Patents by Inventor Michael D Simmonds
Michael D Simmonds 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).
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Publication number: 20250020910Abstract: An electronic device may include an optical module with a display and a tunable lens. During operation, the electronic device may gather data and adjust the tunable lens based on the gathered data. The optical module may include a non-adjustable lens element with convex curvature in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a Fresnel lens element in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a catadioptric lens in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a catadioptric lens that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may have a birdbath architecture that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may include a waveguide and the tunable lens may be an adjustable positive bias lens and/or an adjustable negative bias lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Arthur Y. Zhang, Michael D. Simmonds, Pablo Benitez Gimenez, Ruben Mohedano Arroyo, Juan Carlos Minano Dominguez, Richard J. Topliss, Pablo Zamora Herranz
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Publication number: 20250014292Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
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Patent number: 12118675Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
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Publication number: 20240027776Abstract: A lens module may include a first lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the first lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the first lens element. The lens module may also include a second lens element and a fluid-filled chamber between the first and second lens elements. To allow dynamic adjustments of the second lens element without requiring additional actuators, the second lens element may be a semi-rigid lens element. When the actuators adjust the curvature of the first lens element, the gauge pressure applied to the second lens element is changed. This causes a change in curvature of the second lens element. The actuators may therefore adjust the curvature of both the first and second lens elements even though none of the actuators are attached to the second lens element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Michael D. Simmonds
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Publication number: 20230350209Abstract: An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may have first hologram structures that replicate the light over multiple output angles onto second hologram structures. The second hologram structures may focus the replicated light onto the eye box. If desired, the device may include an image sensor. The first and second hologram structures may include transmission and/or reflection holograms. The optical system may redirect a first portion of the light to the eye box and a second portion of the light to the sensor. The sensor may generate image data based on the second portion of the light. Control circuitry may compensate for distortions in the first portion of the light by performing feedback adjustments to the display module based on distortions in the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Matthew D. Hollands, Michael D. Simmonds, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
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Patent number: 11740460Abstract: An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may have first hologram structures that replicate the light over multiple output angles onto second hologram structures. The second hologram structures may focus the replicated light onto the eye box. If desired, the device may include an image sensor. The first and second hologram structures may include transmission and/or reflection holograms. The optical system may redirect a first portion of the light to the eye box and a second portion of the light to the sensor. The sensor may generate image data based on the second portion of the light. Control circuitry may compensate for distortions in the first portion of the light by performing feedback adjustments to the display module based on distortions in the image data.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Matthew D. Hollands, Michael D. Simmonds, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
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Publication number: 20200174255Abstract: An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may have first hologram structures that replicate the light over multiple output angles onto second hologram structures. The second hologram structures may focus the replicated light onto the eye box. If desired, the device may include an image sensor. The first and second hologram structures may include transmission and/or reflection holograms. The optical system may redirect a first portion of the light to the eye box and a second portion of the light to the sensor. The sensor may generate image data based on the second portion of the light. Control circuitry may compensate for distortions in the first portion of the light by performing feedback adjustments to the display module based on distortions in the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Matthew D. Hollands, Michael D. Simmonds, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
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Patent number: 8107023Abstract: A projection display which includes first and second waveguide elements, wherein the first waveguide element has a two input regions for injecting image bearing light into the first waveguide element. In this manner, the total field of view of the image to be displayed at the second waveguide element is divided into two sub-images prior to injection of one sub-image into one input region and the other sub-image into the other input region of the first waveguide element. This results in a smaller first waveguide element, thereby reducing obscuration of an observers view of a forward scene over which to the image to be displayed is overlaid.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: BAE Systems PLCInventors: Michael D Simmonds, Louahab Noui