Patents by Inventor Robert J. Schultz

Robert J. Schultz 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: 20240094456
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image including a substrate operable to propagate image-bearing light beams along a length thereof. An in-coupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate and is operable to diffract image-bearing light beams from an image source into the substrate in an angularly encoded form. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate, wherein the out-coupling diffractive optic is operable to diffract the image-bearing light beams from the substrate in an angularly decoded form. The in-coupling diffractive optic having three pluralities of periodic in-coupling diffractive structures and the out-coupling diffractive optic having at least two pluralities of periodic out-coupling diffractive structures. The two pluralities of periodic out-coupling diffractive structures being parallel with two of the three pluralities of periodic in-coupling diffractive structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20240069350
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, including a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an outcoupling diffractive optic operable to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward an eyebox, wherein the waveguide is configured to flex about one or more points thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11906762
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image has a waveguide that conveys image-bearing light, formed as a flat plate having an in-coupling diffractive optic with a first grating vector diffracting an image-bearing light beam into the waveguide and directing diffracted light. An out-coupling diffractive optic is formed as a plurality of overlapping diffraction gratings including a first grating pattern having first grating vector k1 and a second grating pattern having a second grating vector k2 for expanding and ejecting the expanded image bearing beams from the waveguide into an expanded eyebox within which the virtual image can be seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Paul J. Travers
  • Publication number: 20230417974
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, including a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward an eyebox. The out-coupling diffractive optic having two or more zones each including a set of diffractive features, wherein a first zone includes a first set of diffractive features and a second zone includes a second set of diffractive features and is located adjacent to the first zone. The out-coupling diffractive optic includes a first interface region formed by the first zone and the second zone, and the first interface region includes a first set of sub-regions and a second set of sub-regions. The first set of sub-regions includes the first set of diffractive features, and the second set of sub-regions includes the second set of diffractive features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Marek W. Kowarz
  • Publication number: 20230341685
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image includes a substrate operable to propagate image-bearing light beams. A first incoupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate, and is operable to diffract a first portion of the image bearing light beams from an image source into the substrate in an angularly encoded form, as well as to transmit a second portion of the image-bearing light beams from the image source. An out-coupling diffractive optic formed along the substrate, wherein the out-coupling diffractive optic is operable to expand the image-bearing light beams and direct the expanded image-bearing light beams from the substrate in an angularly decoded form. A second in-coupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate, and is operable to diffract a portion of the second portion of the image-bearing light beams into the substrate in an angularly encoded form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230341682
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for stereoscopic viewing has a frame that seats against the head of a viewer. A left-eye imaging apparatus and a right-eye imaging apparatus are supported by the frame. The frame is reshapeable in a manner that changes a relative alignment of the left-eye imaging apparatus and the right-eye imaging apparatus to accommodate different viewer head anatomies. An adjustment mechanism responsive to the reshaping of the frame restores relative alignment of the left-eye imaging apparatus and the right-eye imaging apparatus for conveying stereoscopic virtual images to the viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tyler W. Porter, Robert J. Schultz, Robert W. Gray
  • Publication number: 20230273435
    Abstract: An image source including a first light emitting diode array and a second light emitting diode array coupled with a fixed panel. The image source further including a first lens system located at an effective focal length from the first light emitting diode array and a second lens system located at an effective focal length from the second light emitting diode array. Light from corresponding light emitting diodes in the first and second light emitting diode arrays aligned to form a single pixel in an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20230266599
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying image bearing light comprising a substrate operable to propagate image-bearing light beams along a length thereof. An in-coupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate and is operable to diffract a portion of image-bearing light beams from an image source into the substrate in an angularly encoded form. An out- coupling diffractive optic is formed along the substrate at least partially in a plane having an x-axis and a y-axis, and is operable to diffract a portion of the image-bearing light beams from the substrate in an angularly decoded form. The out-coupling diffractive optic comprises a first plurality of periodic structures and a second plurality of periodic structures operable to diffract a portion of the image-bearing light beams into diffractive orders. The first and second pluralities of periodic structures comprise a plurality of vertices, wherein each adjacent vertex along the x-axis is offset in the y-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11726321
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for stereoscopic viewing has a frame that seats against the head of a viewer. A left-eye imaging apparatus and a right-eye imaging apparatus are supported by the frame. The frame is reshapeable in a manner that changes a relative alignment of the left-eye imaging apparatus and the right-eye imaging apparatus to accommodate different viewer head anatomies. An adjustment mechanism responsive to the reshaping of the frame restores relative alignment of the left-eye imaging apparatus and the right-eye imaging apparatus for conveying stereoscopic virtual images to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler W. Porter, Robert J. Schultz, Robert W. Gray
  • Publication number: 20230213770
    Abstract: An image light guide for conveying a virtual image, including a waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an out-coupling diffractive optic operable to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward an eyebox. The out-coupling diffractive optic having two or more zones each including a set of diffractive features, wherein successive zones along one dimension of the out-coupling diffractive optic have different respective sets of diffractive features, wherein the diffractive features are operable to direct image-bearing light beams of a first pixel incident upon the diffractive features at a first angle whereby the directed image-bearing light beams of the first pixel further propagate within the waveguide, and wherein the diffractive features are operable to out-couple a portion of the image-bearing light beams of the first pixel incident upon the diffractive features at a second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Marek W. Kowarz, Robert W. Gray
