Patents by Inventor Jianru Shi
Jianru Shi 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: 10678054Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal layer and a backlight. The liquid crystal layer includes a first liquid crystal portion including a first plurality of pixels, and a second liquid crystal portion including a second plurality of pixels. The backlight includes a first backlight unit corresponding to the first liquid crystal portion, and a second backlight unit corresponding to the second liquid crystal portion. Each backlight unit includes one or more light sources, and a light guide for guiding light generated by the one or more light sources to a respective liquid crystal portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Fenglin Peng
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Patent number: 10670928Abstract: A beam steering device includes a first substrate; a second substrate that is distinct from the first substrate; a first alignment layer located adjacent to the first substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second alignment layer located adjacent to the second substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first alignment layer has a first periodic circular pattern, and the second alignment layer has a second periodic circular pattern that corresponds to the first periodic circular pattern. The beam steering device also includes nematic liquid crystals located between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer; and one or more retardation compensators.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Lu Lu, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10670929Abstract: A light intensity modulator array includes a first substrate with a two-dimensional array of electrodes; a second substrate with one or more electrodes; and liquid crystal located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The two-dimensional array of electrodes is arranged in a first direction and a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction. A respective electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes is distinct and separate from a first adjacent electrode and a second adjacent electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes. The first adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the first direction and the second adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the second direction. A method for tracking an eye using a device including the light intensity modulator array is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Lu Lu, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10665180Abstract: An electronic display comprises a backlight unit and a liquid crystal (LC) layer, wherein the backlight combines and directs light from a plurality of light sources towards the LC layer, which controls an amount of light to be displayed. The light sources comprise at least two different types of light sources associated with different wavelength ranges, to provide improved spectrum intensity for a wider range of wavelengths. The intensity of the light sources may be adjusted based upon the input data for an image to be displayed. For example, the light sources may be dimmed based upon a determined amount of the received image data associated with a particular gray level.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Fenglin Peng
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Patent number: 10522094Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystals in a pixel area and a backlight unit coupled to the liquid crystal layer. A plurality of pixels are disposed in the pixel area. The backlight unit is configured to project light towards the entire pixel area of the liquid crystal layer during an illumination time period of a frame time, and not to project the light towards any of the pixel area of the liquid crystal layer during a non-illumination time period of the frame time. By enabling the backlight unit for the illumination time period less than the frame time, image streaking and latency can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Evan M. Richards, Nirav Rajendra Patel, Jianru Shi
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Patent number: 10459305Abstract: A method includes sequentially transmitting, through a beam steering device, light of a first color and light of a second color that is distinct from the first color. The method also includes applying a first voltage to the beam steering device for transmission of the light of the first color through the beam steering device; and applying a second voltage to the beam steering device for transmission of the light of the second color through the beam steering device. A device configured to perform the method is also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10437326Abstract: A head mounted display system includes a display device and an eyetracking device. The display device includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel comprising a plurality of rows of pixels, a back light unit (BLU), and a data driver. The BLU emits light during an illumination period of a frame period from an illumination start time and does not emit light for a remaining portion of the frame period. The eyetracking device determines an eye gaze area of a user in a pixel area of the display device. The illumination start time varies based on a location of the eye gaze area of the user. Liquid crystal material in a row of pixels of the LC panel outside the eye gaze area of the user transitions during the illumination period.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Evan M. Richards, Jianru Shi, Fenglin Peng
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Patent number: 10409080Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including an OLED panel having a series of gore shaped panel portions that form a quasi-spherical display surface. Each gore shaped panel portion includes a middle portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The middle portions of adjacent gore shaped panel portions are separated by bend regions. The OLED panel is bent along the first bend regions and each gore shaped panel portion is bent, such as along second bend regions between the middle portion and end portions, to join adjacent first end portions and adjacent second end portions of the gore shaped panel portions. Two OLED displays may be mounted within a head-mounted display (HMD), each behind an optics block. The quasi-spherical display surface of each OLED display generates a substantially flat image for the user after light from the display surface passes through the optic block.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen, Jianru Shi, Yue Shi, Shie Ping Jeffrey Tseng
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Patent number: 10410591Abstract: An electronic display comprises a backlight unit and a liquid crystal (LC) layer, wherein the backlight combines and directs light from a plurality of light sources towards the LC layer, which controls an amount of light to be displayed. The light sources comprise at least two different types of light sources associated with different wavelength ranges, to provide improved spectrum intensity for a wider range of wavelengths. The intensity of the light sources may be adjusted based upon the input data for an image to be displayed. For example, the light sources may be dimmed based upon a determined amount of the received image data associated with a particular gray level.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Fenglin Peng
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Patent number: 10360857Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystals in a pixel area and a backlight unit coupled to the liquid crystal layer. A plurality of pixels are disposed in the pixel area. The backlight unit is configured to project light towards the entire pixel area of the liquid crystal layer during an illumination time period of a frame time, and not to project the light towards any of the pixel area of the liquid crystal layer during a non-illumination time period of the frame time. By enabling the backlight unit for the illumination time period less than the frame time, image streaking and latency can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Evan M. Richards, Nirav Rajendra Patel, Jianru Shi
