Patents by Inventor Weichuan GAO

Weichuan GAO 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: 11960090
    Abstract: An optical assembly a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The first surface has a first curved profile and the second surface has a second curved profile. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first surface and a reflector on the second surface. The optical assembly is configured to transmit image light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at each of the reflector and the beam splitter before the image light is output from the second surface. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit ambient light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the beam splitter. A method of transmitting light through the optical assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai
  • Patent number: 11914182
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; and a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light having a first polarization toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs second light having a second polarization toward the first polarization selective reflector. A first plane defined by the first polarization selective reflector intersects a second plane defined by the second polarization selective reflector at a first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Weichuan Gao, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11852814
    Abstract: A display device includes an optical diffuser configured to, in response to receiving image light, output diffused image light having a same polarization as the image light. The optical diffuser is also configured to transmit ambient light. The display device also includes an optical assembly that includes a substrate, a reflector coupled to the substrate, and a beam splitter coupled to the substrate. The optical assembly is configured to transmit the diffused image light at a first optical power by reflecting the diffused image light at the reflector and at the beam splitter and to transmit the transmitted ambient light at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power without reflection at the reflector or the beam splitter. A method for transmitting light through the display device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Gang Li, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11740455
    Abstract: A display device may include a plurality of tiled spatial light modulators (SLMs) imparting image information upon respective light beams to obtain image beams. Pupil steering optics are configured to steerably direct the image beams towards a same or different exit pupil locations within an eyebox of the display device, providing exit pupil replication and/or an expanded field of view. An eye tracking system provides location information of the user's eye, enabling the pupil steering optic to direct at least some of the image beams to a desired exit pupil location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Weichuan Gao, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11726365
    Abstract: An illumination assembly includes one or more light sources and an optical assembly. The one or more light sources is configured to provide illumination light. The optical assembly includes a first optical component, a second optical component, and a third optical component. The first optical component, the second optical component, and the third optical component are positioned so that the illumination light is (i) received by the first optical component, (ii) transmitted through the first optical component toward the second optical component, (iii) reflected at the second optical component toward the third optical component, (iv) reflected at the third optical component toward the second optical component, and (v) transmitted through the second optical component. A method of providing illumination using an optical assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11714287
    Abstract: A display device includes a display, an optical assembly, and a display-moving assembly connected to the display for moving the display between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the display outputs image light in a first direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical assembly. When in the second position, the display is positioned away from the optical axis of the optical assembly. The display device also includes a partial reflector and a partial reflector-moving assembly connected to the partial reflector for moving the partial reflector between a third position and a fourth position. When the partial reflector is in the third position, the display is in the first position and the display is disposed between the optical assembly and the partial reflector. When the partial reflector is in the fourth position, the display is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Weichuan Gao, Kieran Connor Kelly, Stephen Choi
  • Patent number: 11709308
    Abstract: An optical device includes a light source configured to provide illumination light and a waveguide. The waveguide has an input surface, an output surface distinct from and non-parallel to the input surface, and an output coupler. The waveguide is configured to receive, at the input surface, the illumination light provided by the light source and propagate the illumination light via total internal reflection. The waveguide is also configured to redirect, by the output coupler, the illumination light so that the illumination light is output from the output surface for illuminating a spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Fenglin Peng, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11698538
    Abstract: A multipass scanner usable e.g. in a near-eye display is disclosed. The multipass scanner scans a light beam angularly, forming an image in angular domain. The multipass scanner includes a light source, a tiltable reflector, and a multipass coupler that couples light emitted by the light source to the tiltable reflector, receives the reflected light and couples it back to the tiltable reflector to double the scanning angle. Then, the multipass coupler couples the light reflected at least twice from the tiltable reflector to an exit pupil of the scanner. A pupil-replicating waveguide disposed at the exit pupil of the scanner extends the image in angular domain. Multiple reflections of the light beam from the tiltable reflector enable one to increase the angular scanning range and associated field of view of the display without having to increase the angular scanning range of the tiltable reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Babak Amirsolaimani, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11698539
    Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and an optical assembly that includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface that is opposite to the first reflective surface. The light source is configured to provide illumination light. The optical assembly is configured to receive the illumination light. At least a first portion of the illumination light received by the optical assembly is transmitted through the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, is reflected by the second reflective surface toward the first reflective surface, is reflected by the first reflective surface toward the second reflective surface, and is transmitted through the second reflective surface. The SLM is configured to receive and modulate the portion of the illumination light transmitted through the optical assembly, and to output the modulated light. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Weichuan Gao, Babak Amirsolaimani
  • Patent number: 11668929
    Abstract: An optical lens assembly includes an optical lens and a Pancharatnam Berry Phase (“PBP”) element coupled to the optical lens. The PBP element is configured to provide chromatic aberration correction for the optical lens. An Abbe number of the PBP element and an Abbe number of the optical lens have opposite signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Babak Amirsolaimani, Brian Wheelwright, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Weichuan Gao, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11668866
