Patents by Inventor Michael A. Ebert

Michael A. Ebert 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).

  • Patent number: 11454779
    Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first set of one or more lenses and a first display configured to provide visual data through the first set of one or more lenses. The head-mounted display device further includes a first stepper motor mechanically coupled to the first display, and the first stepper motor is configured to move the first display along a first axis by rotating a rotatable component of the first stepper motor. The head-mounted display device further includes a first electronic controller configured to (i) determine a first position of the first display, (ii) receive information identifying a second position of the first display, and (iii) generate one or more electrical signals that cause the first stepper motor to move the first display from the first position to the second position along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Publication number: 20220261078
    Abstract: A flexure guidance system may be provided for controlling movement of an optical subassembly and/or a connected combiner lens. For instance, the flexure guidance system may include a distal end piece, a proximal end piece, and multiple wire flexures that link the distal end piece to the proximal end piece. The linking wire flexures may be spaced to form an interior cavity between the distal end piece and the proximal end piece. This interior cavity may house various electronic components. One or more actuators in the system may move the electronic components according to input signals along different axes of movement provided by the wire flexures. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11402635
    Abstract: A method may include displaying, to a user, a first color in a first area and a second color in a second area, where (1) the second color has a longer wavelength than the first color and (2) the first and second color have an expected longitudinal chromatic aberration for a human eye. The method may also include receiving, from the user, an indication of whether the user perceives (1) the first area as being clearer than the second area or (2) the second area as being clearer than the first area. The method may further include determining, based on the indication of the user and the expected longitudinal chromatic aberration, information about a refractive error of the user's vision. Various other methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marina Zannoli, Kristen Bowles, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman, Kevin James MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 11385411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber clamp with a base plate and at least two clamping bodies arranged parallel to one another on the base plate, the clamping bodies being pressed towards one another in one direction by means of a tensioning device, so that a fiber that can be arranged between the base plate and the clamping bodies is between the base plate and the clamping bodies can be pinched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11372480
    Abstract: A flexure guidance system may be provided for controlling movement of an optical subassembly and/or a connected combiner lens. For instance, the flexure guidance system may include a distal end piece, a proximal end piece, and multiple wire flexures that link the distal end piece to the proximal end piece. The linking wire flexures may be spaced to form an interior cavity between the distal end piece and the proximal end piece. This interior cavity may house various electronic components. One or more actuators in the system may move the electronic components according to input signals along different axes of movement provided by the wire flexures. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11353966
    Abstract: The disclosed handheld controllers may include at least one finger force-feedback mechanism. The finger force-feedback mechanism may include a rotational element positioned to have an axis of rotation that is located along a palm side of a finger of an intended user's hand when holding the handheld controller, a proximal linkage element positioned and configured to rotate with the intended user's finger about the major knuckle when the user squeezes the handheld controller, and a distal linkage element positioned and configured to rotate relative to the proximal linkage element with the intended user's finger about the second knuckle when the user squeezes the handheld controller. Various other handheld controllers, artificial-reality systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11318375
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes an electronic display configured to display a virtual scene to a user, an optics block, an eye tracking system, and a varifocal actuation that mechanically changes a distance between the optics block and the electronic display. The varifocal actuation block is configured to change a location of an image plane of the HMD and includes a motor, a power screw coupled to the actuating motor configured to turn responsive to actuation of the motor, and a nut sled on the power screw that is coupled to the electronic display. The nut sled is configured to move back and forth along a length of the power screw responsive to the power screw being turned by the motor that results in movement of the electronic display relative to the optics block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11209659
    Abstract: A method for providing images to a wearer using a head-mounted display device that includes a light projector and a beam shifter includes projecting, with the light projector, light for rendering images based at least on virtual reality contents and/or augmented reality contents. The method also includes changing, with a beam shifter, a path of the light projected from the light projector based on a position of a pupil of an eye of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Publication number: 20210367943
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing access by an application to data stored in a security data zone of a cloud platform are provided. The method includes determining, in response to a query received from a querying application of the cloud platform, credentials for a security data zone based on determining whether a first access token included in the received query belongs to an application registered at an access manager module of the cloud platform, and whether the user specified in the received query is allowed to use the registered application. The method also includes determining a second access token to the querying application generated based on the determined credentials. The querying application uses a returned second access token to obtain access to data stored in the security data zone to be processed by the querying application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Maik Boche, Stefan Burger, Michael Ebert, Bernd Haberstumpf
  • Patent number: 11163166
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus may include a frame that includes an optical component configured for use with a near-eye display that is part of a head-worn display system. The frame magnetically attaches to the head-worn display system, and when the frame is attached to the head-worn display system, the frame may align the optical component for use with the near-eye display. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11150480
