# US 12,222,515 B2 · Apparatus, systems, and methods for heat transfer in optical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,515 B2 - Document ID: US12222515B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/853,463 - Filed: 2022-06-29 - Published: 2024-01-04 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-29 - Assignees: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Facebook Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Alex Ockfen; Vivek Sahu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222515B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features} - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/203: {for portable computers, e.g. for laptops} - H05K 7/20963: {Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20972 takes precedence)} - G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An optical device may include (i) a heat source that produces heat while operating, (ii) a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, and (iii) a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical device comprising: a heat source that produces heat while operating; a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user; and a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element, wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a display element of the optical device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The optical device of claim 2, wherein the display element comprises an organic light emitting diode screen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a computing chip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The optical device of claim 4, wherein the computing chip comprises a system-on-a-chip integrated circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises silicon carbide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises optically transparent ceramics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises a thermally conductive film affixed to a non-thermally-conductive optical element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises a layer of optically transparent gemstone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises one or more lenses of a head-mounted display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element comprises an optical waveguide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises graphite. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises conductive foam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises a gas in a controlled gap between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive connector comprises a thermal strap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises a head-mounted display for interacting with augmented reality environments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, further comprising an additional thermally conductive connector that connects the thermally conductive optical element to a heat sink. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The optical device of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive optical element dissipates the heat via convection. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: identifying a component of an optical device that comprises a heat source that produces heat while operating; identifying a thermally conductive optical element of the optical device that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user; and connecting the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element via a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element, wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device. ### Claim 20 A system comprising: a heat source that produces heat while operating; a thermally conductive optical element that is optically transparent and that dissipates the heat produced by the heat source, wherein the thermally conductive optical element transmits light waves and directly facilitates presentation of visual data to a user; a thermally conductive connector that transfers the heat between the heat source and the thermally conductive optical element; and a frame that is configured to be worn on a user's head and that houses the heat source, thermally conductive optical element, and thermally conductive connector, wherein the optical device corresponds to an augmented reality device.