Patent Application
20220350064
The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the present disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Polymer materials may be incorporated into a variety of different optic and electro-optic device architectures, including active and passive optics and electroactive devices. Lightweight and conformable, one or more polymer layers may be incorporated into wearable devices such as smart glasses and are attractive candidates for emerging technologies including virtual reality/augmented reality devices where a comfortable, adjustable form factor is desired.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) eyewear devices or headsets, for instance, may enable users to experience events, such as interactions with people in a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional world or viewing data superimposed on a real-world view. By way of example, superimposing information onto a field of view may be achieved through an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) or by using embedded wireless glasses with a transparent heads-up display (HUD) or augmented reality (AR) overlay. VR/AR eyewear devices and headsets may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, governments may use such devices for military training, medical professionals may use such devices to simulate surgery, and engineers may use such devices as design visualization aids.
These and other applications may leverage one or more characteristics of thin film polymer materials, including piezoelectric properties to induce deformations and the refractive index to manipulate light. In various applications, optical elements and other components may include polymer thin films that have anisotropic mechanical or optical properties. During manufacture, the polymer thin films may be processed to form a compound curvature. As will be appreciated, the formation of a compound curve may cause undesired changes in the direction of anisotropic properties and induce strain in a polymer thin film. In some instances, and by way of example, excessive strain in uniaxially-oriented high and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE and UHMWPE) may cause internal fracture and micro-voiding, which may undesirably decrease optical clarity and increase haze. In further examples, the generation of compound curvature in multilayer reflective polarizers may create non-parallel polarization properties, which may decrease system contrast, for example, in pancake lenses.
Many optically and structurally anisotropic polymer layers are manufactured as initially planar thin films that are subsequently formed into a compound curvature for a particular application. An example system and method may include locating a planar polymer thin film over a substrate having compound curvature, constraining the polymer thin film with respect to an edge or a surface of the substrate, and applying a force to the polymer thin film, optionally while applying heat, to conformally apply the thin film to the surface of the substrate. The substrate may include a spherical surface of a lens, for example.
As will be appreciated, such a process may lead to undesirable changes in at least the direction of an extraordinary refractive index or high modulus axis of the polymer thin film over the newly-acquired contours. Also, the shaping process may create excessive strain in an ordinary axis of the thin film that can lead to undesirable optical and/or mechanical effects. As used herein, for a positive uniaxial material, the extraordinary axis is referred to as the slow axis, and the ordinary axis is referred to as the fast axis. Light polarized parallel to the fast axis travels at a higher velocity than light parallel to the orthogonal slow axis.
Notwithstanding recent developments, it would be advantageous to provide polymer thin films having improved anisotropic properties, including anisotropic properties that withstand shaping processes and the creation of compound curvature in the thin films. In accordance with various embodiments, disclosed herein are manufacturing processes for forming an optical element and more particularly manufacturing processes that can be configured to control the optical and/or mechanical axis and strain of a polymer thin film while shaping the polymer thin film into a compound curve.
According to some embodiments, various methods may include providing a polymer thin film, constraining the polymer thin film in a manner that induces a planar or non-planar shape in the polymer thin film during an act of applying a stress to the polymer thin film, and applying a templating element to the polymer thin film, where the templating element has a compound curvature and the compound curvature of the templating element has an extended geometry relative to the compound curvature formed in the polymer thin film.
As disclosed herein, an optical element, such as a lens system, may include a high or an ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film. As used herein, a “high molecular weight polymer” may be characterized by long polymer chains and a molecular mass of approximately 100,000 amu to approximately 2 million amu, e.g., 100,000, 200,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 or 2,000,000 amu, including ranges between any of the foregoing values, whereas an “ultra-high molecular weight polymer” may be characterized by extremely long polymer chains and a molecular mass of at least approximately 2 million amu, e.g., 2, 4, 6, or 8 million amu, including ranges between any of the foregoing values.
