Patents by Inventor Stephen James McNally
Stephen James McNally 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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Patent number: 11960092Abstract: A light source or projector for a near-eye display includes a light source subassembly optically coupled to a waveguide concentrator. The light source subassembly may include several semiconductor chips each hosting an array of emitters such s superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The semiconductor chips may be disposed side-by-side, with their emitting sides or facets coupled to the waveguide concentrator, which provides a tight array of output light ports on a common output plane of the concentrator. The output diverging beams at the array of output light ports are coupled to a collimator, which collimates the beams and couples them to an angular scanner for scanning the collimated light beams together across the field of view of the display.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Guenther Greif, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen John Holmes, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally, John Goward
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Patent number: 11714282Abstract: A light source includes a first set of source elements and a second set of source elements. A respective set of source elements is disposed on a respective substrate and electrically coupled to a respective set of circuit pads formed on a respective top surface of the respective substrate by respective bond wires. At least a portion of the respective top surfaces face each other and are spaced apart from each other to accommodate at least some of the first set of source elements, at least some of the second set of source elements, and at least some of the bond wires. The display device that includes a light source configured to output image light, an optical assembly configured to collimate the image light, a scanning assembly configured to steer the image light, and an output device configured to output the image light for displaying images is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wanli Chi, Chadwick Brian Martin, Scott Charles McEldowney, Maxwell Parsons, Stephen James McNally, Daniel Guenther Greif
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Patent number: 11662572Abstract: A display device for projecting light to a viewer may include (1) a plurality of subpixels, in which subpixels may emit light of differing spectral distributions, (2) at least one light deviator disposed optically downstream from the plurality of subpixels, and (3) and a controller. The light emitted from each of the plurality of subpixels may be transmitted through and laterally shifted by the least one light deviator towards a viewer and the at least one light deviator may be mechanically rotatable by a force applied to an outer circumferential region of the at least one light deviator. The controller may control illumination of at least a subset of the plurality of subpixels in synchronization with rotation of the at least one light deviator. Various other apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Jasmine Soria Sears, Stephen James McNally
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Publication number: 20230024805Abstract: A light source or projector for a near-eye display includes a light source subassembly optically coupled to a waveguide concentrator. The light source subassembly may include several semiconductor chips each hosting an array of emitters such s superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The semiconductor chips may be disposed side-by-side, with their emitting sides or facets coupled to the waveguide concentrator, which provides a tight array of output light ports on a common output plane of the concentrator. The output diverging beams at the array of output light ports are coupled to a collimator, which collimates the beams and couples them to an angular scanner for scanning the collimated light beams together across the field of view of the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Daniel Guenther Greif, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen John Holmes, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally, John Goward
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Patent number: 11493760Abstract: A light source or projector for a near-eye display includes a light source subassembly optically coupled to a waveguide concentrator. The light source subassembly may include several semiconductor chips each hosting an array of emitters such s superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The semiconductor chips may be disposed side-by-side, with their emitting sides or facets coupled to the waveguide concentrator, which provides a tight array of output light ports on a common output plane of the concentrator. The output diverging beams at the array of output light ports are coupled to a collimator, which collimates the beams and couples them to an angular scanner for scanning the collimated light beams together across the field of view of the display.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies LLCInventors: Daniel Guenther Grief, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen John Holmes, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally, John Goward
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Patent number: 11366309Abstract: A scanning projector display includes a plurality of light engines coupled to a MEMS scanner. Each light engine includes a light source subassembly for providing a diverging light beam optically coupled to a collimator for collimating the diverging light beam. In operation, the collimated light beams of the plurality of light engines impinge onto the tiltable reflector at different angles of incidence. A controller may be operably coupled to the light source subassembly of each light engine of the plurality of light engines and the MEMS scanner for tilting the tiltable reflector of the MEMS scanner. The controller is configured to energize the light source of each light engine in coordination with tilting the tiltable reflector for displaying the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Stephen James McNally, Chadwick Brian Martin
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Patent number: 11327311Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a field curvature corrected (FC) display to mitigate field curvature in an image that is output to a user's eyes. The FC display includes elements that generate the image light and elements to mitigate field curvature from the image light. The FC display may include a display panel with lenses, a display panel with a reflective polarizer and reflective surface, or other optical elements. The FC display may include a pancake lens configuration including a polarized display with a quarter wave plate, a reflective mirror, and a polarization reflective mirror.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Brett Joseph Bryars, Scott Charles McEldowney
