Abstract: A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for near-field illumination of an eye includes a semiconductor substrate, a first reflector, a mesa region, a first electrical contact, and a second electrical contact. The first reflector is disposed on a first side of the semiconductor substrate and the mesa region is disposed on the first reflector. The mesa region includes a second reflector and an active region, where the mesa region is configured to generate a diverging infrared beam. The first electrical contact is disposed on a second side of the semiconductor substrate, opposite the first side, for electrically coupling to the first reflector. The second electrical contact is also disposed on the second side of the semiconductor substrate for electrically coupling to the second reflector.

Abstract: A method for the active control of in-field light sources of a head mounted display (HMD) includes receiving an image of an eye of a user of the HMD, where the image is captured by an eye-tracking camera in response to infrared light emitted by a plurality of in-field light sources. The method also includes selectively disabling at least one of the in-field light sources based on information from the image of the eye.

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.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electroactive device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electroactive element disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electroactive element may include a plurality of voids distributed within the electroactive element. The electroactive device may have a non-uniform electroactive response based at least in part on a non-uniform distribution of voids within the electroactive element. The non-uniform electroactive response may include a non-uniform sensor response or a non-uniform actuation response. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

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: A method for the active control of in-field light sources of a head mounted display (HMD) includes receiving an image of an eye of a user of the HMD, where the image is captured by an eye-tracking camera in response to infrared light emitted by a plurality of in-field light sources. The method also includes selectively disabling at least one of the in-field light sources based on information from the image of the eye.

Abstract: A device may include a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer element disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The electroactive polymer element may include a nanovoided polymer material whereby resistance to deformation of the electroactive polymer element is non-linear with respect to an amount of deformation of the electroactive polymer element. Various other devices, method, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example device may include a light source, an optical element, and, optionally, an encapsulant layer. A light beam generated by the light source may be received by the optical element and redirected towards an illumination target, such as an eye of a user. The optical element may include a material, for example, with a refractive index of at least approximately 2 at a wavelength of the light beam. The light source may be a semiconductor light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser. The optical element may be supported by an emissive surface of the light source. Refraction at an exit surface of the optical element, and/or within a metamaterial layer, may advantageously modify the beam properties, for example, in relation to illuminating a target. In some examples, the light source and optical element may be integrated into a monolithic light source module.

Abstract: A structure includes a first transparent conductive layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and an insulation layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer. A light source having a first node and a second node may have its first node electrically coupled to the first transparent conductive layer and its second node electrically coupled to the second transparent conductive layer. A via running though one of the transparent conductive layers may facilitate electrical routing to the light source.

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: Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.

Abstract: A form birefringent optical element includes a structured layer and a dielectric environment disposed over the structured layer. At least one of the structured layer and the dielectric environment includes a nanovoided polymer, the nanovoided polymer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Actuation of the nanovoided polymer can be used to reversibly control the form birefringence of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods 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: A device may include a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer element disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The electroactive polymer element may include a nanovoided polymer material whereby resistance to deformation of the electroactive polymer element is non-linear with respect to an amount of deformation of the electroactive polymer element. Various other devices, method, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of light sources such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are configured to emit non-visible light through emission apertures. Optics are formed over the emission apertures of the plurality of light sources. The optics may provide different tilt angles or divergence angles to the non-visible light emitted by the light sources in the plurality of light sources.

Abstract: A near-eye optical element includes one or more infrared light sources and an optical structure. The one or more infrared light sources emit infrared beams. The optical structure includes an optically transparent material disposed over the emission aperture(s) of the infrared light source(s). The optical structure includes one or more facets that diverge the infrared beams.

Abstract: A near-eye optic includes a substrate having a clear aperture for propagating light. A plurality of inconspicuous electrical components is supported by the substrate in the clear aperture of the substrate. The inconspicuous electrical components may be disposed in an inconspicuous pattern and may be electrically coupled to a plurality of inconspicuous conductive traces, which may also be disposed in an inconspicuous pattern. 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 vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for near-field illumination of an eye includes a semiconductor substrate, a first reflector, a mesa region, a first electrical contact, and a second electrical contact. The first reflector is disposed on a first side of the semiconductor substrate and the mesa region is disposed on the first reflector. The mesa region includes a second reflector and an active region, where the mesa region is configured to generate a diverging infrared beam. The first electrical contact is disposed on a second side of the semiconductor substrate, opposite the first side, for electrically coupling to the first reflector. The second electrical contact is also disposed on the second side of the semiconductor substrate for electrically coupling to the second reflector.

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.