In some embodiments, high and ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin films may be optically transparent and have at least one of a directionally dependent refractive index, a directionally dependent elastic modulus, a directionally dependent piezoelectric constant (e.g., d31), a directionally dependent yield stress, and a directionally dependent ultimate tensile strength. Example high and ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin films may include polyethylene (PE) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), as well as combinations thereof, although additional polymer compositions are contemplated.
In some embodiments, an optical element may include a free-standing high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film or a multilayer laminate including two or more of such polymer thin films. In further embodiments, an optical element may include a composite of a high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film disposed over one or more major surfaces of a substrate. For instance, a high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film may be laminated to one or both sides of a suitable substrate, such as a lens. A substrate, if provided, may include glass, ceramic, polymer, or other optically transparent material. An example polymer substrate may include polycarbonate. The high and ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin films disclosed herein may be light-weight, transparent, low haze, and birefringent.
A thickness of a high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film may range from approximately 5 micrometers to approximately 100 micrometers or more, e.g., 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 micrometers, including ranges between any of the foregoing values. A density of a high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film may be less than approximately 1.5 g/cm3, e.g., 1 g/cm3 or 1.25 g/cm3.
In certain embodiments, an optical element may be located within the transparent aperture of an optical device such as a lens, although the present disclosure is not particularly limited and may be applied in a broader context. By way of example, an optical element may be incorporated into a tunable lens, thermally-conductive lens, impact resistant lens, accommodative optical element, adaptive optics, etc.
Example optical elements including an anisotropic polymer thin film may form a lens or a window in an artificial reality or virtual reality device. Further example optical elements may define a surface, e.g., of a watch, phone, tablet, TV, monitor, and the like, or form an interlayer, e.g., between a light source and a light receiver. An optical element may include a transparent substrate and a high or ultra-high molecular weight polymer thin film laminated to the substrate. An optical element may itself be optically transparent.
As used herein, a material or element that is “transparent” or “optically transparent” may, for a given thickness, have a transmissivity within the visible light spectrum of at least approximately 80%, e.g., approximately 80, 90, 95, 97, 98, 99, or 99.5%, including ranges between any of the foregoing values, and less than approximately 5% bulk haze, e.g., approximately 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, or 4% bulk haze, including ranges between any of the foregoing values. Transparent materials will typically exhibit very low optical absorption and minimal optical scattering.
As used herein, the term “approximately” in reference to a particular numeric value or range of values may, in certain embodiments, mean and include the stated value as well as all values within 10% of the stated value. Thus, by way of example, reference to the numeric value “50” as “approximately 50” may, in certain embodiments, include values equal to 50±5, i.e., values within the range 45 to 55.
As used herein, the terms “haze” and “clarity” may refer to an optical phenomenon associated with the transmission of light through a material, and may be attributed, for example, to the refraction of light within the material, e.g., due to secondary phases or porosity and/or the reflection of light from one or more surfaces of the material. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, haze may be associated with an amount of light that is subject to wide angle scattering (i.e., at an angle greater than 2.5° from normal) and a corresponding loss of transmissive contrast, whereas clarity may relate to an amount of light that is subject to narrow angle scattering (i.e., at an angle less than 2.5° from normal) and an attendant loss of optical sharpness or “see through quality.”
Features from any of the embodiments described herein may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
The following will provide, with reference to
Depicted in
During an example process, the polymer thin film, the backing layer, or both may be heated to a temperature suitable to allow stretching of the thin film and bonding, if desired. The backing layer and the polymer thin film may be forced together as shown by the arrow. After bonding, the frame may be removed. By way of example, the polymer thin film 110 may be characterized by a thickness of approximately 200 micrometers and a modulus of approximately 50 GPa in the y-direction. The backing layer 120 may be characterized by a thickness of approximately 200 micrometers, a modulus of approximately 6 GPa, and a spherical curvature of −1.0 D.
In accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein, the act of stretching/bonding may include (1) aligning the polymer thin film with the backing layer and an intervening layer of adhesive, (2) bonding the polymer thin film to the backing layer and trimming the polymer thin film to the shape of the backing layer, and (2) freeing the backing layer to allow the composite lens to deform.
According to some embodiments, the anisotropic polymer thin film may have a normal stiffness of approximately 2 GPa in all directions, except the stretch (uniaxial) direction, where it may have a normal stiffness of approximately 50 GPa. In this example, the stretch direction is along the vertical direction (the shorter dimension of the lens). For ease of visualization, the thin film and the backing layer are both expanded by a factor of 10× in the thickness direction. This design may have relatively high and non-uniform stresses and strains that may be decreased by changes in the substrate geometry and the initial curvature of the composite.
In various embodiments, the anisotropic polymer thin film may include optical and/or mechanical anisotropic properties, including modulus of elasticity, yield strength, refractive index, selective absorption or reflection of polarized light, as well as combinations thereof.
Example polymer materials may include uniaxially oriented polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and its copolymers, polyethylene naphthalate, including 2,6-polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl alcohol. Example thin film geometries may include multilayer polymer architectures, such as multilayer reflective polarizers.
In various embodiments, the backing layer (lens) may include an optically clear material such as polycarbonate, cyclic polyolefin, CR39, high refractive index polymers, glasses, ceramics, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.
An adhesive, if used, may include a pressure sensitive adhesive such as an optically clear adhesive, a curable system such as a liquid optically clear adhesive, acrylics (for example, methacrylic acid and iso-butyl methacrylate), epoxies, urethanes, styrenes, cyanoacrylates, bismaleimides, phenolics, polyesters, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Initiated resins may use radiation or thermally initiated materials, or combinations thereof. An adhesive may include a combination of a UV curable acrylate and a thermally cured epoxy.
A heating temperature may include temperatures greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer thin film composition or, fora multilayer thin film, greater than the glass transition temperature of at least one component therein. Suitable temperatures may include those below, at, or about a melting temperature of the polymer thin film composition (or below, at, or about a melting temperature of at least one component in a multilayer film.
Referring to
According to some embodiments, a maximum variation of an angle of orientation of an extraordinary axis of the polymer thin film is at most 2% greater than an orientation variation associated with an initially planar polymer thin film formed to the compound curvature.
For the configuration of
The strains are relatively uniform, except at the horizontal edges of the anisotropic polymer thin film where they sharply increase. The strains at the end of the forming step are “temporary” and will likely change when the frame is removed. Excessive strains may cause permanent deterioration in one or more characteristics including optical, electrical, and mechanical performance specifications.
Shown in
Referring to
In the next several examples, the polymer thin film has an initial radius of curvature of 200 mm (instead of 0.67 m). The higher curvature results in higher strains in the film than the 0.67 m curvature cases. However, the strains are still relatively uniform, and the strain directions are not significantly altered.
The forming method includes the same steps shown in the previous examples. The figures are to scale. They are not stretched in the z-direction for better visualization (unlike the previous examples). In this embodiment, a circular skirt is added around the lens shape. The figures shown here are a subset of what was shown in the previous examples.
Referring to
According to a further embodiment,
These strain variations may be more suitable for a polymer thin film that is sensitive to strains in the x direction (for example, where voids may result from such strains). In this case, the cylindrical shaped initial film geometry may be more desirable.
This forming method also works well for other ranges of film stiffness including values between the two film stiffnesses shown earlier.
According to further embodiments, a lens can be attached to two films, one on each side.
For both the bottom and top films,
An advantage to forming a polymer thin film over both sides of the lens is that the composite structure may be less likely to distort after removing the forming tools. That is because the biaxial tension present in the films during forming may provide equal and opposite moments that limit the amount of induced distortion. This is evident in
A still further advantage to forming a polymer thin film over both sides of the lens is that it results in lower stresses in the lens. This is evident in
In some embodiments, a second film may provide specific optical and/or mechanical properties to the optical element. In some embodiments, the second film may be decrease distortions in the lens after forming, e.g., by balancing the moments the polymer thin films formed over either side of the lens.
