Abstract: A liquid lens architecture includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based membrane overlying at least a portion of the transparent substrate, and a liquid layer disposed between and abutting the transparent substrate and the multilayer thermoplastic polyurethane-based membrane. The TPU-based membrane may exhibit a reversible elastic response to imposed strains of up to approximately 2% and is configured to limit the transpiration of fluid to less than approximately 10?2 g/m2/day.

Abstract: A curable liquid is provided to a mold having a rigid surface disposed opposite a deformable surface. The curable liquid contacts the rigid surface and the deformable surface. The deformable surface is shaped according to a surface profile by driving actuators configured to move the deformable surface. The curable liquid is cured while the deformable surface is shaped according to the surface profile.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device, such as a transducer, includes a polymer element disposed between electrodes, and a control circuit configured to apply electrical potentials having the same polarity to the electrodes. A separation distance between the electrodes may be increased by an electrostatic repulsion between the electrodes. Various other devices, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device, such as an electroactive device, may include primary electrode and a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode. An electroactive polymer element may include a composite polymer material and is disposed between and abuts each of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. A phase change or other deformable medium such as a liquid, a gas, or a liquid-gas mixture may be disposed as inclusions within the polymer material. The device can be actuated by the application of a voltage between the electrodes and the attendant formation of a Maxwell stress, exposing the deformable medium to a source of radiation, changing a pressure of the deformable medium, or changing a temperature of the deformable medium, e.g., about a phase transformation temperature of the phase change medium.

Abstract: An eye is illuminated with a first non-visible light wavelength and a second non-visible light wavelength. A first ocular image is captured from first reflected light having the first non-visible light wavelength and a second ocular image is captured from second reflected light having the second non-visible light wavelength.

Abstract: An initiated chemical vapor deposition (i-CVD) method for forming a nanovoided polymeric material may include heating a mixture including a gaseous monomer, a gaseous polymerization initiator, and a solvent to form a polymeric thin film including the solvent and removing the solvent from the polymeric thin film to form a nanovoided thin film. Devices, including dielectric elastomer actuators, may be formed using the nanovoided polymeric material. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An eye is illuminated with a first non-visible light wavelength and a second non-visible light wavelength. A first ocular image is captured from first reflected light having the first non-visible light wavelength and a second ocular image is captured from second reflected light having the second non-visible light wavelength.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for switchable electroactive devices for head-mounted displays (HMDs). In particular, a method may include (1) applying an electric field to an electroactive element of an electroactive device via electrodes of the electroactive device that are electrically coupled to the electroactive element to compress the electroactive element, which comprises a polymer material defining nanovoids, such that an average size of the nanovoids is decreased and a density of the nanovoids is increased in the electroactive element, wherein the electroactive device is positioned at a distance from a user's eye, and (2) emitting image light from an emissive device positioned such that at least a portion of the image light is incident on a surface of the electroactive device facing the user's eye.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes (1) applying a first voltage and a first current to an electroactive device that includes a nanovoided electroactive polymer, (2) measuring a second voltage and a second current associated with the electroactive device, (3) determining at least one of a position or a force output associated with the electroactive device, the position or the force based on the second voltage and the second current, and (4) applying a third voltage and a third current to the electroactive device based on the at least one of the position or the force output. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device includes a scanned projector for projecting a beam of light, and a diffraction grating for dispersing the light at a plurality of angles into a waveguide, wherein at least a portion of the diffraction grating includes a nanovoided polymer. Manipulation of the nanovoid topology, such as through capacitive actuation, can be used to reversibly control the effective refractive index of the nanovoided polymer and hence the grating efficiency. The switchable grating can be used to control the amount of diffraction of an incident beam of light through the grating thereby decreasing optical loss. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A near-eye optical element includes light sources arranged with an illumination layer. The light sources are angled to direct light from the light sources to illuminate an ocular region.

