Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for intelligently accessing one or more different hardware-based mechanisms for cropping out, blurring or blocking private content in a live preview image generated for the camera and in media recorded by the camera. The technique incudes receiving input regarding a plurality of objects to be concealed in media captured by an imaging device and identifying at least one of the plurality of objects in a field of view of the imaging device. Further, the technique includes modifying the at least one of the plurality of objects in a live preview image or media captured by the imaging device using one or more hardware-based actuators, where the modifying the at least one of the plurality of objects causes the one of the plurality of objects to be concealed.

Abstract: A method of operating a tunable lens includes determining a relationship between the optical power of a tunable lens and the capacitance of a piezoelectric element configured to deform the tunable lens, measuring the capacitance of the piezoelectric element, and applying a driving voltage to the piezoelectric element based on the measured capacitance to induce a desired optical power in the tunable lens.

Abstract: A stabilization actuation assembly includes a lens barrel, a magnetic assembly, one or more stabilizing coils, an outer shell, and a piece of ferromagnetic material. The lens barrel is configured to carry a lens that is positioned along an optical axis. The magnetic assembly includes a plurality of magnets that produce a magnetic field. The one or more stabilizing coils are coupled to a printed circuit board below the plurality of magnets. The outer shell includes an aperture through which the lens barrel can actuate. The piece of ferromagnetic material is coupled to a surface of the outer shell and is positioned to augment the magnetic field. A current supplied to the one or more stabilizing coils interacts with the augmented magnetic field to cause the magnetic assembly together with the lens barrel to translate in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A size of an optical aperture for an imaging system is adjustable. The size of the optical aperture can be adjusted based on refractive index matching, optical absorption, or near field coupling techniques. These techniques may also be used to provide a high speed optical shutter.

Abstract: A lens with an adjustable surface profile can include an actuatable layer, an optical layer, and at least one actuator. The optical layer can include a deformable polymer, and the actuatable layer can have a surface profile that is configured to be adjustable using the at least one actuator. The optical layer, meanwhile, can be configured to deform when the at least one actuator actuates the actuatable layer.

Abstract: An augmented reality apparatus includes a plurality of transmission lines, plural signal-generating circuits, at least one additional transmission line, at least one signal-processing circuit, a multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and at least one output, a plurality of matching networks, and an additional matching network coupling the additional transmission line to the output of the multiplexer. Example AR/VR devices include a camera configured to receive light from the external environment of the device and to provide a camera signal. The camera may include a surface variable lens including a support layer, an optical layer, a membrane layer, and an actuator. A computer-implemented method for anatomical electromyography test design includes identifying a wearable device having a frame including a plurality of electrodes, and calibrating the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An integrated optical assembly with one or more integrated tunable lens elements within a lens barrel is described. The integrated optical assembly may be a part of an imaging device. The integrated optical assembly may include an optical element, a tunable lens element, and a lens barrel. The tunable lens element includes a tunable lens that is affixed to and communicatively coupled to a mount and is configured to adjust its optical power in accordance with an applied signal. The lens barrel is configured to hold the tunable lens element in optical series with at least one other optical element within the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes an integrated electrode that communicatively couples the mount to a controller which supplies the applied signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a camera device with optical image stabilization (OIS) having a range of motion that is asymmetric along two spatial dimensions. The camera device includes an image sensor, a lens assembly in an optical series with the image sensor, and an OIS assembly. The OIS assembly initiates a first motion of at least one of the image sensor and the lens assembly along a first direction parallel to a first axis, the first motion having a first range. The OIS assembly further initiates a second motion of at least one of the image sensor and the lens assembly along a second direction parallel to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the second motion having a second range different than the first range.

Abstract: Methods and wearable devices for optimizing power consumption using sensor-based position and use determinations are described here. One example method is performed at a device that includes a first sensor configured to operate with a first power consumption rate and a second sensor configured to operate with a second power consumption rate. The method includes, while a component associated with the second sensor is in an inactive state, receiving first sensor data, and determining whether the first sensor data indicates movement of the device. The method also includes, when movement of the device is indicated, operating the second sensor in an active state. The method further includes, after activating the second sensor, when second sensor data from the second sensor indicates that the device has been placed on a user’s body, continuing to operate the second sensor in the active state.