This forming method may also be suitable for cases where the lens has a higher compound curvature (lower radius of curvature).
In this case of 50 mm compound curvature, the composite lens after removal from the forming tool may buckle into a cylindrical shape for the selected lens/film properties and geometry. This buckling may be due to the high initial stresses generated in the film as it is stretched by the forming tool. This buckling may be avoided by using a thicker lens, softer films, thinner films, heat treatment before releasing from the tool, a double sided film to balance the initial stresses, and/or by relocating the clamped film boundaries inward during forming to decrease the initial stresses. Compared with an initially flat polymer thin film, using an initially cylindrical film may result in lower stresses/strains, and the radius of the lens may be tailored to decrease the relevant stress/strain component for a specific application.
Referring again to
The radius of the initial film cylinder can also be used to limit the maximum change in the material directions. To illustrate this, the initial cylinder radius of curvature in the previous example was changed from 60 mm to 120 mm.
In some embodiments, the rotation of the initially vertical direction of the film may be decreased. This may be done by making the film initially cylindrical with its axis being the horizontal axis, instead of the vertical. This was shown in earlier analyses including the example in
In an example multilayer thin film, the individual polymer layers may be anisotropic yet stacked in a related process so as to deliberately misalign the interlayer major and minor axes. That is, the orientation of mutually orthogonal major and minor refractive indices in successive layers of a multilayer stack may be “clocked” at a selected rotational offset. By way of example, and with reference to
A variable forming process can be used to form uniform stresses or strains in one direction versus another, lower stresses or strains in one direction versus another, or decrease angular distortion in one direction versus another. For example, if strains in the weak direction of the film are critical for failure, the forming process can target lower strains in the weak direction. Process variables may include one or more of (a) adding a “skirt” around a lens shaped substrate during forming to achieve lower or more uniform stresses/strains, (b) using an initially cylindrically shaped film instead of a flat film to achieve lower or more uniform stresses/strains, (c) using a circular instead of a square flat film to achieve more uniform stresses/strains, (d) inducing movement of the fixed edges of the film during the forming process to decrease the forming stresses/strains, and (e) applying a heat treatment to the film before releasing the forming tool.
As disclosed herein, an anisotropic polymer thin film may be formed to a compound curvature in such a manner as to inhibit or prevent unintended artifacts associated with the creation of complex stress and strain states that accompany the deformation of the thin film. In various applications, an anisotropic thin film may be laminated to the surface of a lens or other non-planar substrate to form an optical element. In connection with such a process, it may be desirable to avoid a local change in the properties of the thin film resulting from its change in shape. An anisotropic polymer thin film may exhibit acceptable stress and strain uniformity throughout an entire surface of the polymer thin film throughout a process of forming the polymer thin film.
In the example of a reflective polarizer, it may be advantageous to avoid locally altering the film's principal axis associated with its block state, and thereby evade a decrease in contrast ratio and/or the formation of ghost images. With regard to the mechanical anisotropy indigenous to polymer thin films such as polyethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride, uncontrolled stretching may induce fracture of crystalline moieties within the thin film along its mechanically weak direction, which may create nanovoids that create haze in the optical element. In view of the foregoing, and in accordance with various embodiments, an anisotropic polymer thin film may be initially provided with simple (e.g., cylindrical) curvature, which beneficially impacts the film's response to the formation of compound curvature during lamination to a substrate having complex curvature.
In the context of a reflective polarizer, the cylinder axis may be oriented parallel to the polarization axis of the polymer thin film. On the other hand, to decrease strains that may lead to nanovoiding, the cylinder axis may be oriented along the mechanically weak direction of the polymer thin film.
According to further embodiments, edge effects in an optical element may be decreased or eliminated by artificially extending the surface of a lens at its periphery during the process of over-forming the polymer thin film by using a skirt that effectively moves the discontinuity associated with an edge away from the edge of the lens.