    Abstract: The disclosed head-mounted display systems may include an optical element supported by a head-mounted display frame, a projector mounted to the head-mounted display frame, and at least one voice coil actuator mounted on the head-mounted display frame. The projector may be configured to project, via the optical element, an image toward an eye of a user of the head-mounted display system. The at least one voice coil actuator may be coupled to at least one of the projector or the optical element. When actuated, the at least one voice coil actuator may translate at least one of the projector or the optical element in at least one direction relative to the head-mounted display frame. Various other methods, systems, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11150437
    Abstract: Head-mounted display systems may include a display subsystem, an optics subsystem, a prescription accommodation subsystem, and a varifocal adjustment subsystem. The prescription accommodation subsystem may include a prescription accommodation actuator that is configured to adjust a focus of a displayed image to account for the user's visual refractive error. The varifocal adjustment subsystem may include a varifocal adjustment actuator configured to further adjust the focus of the image to change a perceived view of the image on the display subsystem. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Publication number: 20210281826
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include a communication device configured to receive wireless synchronization information for display content, a lens, an optical device, and a controller configured to determine that the display content is in a field of view of the lens, and in response to determining that the display content is within the field of view of the lens, cause the lens to selectively allow the display content to pass through the lens based on the wireless synchronization information. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Ryan Michael Ebert, Robert Birch, Bruce A. Cleary
  • Patent number: 11115649
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include a communication device configured to receive wireless synchronization information for display content, a lens, an optical device, and a controller configured to determine that the display content is in a field of view of the lens, and in response to determining that the display content is within the field of view of the lens, cause the lens to selectively allow the display content to pass through the lens based on the wireless synchronization information. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Matsuda, Ryan Michael Ebert, Robert Birch, Bruce A. Cleary
  • Patent number: 11042187
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a set of one or more lenses defining an optical axis, a display configured to project light through the set of the one or more lenses, a voice coil actuator coupled with the display and configured to move the display along the optical axis, and a first guide that is separate from the first voice coil actuator and coupled with the first display to guide the movement of the first display. The HMD additionally includes a set of one or more position sensors configured to determine a position of the display long the optical axis and an electronic controller configured to receive information identifying a reference position of the display along the optical axis and generate one or more electrical signals for initiating a movement of the first display toward the first reference point along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 11036290
    Abstract: A flexure guidance system may be provided for controlling movement of an optical subassembly and/or a connected combiner lens. For instance, the flexure guidance system may include a distal end piece, a proximal end piece, and multiple wire flexures that link the distal end piece to the proximal end piece. The linking wire flexures may be spaced to form an interior cavity between the distal end piece and the proximal end piece. This interior cavity may house various electronic components. One or more actuators in the system may move the electronic components according to input signals along different axes of movement provided by the wire flexures. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 11009713
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a set of one or more lenses defining an optical axis, a display configured to project light through the set of the one or more lenses, a voice coil actuator coupled with the display and configured to move the display along the optical axis, and a first guide that is slidingly coupled with the first voice coil actuator to guide the movement of the first display. The HMD additionally includes a set of one or more position sensors configured to determine a position of the display long the optical axis and an electronic controller configured to receive information identifying a reference position of the display along the optical axis and generate one or more electrical signals for initiating a movement of the first display toward the first reference point along the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joyce Fang, Nicholas Colonnese, Bruce A. Cleary, Ryan Michael Ebert, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 10994196
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes an electronic display configured to display a virtual scene to a user, an optics block, an eye tracking system, and a varifocal actuation that mechanically changes a distance between the optics block and the electronic display. The varifocal actuation block is configured to change a location of an image plane of the HMD and includes a motor, a power screw coupled to the actuating motor configured to turn responsive to actuation of the motor, and a nut sled on the power screw that is coupled to the electronic display. The nut sled is configured to move back and forth along a length of the power screw responsive to the power screw being turned by the motor that results in movement of the electronic display relative to the optics block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Michael Ebert
  • Patent number: 10982896
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the pressure-based determining of a product parameter in a freeze dryer, in particular a product temperature. At a point in time tSTART, a closing element as an intermediate valve between an ice chamber and a drying chamber of the freeze dryer is closed. Then, during a pressure rise occurring due to the sublimation pressure values (P1, P2, . . . ) are measured in the drying chamber. At a point in time tEND then the closing element is opened. From the measured pressure values (P1, P2, . . . ) an approximation of a product parameter, in particular a product temperature TAPPROX, is determined. The point in time tEND is determined specifically for the measured pressure values (P1, P2, . . . ) such that the time span for which the closing element is closed depends on the determined pressure values and such that the time span is variable during a drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: MARTIN CHRIST GEFRIERTROCKNUNGSANLAGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Harms, Michael Ebert, Sven Ostermeier
  • Patent number: 10932420
    Abstract: A system includes a latent exchanger and first and second fans. The latent exchanger includes first and second chambers and one or more membranes separating the first chamber from the second chamber. The one or more membranes are gas-impervious. The first fan generates a greenhouse airflow that flows from a greenhouse, into the first chamber, and then back to the greenhouse. The second fan generates an outside airflow that flows from an outside environment, into the second chamber, and then back to the outside environment. The one or more membranes are configured to permit moisture to flow through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow through the one or more membranes and to prevent carbon dioxide from flowing through the one or more membranes from the greenhouse airflow to the outside airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Therma-Stor, LLC
    Inventors: Todd R. DeMonte, Sean Michael Ebert, Weizhong Yu