Patents by Inventor James C. Dunphy
James C. Dunphy 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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Patent number: 10754160Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy, Oscar A. Martinez
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Patent number: 10338390Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for fabricating an eyepiece from a lens blank including blank bodies that are bonded to each other. In an embodiment, the blank bodies are formed by injection molding and adhered to one another. Fabrication of the eyepiece includes variously machining the blank bodies to shape respective lens bodies of the eyepiece. One or more blocking structures are coupled to reinforce the lens blank during at least part of such machining. In another embodiment, any blocking structures that are to resist forces of a particular machining process are coupled only indirectly to one of the blank bodies.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: GOOGLE LLCInventors: Ozan Cakmakci, Oscar A. Martinez, James C. Dunphy, Hongqin Shi, John Fitch, Omar Negrete, Yeh Tung
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Publication number: 20180252923Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Ozan CAKMAKCI, James C. DUNPHY, Oscar A. MARTINEZ
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Patent number: 9964767Abstract: A display apparatus includes a transparent substrate having first and second sides, an array of LED micro-display panels, and an array of collimating reflectors. The LED micro-display panels are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first and second sides and oriented to emit sub-image portions of a display image towards the first side. The collimating reflectors are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first side and the array of LED micro-display panels. The collimating reflectors are aligned with the LED micro-display panels to reflect the sub-image portions back out the second side of the transparent substrate. The LED micro-display panels are offset from the collimating reflectors to expand the sub-image portions prior to reflection by the collimating reflectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Hui Son, Simon R. Prakash, James C. Dunphy, Caner Onal, Oscar A. Martinez, Philipp H. Schmaelzle, Andrei S. Kazmierski, Ozan Cakmakci
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Patent number: 9964769Abstract: Implementations are described of an eyepiece for a head wearable display. The eyepiece includes a curved lightguide for guiding display light via total internal reflection between a peripherally-located input surface and a viewing region and an output coupler disposed across the viewing region to redirect the display light towards an eyeward direction for output from the curved light guide. The output coupler has an optical axis and has a set of reflective surfaces that includes at least two individual reflective surfaces to reflect incident display light toward the eyeward direction in at least two different directions relative to the optical axis of the output coupler. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Oscar A. Martinez, Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy
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Patent number: 9946074Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy, Oscar A. Martinez
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Patent number: 9897811Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light to a viewing region offset from a peripheral location and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes a curved lightguide to guide the display light, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex and opposite the eye-ward facing surface, and an optical combiner disposed at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction for output from the curved lightguide. The optical combiner is partially transmissive to ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is see-through. In some embodiments, a prism is disposed proximate to the input surface to pre-compensate the display light for lateral chromatic aberrations resulting the curved lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Oscar A. Martinez, Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy
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Publication number: 20170363870Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for fabricating an eyepiece from a lens blank including blank bodies that are bonded to each other. In an embodiment, the blank bodies are formed by injection molding and adhered to one another. Fabrication of the eyepiece includes variously machining the blank bodies to shape respective lens bodies of the eyepiece. One or more blocking structures are coupled to reinforce the lens blank during at least part of such machining. In another embodiment, any blocking structures that are to resist forces of a particular machining process are coupled only indirectly to one of the blank bodies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Ozan Cakmakci, Oscar A. Martinez, James C. Dunphy, Hongqin Shi, John Fitch, Omar Negrete, Yeh Tung
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Publication number: 20170357090Abstract: Implementations are described of an eyepiece for a head wearable display. The eyepiece includes a curved lightguide for guiding display light via total internal reflection between a peripherally-located input surface and a viewing region and an output coupler disposed across the viewing region to redirect the display light towards an eyeward direction for output from the curved light guide. The output coupler has an optical axis and has a set of reflective surfaces that includes at least two individual reflective surfaces to reflect incident display light toward the eyeward direction in at least two different directions relative to the optical axis of the output coupler. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2016Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Oscar A. Martinez, Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy
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Publication number: 20170293144Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light received at an input surface peripherally located from a viewing region and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes an optical combiner, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex, and a curved lightguide disposed between the eye-ward facing and world facing surfaces to guide the display light via total internal reflections from the input surface to the viewing region. The optical combiner is disposed within the curved eyepiece at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction. The optical combiner includes a pattern of reflective elements separated by interstitial regions. The interstitial regions pass ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is partially see-through.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy, Oscar A. Martinez
