US 12,488,540 B2Granted

Optical module with active microlens array capable of synchronizing with see-through display to provide multiple modes of functionality

AssigneeNewSight Reality, Inc.

InventorsIgor Landau, Rick Morrison, Svetlana Samoilova

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A multiplexed, synchronized Active (micro) Lens(let) Array and display providing a user or manufacturer with the ability to choose different modes of functionality of a transparent optical module, such as three-dimensional virtual image generation, two-dimensional image generation, static MLA functionality, augmented, mixed, or enhanced reality, variations in brightness, and other modes.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system comprising:

an optical module comprising a display comprising a plurality of display pixels and an active micro lens array (aMLA) comprising one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses wherein the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses are associated with one or more display pixels of the plurality of the display pixels;
wherein the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels and the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses of the aMLA are synchronized or coordinated, wherein when a change in voltage or current to the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses of the aMLA occurs, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses switch between a mode having an optical power determined by the system and a mode having less or no optical power as a result of a change to an index of refraction, form factor, curvature, shape, effective diffracting period, or combinations thereof;
wherein when the system instructs the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses to operate with the optical power determined by the system, the system instructs the associated one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to activate when the one or more switchable or tunable lenses is approaching or reaches the optical power determined by the system, rendering a virtual image or a part of a virtual image to a wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system;
wherein when voltage or current is not applied, or optionally when a reverse-voltage or reverse-current is applied, to the one or more switchable or tunable lenses of the aMLA, the system instructs the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to de-activate, rendering an area or volume of the optical module with the one or more switchable or tunable lenses of the aMLA and the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels in a see-though state, wherein the see-through state allows the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system to see through the area or volume of the optical module to a real world environment;
wherein the system pulses the synchronized or coordinated one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels, rendering the system capable of cycling the optical power of the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and activation of the associated one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to render a sequential presentation of virtual images or parts of virtual images combined with a real world view;
wherein time multiplexing of the sequential presentation of the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images is capable of presenting the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images as a continuously flowing or moving of the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images, wherein overlaying the continuously flowing or moving virtual images or parts of the virtual images with the real world view is capable of creating an experience or perception of augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality to the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system.

3 more elements

An augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system comprising:

an optical module comprising a plurality of display pixels and an active micro lens array (aMLA) comprising a plurality of switchable or tunable micro lenses wherein one or more of the switchable or tunable micro lenses of the plurality of switchable or tunable micro lenses are associated with one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels;
wherein the one or more display pixels and the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses are synchronized or coordinated, wherein when voltage or current is removed from the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses ramp up to a state having a desired optical power as a result of a first change to an index of refraction, form factor, curvature, shape, diffractive period, or combination thereof;
wherein when the voltage or the current is applied to, or optionally a reverse-voltage or a reverse-current is applied to, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses transition to a state having less or no optical power as a result of a second change to an index of refraction, form factor, curvature, shape, diffractive period, or combination thereof;
wherein the system instructs the associated one or more display pixels to activate when the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses reach the state having the desired optical power, rendering a virtual image or part of a virtual image to a wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system;
wherein when the voltage or the current is applied to, or optionally the reverse-voltage or the reverse-current is applied to, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses, the system instructs the one or more display pixels to de-activate, rendering that area or volume of the optical module in a see-though optical module state and allowing the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system to see through that area or volume of the optical module to a real world environment;
wherein the system pulses the synchronized or coordinated one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and the one or more display pixels, rendering the system capable of cycling optical power of the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and activation of the associated one or more display pixels to render a sequential presentation of virtual images or parts of virtual images combined with a real world view, thereby producing an experience or perception of augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality to the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A computer-implemented augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system comprising:

an optical module comprising a display comprising a plurality of display pixels and an active micro lens array (aMLA) comprising one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses wherein the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses are associated with one or more display pixels of the plurality of the display pixels;
wherein the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels and the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses of the aMLA are synchronized or coordinated, wherein when a change in voltage or current to the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses of the aMLA occurs, the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses switch between a mode having an optical power determined by the system and a mode having less or no optical power as a result of a change to an index of refraction, form factor, curvature, shape, effective diffracting period, or combinations thereof;
wherein when the system instructs the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses to operate with the optical power determined by the system, the system instructs the associated one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to activate when the one or more switchable or tunable lenses is approaching or reaches the optical power determined by the system, rendering a virtual image or a part of a virtual image to a wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system;
wherein when voltage or current is not applied, or optionally when a reverse-voltage or reverse-current is applied, to the one or more switchable or tunable lenses of the aMLA, the system instructs the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to de-activate, rendering an area or volume of the optical module with the one or more switchable or tunable lenses of the aMLA and the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels in a see-though state, wherein the see-through state allows the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system to see through the area or volume of the optical module to a real world environment;
wherein the system pulses the synchronized or coordinated one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and the one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels, rendering the system capable of cycling the optical power of the one or more switchable or tunable micro lenses and activation of the associated one or more display pixels of the plurality of display pixels to render a sequential presentation of virtual images or parts of virtual images combined with a real world view;
wherein time multiplexing of the sequential presentation of the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images is capable of presenting the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images as a continuously flowing or moving of the virtual images or the parts of the virtual images, wherein overlaying the continuously flowing or moving virtual images or parts of the virtual images with the real world view is capable of creating an experience or perception of augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality to the wearer of the augmented reality, mixed reality, extended reality, enhanced reality, or virtual reality system.

3 more elements