Example 1: An anisotropic polymer thin film is characterized by compound curvature, where a maximum variation of an angle of orientation of an extraordinary axis of the polymer thin film is at most 2% greater than an orientation variation associated with an initially planar polymer thin film formed to the compound curvature.
Example 2: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to Example 1, where the compound curvature includes a radius of curvature of less than approximately 1 m.
Example 3: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1 and 2, where the compound curvature is characterized by a spatially varying curvature selected from a uniform spherical compound curvature, and a combination of spherical and cylindrical curvatures.
Example 4: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1-3, where the maximum variation of the angle of orientation does not exceed 2% through a process of forming the anisotropic polymer thin film.
Example 5: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1-4, where the polymer includes polyethylene having an extraordinary modulus of at least approximately 5 GPa.
Example 6: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1-4, where the polymer includes polyvinylidene fluoride having an extraordinary piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least approximately 10 pC/N.
Example 7: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1-6, where the polymer thin film is optically transparent.
Example 8: The anisotropic polymer thin film according to any of Examples 1-7, where the polymer thin film is characterized by a bulk haze of less than approximately 10%.
Example 9: A multilayer polymer thin film includes a first anisotropic polymer thin film having compound curvature and a second anisotropic polymer thin film having compound curvature bonded to the first anisotropic polymer thin film.
Example 10: The multilayer polymer thin film according to Example 9, where an orientation of the first anisotropic polymer thin film is rotationally offset from an orientation of the second anisotropic polymer thin film.
Example 11: The multilayer polymer thin film according to any of Examples 9 and 10, where the compound curvature includes a radius of curvature of less than approximately 1 m.
Example 12: The multilayer polymer thin film according to any of Examples 9-11, where the polymer thin film includes polyethylene having an extraordinary modulus of at least approximately 5 GPa.
Example 13: The multilayer polymer thin film according to any of Examples 9-11, where the polymer thin film includes polyvinylidene fluoride having an extraordinary piezoelectric coefficient (d31) of at least 10 approximately pC/N.
Example 14: The multilayer polymer thin film according to any of Examples 9-13, where the polymer thin film is optically transparent.
Example 15: A method includes providing an anisotropic polymer thin film, constraining the thin film so as to create a contour in the thin film, and contacting a templating element having compound curvature with a surface of the polymer thin film to induce the compound curvature into the surface.
Example 16: The method according to Example 15, where the polymer thin film is optically or mechanically anisotropic.
Example 17: The method according to any of Examples 15 and 16, where the contour is planar.
Example 18: The method according to any of Examples 15 and 16, where the contour is non-planar.
Example 19: The method according to any of Examples 15-18, where the templating element includes a lens.
Example 20: The method according to any of Examples 15-19, where the compound curvature of the templating element has an extended form factor relative to the surface of the polymer thin film.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may include or be implemented in conjunction with various types of artificial-reality systems. Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, for example, a virtual reality, an augmented reality, a mixed reality, a hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivative thereof. Artificial-reality content may include completely computer-generated content or computer-generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. The artificial-reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional (3D) effect to the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may also be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, for example, create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in (e.g., to perform activities in) an artificial reality.
Artificial-reality systems may be implemented in a variety of different form factors and configurations. Some artificial-reality systems may be designed to work without near-eye displays (NEDs). Other artificial-reality systems may include an NED that also provides visibility into the real world (such as, e.g., augmented-reality system 7600 in
Turning to
In some embodiments, augmented-reality system 7600 may include one or more sensors, such as sensor 7640. Sensor 7640 may generate measurement signals in response to motion of augmented-reality system 7600 and may be located on substantially any portion of frame 7610. Sensor 7640 may represent one or more of a variety of different sensing mechanisms, such as a position sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a depth camera assembly, a structured light emitter and/or detector, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, augmented-reality system 7600 may or may not include sensor 7640 or may include more than one sensor. In embodiments in which sensor 7640 includes an IMU, the IMU may generate calibration data based on measurement signals from sensor 7640. Examples of sensor 7640 may include, without limitation, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, other suitable types of sensors that detect motion, sensors used for error correction of the IMU, or some combination thereof.
