Patents by Inventor Michael Anthony Klug

Michael Anthony Klug 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: 20250147330
    Abstract: A time-division multiplexed projection display is pixel shifted to produce an increased perceived display resolution. A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) divides input unpolarized display light into two orthogonal linear polarizations and directs them to two PBS arms. The PBS arms act to shift the light in synchronization with the time-multiplexed display such that a single pixel of the light engine providing the display light is converted into two or four virtual pixels, effectively increasing the perceived display resolution relative to the native resolution of the light engine. The PBS combines the light from both PBS arms into a single, unpolarized output that may then be projected into a lens or a waveguide incoupler to enable the light to propagate through a waveguide for display at a user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar Komanduri, Oleg Yaroshchuk, Shreyas Potnis, Michael Anthony Klug
  • Publication number: 20250147329
    Abstract: Illuminations systems that separate different colors into laterally displaced beams may be used to direct different color image content into an eyepiece for displaying images in the eye. Such an eyepiece may be used, for example, for an augmented reality head mounted display. Illumination systems may be provided that utilize one or more waveguides to direct light from a light source towards a spatial light modulator. Light from the spatial light modulator may be directed towards an eyepiece. Some aspects of the invention provide for light of different colors to be outcoupled at different angles from the one or more waveguides and directed along different beam paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Hui-Chuan Cheng, Chulwoo Oh, Clinton Carlisle, Michael Anthony Klug, William J. Molteni, JR.
  • Publication number: 20250147317
    Abstract: A time-division multiplexed projection display is pixel shifted to produce an increased perceived display resolution or to mitigate image defects, such as defects in a display, a waveguide, or a prism, in an augmented, mixed, or virtual reality device. A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) divides input unpolarized display light into two orthogonal linear polarizations and directs them to two PBS arms. The PBS arms act to shift the light in synchronization with the time-multiplexed display such that a single pixel of the light engine providing the display light is converted into two or four virtual pixels, effectively increasing the perceived display resolution relative to the native resolution of the light engine. The PBS combines the light from both PBS arms into a single, unpolarized output that may then be projected into a lens or a waveguide incoupler to enable the light to propagate through a waveguide for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Oleg Yaroshchuk, Ravi Kumar Komanduri, Shreyas Potnis, Michael Anthony Klug, Christopher Charles Townsend, Zheng Qin, Xinda Hu, Scott Fullam
  • Patent number: 12277658
    Abstract: A virtual image generation system comprises a planar optical waveguide having opposing first and second faces, an in-coupling (IC) element configured for optically coupling a collimated light beam from an image projection assembly into the planar optical waveguide as an in-coupled light beam, a first orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the first face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a first set of orthogonal light beamlets, a second orthogonal pupil expansion (OPE) element associated with the second face of the planar optical waveguide for splitting the in-coupled light beam into a second set of orthogonal light beamlets, and an exit pupil expansion (EPE) element associated with the planar optical waveguide for splitting the first and second sets of orthogonal light beamlets into an array of out-coupled light beamlets that exit the planar optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Mathew D. Watson, David Tinch, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, John Graham Macnamara, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Michael Anthony Klug, William Hudson Welch
  • Publication number: 20250093581
    Abstract: An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90° to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Klug, Robert Dale Tekolste, William Hudson Welch, Eric Browy, Victor Kai Liu, Samarth Bhargava
  • Publication number: 20250076663
    Abstract: Architectures are provided for selectively outputting light for forming images, the light having different wavelengths and being outputted with low levels of crosstalk. In some embodiments, light is incoupled into a waveguide and deflected to propagate in different directions, depending on wavelength. The incoupled light then outcoupled by outcoupling optical elements that outcouple light based on the direction of propagation of the light. In some other embodiments, color filters are between a waveguide and outcoupling elements. The color filters limit the wavelengths of light that interact with and are outcoupled by the outcoupling elements. In yet other embodiments, a different waveguide is provided for each range of wavelengths to be outputted. Incoupling optical elements selectively incouple light of the appropriate range of wavelengths into a corresponding waveguide, from which the light is outcoupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Robert Dale TeKolste, Michael Anthony Klug, Brian T. Schowengerdt
  • Patent number: 12242055
