Patents by Inventor Simon Hallam

Simon Hallam 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: 10678076
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating pixels or regions of a display panel includes a measuring device configured to measure a parameter of light emitted by one or more pixels of each region of the display panel. The apparatus includes a parameter comparator operably coupled to the measuring device and configured to select one or more pixels or one or more regions of the display panel such that the measured parameter of light emitted by the one or more pixels or the one or more regions exceeds a threshold value. The apparatus also includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam onto the selected one or more pixels or the selected one or more regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Hallam, Ye Yin, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen
  • Patent number: 10430939
    Abstract: An optical evaluation workstation evaluates a virtual image distance of eyecup assemblies of a head mounted display (HMD). The workstation includes an eyecup assembly feed assembly configured to receive an eyecup assembly of an HMD. The eyecup assembly comprising an optics block rigidly fixed to an electronic display panel. The workstation includes a lens assembly positioned at a fixed distance from the eyecup assembly. The workstation includes a movable imaging sensor assembly positioned along the alignment axis and configured to capture one or more images of the one or more test patterns presented by the eyecup assembly when the imaging sensor assembly is at different positions. The optical evaluation workstation includes a control module configured to determine one or more virtual image distances of the eyecup assembly using the plurality of images captured by the imaging sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kieran Tobias Levin, Ye Yin, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 10290154
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) headset calibration system calibrates a VR headset, which includes a plurality of locators and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) generating output signals indicative of motion of the VR headset. The system comprises a calibration controller configured to receive a headset model of the VR headset that identifies expected positions of each of the locators. The controller controls cameras to capture images of the VR headset while the headset is moved along a predetermined path. The images detect actual positions of the locators during the movement along the predetermined path. Calibration parameters for the locators are generated based on differences between the actual positions and the expected positions. Calibration parameters for the IMU are generated based on the calibration parameters for the locators and differences between expected and actual signals output by the IMU. The calibration parameters are stored to the VR headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dov Katz, Jennifer Leigh Dolson, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin, Eric Loren Vaughan, Klas Petter Ivmark, Andrew Melim
  • Patent number: 10235914
    Abstract: A camera colorimeter system simultaneously lights up one or more pixel units on a display panel, each pixel unit including colored subpixels, for characterization of the display panel. The system includes optical elements that directs the light emitted by the simultaneously lit one or more pixel units to a filter and a corresponding imaging device. Each filter is configured to block wavelengths of light other than predetermined range of wavelengths, thereby ensuring that each imaging device captures a filtered spectrum of light that originates from subpixels of the same color. Using the filtered spectrum, the system reconstructs the full spectrum of light, which can subsequently be used to regenerate the display characteristics of each pixel unit (and corresponding colored subpixels). Thus, the camera colorimeter system can characterize a display panel in significantly less time as compared to conventional systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Evan M. Richards, Ye Yin, Shizhe Shen, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 10198984
    Abstract: A system calibrates luminance of an electronic display panel. The system includes a luminance detection device, an actuator and a computing device. The luminance detection device comprises a plurality of detectors arranged along a width or length of the electronic display panel to simultaneously measure luminance parameters of at least one row or column of areas in the electronic display panel. Each of the plurality of detectors covers an area in the at least one row or column of the electronic display panel. The actuator is configured to cause a relative translational movement in a length direction or a width direction of the electronic display panel. The computing device is coupled to the luminance detection device to receive the measured luminance parameters, and the computing device is configured to generate calibration data for adjusting brightness of areas of the electronic display panel by processing the measured luminance parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologise, LLC
    Inventors: Kieran Tobias Levin, Simon Hallam, Ye Yin, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen
  • Patent number: 10161791
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring characteristics of an electronic display panel includes an array of optical elements. Each optical element has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces the electronic display panel and receives light from pixels of the electronic display panel. The second surface faces away from the electronic display panel and has an area smaller than the area of the first surface. The second surface emits a combined version of the light received by the first surface. The apparatus further includes a light sensor facing the second surface to measure one or more parameters of the emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Simon Hallam, Shizhe Shen, Evan M. Richards
  • Patent number: 10127732
