publication number: 20250349247
    Abstract: The disclosed additive display device may include a first light source representing a first color primary, a second light source representing a second color primary, and a transparent display for displaying light from the first and the second light sources. The first color primary or the second color primary may be selected for visibility of an image displayed on the transparent display when superimposed with light viewed through the transparent display. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2025
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Nitzan Bartov, Brandon Michael Hellman Friedman, Anirudh Shastry, Brian Schowengerdt, Yu Shi, Fenggiang Li
  • Patent number: 12411345
    Abstract: A method of displaying images by vector scanning in a head-mounted display includes determining, based on content of an image to be displayed by the head-mounted display, a vector scanning pattern for displaying the image, the vector scanning pattern including a plurality of scan lines and one or more transition lines connecting the plurality of scan lines, at least one transition line of the one or more transition lines including a curved section (or loop); generating control signals for controlling a scanner to steer, according to the vector scanning pattern, a light beam emitted by a light source towards a waveguide display of the head-mounted display; and generating modulation signals for modulating the light source such that the light beam is turned on when the scanner operates according to the plurality of scan lines and is turned off when the scanner operates according to the one or more transition lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Michael Hellman Friedman, Brian Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20250273182
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure integrate pixelated multi-state panels (e.g., liquid crystal dimming panels) into artificial reality (XR) displays (e.g., augmented reality (AR) glasses) or conventional glasses. Conventional visual displays for XR displays can be expensive, have a low field-of-view, and consume high power. On the other hand, pixelated multi-state panels consume lower power, have a wide field-of-view, and are light, inexpensive, and computationally simple. The multi-state panels can have 4 configurations: 1) included on the periphery of an XR display, 2) as a standalone display, 3) as a display that's overlaid onto an XR display, and/or 4) as a secondary externally facing display. The multi-state panels can be selectively activated based on a trigger, such as identification of an object in the real-world environment, based on an event occurring in an XR application executing on the XR display, based on detected audio, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: Nava K. BALSAM, Douglas CARMEAN, Brian WHEELWRIGHT, Gareth John VALENTINE, Charlene Mary ATLAS, Lars NORPCHEN, Shu-You LIN, William KUNZ, Eric BADER, Xi WU
  • Patent number: 12345888
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a partial reflector that is optically coupled with a first polarization volume holographic element. The partial reflector is capable of receiving first light having a first circular polarization and transmitting a portion of the first light having a first circular polarization. The first polarization volume holographic element is configured to receive the first portion of the first light and reflect the first portion of the first light as second light having the first circular polarization. The partial reflector is capable of receiving the second light and reflecting a first portion of the second light as third light having a second circular polarization opposite to the first polarization. The first polarization volume holographic element is configured to receive the third light having the second circular polarization and transmit the third light having the second circular polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Brian Wheelwright, Scott Charles McEldowney, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Babak Amirsolaimani, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 12332442
    Abstract: A display device includes a display module for providing first image light. The display device also includes a first optical element for receiving and transmitting the first image light from the display module. The display module includes a region from which the first image light is provided in directions other than a direction perpendicular to the first optical element. The display device further includes a second optical element so that the second optical element receives the first image light transmitted through the first optical element and sends the received first image light back toward the first optical element as second image light. The first optical element receives the second image light from the second optical element and sends the second image light back toward the second optical element, and the second optical element receives and transmits the second image light from the first optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Li, Brian Wheelwright, Andrew Maimone, Yang Zhao, Ying Geng, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 12259553
    Abstract: An illuminator for illuminating a display panel includes a lightguide with an array of buried slanted bulk reflectors that out-couple portions of the light beam propagating in the lightguide through one of the lightguide surfaces. Polarization beam-splitting slanted surfaces may be used to provide polarized output. Such an illuminator may be used with a reflective display panel operating by polarization. The beam-splitting slanted surfaces operate as a polarizer, providing polarized illuminating light. The light reflected by the reflective panel may propagate back through the illuminator, and the polarization beam-splitting slanted surfaces may operate also as analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Miaomiao Xu, Brian Wheelwright, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng, Changwon Jang, Maxwell Parsons, Sihui He, Jacques Gollier
  • Publication number: 20250071253
    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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Brian Wheelwright, Joel Hegland
  • Patent number: 12166955
    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: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Brian Wheelwright, Joel Hegland
  • Publication number: 20240406371
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Brian Wheelwright, Joel Hegland, Stephen Anthony Lombardi, Jason Saragih, Tomas Simon Kreuz, Shunsuke Saito, Michael Zollhoefer, Amit Raj, James Henry Hays
  • Publication number: 20240337832
    Abstract: Static non-uniformity effects in a coherent biresonant scanning projector are mitigated through correction factors for pulse events during one frame time. According to an analytical approach, a set of input parameters such as scan angle, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) obliquity, ridge spacing, etc. are used to optimize color-wise luminance uniformity. According to an optimization approach, pulse correction factors are determined using a custom-defined cost function that attempts to optimize for both luminance and color uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Guenther Greif, Brian Wheelwright, Zachary Kehs
  • Patent number: 12095975
    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: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Brian Wheelwright, Joel Hegland, Stephen Anthony Lombardi, Jason Saragih, Tomas Simon Kreuz, Shunsuke Saito, Michael Zollhoefer, Amit Raj, James Henry Hays
  • Publication number: 20240288694
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are provided for producing observable virtual images. Aspects may include at least one illumination source emitting light on a display and a transparent combining optic including a holographic optical element (HOE). According to various examples, light emitted from the at least one illumination source illuminates the transparent combining optic, and the transparent combining optic diffracts the light to generate an observable virtual image. The observable virtual image may be positioned to overlay a scene viewable through the transparent combining optic. Such aspects may be incorporated on a variety of technologies, such as head-mounted display systems, smart glasses, and/or AR devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Brandon Michael Hellman Friedman, Brian Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20240288695
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an eye box, an observable virtual image, and/or a multiplexed hologram are provided. The system may include a transparent combining optic including a holographic optical element. The transparent combining optic may be configured to diffract light received at a first side of the transparent combining optic. The light may be generated by an illumination source. The transparent combining optic may also be configured to form a virtual image viewable from a non-pupil-forming eyebox. The observable virtual image may be viewable from the first side of the transparent combining optic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Brandon Michael Hellman Friedman, Brian Wheelwright, Kavous Jorabchi
  • Publication number: 20240255758
    Abstract: A device may include an optical system that creates an image to a user and a light- absorbing element that absorbs a portion of the light transmitted by the optical system. The optical system may include a beamsplitting element and a reflective polarizer that reflects a first handedness of circularly polarized light and transmits a second handedness of polarized light. Various other devices, systems, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20240210274
    Abstract: Optical binocular disparity detection devices may include an optical combiner and a single image sensor. The optical combiner may include a left input for receiving a left image and a right input for receiving a right image. An output of the optical combiner may be configured to direct the left image and the right image out of the optical combiner. The single image sensor may be configured to receive and sense the left image and the right image from the output and to generate data indicative of a disparity between the left image and the right image. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Michiel Koen Callens, Babak Amirsolaimani, Jacques Gollier, Sihui He, Yitian Ding, Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Tamer Elazhary, Yu Shi