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Publication number: 20170293143Abstract: An apparatus for use with a head wearable display includes a curved eyepiece for guiding display light to a viewing region offset from a peripheral location and emitting the display light along an eye-ward direction in the viewing region. The curved eyepiece includes a curved lightguide to guide the display light, an eye-ward facing surface that is concave, a world facing surface that is convex and opposite the eye-ward facing surface, and an optical combiner disposed at the viewing region to redirect the display light towards the eye-ward direction for output from the curved lightguide. The optical combiner is partially transmissive to ambient light incident through the world facing surface such that the viewing region is see-through. In some embodiments, a prism is disposed proximate to the input surface to pre-compensate the display light for lateral chromatic aberrations resulting the curved lightguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Oscar A. Martinez, Ozan Cakmakci, James C. Dunphy
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Publication number: 20170255011Abstract: A display apparatus includes a transparent substrate having first and second sides, an array of LED micro-display panels, and an array of collimating reflectors. The LED micro-display panels are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first and second sides and oriented to emit sub-image portions of a display image towards the first side. The collimating reflectors are disposed within the transparent substrate between the first side and the array of LED micro-display panels. The collimating reflectors are aligned with the LED micro-display panels to reflect the sub-image portions back out the second side of the transparent substrate. The LED micro-display panels are offset from the collimating reflectors to expand the sub-image portions prior to reflection by the collimating reflectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Hui Son, Simon R. Prakash, James C. Dunphy, Caner Onal, Oscar A. Martinez, Philipp H. Schmaelzle, Andrei S. Kazmierski, Ozan Cakmakci
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Patent number: 9568734Abstract: An eyepiece includes a first lens body having a first interface side and a second lens body having a second interface side. At least one of the first and second interface sides includes a recess. The first and second lens bodies are mated together along the first and second interface sides to form a cavity at the recess. A lightguide insert is provided that has a shape and a size to fit within the cavity. The lightguide insert includes an in-coupling region to receive display light into the lightguide insert and an out-coupling region to direct the display light out of the lightguide insert through the first lens body.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Sandeep Giri, James C. Dunphy, Mark B. Spitzer, Hongqin Shi
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Patent number: 8444271Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a Lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: James C. Dunphy, Stephen W. Marshall
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Patent number: 8395837Abstract: A releasing and post-releasing method for making a micromirror device and a micromirror array device are disclosed herein. The releasing method removes the sacrificial materials in the micromirror and micromirror array so as to enabling movements of the movable elements in the micromirror and micromirror array device. The post-releasing method is applied to improve the performance and quality of the released micromirrors and micromirror array devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Hongqin Shi, Gregory Schaadt, James C. Dunphy, Dmitri Simonian, John D. Porter
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Publication number: 20120184067Abstract: A releasing and post-releasing method for making a micromirror device and a micromirror array device are disclosed herein. The releasing method removes the sacrificial materials in the micromirror and micromirror array so as to enabling movements of the movable elements in the micromirror and micromirror array device. The post-releasing method is applied to improve the performance and quality of the released micromirrors and micromirror array devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2007Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Hongqin Shi, Gregory Schaadt, James C. Dunphy, Dmitri Simonian, John D. Porter
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Publication number: 20120019918Abstract: The disclosure provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a Lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: James C. Dunphy, Stephen W. Marshall
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Patent number: 8031403Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: James C. Dunphy, Stephen W. Marshall
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Publication number: 20090009871Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: James C. Dunphy, Stephen W. Marshall
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Patent number: 7403175Abstract: Methods for compensating for brightness variations in a field emission device. In one embodiment, a method and system are described for measuring the relative brightness of rows of a field emission display (FED) device, storing information representing the measured brightness into a correction table and using the correction table to provide uniform row brightness in the display by adjusting row voltages and/or row on-time periods. A special measurement process is described for providing accurate current measurements on the rows. This embodiment compensates for brightness variations of the rows, e.g., for rows near the spacer walls. In another embodiment, a periodic signal, e.g., a high frequency noise signal, is added to the row on-time pulse in order to camouflage brightness variations in the rows near the spacer walls. In another embodiment, the area under the row on-time pulse is adjusted to provide row-by-row brightness compensation based on correction values stored in a memory resident correction table.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: James C. Dunphy, William Cummings, Christopher J. Spindt, Ronald L. Hansen, Jun (Gordon) Liu, Lee Cressi, Colin Stanners