Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first reflective polarizer having a first optical surface and a second optical surface that is opposite to the first optical surface. The first optical surface of the first reflective polarizer is curved, and the first reflective polarizer is configured to reflect light having a first polarization. The head-mounted display device also includes a first electronic display configured to project toward the first reflective polarizer a light pattern. At least a portion of the light pattern is reflected by the first reflective polarizer. Also disclosed is a method, which includes directing a light pattern from the first electronic display toward the first reflective polarizer and reflecting at least a portion of the light pattern toward an eye of a user.

Abstract: Spacers for lens apparatuses are provided. In some embodiments, a spacer comprises: an inner circumference and an outer circumference; and one or more angled vertical components, each positioned along the outer circumference. The spacer may be configured to be positioned between two lenses of the lens apparatus. A region within the inner circumference may be configured to allow light to pass between the two lenses. An angled vertical component of the one or more angled vertical components may be positioned against an angled surface of at least one of the two lenses.

Abstract: An imaging sensor assembly to reduce flare and ghost effects and enhance sharpness in a head-mounted device (HMD) is provided. The imaging sensor assembly may include a diffractive optical element (DOE). The imaging sensor assembly may also include a sensor substrate under the diffractive optical element (DOE). In some examples, the sensor substrate may include a plurality of color filters, and a plurality of photodiodes to detect optical illumination that passes through the diffractive optical element (DOE) to create one or more images.

Abstract: An optical assembly to reduce glare and enhance sharpness in a head-mounted device (HMD) is provided. The optical assembly may include an optical stack, such as pancake optics. The optical assembly may also include at least two optical elements. The optical assembly may further include at least one liquid crystal (LC) layer between the at least two optical elements, wherein the liquid crystal (LC) layer provides dynamic glare reduction and enhanced sharpness using a controllable polarization technique. In some examples, the controllable polarization technique may include determining optical assembly orientation using a sensor. Based the optical assembly orientation, the polarization of the at least one liquid crystal (LC) layer may be dynamically adjusted via adjustments in applied voltage to minimize or reduce glare and enhance visual sharpness.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine a first region and a second region of an image based on gaze data of a user. The second region of the image may be displayed with lower image resolution. The system may access a first pixel value associated with the first region of the image and cause a first source driver circuit to generate a first pixel signal. The first pixel signal may be configured to control a luminance of a first number of pixels of the display. The system may access a second pixel value associated with the second region of the image and cause a second source driver circuit to generate a second pixel signal. The second pixel signal may be configured to control a second number of pixels, which is larger than the first number and may include a longer pulse duration than the first pixel signal.

Abstract: An optical profiling system characterizes distortion of a head-mounted display (HMD) under test. The optical profiling system includes a camera assembly and a controller. The controller provides presenting instructions that cause the HMD under test to present test patterns and also provides imaging instructions that cause the camera assembly to capture images of the test patterns presented by the HMD under test. The camera assembly includes one or more characterization cameras. A characterization camera is configured to mimic movement of a human eye and is positioned in an eye box region of the HMD under test. Using the images captured by the camera assembly, the controller measures distortion of the HMD under test. The controller may generate a report charactering the HMD under test based on the measured distortion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine a first region and a second region of an image based on gaze data of a user. The second region of the image may be displayed with lower image resolution. The system may access a first pixel value associated with the first region of the image and cause a first source driver circuit to generate a first pixel signal. The first pixel signal may be configured to control a luminance of a first number of pixels of the display. The system may access a second pixel value associated with the second region of the image and cause a second source driver circuit to generate a second pixel signal. The second pixel signal may be configured to control a second number of pixels, which is larger than the first number and may include a longer pulse duration than the first pixel signal.

Abstract: A structured film for use with a display comprises an optically transmissive surface including a plurality of walls. When the film is placed in an operative position with respect to the display, the walls extend away from the display at different heights and surround light emitters of the display. The film operates as a diffraction grating and the walls are configured to generate selected diffraction orders for each light emitter, including generating a diffraction order for a first light emitter and a diffraction order for a second light emitter adjacent to the first light emitter such that a predefined portion of light energy radiated by the first light emitter is permitted to spread toward the second light emitter. The film minimizes the screen-door effect and can be used in combination with local contrast control over a region of interest.

Abstract: A structured film comprises an optically transmissive surface including a plurality of walls, each wall being adjustable between a plurality of configurations including a default configuration. When attached to a display, the walls extend away from the display at different heights and surround a plurality of light emitters of the display. In a default configuration, the walls generate selected diffraction orders for each light emitter such that gaps between adjacent light emitters are at least partially covered. The film can be adjusted by varying a geometry of the walls in response to an electrical input. The brightness of a region of interest in an image to be formed on the display can be adjusted relative to a surrounding region by varying wall geometry, using contrast control, or a combination thereof. The optically transmissive surface comprises a solid membrane filled with a non-solid material having a specific index of refraction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system may determine a first region and a second region of an image based on gaze data of a user. The second region may be displayed with lower image resolution than the first region. The system may access a first pixel value associated with the first region of the image. The system may cause a first source driver circuit of a display to generate a first pixel signal. The first pixel signal may be configured to control a luminance of a first number of pixels. The system may access a second pixel value associated with the second region of the image. The system may cause a second source driver circuit of the display to generate a second pixel signal which may be configured to control a luminance of a second number of pixels. The second number may be larger than the first number.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first beam shifter and a second beam shifter configured to couple with one or more display screens. The first beam shifter is configured to shift first light from a first portion of the one or more display screens in a first direction, and the second beam shifter is configured to shift second light from a second portion of the one or more display screens in a second direction that is distinct from the first direction. The second portion of the one or more display screens does not overlap with the first portion of the one or more display screens. Also disclosed are a method for increasing an effective interpupillary distance of light provided by a display screen, and a head-mounted display including the above-described optical system and one or more display screens configured to project light through the optical system.

