Patents by Inventor Nicholas Daniel Trail

Nicholas Daniel Trail 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: 11906750
    Abstract: A head-mounted-display includes an electronic display emitting image light and a varifocal block receiving the image light and outputting the image light in at least one of the focal planes of the varifocal block. The varifocal block includes a back optical element, a front optical element, and an actuator assembly coupled to the back and front optical element. The front optical element is positioned closer to an exit pupil than the back optical element, and separated from the back optical element by an adjustable distance, the magnitude of which determines in which of the focal planes the image light is presented. The actuator assembly simultaneously adjusts positions of the back optical element and the front optical element to vary the adjustable distance between the back optical element and the front optical element in accordance with an estimated vergence depth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Patent number: 11863886
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: multiple distinct sets of photodiodes, wherein each set of photodiodes includes one or more photodiodes, one or more charge sensing units, and a controller. The controller is configured to: transfer charge generated by the one or more photodiodes in response to a different component of incident light to the one or more charge sensing units in order to convert the charge to voltages; perform one or more quantization processes of a plurality of quantization processes corresponding to a plurality of intensity ranges, wherein the one or more quantization processes quantizes the voltages from the one or more charge sensing units to digital values representing components of a pixel of different wavelength ranges; and generate a pixel value based on the at least some of the digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Samuel Berkovich, Xinqiao Liu, Song Chen, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Michael Patrick Schaub
  • Patent number: 11817022
    Abstract: A method for correcting artifacts in artificial reality headsets is provided. The method includes coupling a first image portion into a waveguide in a display for an artificial reality device, provided by a first array of pixels, coupling a second image portion into the waveguide in the display, provided by a second array of pixels, directing the first image portion through an eyebox, directing the second image portion through the eyebox, and tiling, in a user's retina, the first image portion and the second image portion to form an image having an extended field of view that includes an overlapping area comprising light provided by the first array of pixels and the second array of pixels. A system including a memory storing instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to cause the system to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, Byron Taylor, Yufeng Zhu, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Hee Yoon Lee, Sharvil Shailesh Talati, Behnam Bastani, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 11733524
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly for depth sensing of a local area includes an illumination source, an imaging device, and a controller. The illumination source illuminates a local area with light emitted in accordance with emission instructions generated by the controller. The illumination source includes an array of optical sources and an optical assembly. Operation of each optical source in the array is controllable based in part on the emission instructions. The optical assembly is configured to project the light into the local area. The imaging device captures one or more images of at least a portion of the light reflected from one or more objects in the local area. The controller determines depth information for the one or more objects based in part on the captured one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhaoming Zhu, Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Patent number: 11723003
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of remotely rendering artificial reality. In one approach, a console determines an expected transmission end time of a first session for wireless transmission of image data indicating an image of artificial reality to a head wearable display. In one approach, the console determines an expected process end time of generating additional data associated with the image of the artificial reality. In one approach, the console compares the expected transmission end time and the expected process end time. The console may transmit, to the head wearable display in the first session, the additional data together with the image data, in response to the expected process end time being less than the expected transmission end time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qi Qu, Dong Zheng, Gang Lu, William Louis Abbott, Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Patent number: 11675199
    Abstract: The disclosed projector device may include (1) a first monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a first color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration and (2) a second monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a second color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. The first and second monochromatic emitter arrays may be configured to emit images of the first and second colors into a waveguide configuration, and the first color may be different than the second color. Associated display systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, James Ronald Bonar, Gareth Valentine
  • Publication number: 20230169897
    Abstract: A method for correcting artifacts in artificial reality headsets is provided. The method includes coupling a first image portion into a waveguide in a display for an artificial reality device, provided by a first array of pixels, coupling a second image portion into the waveguide in the display, provided by a second array of pixels, directing the first image portion through an eyebox, directing the second image portion through the eyebox, and tiling, in a user's retina, the first image portion and the second image portion to form an image having an extended field of view that includes an overlapping area comprising light provided by the first array of pixels and the second array of pixels. A system including a memory storing instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to cause the system to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, Byron Taylor, Yufeng Zhu, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Hee Yoon Lee, Sharvil Shailesh Talati, Behnam Bastani, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 11635807
    Abstract: A retinal imaging system includes a projector, an imaging device, and a controller coupled to an eye tracking system under test. The projector emits a light pattern to be delivered to a pupil of an eye, a location of the pupil being estimated by the eye tracking system under test. The imaging device captures one or more images of a retina of the eye illuminated with at least a portion of the light pattern. The controller determines one or more eye tracking parameters based on the captured one or more images of the retina. The controller compares each determined eye tracking parameter with each of estimated one or more eye tracking parameters, wherein values for the one or more eye tracking parameters are estimated by the eye tracking system under test. The controller characterizes each estimated eye tracking parameter based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Robert Dale Cavin, Kyle Justin Curts
  • Patent number: 11604351
    Abstract: An optical assembly for a digital projector includes a lens and a field bias optical element. The lens is disposed to receive display light generated by a display and to direct the display light along an optical path. The lens is configured to provide a first field-of-view. The field bias optical element is disposed between the lens and an aperture stop of the optical assembly. The field bias optical element is configured to bias the display light in at least one direction to provide a second field-of-view that is greater than the first field-of-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tamer Elazhary, Yang Zhao, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Byron Taylor
  • Patent number: 11598965