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) headset calibration system calibrates a VR headset, which includes a plurality of locators and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) generating output signals indicative of motion of the VR headset. The system comprises a calibration controller configured to receive a headset model of the VR headset that identifies expected positions of each of the locators. The controller controls cameras to capture images of the VR headset while the headset is moved along a predetermined path. The images detect actual positions of the locators during the movement along the predetermined path. Calibration parameters for the locators are generated based on differences between the actual positions and the expected positions. Calibration parameters for the IMU are generated based on the calibration parameters for the locators and differences between expected and actual signals output by the IMU. The calibration parameters are stored to the VR headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dov Katz, Jennifer Leigh Dolson, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin, Eric Loren Vaughan, Klas Petter Ivmark, Andrew Melim
  • Publication number: 20180286298
    Abstract: A system calibrates luminance of an electronic display panel. The system includes a luminance detection device, an actuator and a computing device. The luminance detection device comprises a plurality of detectors arranged along a width or length of the electronic display panel to simultaneously measure luminance parameters of at least one row or column of areas in the electronic display panel. Each of the plurality of detectors covers an area in the at least one row or column of the electronic display panel. The actuator is configured to cause a relative translational movement in a length direction or a width direction of the electronic display panel. The computing device is coupled to the luminance detection device to receive the measured luminance parameters, and the computing device is configured to generate calibration data for adjusting brightness of areas of the electronic display panel by processing the measured luminance parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kieran Tobias Levin, Simon Hallam, Ye Yin, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen
  • Patent number: 10075685
    Abstract: An optical evaluation workstation evaluates quality metrics (e.g., virtual image distance) of eyecup assemblies of a head mounted display (HMD). The workstation includes an eyecup assembly feed assembly configured to receive an eyecup assembly of a head mounted display (HMD), the eyecup assembly comprising an optics block rigidly fixed at a first distance to an electronic display panel. The optical evaluation workstation includes a camera assembly configured to capture a plurality of images of the electronic display panel through the optics block, the camera assembly comprising a pinhole aperture at an exit pupil position and a camera attached to a lens assembly having an adjustable focus. The optical evaluation workstation includes a control module configured to determine one or more virtual image distances of the eyecup assembly using the plurality of images captured by the camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Fulghum, Samuel Redmond D'Amico, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin
  • Patent number: 10070123
    Abstract: A display calibration apparatus may include a display mounting assembly with a mounting platform and a multi-axis positioning device coupled to the mounting platform for adjusting an orientation of the mounting platform. The display calibration apparatus may also include a camera device positioned to receive light emitted by a plurality of sub-pixels of a display mounted on the mounting platform. The camera device may include an image sensor array that captures light emitted by the plurality of sub-pixels of the display. In addition, the display calibration apparatus may include a camera lens and a focuser. The camera lens may be positioned to direct light emitted by the plurality of sub-pixels of the display onto the image sensor array of the camera device, and the focuser may be disposed between the camera device and the camera lens to move the camera lens axially along an optical axis of the camera lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 10043430
    Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an eyecup to an electronic display panel of a head-mounted display is presented in this disclosure. The eyecup is coupled to the electronic display panel forming an eyecup assembly. An imaging device captures one or more images of image light projected by the electronic display panel through the eyecup. A calibration controller, interfaced with the electronic display panel and the imaging device, determines physical locations of pixels of the electronic display panel on a sensor of the imaging device based on the captured one or more images. The calibration controller also determines a preferred alignment for presenting images by the electronic display panel based on the determined physical locations of the pixels and a projected location of the eyecup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Redmond D'Amico, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin
  • Publication number: 20180217416
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating pixels or regions of a display panel includes a measuring device configured to measure a parameter of light emitted by one or more pixels of each region of the display panel. The apparatus includes a parameter comparator operably coupled to the measuring device and configured to select one or more pixels or one or more regions of the display panel such that the measured parameter of light emitted by the one or more pixels or the one or more regions exceeds a threshold value. The apparatus also includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam onto the selected one or more pixels or the selected one or more regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Simon Hallam, Ye Yin, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen
  • Publication number: 20180218656
    Abstract: A camera colorimeter system simultaneously lights up one or more pixel units on a display panel, each pixel unit including colored subpixels, for characterization of the display panel. The system includes optical elements that directs the light emitted by the simultaneously lit one or more pixel units to a filter and a corresponding imaging device. Each filter is configured to block wavelengths of light other than predetermined range of wavelengths, thereby ensuring that each imaging device captures a filtered spectrum of light that originates from subpixels of the same color. Using the filtered spectrum, the system reconstructs the full spectrum of light, which can subsequently be used to regenerate the display characteristics of each pixel unit (and corresponding colored subpixels). Thus, the camera colorimeter system can characterize a display panel in significantly less time as compared to conventional systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Evan M. Richards, Ye Yin, Shizhe Shen, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 10009605
