Patents by Inventor Mehmet Mutlu

Mehmet Mutlu 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: 20240012246
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for eye tracking are provided. A device may include at least one printed circuit board including a shape around a lens of the device. The device may also include a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged around the shape of the lens. The plurality of light emitting diodes may be configured to connect to the at least one printed circuit board. The plurality of light emitting diodes may also be configured to illuminate light directed to at least one eye of a user to cause at least one reflection of the at least one eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Wei Wu, Anthony Diego Draper, Daniel Turowski, Mehmet Mutlu, Alfredo Bismuto, Qi Zhang, Kuan Pei Yap
  • Publication number: 20240012244
    Abstract: An eye-tracking system may include an optical assembly with integrated micro light emitting diodes. The optical assembly may include a substrate and a flexible printed circuit board assembly bonded to the substrate. Micro light emitting diodes may also be bonded to the substrate. A plurality of conductors may be laminated in the substrate. The conductors may electrically connect the micro light emitting diodes to the printed circuit board assembly. An optically clear adhesive layer may be adhered to the substrate. The optically clear adhesive layer may include an anti-reflective layer and an optical adhesive layer to arranged in a stacked configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet MUTLU, Wei Wu, Alfredo Bismuto, Qi Zhang, Kuan Pei Yap
  • Patent number: 11861072
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a device housing configured to be worn on a first surface of a user, a set of one or more SMI sensors, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors is mounted within the device housing and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation, with each beam emitted in a different direction extending away from the first surface. The set of one or more SMI sensors is also configured to generate a set of one or more SMI signals containing information about a relationship between the device housing and a second surface. The processor is configured to extract the relationship between the device housing and the second surface from digitized samples of the set of one or more SMI signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Mutlu, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Mark T. Winkler, Tong Chen
  • Publication number: 20230417536
    Abstract: A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu
  • Patent number: 11846525
    Abstract: An optical sensing system can be integrated into a camera module. In particular, an optical element of an optical sensing system can be disposed entirely or partly within a barrel of a camera module. The optical element can be oriented toward a reflective surface, such as an infrared cut filter, such that an optical path is defined between free space and the optical element via at least one reflection off the reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Mehmet Mutlu, Mark T. Winkler
  • Publication number: 20230358920
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have optical modules that present images to a user's left and right eyes. Each optical module may have a lens support structure that supports a display and a fixed lens. Vision correction lenses may be removably coupled to the fixed lenses to help customize the head-mounted device to the vision of a particular user. A user may view images on the displays through the removable and fixed lenses from eye boxes. The optical modules may include infrared light sources that supply infrared light to the eye boxes and infrared light sensors such as infrared cameras for gaze tracking and authentication. The lenses may have optical surfaces covered with coating that enhance optical performance and may have edge surfaces that are provided with structures to help reduce stray light reflections. The lenses may be configured to pass visible and infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Nikhil D. Kalyankar, Avery P. Yuen, Elson Y. Liu, James R. Wilson, Ove Lyngnes, Peter J. Guest, Keenan Molner, Ryan Springer, William W. Sprague, Brandon E. Clarke, Wei-Liang Hsu, Mehmet Mutlu, Victoria C. Chan
  • Patent number: 11788830
    Abstract: A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu
  • Patent number: 11774342
    Abstract: Various sensors, including particulate matter sensors, are described. One particulate matter sensor includes a self-mixing interferometry sensor and a set of one or more optical elements. The set of one or more optical elements is positioned to receive an optical emission of the self-mixing interferometry sensor, split the optical emission into multiple beams, and direct each beam of the multiple beams in a different direction. The self-mixing interferometry sensor is configured to generate particle speed information for particles passing through respective measurement regions of the multiple beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Mutlu, Miaolei Yan, Michael K. Brown, Richard Yeh
  • Publication number: 20230288186
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having touch input surfaces. A user's touch input or press on the touch input surface is detected using a set of lasers, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that emit beams of light toward the touch input surface. The user's touch causes changes in the self-mixing interference within the VCSEL of the emitted light with reflected light, such as from the touch input surface. Deflection and movement (e.g., drag motion) of the user's touch is determined from detected changes in the VCSELs' operation due to the self-mixing interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu, Omid Momtahan, Tong Chen, Wenrui Cai, Chau H. Nguyen, Giovanni Gozzini, Michael K. McCord, Orit A. Shamir, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur
  • Publication number: 20230280492
    Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
  • Publication number: 20230273572
    Abstract: A watch body includes a housing at least partially defining an interior of the watch body. A retaining feature is formed in or extends from the housing. A watch crown is retained by the retaining feature and is operable to be rotated by a user. The watch crown has a surface facing the housing. The watch crown is entirely external to the interior of the watch body. An electromagnetic radiation source is disposed within the housing and is operable to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward the surface. A sensor is disposed within the housing and is operable to characterize a movement of the watch crown based at least in part on a portion of the beam of electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the surface and is redirected by the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu, David D. Dashevsky
