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: 20200192280
    Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium for use in generating light patterns for eye tracking includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium and one or more diffractive optical elements configured to receive the second portion of the light and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ganghun Kim, Andrew Maimone, Alexander Jobe Fix, Robert Dale Cavin, Hee Yoon Lee, Matthieu Charles Raoul Leibovici, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Publication number: 20200192281
    Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium for use in generating light patterns for eye tracking includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium and a plurality of optical fibers configured to receive the second portion of the light and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ganghun Kim, Andrew Maimone, Alexander Jobe Fix, Robert Dale Cavin, Hee Yoon Lee, Matthieu Charles Raoul Leibovici, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Publication number: 20200192279
    Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium for use in generating light patterns for eye tracking includes a light source configured to provide light and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of parabolic reflectors optically coupled with the second set of optical elements and configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ganghun Kim, Andrew Maimone, Alexander Jobe Fix, Robert Dale Cavin, Hee Yoon Lee, Matthieu Charles Raoul Leibovici, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Publication number: 20200192285
    Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium includes a light source configured to provide light, and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of prisms optically coupled with the second set of optical elements and configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ganghun Kim, Andrew Maimone, Alexander Jobe Fix, Robert Dale Cavin, Hee Yoon Lee, Matthieu Charles Raoul Leibovici, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 10678048
    Abstract: A display assembly includes a primary display, a temporal display, and a tiled optical assembly (TOA). The TOA includes a central optic and a peripheral lens assembly. The central optic provides light from the primary display to the user. The peripheral lens assembly is positioned to provide light from the temporal display to the user. The peripheral lens assembly may be a single or multi-lens array. In some embodiments, the temporal display is a lower resolution than the primary display. In some embodiments, the primary display and the temporal display are in the same plane, and a fold mirror is used to provide light from the peripheral display to the peripheral optical element. The display assembly may be incorporated into an artificial reality head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier
  • Patent number: 10620432
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a high contrast image on a display screen; and projecting the high contrast image through a Fresnel lens to provide a cue for adjusting a position of the Fresnel lens. Also disclosed is a device for determining and/or adjusting an offset of a Fresnel lens. The device includes a Fresnel lens and a display screen configured to project a high contrast image through the Fresnel lens. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of a Fresnel lens. The method includes receiving a projection of a high contrast image transmitted through a Fresnel lens; and adjusting a position of the Fresnel lens based on the projection of the high contrast image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Melissa Geng
  • Patent number: 10613323
    Abstract: This present disclosure describes an optics block with a frame element. The optics block includes a set of one or more optical elements with a first region and a second region. The first region has a first optical quality which is above a quality threshold; the second region has a second optical quality which is below the quality threshold. The frame element is coupled to a quality threshold boundary between the first region and the second region and is between the set of one or more optical elements and an eye-box. The frame element directs a user's attention towards the first region of the set of one or more optical elements with the first optical quality and away from the second region of the set of one or more optical elements with the second optical quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier
  • Patent number: 10606349
    Abstract: A backlight device includes a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The backlight device is configured to emit light in a first optical band through the second surface toward a display panel of a head-mounted display (HMD). The display panel is configured to convert the light from the backlight device to image light. The backlight device is transparent to light in a second optical band that is different than the first optical band. An eye tracking system illuminates an eyebox with light in the second optical band. A camera assembly positioned adjacent to the first surface of the backlight device. The camera assembly is configured to capture images of the eye in the second optical band through the backlight device, the display panel. The eye tracking system determines eye tracking information based at least in part on the captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Jacques Gollier, Robin Sharma, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Alexander Sohn, Abbas Mehdi Kazmi
  • Patent number: 10609364
    Abstract: A lens for a head mounted display is configured for directing and collimating image light from pixels of an electronic display to a pupil of a user's eye to lessen a pupil swim effect. A method of configuring a lens for directing and collimating image light from an electronic display to a pupil of a user's eye includes configuring the lens to lessen a difference between observed distortions of imagery displayed by the electronic display at different gaze angles of the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Jacques Gollier, Brant Carlton Lewis, Brian Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 10608134
    Abstract: A solar power method is provided using two-stage light concentration to drive concentrating photovoltaic conversion in conjunction with thermal collection. The method concentrates light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, which is orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus. R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane, which is parallel to the primary linear focus. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is focused by optical elements along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, which are orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary primary focus is focused into a plurality of receiving areas, and translated into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Norcon Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Wei Pan, Douglas Tweet
  • Patent number: 10600352