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Patent number: 11199710Abstract: A beam scanner of a projector-based near-eye display includes a prismatic element with a reflective polarizer and a quarter-wave waveplate (QWP). The beam-folding prismatic element receives a polarized light beam from a light source and couples the beam to a tiltable reflector, e.g. a 2D tiltable MEMS reflector, for angular scanning the beam. The light beam impinging onto the tiltable reflector is separated from the light beam reflected from the tiltable reflector by polarization. The polarization-based separation is achieved by causing the light beam to propagate through the QWP before and after impinging onto the tiltable reflector. Upon double propagation of the light beam through the QWP, the beam changes its polarization to an orthogonal polarization, which enables its separation from the impinging beam. The beam scanner may receive multiple light beams from multiple light sources. A projector and a near-eye display based on such beam scanners are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Stephen James McNally
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Patent number: 11194087Abstract: A waveguide coupler may be coupled to a multi-beam light source, such as an array of superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The waveguide coupler includes a substrate having an end facet and a surface, e.g. a top flat surface, adjoining the end facet. At least one tilted reflector is supported by the substrate. A plurality of waveguides supported by the substrate extend between the end facet and the at least one tilted reflector. The at least one tilted reflector is configured to redirect light propagating in the plurality of waveguides to the surface of the substrate. In this manner, the waveguide coupler may provide an array of surface emission points on a substrate. All the surface emission points are disposed in one plane and may be suitably configured for subsequent joint collimation for use e.g. in a scanning projector display.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Guenther Greif, Scott Charles McEldowney, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally
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Publication number: 20210072542Abstract: A beam scanner of a projector-based near-eye display includes a prismatic element with a reflective polarizer and a quarter-wave waveplate (QWP). The beam-folding prismatic element receives a polarized light beam from a light source and couples the beam to a tiltable reflector, e.g. a 2D tiltable MEMS reflector, for angular scanning the beam. The light beam impinging onto the tiltable reflector is separated from the light beam reflected from the tiltable reflector by polarization. The polarization-based separation is achieved by causing the light beam to propagate through the QWP before and after impinging onto the tiltable reflector. Upon double propagation of the light beam through the QWP, the beam changes its polarization to an orthogonal polarization, which enables its separation from the impinging beam. The beam scanner may receive multiple light beams from multiple light sources. A projector and a near-eye display based on such beam scanners are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Stephen James McNally
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Patent number: 10895738Abstract: A display device for projecting light to a viewer may include (1) a plurality of subpixels, in which subpixels may emit light of differing spectral distributions, (2) at least one light deviator disposed optically downstream from the plurality of subpixels, and (3) and a controller. The light emitted from each of the plurality of subpixels may be transmitted through and laterally shifted by the least one light deviator towards a viewer and the at least one light deviator may be mechanically rotatable by a force applied to an outer circumferential region of the at least one light deviator. The controller may control illumination of at least a subset of the plurality of subpixels in synchronization with rotation of the at least one light deviator. Various other apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jasmine Soria Sears, Stephen James McNally
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Publication number: 20200310122Abstract: A light source includes a first set of source elements and a second set of source elements. A respective set of source elements is disposed on a respective substrate and electrically coupled to a respective set of circuit pads formed on a respective top surface of the respective substrate by respective bond wires. At least a portion of the respective top surfaces face each other and are spaced apart from each other to accommodate at least some of the first set of source elements, at least some of the second set of source elements, and at least some of the bond wires. The display device that includes a light source configured to output image light, an optical assembly configured to collimate the image light, a scanning assembly configured to steer the image light, and an output device configured to output the image light for displaying images is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Wanli CHI, Chadwick Brian MARTIN, Scott Charles MCELDOWNEY, Maxwell PARSONS, Stephen James MCNALLY, Daniel Guenther GREIF
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Publication number: 20200310111Abstract: A scanning projector display includes a plurality of light engines coupled to a MEMS scanner. Each light engine includes a light source subassembly for providing a diverging light beam optically coupled to a collimator for collimating the diverging light beam. In operation, the collimated light beams of the plurality of light engines impinge onto the tiltable reflector at different angles of incidence. A controller may be operably coupled to the light source subassembly of each light engine of the plurality of light engines and the MEMS scanner for tilting the tiltable reflector of the MEMS scanner. The controller is configured to energize the light source of each light engine in coordination with tilting the tiltable reflector for displaying the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Stephen James McNally, Chadwick Brian Martin