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to determining characteristics of a display panel by using capturing images through multiple filters where the multiple filters include at least two filters that collectively enable replicating of a color matching function. At least two filters of the multiple filters have transmission profiles that correspond to the same color matching function (x color matching function) in different wavelength ranges. Image capturing devices capture the display panel through respective filters. The captured images are processed to the display characteristics of pixels or regions of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Simon Hallam, Evan M. Richards, Shizhe Shen
  • Publication number: 20180172509
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring characteristics of an electronic display panel includes an array of optical elements. Each optical element has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces the electronic display panel and receives light from pixels of the electronic display panel. The second surface faces away from the electronic display panel and has an area smaller than the area of the first surface. The second surface emits a combined version of the light received by the first surface. The apparatus further includes a light sensor facing the second surface to measure one or more parameters of the emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Simon Hallam, Shizhe Shen, Evan M. Richards
  • Patent number: 9979956
    Abstract: An optical evaluation workstation evaluates quality metrics (e.g., sharpness, blemishes) of eyecup assemblies of a head mounted display (HMD). The workstation includes an eyecup assembly feeder, a camera, and a control module. The eyecup assembly feeder is configured to receive an eyecup assembly of a HMD, the eyecup assembly comprising an optics block rigidly fixed at a first distance to an electronic display panel. The camera is configured to capture one or more images of the one or more test patterns presented by the electronic display panel through the optics block. The control module is configured to modify at least one image of the one or more images using a transform, and determine a quality metric for the modified at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Redmond D'Amico, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin, Matthew Robert Fulghum
  • Patent number: 9854170
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to adjusting an image frame based on motion sensor data. An image frame including image data for a plurality of rows of the image frame is captured sequentially row-by-row. Motion sensor data corresponding to the image frame is also captured. Motion vectors describing motion between each row of the image frame are determined based on the motion sensor data. An image data translation is calculated for each row of image frame based on the motion vector for the row. The image frame is adjusted based on the image data translation for each row of the image frame to generate an adjusted image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Dov Katz, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 9805512
    Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) headset calibration system calibrates a VR headset, which includes a plurality of locators and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) generating output signals indicative of motion of the VR headset. The system comprises a calibration controller configured to receive a headset model of the VR headset that identifies expected positions of each of the locators. The controller controls cameras to capture images of the VR headset while the headset is moved along a predetermined path. The images detect actual positions of the locators during the movement along the predetermined path. Calibration parameters for the locators are generated based on differences between the actual positions and the expected positions. Calibration parameters for the IMU are generated based on the calibration parameters for the locators and differences between expected and actual signals output by the IMU. The calibration parameters are stored to the VR headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Dov Katz, Jennifer Leigh Dolson, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin, Eric Loren Vaughan, Klas Petter Ivmark, Andrew Melim
  • Publication number: 20170187961
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to adjusting an image frame based on motion sensor data. An image frame including image data for a plurality of rows of the image frame is captured sequentially row-by-row. Motion sensor data corresponding to the image frame is also captured. Motion vectors describing motion between each row of the image frame are determined based on the motion sensor data. An image data translation is calculated for each row of image frame based on the motion vector for the row. The image frame is adjusted based on the image data translation for each row of the image frame to generate an adjusted image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Dov Katz, Simon Hallam
  • Patent number: 9589348
    Abstract: An optical calibration system is configured to determine camera calibration information of a virtual reality camera. The optical calibration system comprises a light source, a first and a second planar grid, and an optical calibration controller. The light source is configured to backlight the first and the second planar grids. Each planar grid includes a plurality of fiducial markers that are backlit by the light source. The optical calibration controller determines camera calibration information of a virtual reality camera selecting and analyzing a plurality of captured images that include a portion of the first or the second planar grid with fiducial markers backlit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Oskar Linde, Samuel Redmond D'Amico, Simon Hallam, Kieran Tobias Levin