Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Dean Schmulen
Jeffrey Dean Schmulen 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: 20230341692Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Jeffrey Dean SCHMULEN, Neal Paul RICKS, Samarth BHARGAVA, Kevin MESSER, Victor Kai LIU, Matthew Grant DIXON, Xiaopei DENG, Marlon Edward MENEZES, Shuqiang YANG, Vikramjit SINGH, Kang LUO, Frank Y. XU
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Patent number: 11691224Abstract: A fixture used in the manufacture of an eyepiece, to cut the eyepiece to a particular shape, and a method of using the fixture to cut the eyepiece to have a desired shape. Embodiments are directed to a configurable fixture to align, hold, and protect a plastic sheet (e.g., a wafer) while a laser cutting apparatus is cutting one or more eyepieces out of the wafer. During the cutting, the fixture protects the eyepieces from reflected laser light by providing voids around the laser cutting lines, and by supporting each eyepiece near its perimeter. The fixture can be quickly rearranged for different eyepieces, different eyepiece shapes, and/or different plastic sheet sizes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Christopher Sawicki, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Christophe Peroz, Sharad D. Bhagat
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Patent number: 11693246Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Samarth Bhargava, Kevin Messer, Victor Kai Liu, Matthew Grant Dixon, Xiaopei Deng, Marlon Edward Menezes, Shuqiang Yang, Vikramjit Singh, Kang Luo, Frank Y. Xu
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Publication number: 20220040796Abstract: A fixture used in the manufacture of an eyepiece, to cut the eyepiece to a particular shape, and a method of using the fixture to cut the eyepiece to have a desired shape. Embodiments are directed to a configurable fixture to align, hold, and protect a plastic sheet (e.g., a wafer) while a laser cutting apparatus is cutting one or more eyepieces out of the wafer. During the cutting, the fixture protects the eyepieces from reflected laser light by providing voids around the laser cutting lines, and by supporting each eyepiece near its perimeter. The fixture can be quickly rearranged for different eyepieces, different eyepiece shapes, and/or different plastic sheet sizes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Joseph Christopher Sawicki, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Christophe Peroz, Sharad D. Bhagat
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Patent number: 11215744Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Publication number: 20210341744Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Samarth Bhargava, Kevin Messer, Victor Kai Liu, Matthew Grant Dixon, Xiaopei Deng, Marlon Edward Menezes, Shuqiang Yang, Vikramjit Singh, Kang Luo, Frank Y. Xu
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Publication number: 20210311298Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an optical device, such as an eyepiece, including multiple layers of waveguides. The optical device can include an edge sealant for reducing light contamination, a lamination darn to restrict the wicking of the edge sealant between layers of the optical device, and venting gap (s) in the sealant and darn to allow air flow between the exterior and interior of the eyepiece. The gap(s) allow outgassing from the interior of the eyepiece of unreacted polymer and/or accumulated moisture, to prevent defect accumulation caused by chemical reaction of outgassed chemicals with the (e.g., ionic, acidic, etc.) surface of the eyepiece layers. The gap(s) also prevent pressure differences which may physically deform the eyepiece over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2019Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Wendong Xing, Vikramjit Singh, Neal Paul Ricks, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Emory D. Carroll, K. Brent Binkley, Frank Y. Xu, Thomas Mercier, William Hudson Welch, Michael Anthony Klug
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Patent number: 11067808Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Samarth Bhargava, Kevin Messer, Victor Kai Liu, Matthew Grant Dixon, Xiaopei Deng, Marlon Edward Menezes, Shuqiang Yang, Vikramjit Singh, Kang Luo, Frank Y. Xu
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Patent number: 11022748Abstract: Techniques are described for using confinement structures and/or pattern gratings to reduce or prevent the wicking of sealant polymer (e.g., glue) into the optically active areas of a multi-layered optical assembly. A multi-layered optical structure may include multiple layers of substrate imprinted with waveguide grating patterns. The multiple layers may be secured using an edge adhesive, such as a resin, epoxy, glue, and so forth. A confinement structure such as an edge pattern may be imprinted along the edge of each layer to control and confine the capillary flow of the edge adhesive and prevent the edge adhesive from wicking into the functional waveguide grating patterns of the layers. Moreover, the edge adhesive may be carbon doped or otherwise blackened to reduce the reflection of light off the edge back into the interior of the layer, thus improving the optical function of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Molecular Imprints, Inc.Inventors: Michael Nevin Miller, Frank Y. Xu, Vikramjit Singh, Eric C. Browy, Jason Schaefer, Robert D. TeKolste, Victor Kai Liu, Samarth Bhargava, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Brian T. Schowengerdt
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Publication number: 20210080635Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Patent number: 10830936Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Patent number: 10823894Abstract: A method of manufacturing a waveguide having a combination of a binary grating structure and a blazed grating structure includes cutting a substrate off-axis, depositing a first layer on the substrate, and depositing a resist layer on the first layer. The resist layer includes a pattern. The method also includes etching the first layer in the pattern using the resist layer as a mask. The pattern includes a first region and a second region. The method further includes creating the binary grating structure in the substrate in the second region and creating the blazed grating structure in the substrate in the first region.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Magic Leaps, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Peroz, Mauro Melli, Vikramjit Singh, David Jurbergs, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Zongxing Wang, Shuqiang Yang, Frank Y. Xu, Kang Luo, Marlon Edward Menezes, Michael Nevin Miller
