Patents by Inventor Youmin Wang

Youmin Wang 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: 12386041
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical sensing system for two-dimensional (2D) environmental sensing and an optical sensing method for the optical sensing system. The optical sensing system includes a rotary base and a one-dimensional (1D) optical sensing apparatus supported by the rotary base. The 1D optical sensing apparatus includes an optical source configured to emit optical signals, a 1D MEMS scanner configured to direct the optical signals towards an environment surrounding the optical sensing system, and a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the optical signals reflected from the environment. The rotary base is configured to drive the 1D optical sensing apparatus to rotate around a first axis to scan the optical signals in a first dimension and the 1D MEMS scanner is configured to independently rotate around a second axis to scan the optical signals in a second dimension in the 2D environmental sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12355216
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) compressive sensing based eye tracking system using single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensors achieves high resolution depth measurement by using low resolution SPAD sensors and active encoded illumination such as two- or three-dimensional fringe patterns, random speckles, random patterns, and/or superimposed patterns projected onto a surface of an eye. The patterns may be projected by high speed illuminators such as a digital micromirror device (DMD) or micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) projector in series changing at the same rate as the SPAD sensor capture rate. A processor may employ compressive sensing techniques to obtain a high resolution image and depth information from the captured images of varying patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yatong An, Youmin Wang, Zhaoyu Nie
  • Publication number: 20250180742
    Abstract: The disclosed method may include measuring, by a controller, a distance to an object based on a combination of polarization information of detected light and time-of-flight information of the detected light, wherein the detected light results from at least one of scattering or reflection of a light beam from an object. The disclosed method may additionally include performing, by an artificial reality system that includes the controller, one or more user interaction procedures based on information that includes the measured distance to the object. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Mantas Zurauskas, Yatong An, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12298435
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide optical sensing systems, optical sensing methods, and integrated transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) modules. An exemplary optical sensing system includes an integrated TX/RX module and a controller coupled to the integrated TX/RX module. The integrated TX/RX module includes a laser emitter, one or more optics, and a receiver frontend. The laser emitter is configured to emit an optical signal toward the one or more optics. The one or more optics are configured to form the optical signal received from the laser emitter into a predefined shape and direct the optical signal having the predefined shape to an environment surrounding the optical sensing system. The receiver frontend is configured to receive a returned optical signal from the environment and convert the returned optical signal into an electrical signal. The laser emitter, the one or more optics, and the receiver frontend are assembled in a single package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12265158
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide magnetic sensing systems and methods for a polygon scanner. An exemplary magnetic sensing system includes a disc permanent magnet configured to provide a magnetic field. The magnetic sensing system further includes a Hall sensor configured to generate a voltage proportional to the strength of the magnetic field as the Hall sensor and the disc permanent magnet move relatively to each other when the polygon mirror rotates. One of the disc permanent magnet and the Hall sensor locates on and rotates with the polygon mirror and the other locates off the polygon mirror. The magnetic sensing system also includes at least one controller configured to determine a rotation angle of the polygon mirror based on the generated voltage by the Hall Sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youmin Wang, Yufeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20250093950
    Abstract: An eye tracking system for a head-mounted device determines depth characteristics of an eye in an eyebox region. The eye tracking system includes a detector array, a scanning mirror, and a light source. The detector array is oriented on the head-mounted device to receive reflected light from an eyebox region of the head-mounted device. The scanning mirror is optically coupled between the eyebox region and the detector array. The scanning mirror is configured to rotate to direct the reflected light from a plurality of locations within the eyebox region to the detector array. The light source configured to provide pulses of light to illuminate at least part of the eyebox region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Youmin Wang, Gaetano Aiello, Robert Dale Cavin, Yatong An
  • Publication number: 20250093644
    Abstract: An illumination system for eye tracking is described herein. The illumination system may include a laser light source and an ultra-fast scanning micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) operating at a frequency range from about ten (10) kilohertz (kHz) to about one-hundred (100) kilohertz (kHz) to reflect laser light to the eye and generating a desired fringe pattern controlling intensity and timing. A surface of the MEMS may include diffractive optical element (DOE) to reflect the laser light as a concentrated optical beam. The light may also be projected by grating-based illuminators on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) controlled through adiabatic couplers projecting multiple binary/grayscale images onto the eye. On the detection side, a 2D single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor or a SPAD array detector and an active MEMS shutter array may be used. Compressive sensing techniques may be applied on the detection side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Youmin WANG, Yatong AN, Gaetano AIELLO
  • Patent number: 12253668
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a scanning mirror assembly. In certain configurations, the scanning mirror assembly may include a two-dimensional micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror, a first pair of piezoelectric electrodes coupled to the MEMS scanning mirror through a first pair of looped torsion springs, and a second pair of piezoelectric electrodes coupled to the MEMS scanning mirror through a second pair of looped torsion springs. The first pair of piezoelectric electrodes drives the MEMS scanning mirror to rotate around a first axis. The second pair of piezoelectric electrodes drives the MEMS scanning mirror to rotate around a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youmin Wang, Yufeng Wang, Kong Yin Ho, Gary Li
  • Publication number: 20250085397
    Abstract: A grating for a steering mirror of a LiDAR system is made without a metal coating. The grating comprising a plurality of ridges defined by a period. The period has a width that is equal to or less than a wavelength of a laser of the LiDAR system. The ridges can be made of crystalline silicon to form a high-contrast grating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Publication number: 20250085514
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image pixel array and a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) Alvarez tunable lenses disposed over regions of the imaging pixels. The MEMS Alvarez tunable lenses are configured to be adjusted to varying optical powers to focus image light to the plurality of imaging pixels at varying focus depths. Processing logic is configured to drive the plurality of MEMS Alvarez tunable lenses to provide varying optical powers to focus the image light to the imaging pixels during a plurality of image captures with the imaging pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Youmin Wang, Yatong An