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Publication number: 20190212477Abstract: A lens includes immobilized liquid crystals. The liquid crystals in a first region are aligned in a first orientation. The liquid crystals in a second region, located between the first region and a third region and adjacent to the first region and the third region, are aligned in a second orientation that is distinct from the first orientation. The liquid crystals in the third region, located between the second region and a fourth region and adjacent to the second region and the fourth region, are aligned in the first orientation. The liquid crystals in the fourth region, located adjacent to the third region, are aligned in the second orientation. A device with the lens and an array of light emitting devices is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Jianru Shi, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10338451Abstract: A beam steering device includes a first active deflector. The first active deflector includes a first substrate with one or more electrodes, a second substrate with one or more electrodes, and liquid crystals located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second substrate is distinct from the first substrate. The beam steering device also includes a passive deflector positioned parallel to the first active deflector. The passive deflector includes a third substrate, a fourth substrate that is distinct from the third substrate, and liquid crystals located between the third substrate and the fourth substrate. A method for separating zeroth order leakage with the beam steering device is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Publication number: 20190179205Abstract: A light intensity modulator array includes a first substrate with a two-dimensional array of electrodes; a second substrate with one or more electrodes; and liquid crystal located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The two-dimensional array of electrodes is arranged in a first direction and a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction. A respective electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes is distinct and separate from a first adjacent electrode and a second adjacent electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes. The first adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the first direction and the second adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the second direction. A method for tracking an eye using a device including the light intensity modulator array is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Jianru Shi, Lu Lu, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10303211Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a conic OLED panel portion and a base OLED panel portion. The conic OLED panel portion includes peripheral display surfaces forming a truncated conic shape with an open base region around a center of the conic OLED panel portion. The OLED base portion includes a display surface. The base OLED panel portion is positioned to cover the open base region of the conic OLED panel portion such that the peripheral display surfaces surround the base display surface. The OLED display approximates a circular convex display. The conic OLED panel portion may be fabricated from a flat, flexible OLED panel portion that is bent along the fold regions defining bending axes between the peripheral display surfaces to form the truncated conic shape.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Shie Ping Jeffrey Tseng, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen, Jianru Shi, Yue Shi
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Patent number: 10297180Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes two or more subpixels. The plurality of pixels includes a first subpixel configured to transmit light of a first color and a second subpixel configured to transmit light of a second color that is distinct from the first color. The display device also includes a beam steering device, and one or more compensators located between the plurality of pixels and the beam steering device and configured to change a direction of the light from the first subpixel and transmit the light toward the beam steering device and change a direction of the light from the second subpixel and transmit the light toward the beam steering device.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10247858Abstract: A lens includes immobilized liquid crystals. The liquid crystals in a first region are aligned in a first orientation. The liquid crystals in a second region, located between the first region and a third region and adjacent to the first region and the third region, are aligned in a second orientation that is distinct from the first orientation. The liquid crystals in the third region, located between the second region and a fourth region and adjacent to the second region and the fourth region, are aligned in the first orientation. The liquid crystals in the fourth region, located adjacent to the third region, are aligned in the second orientation. A method for making the lens is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10203566Abstract: A light intensity modulator array includes a first substrate with a two-dimensional array of electrodes; a second substrate with one or more electrodes; and liquid crystal located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The two-dimensional array of electrodes is arranged in a first direction and a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction. A respective electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes is distinct and separate from a first adjacent electrode and a second adjacent electrode of the two-dimensional array of electrodes. The first adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the first direction and the second adjacent electrode is adjacent to the respective electrode in the second direction. A method for tracking an eye using a device including the light intensity modulator array is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Lu Lu, Mary Lou Jepsen
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Patent number: 10175414Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device a LCD panel and a segmented backlight for illuminating the LCD panel. The backlight includes a light guide having an array of light channels. The array of light channels is defined by an array of notches on the bottom surface of the light guide. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed along the side surface of the light guide to emit light in a first direction into the array of light channels of the light guide. The array of light channels receives the light from the LEDs and directs the light in a second direction from the top surface of the light guide toward the LCD panel. One or more LEDs may selectively emit light into each light channel. The notches defined between light channels controls light leakage across adjacent light channels.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Evan M. Richards
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Patent number: 10175417Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a backlight with vertically stacked light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LCD device includes an LCD panel and a backlight for illuminating the LCD panel. The backlight includes a plurality of LEDs and a light guide. The plurality of LEDs are stacked vertically and disposed behind the LCD panel along one or more edges of the LCD panel. The plurality of LEDs include at least a first color LED and a second color LED emitting first light and second light at a first direction, respectively, at a first wavelength and a second wavelength, respectively. The light guide is disposed behind the LCD panel and adjacent to the plurality of LEDs. The light guide is configured to combine the first light and the second light received from the plurality of LEDs into combined light to illuminate the LCD panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianru Shi, Evan M. Richards, Yue Shi, Shie Ping Jeffrey Tseng
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Patent number: 10168466Abstract: A corner cut liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a LCD panel and a backlight. The LCD panel includes adjacent panel portions of different width that collectively define a corner cut profile shape for the LCD panel. The backlight includes a light guide and light sources that emit light into the light guide. The backlight directs the light from the light sources toward the LCD panel. The light guide includes adjacent light guide portions of different width that define the corner cut profile shape. Each light guide portion illuminates a corresponding LCD panel portion. The LCD device can be incorporated into a head-mounted display (HMD). The corner cut profile shapes of two adjacent LCD devices, one for the left eye and one for the right eye, may define an open region for placement of other components or parts of the user, such as the user's nose when wearing the HMD.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen, Jianru Shi