    Abstract: A super-resolution scanning display. The scanning display includes a light source, a conditioning assembly, and a scanning mirror assembly. The light source is configured to emit source light from a plurality of columns of emitters formed along a first dimension, including at least a first column of emitters emitting in a first band of light and a second column of emitters emitting in a second band of light which are offset along the first dimension by a fraction of an emitter width and offset along a second dimension—that is orthogonal to the first dimension—by greater than the emitter width. The conditioning assembly receives and conditions the source light. The scanning mirror assembly scans the conditioned light along the second dimension to generate a portion of an image at a first location with a resolution that is more than a first threshold number of emitters in a unit angle in the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Byron Taylor, Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Publication number: 20220369313
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of remotely rendering artificial realty. In one approach, a console determines an expected transmission end time of a first session for wireless transmission of image data indicating an image of artificial reality to a head wearable display. In one approach, the console determines an expected process end time of generating additional data associated with the image of the artificial reality. In one approach, the console compares the expected transmission end time and the expected process end time. The console may transmit, to the head wearable display in the first session, the additional data together with the image data, in response to the expected process end time being less than the expected transmission end time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Qi QU, Dong ZHENG, Gang LU, William Louis ABBOTT, Nicholas Daniel TRAIL
  • Patent number: 11493767
    Abstract: The disclosed projector device may include (1) a first monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a first color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration and (2) a second monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a second color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. The first and second monochromatic emitter arrays may be configured to emit images of the first and second colors into a waveguide configuration, and the first color may be different than the second color. Associated display systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, James Ronald Bonar, Gareth Valentine
  • Patent number: 11463636
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a plurality of photodiodes, one or more charge sensing units, one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and a controller. The controller is configured to: enable the each photodiode to generate charge in response to a different component of the incident light; transfer the charge from the plurality of photodiodes to the one or more charge sensing units to convert to voltages; receive a selection of one or more quantization processes of a plurality of quantization processes corresponding to a plurality of intensity ranges; based on the selection, control the one or more ADCs to perform the selected one or more quantization processes to quantize the voltages from the one or more charge sensing units to digital values representing components of a pixel of different wavelength ranges; and generate a pixel value based on the digital values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Samuel Berkovich, Xinqiao Liu, Song Chen, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Michael Patrick Schaub
  • Patent number: 11430262
    Abstract: A system tracks eye movement using optical coherence in a head mounted display. The system includes an illumination source configured to project low coherence interference light onto a portion of a user's eye. The system includes a scanning system to select an axial position within the illuminated portion of the user's eye. The system includes a detector configured to collect light reflected from the illuminated portion of the user's eye at the selected axial position, and the reflected light includes measurement data characterizing the illuminated portion of the user's eye. The system includes a controller configured to compare the measurement data with a trained baseline, and determine an eye position based the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 11405913
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of remotely rendering artificial reality. In one approach, a console determines an expected transmission end time of a first session for wireless transmission of image data indicating an image of artificial reality to a head wearable display. In one approach, the console determines an expected process end time of generating additional data associated with the image of the artificial reality. In one approach, the console compares the expected transmission end time and the expected process end time. The console may transmit, to the head wearable display in the first session, the additional data together with the image data, in response to the expected process end time being less than the expected transmission end time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Qi Qu, Dong Zheng, Gang Lu, William Louis Abbott, Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Publication number: 20220159204
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: multiple distinct sets of photodiodes, wherein each set of photodiodes includes one or more photodiodes, one or more charge sensing units, and a controller. The controller is configured to: transfer charge generated by the one or more photodiodes in response to a different component of incident light to the one or more charge sensing units in order to convert the charge to voltages; perform one or more quantization processes of a plurality of quantization processes corresponding to a plurality of intensity ranges, wherein the one or more quantization processes quantizes the voltages from the one or more charge sensing units to digital values representing components of a pixel of different wavelength ranges; and generate a pixel value based on the at least some of the digital values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Samuel Berkovich, Xinqiao Liu, Song Chen, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Michael Patrick Schaub
  • Patent number: 11231588
    Abstract: The disclosed projector device may include (1) a first monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a first color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration and (2) a second monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a second color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. The first and second monochromatic emitter arrays may be configured to emit images of the first and second colors into a waveguide configuration, and the first color may be different than the second color. Associated display systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, James Ronald Bonar, Gareth Valentine
  • Patent number: 11209650
    Abstract: By tiling multiple waveguide displays in an artificial-reality system, and/or using multiple projectors per waveguide display, a large field of view for the artificial-reality system can be achieved using waveguide displays. By using waveguide displays, a form factor for a virtual-reality system can be reduced compared to conventional virtual-reality systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Daniel Trail
  • Patent number: 11194163
    Abstract: The disclosed projector device may include (1) a first monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a first color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration and (2) a second monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a second color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. The first and second monochromatic emitter arrays may be configured to emit images of the first and second colors into a waveguide configuration, and the first color may be different than the second color. Associated display systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, James Ronald Bonar, Gareth Valentine
  • Patent number: 11195291
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) optimizes illumination and image capture of a local area to generate depth information of the local area. The DCA determines depth information for a first portion of the local area viewable at a first pose. The DCA is moved from the first pose to a second pose, where a second portion of the local area is viewable and overlaps with the first portion. The overlapping region is not illuminated by the DCA. A non-overlapping portion of the second portion is illuminated, captured, and depth information determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fengqiang Li, Zihe Gao, Michael Hall, Zhaoming Zhu, Shuochen Su, Huixuan Tang, Xinqiao Liu, Nicholas Daniel Trail