  • Patent number: 11598970
    Abstract: An imaging light guide has a waveguide and an in-coupling diffractive optic formed on the waveguide and disposed to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. An array of two or more at least partially reflective surfaces are oriented in parallel and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams from the in-coupling diffractive optic in a first dimension and to direct the expanded image-bearing light beams toward an out-coupling diffractive optic. The out-coupling diffractive optic is formed on the waveguide and disposed to expand the image-bearing light beams in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension and to direct the image-bearing light beams toward a viewer eyebox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Paul J. Travers
  • Publication number: 20230050198
    Abstract: A near-eye display system that employs a volume holographic element containing distinct but overlapped planar volume gratings, each corresponding to a subset of pixels in the display. The volume gratings are illuminated using light incident from angles, and at wavelengths, that match the conical diffraction conditions for each grating, thereby achieving both high diffraction efficiency and a wide field of view. A single volume grating can thus be used to display thousands of pixels independently with high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen P. McGrew, Elliot Burke, Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11543659
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for conveying a virtual image superimposed within a view of an ambient environment has a waveguide having first and second surfaces. An in-coupling diffractive optic on one of the planar surfaces is disposed to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. An out-coupling diffractive optic on one of the planar surfaces of the waveguide is disposed to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward a viewer eyebox. An outer cover protects as least part of the waveguide from undesirable environmental influences of an ambient environment while supporting views of the ambient environment from the eyebox. A circular polarizer interposed between waveguide and the outer cover blocks the return of stray light into the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20220404629
    Abstract: A wearable display apparatus has a support that mounts the display apparatus against the head of a viewer; a ball joint that is fitted within the support and coupled to a clamp that extends from the support; a slide that is translatable within the clamp in a first direction and that holds a display module for forming the display image; and a display coupled to the display module and rotatable in a first arc about a vertical axis that extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and further rotatable in a second arc about a horizontal axis that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Tyler W. Porter, Russell D. Page, Paul J. Travers, Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20220382061
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for conveying a virtual image including a waveguide having first and second surfaces. An in-coupling diffractive optic and an out-coupling diffractive optic arranged along one of the first and second surfaces, wherein the in-coupling diffractive optic is operable to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide for propagation by total internal reflection, and wherein the out-coupling diffractive optic is operable to direct at least a portion of the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide through the second surface toward an eyebox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11493761
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for forming dual virtual images includes a planar waveguide, an in-coupling diffractive optic that directs a set of image-bearing light beams into the waveguide, and an out-coupling diffractive optic that directs the set of image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward a viewer eyebox. The out-coupling diffractive optic includes an array of contiguous diffractive zones, each of which has a set of diffractive features having at least one of a common orientation and a common pitch. A succession of the zones along one dimension of the array have respective sets of diffractive features that progressively vary in at least one of orientation and pitch in a stepwise manner. The out-coupling diffractive optic is arranged together with the array of contiguous diffractive zones for forming a virtual image that is viewable from the eyebox at a near focus distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Marek W. Kowarz, Paul J. Travers
  • Publication number: 20220236472
    Abstract: A parallel plate waveguide assembly for conveying an image bearing light from an in-coupling optic to an out-coupling optic is disclosed wherein the waveguide assembly includes at least a waveguide blank having a first surface and a second surface located a distance from the first surface to create a thickness of the blank. The waveguide assembly further includes a first coating applied to the first surface forming a third surface and a second coating applied to the second surface forming a fourth surface. The third and fourth surfaces are less than a quarter of a wavelength of an image bearing light beam in flatness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Robert J. Schultz, Mitchell G. Knoebel, Paul J. Travers
  • Patent number: 11385469
    Abstract: A wearable display apparatus has a support that mounts the display apparatus against the head of a viewer; a ball joint that is fitted within the support and coupled to a clamp that extends from the support; a slide that is translatable within the clamp in a first direction and that holds a display module for forming the display image; and a display coupled to the display module and rotatable in a first arc about a vertical axis that extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and further rotatable in a second arc about a horizontal axis that is substantially orthogonal to the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler W. Porter, Russell D. Page, Paul J. Travers, Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11372245
    Abstract: A waveguide apparatus for conveying a virtual image has first and second parallel planar surfaces. A first in-coupling diffractive optic on the first planar surface directs a first subset of image-bearing light beams into the waveguide and a second in-coupling diffractive optic on second planar surface directs a second subset of the image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. The first and second in-coupling diffractive optics are offset with respect to each other along the first and second parallel planar surfaces to independently direct the respective first and second subsets of the image-bearing light beams into the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11360320
    Abstract: A hexahedral polarization beamsplitter is constructed with four substantially triangular prisms with a polarizing beamsplitter located within each of the interfaces between the assembled prisms. An input side of the assembly receives an unpolarized beam and two opposing output sides of the assembly transmit orthogonally polarized portions of the unpolarized beam in opposite directions. The polarizing beamsplitters are arranged at the interfaces so that each of the orthogonally polarized portions of the unpolarized beam is both reflected by one of the polarizing beamsplitters and transmitted by another of the polarizing beamsplitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz