Patents by Inventor Joseph Patrick Sullivan

Joseph Patrick Sullivan 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).

  • Publication number: 20190041899
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a facial interface in a head-mount display. The facial interface assembly is comprised of three separate layers of various materials that are contoured to assemble into a removable facial interface that may be replaced in the event that it becomes worn due to use. The facial interface assembly is composed of a periphery frame, a semi-rigid frame, and facial interface foam. These three layers are of varying rigidity, and support contours designed to fit together in a flush manner comprising a removable facial interface assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shane Michael Ellis, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10156727
    Abstract: A strap system for a head-mounted display system includes a rigid bar having an opening at a first end and a vertical slot situated on an outer surface of the rigid bar. The opening extends within the rigid bar in a lateral dimension. The strap system also includes a rigid segment with an end inserted into the opening of the rigid bar in the lateral dimension, one or more compression springs coupled to the rigid segment, a shuttle to press against the one or more compression springs so as to slide along the lateral dimension, and an adjustment strap fixedly coupled to the shuttle and extending beyond the end of the rigid segment and through the vertical slot on the rigid bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Lesley Ribble Magrath, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20180348812
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a metal frame in a head-mounted display (HMD) that is structured to absorb impact and protect components of the HMD. The metal frame has a wall that is spaced away from a protection shell securing a display panel in the HMD. When the HMD is dropped or subject to external force, the wall may deform but keep the protection shell intact. Moreover, the metal frame has protruding ridges and brackets that surround outward facing cameras on the HMD. If the HMD is dropped, the protruding ridges and brackets can provide protection to the cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, James Aldrich, Julian Hammerstein, Adam Hewko, Mark Alan Tempel, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10133305
    Abstract: A detachable head-mounted-display cushion may include a cushion layer having a user-side surface dimensioned to abut a facial portion of a user and a display-side surface dimensioned to abut a mounting surface of a facial-interface system for a head-mounted display. The detachable head-mounted-display cushion may also include a magnetic-coupling mechanism configured to removably attach the cushion layer to the mounting surface of the facial-interface system. A corresponding head-mounted-display system may include a head-mounted display, a facial-interface mounting member for the head-mounted display, a cushion layer abutting the facial-interface mounting member, and a magnetic-coupling mechanism removably attaching the cushion layer to the facial-interface mounting member. A method may include positioning a cushion layer abutting a facial-interface mounting member for a head-mounted display and removably attaching the cushion layer to the facial-interface mounting member with a magnetic-coupling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Shane Michael Ellis
  • Patent number: 10085004
    Abstract: A head-mounted display system includes a left lens for a user's left eye and a right lens for the user's right eye. The head-mounted display system also includes left and right display screens. The left display screen is coupled to the left lens to provide images to the user's left eye through the left lens. The right display screen is coupled to the right lens to provide images to the user's right eye through the right lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Alan Tempel, Jared I. Drinkwater, Robin Michael Miller, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10007116
    Abstract: A head-mounted display for a virtual-reality system includes one or more outer surfaces having a plurality of recesses. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are installed in respective recesses of the plurality of recesses. The recesses are covered with covers that are substantially flush with respective surfaces of the one or more outer surfaces of the head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Jared I. Drinkwater, Mark Alan Tempel, Robin Michael Miller, Peter Wesley Bristol, Boyd Drew Allin, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Yi-yaun Chen
  • Publication number: 20180059424
    Abstract: A strap system for a head-mounted display system includes a rigid bar having an opening at a first end and a vertical slot situated on an outer surface of the rigid bar. The opening extends within the rigid bar in a lateral dimension. The strap system also includes a rigid segment with an end inserted into the opening of the rigid bar in the lateral dimension, one or more compression springs coupled to the rigid segment, a shuttle to press against the one or more compression springs so as to slide along the lateral dimension, and an adjustment strap fixedly coupled to the shuttle and extending beyond the end of the rigid segment and through the vertical slot on the rigid bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Lesley Ribble Magrath, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20180055202
    Abstract: Technology is provided for restraint systems for use with head mounted displays and head mounted displays incorporating the same. The head mounted display includes a display unit including a display housing and one or more display devices. A retention assembly attaches to the display unit to support the unit on a user's head. The retention assembly includes at least one tensioner mechanism including a housing having an anchor portion coupled to the display housing and a slider positioned in the housing. A strap is coupled to the slider and configured to support the head mounted display on the user's head. A tension element having a first end portion coupled to the housing and a second end portion coupled to the slider provides a constant force on the strap to comfortably pull the strap against the user's head in order to retain the head mounted display on the user's head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Jared I. Drinkwater
  • Patent number: 9897812
    Abstract: A strap system and a method for wearing the strap system are disclosed. The strap system includes a first flexible segment comprising a first stretchable band; a first semi-rigid segment to conform to a portion of the user's head and comprising a first arc portion to extend from above a user's first ear to below the user's occipital lobe; and a first rigid guide segment connected to the first flexible segment and the first semi-rigid segment. The first flexible segment extends beyond a first end of the first rigid guide segment and the first semi-rigid segment extends from a second end of the first rigid guide segment, the first and second ends of the first rigid guide segment being opposite to each other in a lateral dimension. The first flexible segment is stretchable within the first rigid guide segment along the lateral dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC.
