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).
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Publication number: 20190313087Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Jacques Gollier, Brant Carleton Lewis, Brian Wheelwright
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Patent number: 10429656Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a pancake lens block, an eye tracking system, and an electronic display. The electronic display is coated with a dichroic film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light (IR). An IR emitter illuminates an eye of the user, and infrared light is reflected from an eye through the pancake lens block and is incident on the dichroic film. The reflected light is captured by an image capturing element of the eye tracking system that is positioned at a periphery of HMD located off-axis relative to an optical axis of the pancake lens block.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Robin Sharma, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 10429657Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a pancake lens block, an eye tracking system, and an electronic display. The electronic display is coated with a dichroic film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light (IR). An IR emitter illuminates an eye of the user, and infrared light is reflected from an eye through the pancake lens block and is incident on the dichroic film. The reflected light undergoes multiple reflections before being captured by an image capturing element of the eye tracking system that is positioned at a periphery of HMD located off-axis relative to an optical axis of the pancake lens block. Moreover, each reflection results in a particular view of the eye that results in multiple views of the eye being received by the image capturing element.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Robin Sharma, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
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Patent number: 10429647Abstract: A virtual scene presented on a display of a virtual reality headset can be adjusted using a varifocal element by changing the shape of one or more optical elements of a pancake lens block, by varying the distance between the two optical elements, or both, based on where in a virtual scene a user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to determine a vergence depth from gaze lines in order to accommodate the user's eye for the determined vergence depth. Accordingly, the shape of one or more optical elements is adjusted, the distance between the two optical elements, or both, is changed to focus light from the display of the virtual reality headset at the vergence depth to keep the user's eye in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman
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Patent number: 10429927Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a pancake lens block, an eye tracking system, and an electronic display. The electronic display is coated with a dichroic film that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light (IR). An IR emitter illuminates an eye of the user, and infrared light is reflected from an eye through the pancake lens block and is incident on the dichroic film. The reflected light undergoes multiple reflections before being captured by an image capturing element of the eye tracking system that is positioned at a periphery of HMD located off-axis relative to an optical axis of the pancake lens block.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Robin Sharma, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Andrew John Ouderkirk
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Patent number: 10379359Abstract: A lens includes an optically transparent substrate having a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface. The first lens surface includes a plurality of Fresnel structures. A respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures includes a slope facet and a draft facet. The draft facet is characterized by a draft angle which is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. The draft angle is between a first angle and a second angle, the first angle corresponding to a direction of a ray, in a first medium, transmitted from a reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward a reference pupil. The second angle corresponding to a direction of the ray, in the optically transparent substrate, transmitted from the reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward the reference pupil.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Shizhe Shen, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
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Patent number: 10379348Abstract: A lens defined by a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface is disclosed. The lens includes a first portion; and a second portion that is distinct from the first portion and is located around the first portion. The first lens surface for the first portion of the lens is defined by a Fresnel surface profile. The second lens surface for the first portion of the lens is defined by a smooth surface profile. The first lens surface for a second portion of the lens is defined by a Fresnel surface profile. The second lens surface for the second portion of the lens is defined by a Fresnel surface profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Melissa Geng
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Patent number: 10379360Abstract: A lens configured for transmitting light in a first medium to a first reference pupil includes an optically transparent substrate having a plurality of Fresnel structures. A draft angle of a respective Fresnel structure is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. The draft angle of the respective Fresnel structure is between a first angle and a second angle. The first angle corresponds to a direction of a ray, in the first medium, transmitted from a reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward a second reference pupil located further away from the substrate than the first reference pupil. The second angle corresponds to a direction of the ray, in the optically transparent substrate, transmitted from the reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward the second reference pupil.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Shizhe Shen, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
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Patent number: 10371952Abstract: A lens includes an optically transparent substrate having a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface. The first lens surface includes a plurality of Fresnel structures. A respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures includes a slope facet and a draft facet. The respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures is characterized by a representative pitch. The representative pitch of the respective Fresnel structure is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. A display device that includes the lens and an electronic display coupled with the lens for outputting light through the lens and a method for transmitting light from an electronic display toward the lens are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier
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Patent number: 10359845Abstract: A head-mounted display includes an electronic display, a liquid crystal (LC) array with LC cells forming a dynamic lens array, an optical assembly, an eye tracker, and a controller. The LC array refracts image light emitted from the electronic display. The LC array includes a gaze region with a subset of the LC cells forming a portion of the dynamic lens array having a lens density different than that associated with remaining portions of the LC cells outside the gaze region. The eye tracker tracks a gaze location corresponding to a foveal region of a user's eye. The controller generates emission instructions and provides the emission instructions to the LC array to change location of the gaze region in the LC array based on the tracked gaze location. The optical assembly directs portions of image light refracted by the gaze region toward the foveal region of the user's eye.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright
