Patents by Inventor YING GENG

YING GENG 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: 12259553
    Abstract: An illuminator for illuminating a display panel includes a lightguide with an array of buried slanted bulk reflectors that out-couple portions of the light beam propagating in the lightguide through one of the lightguide surfaces. Polarization beam-splitting slanted surfaces may be used to provide polarized output. Such an illuminator may be used with a reflective display panel operating by polarization. The beam-splitting slanted surfaces operate as a polarizer, providing polarized illuminating light. The light reflected by the reflective panel may propagate back through the illuminator, and the polarization beam-splitting slanted surfaces may operate also as analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Miaomiao Xu, Brian Wheelwright, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng, Changwon Jang, Maxwell Parsons, Sihui He, Jacques Gollier
  • Patent number: 12204107
    Abstract: An illuminator for a display panel includes a slab of transparent material for propagating illuminating light between outer surfaces of the slab, an out-coupling grating supported by the slab for out-coupling portions of the illuminating light along one of the outer surfaces of the slab, and an amplitude and/or phase mask for forming an array of light spots from the out-coupled illuminating light portions downstream of the focusing element for illuminating pixels of the display panel. The array of light spots may be repeated at a distance from the mask due to Talbot effect. A beam redirecting element such as a tiltable reflector and/or a steering surface may be provided to shift the lateral location of the illuminating light spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fenglin Peng, Jacques Gollier, Liangyu Qiu, Xingzhou Tu, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 12130450
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a Fresnel lens and a diffractive optical element. The Fresnel lens includes a high-refractive-index material having a refractive index greater than 1.9. The diffractive optical element is optically coupled with the Fresnel lens to compensate for chromatic aberration caused by the Fresnel lens. A method for imaging light with the optical assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Zhao, Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Douglas Robert Lanman
  • Patent number: 12124070
    Abstract: According to examples, a phase plate may include a transparent substrate and a photopolymer layer attached to the transparent substrate. The photopolymer layer may adjust a backlight via a phase adjustment and focusing. The phase plate may focus a plurality of red, green, and blue components of the backlight onto respective red, green, and blue subpixels of a thin-film-transistor (TFT) layer deposited thereon. A distance between the photopolymer layer of the phase plate and the plurality of red, green, and blue subpixels of the thin-film-transistor (TFT) layer may be in a range from about 200 ?m to about 500 ?m. In some examples, the phase plate may be part of a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus along with a red, green, blue (RGB) laser to provide backlight; a grating light guide to transmit the backlight; and a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer on the thin-film-transistor (TFT) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Xu, Xingzhou Tu, Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier
  • Publication number: 20240255758
    Abstract: A device may include an optical system that creates an image to a user and a light- absorbing element that absorbs a portion of the light transmitted by the optical system. The optical system may include a beamsplitting element and a reflective polarizer that reflects a first handedness of circularly polarized light and transmits a second handedness of polarized light. Various other devices, systems, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng, Brian Wheelwright
  • Publication number: 20240210611
    Abstract: A lightguide with partially reflective slanted polarization-selective bulk mirrors is disclosed. The lightguide may be used in a near-eye display with a polarized image source. The polarization-selective bulk mirrors reflect light of the polarized image source, and fully transmit light of the orthogonal polarization, causing the mirrors to be less conspicuous to an external viewer while preserving high efficiency of delivery of the image light to the viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Miaomiao Xu, Ying Geng, Sheng Ye, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Zhaoyu Nie
  • Publication number: 20240201495
    Abstract: A head-mounted display comprising (1) an electronic display configured to emit light and (2) a pancake lens optically coupled to the electronic display, the pancake lens comprising a beam splitter configured to (A) transmit a spatial average fraction of the light and (B) reflect an additional spatial average fraction of the light that is less than the spatial average fraction of the light. Various other apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng
  • Patent number: 11960088
    Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) for improved field of view (FOV) is provided. The head-mounted display (HMD) may include a display element to provide display light. The head-mounted display (HMD) may also include a lens element to provide display light to a user of the head-mounted display (HMD). The head-mounted display (HMD) may further include an optical element comprising at least one waveguide to provide improved central or peripheral field of view (FOV) for the user of head-mounted display (HMD). In some examples, the waveguide may be part of central optics and/or peripheral optics. The waveguide may have a planar waveguide profile or a curved waveguide profile. In some examples, the waveguide may be stacked or may include a graded index (GRIN) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Miaomiao Xu, Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng
  • 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: 11953688
    Abstract: Various embodiments set forth high-resolution liquid crystal displays and components thereof. In some embodiments, light emitted by a high-resolution green color liquid crystal display is combined, via a combiner, with light emitted by at least one lower-resolution red and blue color liquid crystal display. The red and blue color display(s) may include a single display or two displays positioned on opposing sides of the combiner. The combiner may be a dichroic or polarization-based combiner. Combined light from the green color display and the red and blue color display(s) is passed through collimating optics, such as a pancake lens or a Fresnel lens, toward a viewer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Ying Geng, Dong Chen