  • Patent number: 12235438
    Abstract: A MEMS-based Wavelength Selectable Switch (WSS), used classically for demultiplexing fiber optic communications, is re-purposed to act as a filter. A light emitter provides a light beam with its wavelength detected by a wavelength detector. A light condenser directs reflected light from the light emitter to an input of the WSS. The WSS is controllable to provide a selected wavelength band to a selected output of the WSS, where it is detected by a photodetector. Other wavelengths are discarded by the WSS at other outputs. A controller is configured to control the WSS to select the selected wavelength band based on a detected wavelength from the wavelength detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12222456
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical sensing system, a method for controlling a receiver gain in the optical sensing system, and a receiver in the optical sensing system. The exemplary optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to emit light beams at a plurality of vertical detection angles to scan an object. The optical sensing system further includes a receiver having a detector configured to detect the light beams returned by the object. The optical sensing system also includes a controller configured to dynamically vary a gain of the detector for detecting the light beams of the respective vertical detection angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU WOYA LAIDELING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Vipul Chawla, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12209011
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system MEMS structure is described. A first actuator is attached to a substrate and configured to rotate the substrate along a first axis of rotation. An array of rotatable MEMS mirrors is mounted on the substrate, aligned parallel to the first axis of rotation. Each rotatable MEMS mirror is rotatable about a second axis of rotation with each second axis of rotation being perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and parallel to every other axis of rotation. An array of second actuators is configured to rotate each of the rotatable MEMS mirrors about its corresponding second axis of rotation. A controller is configured to control the first actuator to rotate the substrate about the first axis of rotation. The controller further controls the array of second actuators to rotate each rotatable MEMS mirror of the array of rotatable MEMS mirrors about its corresponding second axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qin Zhou, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12204051
    Abstract: An array of MEMS mirrors intercept a laser beam and redirect it toward an environment to be detected. A controller is configured to control the laser and the array of MEMS mirrors to generate a plurality of irregular patterns, such as a Hadamard pattern. The controller controls the laser and the array of MEMS mirrors to generate a plurality of Hadamard patterns on a single scan line at different times, such that all pixel positions in the scan line are impacted by one of the redirected beams from the mirror array at least once. The detected intensities of all the pixel reflections in each pattern are combined to give a total combined intensity for each of the different times. The Hadamard pattern is used to decode the various total combined intensities for a scan line to determine an intensity of each pixel in the scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12189030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a laser beam generation system. The laser beam generation system includes a first laser chip configured to generate a first polarized laser beam and a second laser chip configured to generate a second polarized laser beam. The laser beam generation system also includes a polarizer configured to combine the first polarized laser beam and the second polarized laser beam to generate a third laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yonghong Guo, Youmin Wang, Chao Wang, Yue Lu, Lingkai Kong
  • Patent number: 12189121
    Abstract: An illumination system for eye tracking is described herein. The illumination system may include a laser light source and an ultra-fast scanning micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) operating at a frequency range from about 10 kHz to about 100 kHz to reflect laser light to the eye and generating a desired fringe pattern controlling intensity and timing. A surface of the MEMS may include diffractive optical element (DOE) to reflect the laser light as a concentrated optical beam. The light may also be projected by grating-based illuminators on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) controlled through adiabatic couplers projecting multiple binary/grayscale images onto the eye. On the detection side, a 2D single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensor or a SPAD array detector and an active MEMS shutter array may be used. Compressive sensing techniques may be applied on the detection side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Youmin Wang, Yatong An, Gaetano Aiello
  • Patent number: 12189056
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an interface module for a LiDAR assembly. The interface module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a first connector interface disposed on the PCB. The first connector interface is configured to be connectable to a laser emitter of the LiDAR assembly. The interface module further includes a second connector interface disposed on the PCB and a third connector interface disposed on the PCB. The second connector interface is configured to be connectable to a receiver of the LiDAR assembly and the third connector interface is configured to be connectable to a control module configured to control the operation of the laser emitter and the receiver. The interface module also includes a bracket where the PCB is affixed to. The interface module is positioned to a lateral face of the LiDAR assembly through the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Anan Pan, Henghui Jiang, Ming-Hui Wu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12174316
    Abstract: A grating for a steering mirror of a LiDAR system is made without a metal coating. The grating comprising a plurality of ridges defined by a period. The period has a width that is equal to or less than a wavelength of a laser of the LiDAR system. The ridges can be made of crystalline silicon to form a high-contrast grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12153165
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an integrated transmitter-receiver module for a LiDAR assembly. The integrated transmitter-receiver module includes a laser emitter configured to emit optical signals to an environment surrounding the LiDAR assembly. The integrated transmitter-receiver module also includes a receiver configured to detect returned optical signals from the environment. The laser emitter and the receiver are pre-aligned to focus the returned optical signal on one or more detectors of the receiver and are disposed on a shared base wherein the shared base is configured to assemble the integrated transmitter-receiver module to the LiDAR assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Anan Pan, Henghui Jiang, Ming-Hui Wu, Youmin Wang
  • Patent number: 12153142
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micro shutter array, and an optical signal filtering method. The micro shutter array is used for filtering a series of optical signals at a plurality of time points. The optical signal at each time point includes a laser beam. The micro shutter array includes a plurality of micro shutter elements arranged in an array and a driver. The driver is configured to sequentially open a subset of the micro shutter elements at a specified location at each time point to allow a respective laser beam to pass through the micro shutter array at that time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yue Lu, Youmin Wang