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector positioned in a first orientation so that the first polarization selective reflector: receives first light in a first direction; redirects a first portion, of the first light, having a first polarization to a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction; and receives second light in a third direction and transmit a first portion, of the second light. A second polarization selective reflector positioned in a second orientation non-parallel to the first orientation, and adjacent to the first polarization selective reflector so that the second polarization selective reflector: receives third light in a fourth direction; redirects a first portion, of the third light, having the first polarization to a fifth direction that is non-parallel to the fourth direction; and receives fourth light in a sixth direction and transmit a first portion, of the fourth light having the second polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Brian Wheelwright, Weichuan Gao, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11662582
    Abstract: A display device includes an image source, a holographic relay, and a holographic image combiner in an off-axis configuration. The holographic relay may include a pair of freeform holographic reflectors relaying light of the image source to an intermediate image plane. The holographic image combiner receives and redirects the relayed light from the holographic relay, forming an image in angular domain at an eyebox of the display device, the image in angular domain corresponding to the image in linear domain generated by the image source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Li, Yang Zhao, Changwon Jang, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11656395
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the first light toward the first polarization selective reflector as second light. The optical device includes a first reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the second light received from the second polarization selective reflector toward the first reflector as third light and the first reflector directs at least a portion of third light toward the first polarization selective reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Weichuan Gao, Ying Geng
  • Publication number: 20230144296
    Abstract: A system includes a light outputting device configured to output a divergent light. The system also includes a lens configured to convert the divergent light incident thereon from a first side of the lens to a collimated light substantially covering a light receiving region located at a second side of the lens, the lens including a plurality of Fresnel structures formed on at least one of a first lens surface or a second lens surface of the lens. Each Fresnel structure includes a slope facet and a draft facet. At least one of the draft facets is a first type of draft facet configured to not interact with a ray of the divergent light that is non-parallel with the at least one of the draft facets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Xingzhou TU, Brian WHEELWRIGHT, Alexander SOHN, Weichuan GAO, Ying GENG, Jacques GOLLIER
  • Patent number: 11635645
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first polarization-sensitive reflector, a second polarization-sensitive reflector, and a Faraday rotator. The first polarization-sensitive reflector is positioned to transmit light having a first polarization, and reflect light having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization. The second polarization-sensitive reflector is positioned to reflect light having a third polarization that is different from the first polarization and the second polarization, and transmit light having a fourth polarization that is orthogonal to the third polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao
  • Patent number: 11624922
    Abstract: An optical assembly for projecting light output by a display includes an optical waveguide, a reflective optical element, and a in-coupler coupled with the optical waveguide. The reflective optical element is positioned to receive first light and to reflect the first light as second light. The in-coupler is positioned to receive the first light and transmit the first light toward the reflective optical element. The in-coupler is further positioned to receive the second light and redirect a first portion of the second light so that the first portion of the second light undergoes total internal reflection inside the optical waveguide. The reflective optical element includes a negative meniscus lens having a concave lens surface and a convex lens surface coupled with a reflective surface. The reflective optical element is positioned to focus the first light such that the second light is more collimated than the first light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Wheelwright, Yun-Han Lee, Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao
  • Publication number: 20230099173
    Abstract: An optical assembly a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to and substantially parallel with the first surface. The first surface has a first curved profile and the second surface has a second curved profile. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first surface and a reflector on the second surface. The optical assembly is configured to transmit image light received at the first surface in an optical path that includes reflection at each of the reflector and the beam splitter before the image light is output from the second surface. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit ambient light received at the first surface such that the second light is output from the second surface without undergoing reflection at either the reflector or the beam splitter. A method of transmitting light through the optical assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Ying GENG, Brian WHEELWRIGHT, Jacques GOLLIER, Babak AMIRSOLAIMANI, Weichuan GAO, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam SULAI
  • Patent number: 11586024
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes at least one substrate that provides a first curved surface and a second surface. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first curved surface, a reflector on the second surface, and an optical retarder disposed between the beam splitter and the reflector. The optical assembly is configured to receive first light at the first curved surface and reflect the first light at the reflector and subsequently, at the beam splitter before outputting the first light from the reflector. The first light is transmitted through the optical assembly at a first optical power. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit second light at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power. The second light is transmitted through peripheral portions of the beam splitter and reflector without reflection at the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao, Gang Li, Mengfei Wang
  • Patent number: 11579425
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes at least one substrate that provides a first curved surface and a second surface. The optical assembly also includes a beam splitter on the first curved surface, a reflector on the second surface, and an optical retarder disposed between the beam splitter and the reflector. The optical assembly is configured to transmit the first light through the optical assembly at a first optical power. The optical assembly is also configured to transmit second light through peripheral portions of the optical assembly at a second optical power that is less than the first optical power. The first light includes light having a first polarization and wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range. The second light includes light having wavelengths within the predetermined wavelength range and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization, as well as light having wavelengths outside the predetermined wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright, Jacques Gollier, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Babak Amirsolaimani, Weichuan Gao, Gang Li, Mengfei Wang, Fenglin Peng
  • Patent number: 11567252
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light having a first nonplanar polarization toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the first light toward the first polarization selective reflector as second light. The optical device includes a first reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs at least a portion of the second light having a second nonplanar polarization toward the first reflector as third light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Weichuan Gao, Ying Geng, Babak Amirsolaimani