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Patent number: 10288884Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes an electronic display, a microlens array, and an optics block. The electronic display is composed of a plurality of sub-pixels, and each sub-pixel is configured to emit image light according to respective emission distribution. The microlens array is coupled to the electronic display and includes a plurality of microlenses. The microlens array concentrates the emission distributions of the sub-pixels to form concentrated image light and directs the concentrated image light towards a target region. The optics block is positioned in the target region. The optics block is configured to direct the concentrated image light from the microlens array to an exit pupil of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of a user of the HMD.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Nicholas Daniel Trail
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Patent number: 10254507Abstract: A device includes a first light source device configured to transmit a first light and a second light. The device also includes a first set of one or more lenses configured for directing the first light and the second light toward a first eye of a user. The first light is spatially offset from the second light. The first light and the second light provide a cue for adjusting a location of the first set of one or more lenses. Also disclosed is a method that includes transmitting a first light and a second light through 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: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Yijing Fu
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Publication number: 20190101767Abstract: A head-mounted device (HMD) comprises a display element, a Fresnel assembly, an illumination source, and a camera assembly. The display element outputs image light in a first band of light through a display surface. The optics block directs light from the display element to a target region (e.g., includes a portion of a user's face, eyes, etc.). The Fresnel assembly transmits light in the first band and directs light in a second band different than the first band to a first position. The source illuminates the target area with light in the second band. The camera is located in the first position and captures light in the second band corresponding to light reflected from the target area that is then reflected by the Fresnel assembly toward the camera. A controller may use the captured light to determine tracking information for areas of a user's face (e.g., eyes).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Alexander Sohn, Robin Sharma
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Publication number: 20190018216Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Yijing Fu, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
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Patent number: 10133076Abstract: A lens defined by a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface is disclosed. A first portion of the first lens surface is defined by a smooth surface profile function, and a second portion of the first lens surface is defined by a Fresnel surface profile function. The second portion of the first lens surface is around the first portion of the first lens surface. Also disclosed is a display device that includes the lens and an array of light emitting devices coupled with the lens for outputting light through the lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Melissa Geng
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Patent number: 10025101Abstract: A lens includes an optically transparent substrate having a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface. The first lens surface includes a plurality of Fresnel structures. A respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures includes a slope facet and a draft facet. The draft facet is characterized by a draft angle. The draft angle of the respective Fresnel structure is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a center of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Melissa Geng
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Publication number: 20180074324Abstract: A lens configured for transmitting light in a first medium to a first reference pupil includes an optically transparent substrate having a plurality of Fresnel structures. A draft angle of a respective Fresnel structure is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. The draft angle of the respective Fresnel structure is between a first angle and a second angle. The first angle corresponds to a direction of a ray, in the first medium, transmitted from a reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward a second reference pupil located further away from the substrate than the first reference pupil. The second angle corresponds to a direction of the ray, in the optically transparent substrate, transmitted from the reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward the second reference pupil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Shizhe Shen, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier, Ying GENG
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Publication number: 20180074323Abstract: A lens includes an optically transparent substrate having a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface. The first lens surface includes a plurality of Fresnel structures. A respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures includes a slope facet and a draft facet. The draft facet is characterized by a draft angle which is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. The draft angle is between a first angle and a second angle, the first angle corresponding to a direction of a ray, in a first medium, transmitted from a reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward a reference pupil. The second angle corresponding to a direction of the ray, in the optically transparent substrate, transmitted from the reference off-axis position through the respective Fresnel structure toward the reference pupil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Shizhe Shen, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng
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Publication number: 20180074318Abstract: A lens defined by a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface is disclosed. A first portion of the first lens surface is defined by a smooth surface profile function, and a second portion of the first lens surface is defined by a Fresnel surface profile function. The second portion of the first lens surface is around the first portion of the first lens surface. Also disclosed is a display device that includes the lens and an array of light emitting devices coupled with the lens for outputting light through the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Melissa Geng
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Publication number: 20180074325Abstract: A lens includes an optically transparent substrate having a first lens surface and a second lens surface opposite to the first lens surface. The first lens surface includes a plurality of Fresnel structures. A respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures includes a slope facet and a draft facet. The respective Fresnel structure of the plurality of Fresnel structures is characterized by a representative pitch. The representative pitch of the respective Fresnel structure is based on a distance of the respective Fresnel structure from a reference axis of the lens. A display device that includes the lens and an electronic display coupled with the lens for outputting light through the lens and a method for transmitting light from an electronic display toward the lens are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Ning Yueng Chan, Jacques Gollier