Abstract: A distortion calibration system generates a distortion map for a head-mounted display (HMD). The system includes a camera that takes pictures of a test pattern displayed by the HMD. The images are taken at different camera positions and/or states of the HMD. The system determines a distortion map using the captured images, and uploads it to the HMD as part of, e.g., an optical model. The HMD comprises an electronic display, an eye tracking unit, an optics block, and a module. The module estimates distortion values based on eye tracking information from the eye tracking unit, an optical model, and a state of the HMD (e.., a distance between the optics block and the electronic display). The module determines an adjusted state of the HMD using the estimated distortion values, the eye tracking information, and the optical model, and adjusts the state of the HMD to the adjusted state.

Abstract: An adaptive liquid lens includes a membrane, a patterned film in contact with the membrane, a substrate, and a layer of optical fluid encapsulated within the membrane and the substrate. A display device includes the adaptive liquid lens and an electronic display optically coupled with the adaptive liquid lens for outputting light through the adaptive liquid lens toward a pupil of an eye of a user of the display device. Also disclosed is a method including modifying a surface profile of a membrane of an adaptive liquid lens. Modifying the surface profile of the membrane of the adaptive liquid lens changes a focal distance of the adaptive liquid lens.

Abstract: A headset includes a compact wide field of view optics block. The headset includes a display element and an optics block. The display element is configured to generate image light. The optics block is configured to direct the image light to an eyebox. The optics block includes a projection lens and a panoramic lens. The projection lens has a first diameter and is adjacent to the display element and is configured to receive the image light from the display element. The panoramic lens is positioned between the projection lens and the eyebox. The panoramic lens has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter and is configured to provide the image light that has been transmitted by the projection lens to the eyebox.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes a dichroic element, an eye tracking system, a controller, and an external focus camera. The dichroic element is transmissive to the light in a first optical band (e.g., visible light) but reflective to light in a second optical band (e.g., IR light). The eye tracking system includes a source assembly and a tracking camera. The source assembly projects light in the second optical band into an eyebox of the HMD. The tracking camera captures images of at least a portion of a user's eye in the eyebox. The controller of the HMD determines a gaze direction of the user based on the captured images. An orientation of the external focus camera corresponds to the gaze direction. The external focus camera captures image data of a portion of a local area surrounding the HMD at the orientation.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first reflective polarizer having a first optical surface and a second optical surface that is opposite to the first optical surface. The first optical surface of the first reflective polarizer is curved, and the first reflective polarizer is configured to reflect light having a first polarization. The head-mounted display device also includes a first electronic display configured to project toward the first reflective polarizer a light pattern. At least a portion of the light pattern is reflected by the first reflective polarizer. Also disclosed is a method, which includes directing a light pattern from the first electronic display toward the first reflective polarizer and reflecting at least a portion of the light pattern toward an eye of a user.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a first reflective polarizer having a first optical surface and a second optical surface that is opposite to the first optical surface. The first optical surface of the first reflective polarizer is curved, and the first reflective polarizer is configured to reflect light having a first polarization. The head-mounted display device also includes a first electronic display configured to project toward the first reflective polarizer a light pattern. At least a portion of the light pattern is reflected by the first reflective polarizer. Also disclosed is a method, which includes directing a light pattern from the first electronic display toward the first reflective polarizer and reflecting at least a portion of the light pattern toward an eye of a user.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a transparent display for projecting light toward an eye so that images, rendered based at least on the augmented reality contents and a color profile of the wearer, for overlap with real images. The device also includes an infrared light source and a mirror configured to reflect the infrared light and transmit a portion of visible light corresponding to the real images. The device further includes a sensor configured to detect infrared light reflected from the eye for determining a gaze direction of the eye. The infrared light reflected from the eye is transmitted through the transparent display and reflected by the mirror toward the sensor.

Abstract: A lens assembly and a method of making the assembly are described. The lens assembly includes a first lens and a second lens slidably coupled with the first lens. The second lens includes a silicone material and has a Fresnel pattern surface. Also described is a display device including the lens assembly and an array of light emitting devices coupled with the lens assembly for outputting light through the lens assembly.

Abstract: A display device includes a two-dimensional array of pixels configured for outputting a respective pattern of light. The two-dimensional array of pixels defines an optical axis. The display device also includes an eye tracker that includes a first reflector positioned to intersect the optical axis; a first lens that is located off the optical axis; and an optical sensor configured to collect light, that is from the first reflector and has passed through the first lens, for determining a position of an eye of a user.