Abstract: A near-eye optic includes a substrate having a clear aperture for propagating light. An inconspicuous electrical circuit is supported by the substrate in the clear aperture of the substrate. The inconspicuous electrical circuit includes a plurality of inconspicuous conductive traces disposed in an inconspicuous pattern and electrically coupled to a plurality of inconspicuous electrical components. The inconspicuous pattern may include e.g. an asymmetric pattern, an aperiodic pattern, a pseudo-random pattern, a meandering pattern, a periodic pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations, or a non-rectangular pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations.

Abstract: A light source structure includes a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device having a top surface and at least one side surface substantially perpendicular to and adjoining the top surface. The VCSEL device is configurable to output directed emission of light through the top surface. The light source structure also includes a light barrier surrounding at least a top portion of the VCSEL device and separated from the at least one side surface. The light barrier is configured to receive spontaneous emission out of the VCSEL device through the at least one side surface.

Abstract: A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) includes a semiconductor substrate, a first reflector, a second reflector, a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a through-hole via. The first reflector is disposed on a first side of the semiconductor substrate and the second reflector is disposed between the first reflector and an emission side of the VCSEL. The first and second electrical contacts are disposed on a second side of the semiconductor substrate, opposite the first side, for mounting the VCSEL to a transparent substrate. The through-hole via electrically connects the second electrical contact to the second reflector.

Abstract: Aspects of an illumination layer of a near-eye optical element for a head mounted display (HMD) are provided herein. The illumination layer includes a plurality of in-field light sources and a keep-out zone. The in-field light sources are configured to emit infrared light to illuminate an eye of a user of the HMD for imaging of the eye by an eye-tracking camera. The keep-out zone includes a center that is to be aligned with a center of the eye when the eye is in a centered orientation, where the in-field light sources are arranged within the illumination layer outside of the keep-out zone.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an electrode precursor material may be flowed into a manifold extrusion die having first and second manifold inlet openings. Further, an electroactive polymer precursor material may be flowed into the manifold extrusion die via a third manifold inlet opening such that the electroactive polymer precursor material is layered between alternating layers of the electrode precursor material from the first and second manifold inlet openings. Moreover, the electrode precursor material and the electroactive polymer precursor material may be extruded through a manifold outlet opening of the manifold extrusion die. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure includes optical systems and near-eye optical elements configured to suppress stray infrared light. Infrared illuminators illuminator an eyebox area with narrow-band infrared illumination light for eye-tracking. A combiner layer receives reflected infrared light reflected of an eye of the user and directs the reflected infrared light to a camera configured to capture eye-tracking images of an eye of a user. An anti-reflection (AR) coating may be disposed on a base curvature to reduce Fresnel reflections that generate stray light. A ghost suppression component may be paired with the infrared illuminators to reduce stray light becoming incident on the camera.

Abstract: A near-eye optic includes a substrate having a clear aperture for propagating light. An inconspicuous electrical circuit is supported by the substrate in the clear aperture of the substrate. The inconspicuous electrical circuit includes a plurality of inconspicuous conductive traces disposed in an inconspicuous pattern and electrically coupled to a plurality of inconspicuous electrical components. The inconspicuous pattern may include e.g. an asymmetric pattern, an aperiodic pattern, a pseudo-random pattern, a meandering pattern, a periodic pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations, or a non-rectangular pattern modulated with pseudo-random perturbations.

Abstract: An optical element for a head mounted display (HMD) includes an illumination layer, an optical combiner, and an optically transparent layer. The illumination layer is configured to emit infrared light towards an eyeward side of the optical element. The optical combiner is configured to receive reflected infrared light that is reflected by an eye of a user and to direct the reflected infrared light towards an infrared camera. The optically transparent layer is disposed between the illumination layer and the eyeward side of the optical element. The optical element may further include one or both of a confinement layer and an infrared extractor. The confinement layer is disposed on a surface of the optically transparent layer to induce waveguiding of confined infrared light propagating within the optically transparent layer. The infrared extractor is disposed on a side-edge of the optically transparent layer to absorb or frustrate the confined infrared light.