    Abstract: A display device is configured to be operable in a normal mode that blocks ambient light or a see-through mode that allows ambient light to be visible to a user. The display device includes an emission surface configured to output image light, a switchable window configurable to block ambient light in the normal mode or to transmit ambient light in the see-through mode, and an optical assembly. The optical assembly includes a first region configured to receive image light from the emission surface and to direct the image light toward the eyes of a user. The optical assembly also includes a second region configured to receive ambient light from the switchable window and to allow at least a portion of the ambient light to pass through. A method of setting the display device in normal mode or see-through mode is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Fenglin Peng, Babak Amirsolaimani
  • Publication number: 20200081315
    Abstract: A varifocal optical assembly includes a plurality of optical elements configured to transmit light in successive optical stages. Each respective optical stage of the successive optical stages includes at least one respective optical element of the plurality of optical elements and is configurable to be in one of a first state and a second state. The respective optical stage in the first state has a first respective optical power for light of a first polarization and a second respective optical power for light of a second polarization. The respective optical stage in the second state has a third optical power for light of the first polarization and a fourth optical power for light of the second polarization. The optical power of varifocal optical assembly is adjustable by changing the states of one or more of the successive optical stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Afsoon Jamali, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Brian Wheelwright, Lu Lu, Douglas Lanman
  • Patent number: 10585477
    Abstract: An eyewear device has an optical element, a patterned optical filter, and a camera. The optical element receives light that includes light in a visible band and light in an infrared (IR) band. The patterned optical filter is disposed on the optical element and has a filtering portion and a plurality of non-filtering portions. The filtering portion is transmissive to light in the visible band and filtering of light in the IR band. The non-filtering portions are transmissive to light in the visible band and transmissive to light in the IR band. Some portion of the received light in the IR band passes through the non-filtering portions and illuminates a portion of an eye of a user with a pattern. The camera captures images of the portion of the eye that is illuminated with the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Dale Cavin, Alexander Jobe Fix, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Qi Zhang, Robin Sharma, Brian Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 10534156
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first light element configured to transmit a first light having a first color; a second light element configured to transmit a second light having a second color; a first lens configured for directing the first light in a first direction and directing the second light in a second direction; and a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light and the second light from the first lens toward a first eye of a user. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through a first lens and a first set of one or more lenses and directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of one or more lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yijing Fu, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 10520742
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes an electronic display configured to output image light, an optics assembly configured to direct image light in a first band from the electronic display to an eye box, an eye tracking unit configured to generate eye tracking information, and a beamsplitter configured to redirect light in a second band reflected from the eye box toward the eye tracking unit and transmit the image light in the first band. The beamsplitter includes a first region and a second region, and a first portion that joins the first region and the second region is curved such that an angle between the first region and the optical axis is larger than an angle between second region and the optical axis, and the beamsplitter is positioned along the optical axis between the optics assembly and the electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Alexander Sohn
  • Patent number: 10520729
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a high contrast image on a display screen; and projecting the high contrast image through a Fresnel lens to provide a cue for adjusting a position of the Fresnel lens. Also disclosed is a device for determining and/or adjusting an offset of a Fresnel lens. The device includes a Fresnel lens and a display screen configured to project a high contrast image through the Fresnel lens. Further disclosed is a method for adjusting a position of a Fresnel lens. The method includes receiving a projection of a high contrast image transmitted through a Fresnel lens; and adjusting a position of the Fresnel lens based on the projection of the high contrast image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
  • Publication number: 20190384070
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The first optical element includes a flat partially reflective layer. The second optical element includes a curved reflective polarizer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Jacques Gollier, Brian Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 10509228
    Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) presented herein comprises an electronic display and an optical assembly. The electronic display is configured to emit image light. The optical assembly is configured to direct the image light to an eye-box of the HMD corresponding to a location of a user's eye. The electronic display is positioned with respect to an optical axis of the HMD such that a first portion of the image light emitted by a first portion of the electronic display and a second portion of the image light emitted by a second portion of the electronic display appear to originate at different distances from the optical assembly such that the optical assembly generates at least a first image plane associated with the first portion of the electronic display and a second image plane associated with the second portion of the electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Brian Wheelwright
  • Patent number: 10505496
    Abstract: A method is provided for using asymmetrically focused photovoltaic conversion in a hybrid parabolic trough solar power system. Light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes are concentrated towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus, while R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is asymmetrically focused along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary linear focus is concentrated into a plurality of receiving areas and translated into electrical energy. Asymmetrical optical elements are used having an optical input interfaces elongated along rotatable axes, orthogonal to the axial plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: DWP Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Wei Pan, Douglas Tweet
  • Publication number: 20190361245
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas Robert LANMAN, Brian WHEELWRIGHT, Andrew John OUDERKIRK