In some examples, augmented-reality system 7600 may also include a microphone array with a plurality of acoustic transducers 7620(A)-7620(J), referred to collectively as acoustic transducers 7620. Acoustic transducers 7620 may represent transducers that detect air pressure variations induced by sound waves. Each acoustic transducer 7620 may be configured to detect sound and convert the detected sound into an electronic format (e.g., an analog or digital format). The microphone array in
In some embodiments, one or more of acoustic transducers 7620(A)-(J) may be used as output transducers (e.g., speakers). For example, acoustic transducers 7620(A) and/or 7620(B) may be earbuds or any other suitable type of headphone or speaker.
The configuration of acoustic transducers 7620 of the microphone array may vary. While augmented-reality system 7600 is shown in
Acoustic transducers 7620(A) and 7620(B) may be positioned on different parts of the user's ear, such as behind the pinna, behind the tragus, and/or within the auricle or fossa. Or, there may be additional acoustic transducers 7620 on or surrounding the ear in addition to acoustic transducers 7620 inside the ear canal. Having an acoustic transducer 7620 positioned next to an ear canal of a user may enable the microphone array to collect information on how sounds arrive at the ear canal. By positioning at least two of acoustic transducers 7620 on either side of a user's head (e.g., as binaural microphones), augmented-reality device 7600 may simulate binaural hearing and capture a 3D stereo sound field around about a user's head. In some embodiments, acoustic transducers 7620(A) and 7620(B) may be connected to augmented-reality system 7600 via a wired connection 7630, and in other embodiments acoustic transducers 7620(A) and 7620(B) may be connected to augmented-reality system 7600 via a wireless connection (e.g., a BLUETOOTH connection). In still other embodiments, acoustic transducers 7620(A) and 7620(B) may not be used at all in conjunction with augmented-reality system 7600.
Acoustic transducers 7620 on frame 7610 may be positioned in a variety of different ways, including along the length of the temples, across the bridge, above or below display devices 7615(A) and 7615(B), or some combination thereof. Acoustic transducers 7620 may also be oriented such that the microphone array is able to detect sounds in a wide range of directions surrounding the user wearing the augmented-reality system 7600. In some embodiments, an optimization process may be performed during manufacturing of augmented-reality system 7600 to determine relative positioning of each acoustic transducer 7620 in the microphone array.
In some examples, augmented-reality system 7600 may include or be connected to an external device (e.g., a paired device), such as neckband 7605. Neckband 7605 generally represents any type or form of paired device. Thus, the following discussion of neckband 7605 may also apply to various other paired devices, such as charging cases, smart watches, smart phones, wrist bands, other wearable devices, hand-held controllers, tablet computers, laptop computers, other external compute devices, etc.
As shown, neckband 7605 may be coupled to eyewear device 7602 via one or more connectors. The connectors may be wired or wireless and may include electrical and/or non-electrical (e.g., structural) components. In some cases, eyewear device 7602 and neckband 7605 may operate independently without any wired or wireless connection between them. While
Pairing external devices, such as neckband 7605, with augmented-reality eyewear devices may enable the eyewear devices to achieve the form factor of a pair of glasses while still providing sufficient battery and computation power for expanded capabilities. Some or all of the battery power, computational resources, and/or additional features of augmented-reality system 7600 may be provided by a paired device or shared between a paired device and an eyewear device, thus reducing the weight, heat profile, and form factor of the eyewear device overall while still retaining desired functionality. For example, neckband 7605 may allow components that would otherwise be included on an eyewear device to be included in neckband 7605 since users may tolerate a heavier weight load on their shoulders than they would tolerate on their heads. Neckband 7605 may also have a larger surface area over which to diffuse and disperse heat to the ambient environment. Thus, neckband 7605 may allow for greater battery and computation capacity than might otherwise have been possible on a stand-alone eyewear device. Since weight carried in neckband 7605 may be less invasive to a user than weight carried in eyewear device 7602, a user may tolerate wearing a lighter eyewear device and carrying or wearing the paired device for greater lengths of time than a user would tolerate wearing a heavy standalone eyewear device, thereby enabling users to more fully incorporate artificial-reality environments into their day-to-day activities.
