Patents by Inventor William Aaron Nicholls
William Aaron Nicholls 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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Publication number: 20230377493Abstract: Systems and methods dynamically control optical conditions presented to a user by an artificial reality system according to monitored visual experience parameters for the user. For example, the artificial reality presentation to the user can be tracked to monitor visual experience parameters, such as light characteristics (e.g., color), focal distances, virtual object characteristics (e.g., objects/text color, size, etc.), aggregated defocus distance of background, luminance, activity, eye movement, accommodation distances, and other suitable conditions. Implementations can vary optical conditions presented/displayed by the artificial reality system according to the monitoring by altering the focal distance for virtual objects, text size, text/background color, light characteristics, and other suitable optical conditions. In some examples, user preferences for optical conditions can be determined according to the monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: William Aaron NICHOLLS, Barry David SILVERSTEIN, Robin SHARMA, Ian ERKELENS
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Publication number: 20230375844Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to controlling optical parameters at a user's eye using an artificial reality system and tracked user conditions. For example, based on tracked user eye positioning, implementations can adjust the light that enters the user's eye to control an image shell generated at the user's eye. An image shell refers to the way light, that enters the eye, focuses on the retina of the eye. Example properties of an image shell include image shell centration, image shell curvature, image shell shape, etc. A user may focus on an object in an artificial reality environment (e.g., real-world object or virtual object) and light from the object can generate an image shell at the user's eyes. The image shell at the user's eyes can impact the user's vision and/or eye biology.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: William Aaron NICHOLLS, Barry David SILVERSTEIN, Robin SHARMA, Ian ERKELENS
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Patent number: 11016301Abstract: An auto-focus head-mounted display (HMD) dynamically generates aberration-adjusted images based on measured accommodation of user's eye(s). An aberration-adjusted image is an image distorted to correct aberrations that would otherwise occur at a retina of the user due to image light passing through optics of the HMD. The aberration-adjusted image corrects the aberrations of the HMD and “accounts” for the aberrations of the eye so that the resulting retinal image is free of optical aberrations due to the HMD but preserves correct eye optical aberrations that are correlated with a current accommodative state of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Douglas Robert Lanman, Nicholas Daniel Trail
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Patent number: 10983354Abstract: A multiplanar head mounted display (HMD) includes two or more artificial display planes for each eye located at optical distances that can be dynamically adjusted based on a location within a scene presented by the HMD that the user views. For example, a scene is presented on two or more electronic display elements (e.g., screens) of the HMD. A focal length of an optics block that directs image light from the electronic display elements towards the eyes of a user is adjusted using a varifocal system (e.g., an element that mechanically changes a distance between a lens system in the optics block and the electronic display element, an element that changes shape of one or more lenses in the lens system in the optics block, etc.) based on a location or object within the scene where the user is looking.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Kevin James MacKenzie, James Hillis, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Olivier Mercier
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Patent number: 10866418Abstract: A multiplanar head mounted display (HMD) includes two or more artificial display planes for each eye located at optical distances that can be dynamically adjusted based on a location within a scene presented by the HMD that the user views. For example, a scene is presented on two or more electronic display elements (e.g., screens) of the HMD. A focal length of an optics block that directs image light from the electronic display elements towards the eyes of a user is adjusted using a varifocal system (e.g., an element that mechanically changes a distance between a lens system in the optics block and the electronic display element, an element that changes shape of one or more lenses in the lens system in the optics block, etc.) based on a location or object within the scene where the user is looking.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Kevin James MacKenzie, James Hillis, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Olivier Mercier
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Publication number: 20200142201Abstract: A multiplanar head mounted display (HMD) includes two or more artificial display planes for each eye located at optical distances that can be dynamically adjusted based on a location within a scene presented by the HMD that the user views. For example, a scene is presented on two or more electronic display elements (e.g., screens) of the HMD. A focal length of an optics block that directs image light from the electronic display elements towards the eyes of a user is adjusted using a varifocal system (e.g., an element that mechanically changes a distance between a lens system in the optics block and the electronic display element, an element that changes shape of one or more lenses in the lens system in the optics block, etc.) based on a location or object within the scene where the user is looking.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Kevin James MacKenzie, James Hillis, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Olivier Mercier
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Patent number: 10379356Abstract: An auto-focus head-mounted display (HMD) dynamically generates aberration-adjusted images based on measured accommodation of user's eye(s). An aberration-adjusted image is an image distorted to correct aberrations that would otherwise occur at a retina of the user due to image light passing through optics of the HMD. The aberration-adjusted image corrects the aberrations of the HMD and “accounts” for the aberrations of the eye so that the resulting retinal image is free of optical aberrations due to the HMD but preserves correct eye optical aberrations that are correlated with a current accommodative state of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Douglas Robert Lanman, Nicholas Daniel Trail
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Patent number: 10241569Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
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Publication number: 20180239145Abstract: A multiplanar head mounted display (HMD) includes two or more artificial display planes for each eye located at optical distances that can be dynamically adjusted based on a location within a scene presented by the HMD that the user views. For example, a scene is presented on two or more electronic display elements (e.g., screens) of the HMD. A focal length of an optics block that directs image light from the electronic display elements towards the eyes of a user is adjusted using a varifocal system (e.g., an element that mechanically changes a distance between a lens system in the optics block and the electronic display element, an element that changes shape of one or more lenses in the lens system in the optics block, etc.) based on a location or object within the scene where the user is looking.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Kevin James MacKenzie, James Hillis, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Olivier Mercier
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Patent number: 10025060Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Oculus VR, LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
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Patent number: 9904054Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) device includes a plurality of deformation sensors attached to a liner formed around a periphery of a HMD, adopted for direct or indirect contact a user's face. The deformation sensors measure deformations of the liner caused by movement of an upper portion of a user's face when the user is wearing the HMD. The deformation sensors are strain gauges embedded in or otherwise coupled to the liner of the HMD. The sensors translate muscle movements of the upper face of the user to changes in the bending strain and radius of curvature on the surface of the strain gauges. The HMD includes a module that reconstructs and projects a facial animation model of the user based on signals from the deformation sensors while the HMD is in use by the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Oculus VR, LLCInventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Laura Cristina Trutoiu, William Aaron Nicholls
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Publication number: 20170293146Abstract: An auto-focus head-mounted display (HMD) dynamically generates aberration-adjusted images based on measured accommodation of user's eye(s). An aberration-adjusted image is an image distorted to correct aberrations that would otherwise occur at a retina of the user due to image light passing through optics of the HMD. The aberration-adjusted image corrects the aberrations of the HMD and “accounts” for the aberrations of the eye so that the resulting retinal image is free of optical aberrations due to the HMD but preserves correct eye optical aberrations that are correlated with a current accommodative state of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: William Aaron Nicholls, Marina Zannoli, Douglas Robert Lanman, Nicholas Daniel Trail
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Publication number: 20170160798Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
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Publication number: 20170160518Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
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Publication number: 20160216760Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) device includes a plurality of deformation sensors attached to a liner formed around a periphery of a HIVID, adopted for direct or indirect contact a user's face. The deformation sensors measure deformations of the liner caused by movement of an upper portion of a user's face when the user is wearing the HIVID. The deformation sensors are strain gauges embedded in or otherwise coupled to the liner of the HIVID. The sensors translate muscle movements of the upper face of the user to changes in the bending strain and radius of curvature on the surface of the strain gauges. The HIVID includes a module that reconstructs and projects a facial animation model of the user based on signals from the deformation sensors while the HIVID is in use by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Laura Cristina Trutoiu, William Aaron Nicholls