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Publication number: 20200041712Abstract: A method of manufacturing a waveguide having a combination of a binary grating structure and a blazed grating structure includes cutting a substrate off-axis, depositing a first layer on the substrate, and depositing a resist layer on the first layer. The resist layer includes a pattern. The method also includes etching the first layer in the pattern using the resist layer as a mask. The pattern includes a first region and a second region. The method further includes creating the binary grating structure in the substrate in the second region and creating the blazed grating structure in the substrate in the first region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Peroz, Mauro Melli, Vikramjit Singh, David Jurbergs, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Zongxing Wang, Shuqiang Yang, Frank Y. Xu, Kang Luo, Marlon Edward Menezes, Michael Nevin Miller
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Publication number: 20200033604Abstract: Display devices include waveguides with in-coupling optical elements that mitigate re-bounce of in-coupled light to improve overall in-coupling efficiency and/or uniformity. A waveguide receives light from a light source and/or projection optics and includes an in-coupling optical element that in-couples the received light to propagate by total internal reflection in a propagation direction within the waveguide. Once in-coupled into the waveguide the light may undergo re-bounce, in which the light reflects off a waveguide surface and, after the reflection, strikes the in-coupling optical element. Upon striking the in-coupling optical element, the light may be partially absorbed and/or out-coupled by the optical element, thereby effectively reducing the amount of in-coupled light propagating through the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Samarth Bhargava, Kevin Messer, Victor Kai Liu, Matthew Grant Dixon, Xiaopei Deng, Marlon Edward Menezes, Shuqiang Yang, Vikramjit Singh, Kang Luo, Frank Y. Xu
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Publication number: 20190383984Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Patent number: 10481317Abstract: A method of manufacturing a waveguide having a combination of a binary grating structure and a blazed grating structure includes cutting a substrate off-axis, depositing a first layer on the substrate, and depositing a resist layer on the first layer. The resist layer includes a pattern. The method also includes etching the first layer in the pattern using the resist layer as a mask. The pattern includes a first region and a second region. The method further includes creating the binary grating structure in the substrate in the second region and creating the blazed grating structure in the substrate in the first region.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Peroz, Mauro Melli, Vikramjit Singh, David Jurbergs, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Zongxing Wang, Shuqiang Yang, Frank Y. Xu, Kang Luo, Marlon Edward Menezes, Michael Nevin Miller
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Patent number: 10436968Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Patent number: 10371876Abstract: In some embodiments, compositions and methods comprising reflective flowable materials, e.g., reflective liquids including reflective inks and/or liquid metals, are described. In some embodiments, a surface is contacted with a reflective flowable material, thereby forming a reflective layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the surface is a surface of a waveguide, for example a waveguide for a display device, and the flowable material coats surfaces of protrusions on the surface to form reflective diffractive optical elements. Some embodiments include a display device comprising a reflective layer of reflective flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.Inventors: Marlon Edward Menezes, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Neal Paul Ricks, Victor Kai Liu, Zongxing Wang, David Carl Jurbergs
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Publication number: 20190170932Abstract: Techniques are described for using confinement structures and/or pattern gratings to reduce or prevent the wicking of sealant polymer (e.g., glue) into the optically active areas of a multi-layered optical assembly. A multi-layered optical structure may include multiple layers of substrate imprinted with waveguide grating patterns. The multiple layers may be secured using an edge adhesive, such as a resin, epoxy, glue, and so forth. A confinement structure such as an edge pattern may be imprinted along the edge of each layer to control and confine the capillary flow of the edge adhesive and prevent the edge adhesive from wicking into the functional waveguide grating patterns of the layers. Moreover, the edge adhesive may be carbon doped or otherwise blackened to reduce the reflection of light off the edge back into the interior of the layer, thus improving the optical function of the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Michael Nevin Miller, Frank Y. Xu, Vikramjit Singh, Eric C. Browy, Jason Schaefer, Robert D. TeKolste, Victor Kai Liu, Samarth Bhargava, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Brian T. Schowengerdt
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Patent number: 10241260Abstract: Techniques are described for using confinement structures and/or pattern gratings to reduce or prevent the wicking of sealant polymer (e.g., glue) into the optically active areas of a multi-layered optical assembly. A multi-layered optical structure may include multiple layers of substrate imprinted with waveguide grating patterns. The multiple layers may be secured using an edge adhesive, such as a resin, epoxy, glue, and so forth. A confinement structure such as an edge pattern may be imprinted along the edge of each layer to control and confine the capillary flow of the edge adhesive and prevent the edge adhesive from wicking into the functional waveguide grating patterns of the layers. Moreover, the edge adhesive may be carbon doped or otherwise blackened to reduce the reflection of light off the edge back into the interior of the layer, thus improving the optical function of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Molecular Imprints, Inc.Inventors: Michael Nevin Miller, Frank Y. Xu, Vikramjit Singh, Eric C. Browy, Jason Schaefer, Robert D. TeKolste, Victor Kai Liu, Samarth Bhargava, Jeffrey Dean Schmulen, Brian T. Schowengerdt