    Abstract: A method of operating an AR system to display an image viewable by a user's eyes includes tracking, by an eye-tracking subsystem, a position of the user's eyes and determining, based on the position, a focus depth of the user's eyes. The method also includes selecting, from a plurality of light-guiding optical elements, a subset of light-guiding optical elements configured to focus light at a depth plane corresponding to the focus depth of the user's eyes, producing a plurality of light beams using a subset of sub-light sources of a plurality of sub-light sources, the subset of sub-light sources being configured to illuminate the subset of light-guiding optical elements, and imaging the plurality of light beams through an imaging system and onto the subset of light-guiding optical elements such that the image is generated at the depth plane corresponding to the focus depth of the user's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Klug, Scott C. Cahall, Hyunsun Chung
  • Patent number: 12244786
    Abstract: A display device based on micro light emitting diodes (microLEDs) includes a plurality of chiplets. Each chiplet includes one or more raxels, each raxel including a plurality of microLEDs supported on a substrate. The chiplet also includes a micro integrated circuit (microIC) electronically connected with the one or more raxels. MicroIC includes a plurality of interconnects supported on a backplane such that, when connected with the raxel, microIC may be used to electrically drive each one of the MicroLED of the raxel. In an embodiment, a plurality of chiplets are disposed on a display substrate to for an auto-view horizontal parallax only 3D display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Klug, Gang He, Richard Schneider, James Richard Dodd, Craig Peters
  • Patent number: 12228738
    Abstract: Examples of an imaging system for use with a head mounted display (HMD) are disclosed. The imaging system can include a forward-facing imaging camera and a surface of a display of the HMD can include an off-axis diffractive optical element (DOE) or hot mirror configured to reflect light to the imaging camera. The DOE or hot mirror can be segmented. The imaging system can be used for eye tracking, biometric identification, multiscopic reconstruction of the three-dimensional shape of the eye, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Klug, Adrian Kaehler
  • Patent number: 12228736
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an augmented reality system includes at least one waveguide that is configured to receive and redirect light toward a user, and is further configured to allow ambient light from an environment of the user to pass therethrough toward the user. The augmented reality system also includes a first adaptive lens assembly positioned between the at least one waveguide and the environment, a second adaptive lens assembly positioned between the at least one waveguide and the user, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the first and second adaptive lens assemblies. Each lens assembly of the augmented reality system is selectively switchable between at least two different states in which the respective lens assembly is configured to impart at least two different optical powers to light passing therethrough, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Schaefer, Hui-Chuan Cheng, David Manly, Jahja I. Trisnadi, Clinton Carlisle, Michael Anthony Klug
  • Publication number: 20250053003
    Abstract: A display system aligns the location of its exit pupil with the location of a viewer's pupil by changing the location of the portion of a light source that outputs light. The light source may include an array of pixels that output light, thereby allowing an image to be displayed on the light source. The display system includes a camera that captures image(s) of the eye and negatives of the eye image(s) are displayed by the light source. In the negative image, the dark pupil of the eye is a bright spot which, when displayed by the light source, defines the exit pupil of the display system, such that image content may be presented by modulating the light source. The location of the pupil of the eye may be tracked by capturing the images of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventor: Michael Anthony KLUG
  • Patent number: 12216311
    Abstract: An eyepiece for an augmented reality display system. The eyepiece can include a waveguide substrate. The waveguide substrate can include an input coupler grating (ICG), an orthogonal pupil expander (OPE) grating, a spreader grating, and an exit pupil expander (EPE) grating. The ICG can couple at least one input light beam into at least a first guided light beam that propagates inside the waveguide substrate. The OPE grating can divide the first guided light beam into a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart light beams. The spreader grating can receive the light beams from the OPE grating and spread their distribution. The spreader grating can include diffractive features oriented at approximately 90° to diffractive features of the OPE grating. The EPE grating can re-direct the light beams from the first OPE grating and the first spreader grating such that they exit the waveguide substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Klug, Robert Dale Tekolste, William Hudson Welch, Eric Browy, Victor Kai Liu, Samarth Bhargava
  • Patent number: 12216288
    Abstract: Illuminations systems that separate different colors into laterally displaced beams may be used to direct different color image content into an eyepiece for displaying images in the eye. Such an eyepiece may be used, for example, for an augmented reality head mounted display. Illumination systems may be provided that utilize one or more waveguides to direct light from a light source towards a spatial light modulator. Light from the spatial light modulator may be directed towards an eyepiece. Some aspects of the invention provide for light of different colors to be outcoupled at different angles from the one or more waveguides and directed along different beam paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Chuan Cheng, Chulwoo Oh, Clinton Carlisle, Michael Anthony Klug, William J. Molteni, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20250020935