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Publication number: 20200310120Abstract: A light source or projector for a near-eye display includes a light source subassembly optically coupled to a waveguide concentrator. The light source subassembly may include several semiconductor chips each hosting an array of emitters such s superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The semiconductor chips may be disposed side-by-side, with their emitting sides or facets coupled to the waveguide concentrator, which provides a tight array of output light ports on a common output plane of the concentrator. The output diverging beams at the array of output light ports are coupled to a collimator, which collimates the beams and couples them to an angular scanner for scanning the collimated light beams together across the field of view of the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Daniel Guenther Grief, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen John Holmes, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally, John Goward
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Patent number: 10685431Abstract: Methods for quantifying pupil swim are disclosed in order to compensate for the same. A target image, in one embodiment, is displayed on a display of a head mounted display (HMD). Images of the target image are captured from a plurality of positions relative to an optical axis of an optics block of the HMD at an exit pupil of the HMD. The target image includes features and differences between observed locations of the features and their expected locations absent the optics block are determined. From these differences, a wavefront of the optics block is reconstructed and distortion corrections for the optics block are generated using the wavefront. The distortion corrections, when applied to a virtual scene, add pre-distortion that is canceled by the optical imperfections of the optics block as light of the virtual scene with the pre-distortion passes through the optics block.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Ying Geng, Stephen James McNally, Brett Joseph Bryars, Scott Charles McEldowney, Alexander Jobe Fix, Douglas Robert Lanman
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Publication number: 20200150438Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a field curvature corrected (FC) display to mitigate field curvature in an image that is output to a user's eyes. The FC display includes elements that generate the image light and elements to mitigate field curvature from the image light. The FC display may include a display panel with lenses, a display panel with a reflective polarizer and reflective surface, or other optical elements. The FC display may include a pancake lens configuration including a polarized display with a quarter wave plate, a reflective mirror, and a polarization reflective mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Brett Joseph Bryars, Scott Charles McEldowney
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Patent number: 10571692Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a field curvature corrected (FC) display to mitigate field curvature in an image that is output to a user's eyes. The FC display includes elements that generate the image light and elements to mitigate field curvature from the image light. The FC display may include a display panel with lenses, a display panel with a reflective polarizer and reflective surface, or other optical elements. The FC display may include a pancake lens configuration including a polarized display with a quarter wave plate, a reflective mirror, and a polarization reflective mirror.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Brett Joseph Bryars, Scott Charles McEldowney
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Patent number: 10511829Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) determines depth information for a scene in a field of view of the DCA. The DCA includes a structured light (SL) illuminator, a camera, and a controller. The SL illuminator includes a source assembly, a SL element, a liquid crystal (LC) array, and a polarizer. The source assembly generates light, and the SL element generates a SL pattern using the generated light source. The LC array includes a plurality of addressable cells configured to polarize the SL pattern in accordance with adjustment instructions. The polarizer attenuates portions of the SL pattern based on the polarization of the portions of the SL pattern. The camera captures an image of the SL pattern, and the controller identifies portions of the image that are saturated and generates adjustment instructions based in part on the identified portions of the image, and provides the adjustment instructions to the LC array.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, Stephen James McNally
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Patent number: 10504207Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) divides an image into a high resolution (HR) inset portion at a first resolution, a peripheral portion, and a transitional portion. The peripheral portion is downsampled to a second resolution that is less than the first resolution. The transitional portion is blended such that there is a smooth change in resolution that corresponds to a change in resolution between a fovea region and a non-fovea region of a retina. An inset region is generated using the HR inset portion and the blended transitional portion, and a background region is generated using the downsampled peripheral portion. The inset region is provided to a HR inset display, and the background region is provided to a peripheral display. An optics block combines the displayed inset region with the displayed background region to generate composite content.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Austin Wilson, Douglas Robert Lanman, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen James McNally, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
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Patent number: 10429647Abstract: A virtual scene presented on a display of a virtual reality headset can be adjusted using a varifocal element by changing the shape of one or more optical elements of a pancake lens block, by varying the distance between the two optical elements, or both, based on where in a virtual scene a user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to determine a vergence depth from gaze lines in order to accommodate the user's eye for the determined vergence depth. Accordingly, the shape of one or more optical elements is adjusted, the distance between the two optical elements, or both, is changed to focus light from the display of the virtual reality headset at the vergence depth to keep the user's eye in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Douglas Robert Lanman