  • Patent number: 11933975
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical waveguide, and a first optical element configured to direct a first ray, having a first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at a first incidence angle, in a first direction so that the first ray propagates through the optical waveguide via total internal reflection toward a second optical element. The first optical element is configured to also direct a second ray, having a second circular polarization that is distinct from the first circular polarization and impinging on the first optical element at the first incidence angle, in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction so that the second ray propagates away from the second optical element. The second optical element is configured to direct the first ray propagating through the optical waveguide toward a detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Babak Amirsolaimani, Pasi Saarikko, Ying Geng, Yusufu Njoni Bamaxam Sulai, Scott Charles McEldowney
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20240045168
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a first rigid lens; a second rigid lens, a seal that couples the first rigid lens and the second rigid lens together, where the first rigid lens, the second rigid lens, and the seal define a cavity; and a fluid within the cavity, where the seal is adapted to admit expansions of the fluid within the cavity. Various other apparatuses and methods also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Kurt Jenkins, Sheng Ye, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, John Cooke, Ying Geng, Barry David Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20240036342
    Abstract: An example apparatus may include a display and an optical configuration configured to provide an image of a display, for example, in a head-mounted device. An example apparatus may include a display, a first lens assembly including a lens and a reflector, and a second lens assembly including a second lens and a second reflector. In some examples, the first lens assembly has a front surface configured to receive display light from the display when the display is energized. The first lens assembly may include a Fresnel surface (e.g., a Fresnel surface including facets and steps) that may, for example, be formed in a lens surface, or in the surface of a substrate supported by a lens surface. Other devices, methods, systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Ying Geng, Hannah Dustan Noble
  • Patent number: 11885974
    Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes a waveguide configured to output a first light having a first polarization to a first side of the waveguide and a second light having the first polarization to a second side of the waveguide. The device also includes an optical element assembly disposed at the first side of the waveguide and configured to convert the first light having the first polarization into a third light having a second polarization, and output the third light toward the waveguide. The device further includes a polarizer disposed at the second side of the waveguide and configured to transmit the third light having the second polarization, and block the second light having the first polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Ying Geng, Scott Charles McEldowney
  • Patent number: 11867921
    Abstract: A display device includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, and an optical assembly. The light source is configured to provide illumination light and the spatial light modulator positioned to receive the illumination light. The optical assembly includes an optical element and a curved reflector that is distinct and separate from the optical element. The curved reflector is disposed relative to the light source so that at least a portion of the illumination light is reflected by the curved reflector toward the optical element, is reflected by the optical element toward the curved reflector, and is transmitted through the curved reflector. A method performed by the display device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier
  • 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: 11852836
    Abstract: A directional illuminator includes a light source, a pupil-replicating lightguide, and a tiltable reflector coupling the light source to the pupil-replicating lightguide. The exit beam angle of the light outputted by the pupil-replicating lightguide follows the in-coupling angle, and accordingly depends on the tilting angle of the tiltable reflector. The directional illuminator with steered light beam may be used to illuminate a display panel. Steering the illuminating light by the tiltable reflector enables one to steer the exit pupil of the display device to match the user's eye location(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Fenglin Peng, Ying Geng, Anqi Ji
  • Patent number: 11846797
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of reflective polarizers. The plurality of reflective polarizers include a first reflective polarizer and a second reflective polarizer disposed inside the optical waveguide so that the first reflective polarizer receives light propagating inside the optical waveguide, redirects a first portion of the light in a first direction, and transmits a second portion of the light in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction. The second reflective polarizer receives the second portion of the light from the first reflective polarizer, redirects a third portion of the light, and transmits a fourth portion of the light. A ratio between the first portion and the second portion of the light has a first value and a ratio between the third portion and the fourth portion of the light has a second value distinct from the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Gollier, Brian Wheelwright, Ying Geng, Babak Amirsolaimani, Fenglin Peng
  • Publication number: 20230393309
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens includes a lens body having a structured surface with a plurality of facets, where the lens body includes an organic solid crystal having mutually-orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, nz. In a related vein, an apparatus includes a display and an optical configuration configured to receive display light from the display, where (a) the optical configuration includes a Fresnel lens assembly having a Fresnel lens and a Pancharatnam-Berry Phase lens overlying the Fresnel lens, (b) the Fresnel lens includes a lens body having a structured surface including a plurality of facets, and (c) the lens body includes an organic solid crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Tingling Rao, Xingzhou Tu, Yang Zhao, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Ying Geng