Abstract: A camera device for integration into an electronic wearable device. The camera device includes a lens assembly, an image sensor, a first actuator assembly, and a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly translates the lens assembly over a first range along an optical axis, wherein power consumed by the first actuator assembly increases with a distance the lens assembly is actuated along the optical axis from a neutral position of the lens assembly. The second actuator assembly translates the image sensor over a second range along the optical axis, wherein the second range is smaller than the first range. A method of packaging the camera device is further presented where a molded plastic layer is sandwiched between a first high density interconnect (HDI) tape substrate and a second HDI tape substrate. The molded plastic layer includes vias to interconnect electrodes of the first and second HDI tape substrates.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to power saving mechanisms for a wearable camera device. The camera device comprises an image sensor and lens assembly in an optical series with the image sensor. At a first orientation of the camera device, an offset is between a center axis of the image sensor and an optical axis of the lens assembly. At a second orientation of the camera device, at least one of the image sensor and the lens assembly sag due to gravity such that the center axis and the optical axis substantially overlap while the camera device is in a neutral state. The lens assembly and the image sensor can further allow a dynamic amount of sag relative to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure further relate to a camera device assembled such that to reduce (and in some cases minimize) auto-focusing actuation power when the camera device operates in a macro mode. The camera device includes an image sensor and a lens assembly in an optical series with the image sensor. During manufacturing of the camera device, the lens assembly is assembled within the camera device to have an optical axis substantially parallel to gravity and positioned to have an offset along the optical axis. The offset is determined during manufacturing of the camera device such that, when the camera device is in the macro mode, the lens assembly is positioned at a neutral position relative to the image sensor without actuation applied to the lens assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a camera device assembled to reduce an auto-focusing actuation power for the most typical use case. The camera device comprises an image sensor and a lens assembly in an optical series with the image sensor. During assembling of the camera device, the lens assembly is assembled within the camera device to have an optical axis parallel to gravity and positioned to have an offset along the optical axis relative to a support assembly. The offset is determined during assembling of the camera device such that, when the camera device is oriented with a rotated optical axis orthogonal to gravity, the lens assembly is positioned at a neutral position relative to the image sensor without activation applied to the lens assembly.

Abstract: An optical element includes a single transparent substrate. A first metasurface disposed on the single transparent substrate is configured to focus an input beam of optical radiation that is incident on the optical element. A second metasurface disposed on the single transparent substrate is configured to split the input beam into an array of multiple output beams.

Abstract: An electronic module includes an operational subunit, having upper, lower and lateral surfaces, and including one or more electronic components, which are adjacent to the lower surface of the operational subunit and generate heat when the module is in operation. A heat sink is disposed in proximity to the lower surface of the operational subunit. A heat spreader, including a continuous sheet of a heat-conducting material, is folded to wrap around the operational subunit so that a lower side of the sheet is interposed between the lower surface of the operational subunit and the heat sink and a lateral side of the sheet extends around at least one of the lateral surfaces of the operational subunit.

Abstract: An electronic module includes an operational subunit, having upper, lower and lateral surfaces, and including one or more electronic components, which are adjacent to the lower surface of the operational subunit and generate heat when the module is in operation. A heat sink is disposed in proximity to the lower surface of the operational subunit. A heat spreader, including a continuous sheet of a heat-conducting material, is folded to wrap around the operational subunit so that a lower side of the sheet is interposed between the lower surface of the operational subunit and the heat sink and a lateral side of the sheet extends around at least one of the lateral surfaces of the operational subunit.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a method for monitoring optical power in a HAMR device. In one embodiment, the method includes enhancing a thermal sensor bandwidth through advanced electrical detection techniques. The advanced electrical detection techniques include obtaining calibration waveform data for a thermal sensor by calibrating the thermal sensor, obtaining real-time waveform data for the thermal sensor that may deviate from the calibration waveform data, updating the calibration waveform data to include the real-time waveform data, repeating obtaining real-time waveform data and updating the calibration waveform data during writing operations. By updating the calibration waveform data, the bandwidth of the thermal sensor is determined by a fixed sampling time interval, and the thermal sensor rise time to steady state would not be a limitation to its response time.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and apparatus for reducing vibration interaction between hard drives. In one implementation, an apparatus is provided comprising a backplane that comprises a substrate comprising an at least partially flexible material and a connector island assembly formed in the substrate. The connector island assembly comprises a spring element and a connector island. The spring element extends from a main portion of the substrate, and the connector island extends from the spring element. The connector island assembly is surrounded by the main portion of the substrate and configured to flex independently of the main portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and apparatus for reducing vibration interaction between hard drives. In one implementation, a flexible mount electrical connection comprises a mating connector configured to physically couple with a hard drive connector and a plurality of electrical pins having a connector portion positioned within the mating connector configured to electrically couple with hard drive connector pins positioned within the hard drive connector. Each electrical pin has an extended portion extending away from the mating connector. The extended portion has an attachment portion configured to electrically couple the respective electrical pin to a printed circuit board, and the extended portion has a shape formed therein configured to reduce transmission of vibrations in the connector portion along each axis of a three-dimensional space to the attachment portion.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and apparatus for reducing vibration interaction between hard drives. In one implementation, an apparatus is provided comprising a backplane that comprises a substrate comprising an at least partially flexible material and a connector island assembly formed in the substrate. The connector island assembly comprises a spring element and a connector island. The spring element extends from a main portion of the substrate, and the connector island extends from the spring element. The connector island assembly is surrounded by the main portion of the substrate and configured to flex independently of the main portion of the substrate.