    Abstract: A display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. The wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The images may be formed by an emissive micro-display. Each pixel formed by the micro-display may be formed by one of a group of light emitters, which are at different locations such that the emitted light takes different paths to the eye to provide different amounts of parallax disparity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventor: Michael Anthony KLUG
  • Patent number: 12181678
    Abstract: An augmented reality display system. The system can include a first eyepiece waveguide with a first input coupling grating (ICG) region. The first ICG region can receive a set of input beams of light corresponding to an input image having a corresponding field of view (FOV), and can in-couple a first subset of the input beams. The first subset of input beams can correspond to a first sub-portion of the FOV. The system can also include a second eyepiece waveguide with a second ICG region. The second ICG region can receive and in-couple at least a second subset of the input beams. The second subset of the input beams can correspond to a second sub-portion of the FOV. The first and second sub-portions of the FOV can be at least partially different but together include the complete FOV of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Messer, Michael Anthony Klug
  • Patent number: 12181676
    Abstract: Architectures are provided for selectively outputting light for forming images, the light having different wavelengths and being outputted with low levels of crosstalk. In some embodiments, light is incoupled into a waveguide and deflected to propagate in different directions, depending on wavelength. The incoupled light then outcoupled by outcoupling optical elements that outcouple light based on the direction of propagation of the light. In some other embodiments, color filters are between a waveguide and outcoupling elements. The color filters limit the wavelengths of light that interact with and are outcoupled by the outcoupling elements. In yet other embodiments, a different waveguide is provided for each range of wavelengths to be outputted. Incoupling optical elements selectively incouple light of the appropriate range of wavelengths into a corresponding waveguide, from which the light is outcoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: MAGIC LEAP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Dale Tekolste, Michael Anthony Klug, Brian T. Schowengerdt
  • Patent number: 12158586
    Abstract: A display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. In the aggregate, the wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The amount of parallax disparity may be selected using an array of shutters that selectively regulate the entry of image light into an eye. Each opened shutter in the array provides a different intra-pupil image, and the locations of the open shutters provide the desired amount of parallax disparity between the images. In some other embodiments, the images may be formed by an emissive micro-display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Anthony Klug
  • Patent number: 12158577
    Abstract: A display system aligns the location of its exit pupil with the location of a viewer's pupil by changing the location of the portion of a light source that outputs light. The light source may include an array of pixels that output light, thereby allowing an image to be displayed on the light source. The display system includes a camera that captures images of the eye and negatives of the images are displayed by the light source. In the negative image, the dark pupil of the eye is a bright spot which, when displayed by the light source, defines the exit pupil of the display system. The location of the pupil of the eye may be tracked by capturing the images of the eye, and the location of the exit pupil of the display system may be adjusted by displaying negatives of the captured images using the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Anthony Klug
  • Publication number: 20240362856
    Abstract: Techniques are described for operating an optical system. In some embodiments, light associated with a world object is received at the optical system. Virtual image light is projected onto an eyepiece of the optical system. A portion of a system field of view of the optical system to be at least partially dimmed is determined based on information detected by the optical system. A plurality of spatially-resolved dimming values for the portion of the system field of view may be determined based on the detected information. The detected information may include light information, gaze information, and/or image information. A dimmer of the optical system may be adjusted to reduce an intensity of light associated with the world object in the portion of the system field of view according to the plurality of dimming values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaibhav Mathur, David Manly, Jahja I. Trisnadi, Clinton Carlisle, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Michael Anthony Klug
  • Publication number: 20240337850
    Abstract: Examples of eye-imaging apparatus using diffractive optical elements are provided. For example, an optical device comprises a substrate having a proximal surface and a distal surface, a first coupling optical element disposed on one of the proximal and distal surfaces of the substrate, and a second coupling optical element disposed on one of the proximal and distal surfaces of the substrate and offset from the first coupling optical element. The first coupling optical element can be configured to deflect light at an angle to totally internally reflect (TIR) the light between the proximal and distal surfaces and toward the second coupling optical element, and the second coupling optical element can be configured to deflect at an angle out of the substrate. The eye-imaging apparatus can be used in a head-mounted display such as an augmented or virtual reality display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Chunyu Gao, Chulwoo Oh, Michael Anthony Klug, Evyatar Bluzer