  • Patent number: 11719937
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing and optical components supported by the head-mounted housing. The optical components may include cameras, movable optical modules, and other components. Each optical module may include a display that displays an image and a lens that provides the image to a corresponding eye box. Optical self-mixing sensors may be included in the optical modules and other portions of the head-mounted device to measure changes in optical component position. In response to detecting a change in optical component position, actuators in the device may be adjusted to move the optical components or other action may be taken to compensate for the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Mutlu, Serhan O. Isikman, Zachary A. Granger
  • Patent number: 11692809
    Abstract: A device includes a first component, a second component having a reconfigurable distance from the first component, an optical element, an SMI sensor, and a processor. The optical element has a fixed relationship with respect to the first component, and has a known optical thickness between a first surface and a second surface of the optical element. The SMI sensor has a fixed relationship with respect to the second component, and has an electromagnetic radiation emission axis that intersects the first and second surfaces of the optical element. The processor is configured to identify disturbances in an SMI signal generated by the SMI sensor, relate the disturbances to the known optical thickness of the optical element, and to determine a distance between the first and second components using the SMI signal and the relationship of the disturbances to the known optical thickness of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Mehmet Mutlu
  • Patent number: 11686877
    Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
  • Patent number: 11680788
    Abstract: A portable electronic device is operable in a particulate matter concentration mode where the portable electronic device uses a self-mixing interferometry sensor to emit a beam of coherent light from an optical resonant cavity, receive a reflection or backscatter of the beam into the optical resonant cavity, produce a self-mixing signal resulting from a reflection or backscatter of the beam of coherent light, and determine a particle velocity and/or particulate matter concentration using the self-mixing signal. The portable electronic device is also operable in an absolute distance mode where the portable electronic device determines whether or not an absolute distance determined using the self-mixing signal is outside or within a particulate sensing volume associated with the beam of coherent light. If not, the portable electronic device may determine a contamination and/or obstruction is present that may result in inaccurate particle velocity and/or particulate matter concentration determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Mutlu, Miaolei Yan
  • Patent number: 11644800
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing, a user-operable watch crown mounted to the housing, an electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward a watch crown surface, and a sensor. The beam of electromagnetic radiation depends on a coherent mixing of electromagnetic radiation within a resonant cavity of the electromagnetic radiation source. The coherent mixing includes a mixing of a first amount of electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation source and a second amount of electromagnetic radiation redirected into the resonant cavity by the watch crown surface. The sensor measures a first parameter of the beam of electromagnetic radiation and determines, using the measurement of the first parameter, a value of a second parameter characterizing movement of the watch crown. The second parameter may include a direction of rotation or speed of rotation of the watch crown, or other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu, David D. Dashevsky
  • Patent number: 11619762
    Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
  • Patent number: 11614806
    Abstract: Self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors can be used for generation of content using an input device without requiring a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, the SMI sensors can be used to detect characteristics of the input device including position, orientation, and/or motion of the input device and/or force applied by the input device (e.g., force applied by a stylus tip). In some examples, some or all of the characteristics of the input device can be used in processing to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the generation of content can use information from one or more additional sensors for the input device and/or from additional devices in combination with the characteristics of the input device based on the SMI sensors for generation of content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Mengshu Huang, Stephen Eric Dey, Yuhao Pan, Mehmet Mutlu, Tong Chen
  • Publication number: 20230073039
    Abstract: A system may include one or more finger devices that gather input from a user's fingers. A finger device may include one or more self-mixing interferometric proximity sensors that measure a distance to the user's finger. The proximity sensor may measure changes in distance between the proximity sensor and a flexible membrane that rests against a side portion of the user's finger. The self-mixing interferometric proximity sensor may include a laser and a photodiode. In some arrangements, a single laser driver may drive the lasers of multiple self-mixing proximity sensors using time-multiplexing. The self-mixing proximity sensor may operate according to a duty cycle. Interpolation and stitching may be used to determine the total displacement of the user's finger including both the on periods and off periods of the self-mixing proximity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Mengshu Huang, Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Stephen E. Dey, Yuhao Pan, Mehmet Mutlu
  • Patent number: 11599224
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having touch input surfaces. A user's touch input or press on the touch input surface is detected using a set of lasers, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that emit beams of light toward the touch input surface. The user's touch causes changes in the self-mixing interference within the VCSEL of the emitted light with reflected light, such as from the touch input surface. Deflection and movement (e.g., drag motion) of the user's touch is determined from detected changes in the VCSELs' operation due to the self-mixing interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Winkler, Mehmet Mutlu, Omid Momtahan, Tong Chen, Wenrui Cai, Chau H. Nguyen, Giovanni Gozzini, Michael K. McCord, Orit A. Shamir, Prashanth S. Holenarsipur