Neckband 7605 may be communicatively coupled with eyewear device 7602 and/or to other devices. These other devices may provide certain functions (e.g., tracking, localizing, depth mapping, processing, storage, etc.) to augmented-reality system 7600. In the embodiment of
Acoustic transducers 7620(I) and 7620(J) of neckband 7605 may be configured to detect sound and convert the detected sound into an electronic format (analog or digital). In the embodiment of
Controller 7625 of neckband 7605 may process information generated by the sensors on neckband 7605 and/or augmented-reality system 7600. For example, controller 7625 may process information from the microphone array that describes sounds detected by the microphone array. For each detected sound, controller 7625 may perform a direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation to estimate a direction from which the detected sound arrived at the microphone array. As the microphone array detects sounds, controller 7625 may populate an audio data set with the information. In embodiments in which augmented-reality system 7600 includes an inertial measurement unit, controller 7625 may compute all inertial and spatial calculations from the IMU located on eyewear device 7602. A connector may convey information between augmented-reality system 7600 and neckband 7605 and between augmented-reality system 7600 and controller 7625. The information may be in the form of optical data, electrical data, wireless data, or any other transmittable data form. Moving the processing of information generated by augmented-reality system 7600 to neckband 7605 may reduce weight and heat in eyewear device 7602, making it more comfortable to the user.
Power source 7635 in neckband 7605 may provide power to eyewear device 7602 and/or to neckband 7605. Power source 7635 may include, without limitation, lithium ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, primary lithium batteries, alkaline batteries, or any other form of power storage. In some cases, power source 7635 may be a wired power source. Including power source 7635 on neckband 7605 instead of on eyewear device 7602 may help better distribute the weight and heat generated by power source 7635.
As noted, some artificial-reality systems may, instead of blending an artificial reality with actual reality, substantially replace one or more of a user's sensory perceptions of the real world with a virtual experience. One example of this type of system is a head-worn display system, such as virtual-reality system 7700 in
Artificial-reality systems may include a variety of types of visual feedback mechanisms. For example, display devices in augmented-reality system 7600 and/or virtual-reality system 7700 may include one or more liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diode (LED) displays, microLED displays, organic LED (OLED) displays, digital light project (DLP) micro-displays, liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) micro-displays, and/or any other suitable type of display screen. These artificial-reality systems may include a single display screen for both eyes or may provide a display screen for each eye, which may allow for additional flexibility for varifocal adjustments or for correcting a user's refractive error. Some of these artificial-reality systems may also include optical subsystems having one or more lenses (e.g., conventional concave or convex lenses, Fresnel lenses, adjustable liquid lenses, etc.) through which a user may view a display screen. These optical subsystems may serve a variety of purposes, including to collimate (e.g., make an object appear at a greater distance than its physical distance), to magnify (e.g., make an object appear larger than its actual size), and/or to relay (to, e.g., the viewer's eyes) light. These optical subsystems may be used in a non-pupil-forming architecture (such as a single lens configuration that directly collimates light but results in so-called pincushion distortion) and/or a pupil-forming architecture (such as a multi-lens configuration that produces so-called barrel distortion to nullify pincushion distortion).