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Jared Drinkwater
  • Patent number: 9874755
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a first display screen and a second display screen to display images to respective eyes of a user. The head-mounted display further includes a first member comprising a first rack and a second member comprising a second rack. The first member is coupled to the first display screen, and the second member is coupled to the second display screen. The head-mounted display includes a button and a gear train to transfer a linear sliding motion of the button to a linear motion of the first rack in a first direction and a linear motion of the second rack in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The gear train includes a first gear engaged with the first rack and a second gear concurrently engaged with the first gear and the second rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Alan Tempel, Jared I. Drinkwater, Robin Michael Miller, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9864406
    Abstract: A strap system for a head-mounted display is disclosed. The strap system includes a rigid segment and a cylindrical structure to couple the rigid segment to the head-mounted display. The strap system also includes a flat circuit within the rigid segment and the cylindrical structure, to couple to the head-mounted display through the cylindrical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Lesley Ribble Magrath, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9857839
    Abstract: Technology is provided for a housing assembly with a membrane-covered frame for use with head mounted displays. The head mounted display includes a housing assembly having a frame. The frame includes a first loop structure, a second loop structure offset along a central axis from the first loop structure, and a plurality of beams extending between the first loop structure and the second loop structure. A flexible membrane extends around the frame to enclose the housing assembly and the components therein. One or more display devices are positioned within the housing assembly, and a strap assembly connects to the housing assembly for supporting the head mounted display on a user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9854340
    Abstract: A detachable coupling structure for an audio system is disclosed. The detachable coupling structure includes a base and a plurality of posts, extending from the base, to couple to a strap. The detachable coupling structure also includes a spring, contacting the base, to detach the plurality of posts from the strap when the plurality of posts decouple from the strap. The detachable coupling structure further includes a spacer through which the plurality of posts extends. The spring contacts the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Peter Wesley Bristol, Blake F. Andersen, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Lesley Ribble Magrath
  • Patent number: 9810911
    Abstract: A strap system for a head-mounted display system includes a rigid bar, semi-rigid segment, and rigid segment. The rigid bar includes a lateral slot and a vertical slot. The rigid segment includes a first end to fixedly couple to the semi-rigid segment and a second end opposite to the first end. The second end of the rigid segment inserts into the lateral slot from the first end of the rigid bar. The strap system further includes one or more compression springs coupled to the rigid segment, and a shuttle to press against the one or more compressions spring so as to slide along the lateral dimension. The strap system also includes an adjustment strap fixedly coupled to the shuttle and extending beyond the second end of the rigid segment and through the vertical slot on the rigid bar to adjustably couple to the outer surface of the rigid bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OCULUS VR, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Jared I. Drinkwater, Lesley Ribble Magrath, Peter Wesley Bristol, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: D801969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Yee, Julian James Hammerstein, Quintin Morris, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: D801970
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Yi-yaun Chen, Peter Wesley Bristol, David Michael Pickett, Enric Vial Roig
  • Patent number: D805073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Yee, Julian James Hammerstein, Quintin Morris, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: D810743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Yee, Julian James Hammerstein, Quintin Morris, Joseph Patrick Sullivan
  • Patent number: D819635
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Joseph Patrick Sullivan, Adam Hewko
  • Patent number: D828836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Michael Ellis, Joseph Patrick Sullivan