In addition to or instead of using display screens, some of the artificial-reality systems described herein may include one or more projection systems. For example, display devices in augmented-reality system 7600 and/or virtual-reality system 7700 may include microLED projectors that project light (using, e.g., a waveguide) into display devices, such as clear combiner lenses that allow ambient light to pass through. The display devices may refract the projected light toward a user's pupil and may enable a user to simultaneously view both artificial-reality content and the real world. The display devices may accomplish this using any of a variety of different optical components, including waveguide components (e.g., holographic, planar, diffractive, polarized, and/or reflective waveguide elements), light-manipulation surfaces and elements (such as diffractive, reflective, and refractive elements and gratings), coupling elements, etc. Artificial-reality systems may also be configured with any other suitable type or form of image projection system, such as retinal projectors used in virtual retina displays.
The artificial-reality systems described herein may also include various types of computer vision components and subsystems. For example, augmented-reality system 7600 and/or virtual-reality system 7700 may include one or more optical sensors, such as two-dimensional (2D) or 3D cameras, structured light transmitters and detectors, time-of-flight depth sensors, single-beam or sweeping laser rangefinders, 3D LiDAR sensors, and/or any other suitable type or form of optical sensor. An artificial-reality system may process data from one or more of these sensors to identify a location of a user, to map the real world, to provide a user with context about real-world surroundings, and/or to perform a variety of other functions.
The artificial-reality systems described herein may also include one or more input and/or output audio transducers. Output audio transducers may include voice coil speakers, ribbon speakers, electrostatic speakers, piezoelectric speakers, bone conduction transducers, cartilage conduction transducers, tragus-vibration transducers, and/or any other suitable type or form of audio transducer. Similarly, input audio transducers may include condenser microphones, dynamic microphones, ribbon microphones, and/or any other type or form of input transducer. In some embodiments, a single transducer may be used for both audio input and audio output.
In some embodiments, the artificial-reality systems described herein may also include tactile (i.e., haptic) feedback systems, which may be incorporated into headwear, gloves, body suits, handheld controllers, environmental devices (e.g., chairs, floormats, etc.), and/or any other type of device or system. Haptic feedback systems may provide various types of cutaneous feedback, including vibration, force, traction, texture, and/or temperature. Haptic feedback systems may also provide various types of kinesthetic feedback, such as motion and compliance. Haptic feedback may be implemented using motors, piezoelectric actuators, fluidic systems, and/or a variety of other types of feedback mechanisms. Haptic feedback systems may be implemented independent of other artificial-reality devices, within other artificial-reality devices, and/or in conjunction with other artificial-reality devices.
By providing haptic sensations, audible content, and/or visual content, artificial-reality systems may create an entire virtual experience or enhance a user's real-world experience in a variety of contexts and environments. For instance, artificial-reality systems may assist or extend a user's perception, memory, or cognition within a particular environment. Some systems may enhance a user's interactions with other people in the real world or may enable more immersive interactions with other people in a virtual world. Artificial-reality systems may also be used for educational purposes (e.g., for teaching or training in schools, hospitals, government organizations, military organizations, business enterprises, etc.), entertainment purposes (e.g., for playing video games, listening to music, watching video content, etc.), and/or for accessibility purposes (e.g., as hearing aids, visual aids, etc.). The embodiments disclosed herein may enable or enhance a user's artificial-reality experience in one or more of these contexts and environments and/or in other contexts and environments.
The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed.
The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
It will be understood that when an element such as a layer or a region is referred to as being formed on, deposited on, or disposed “on,” “over,” or “overlying” another element, it may be located directly on at least a portion of the other element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly over,” or “directly overlying” another element, it may be located on at least a portion of the other element, with no intervening elements present.
As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition may mean and include to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least approximately 90% met, at least approximately 95% met, or even at least approximately 99% met.
While various features, elements or steps of particular embodiments may be disclosed using the transitional phrase “comprising,” it is to be understood that alternative embodiments, including those that may be described using the transitional phrases “consisting” or “consisting essentially of,” are implied. Thus, for example, implied alternative embodiments to an optical element that comprises or includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene include embodiments where an optical element consists of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and embodiments where an optical element consists essentially of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/181,012, filed Apr. 28, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/181,260, filed Apr. 29, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63181012 | Apr 2021 | US | |
| 63181260 | Apr 2021 | US |
