Tunable transparent antennas implemented on lenses of augmented-reality devices
An AR device comprising (1) a frame dimensioned to be worn on a head of a user and (2) a lens stack coupled to the frame and positioned in an optical path of the user such that the user is able to see through at least a portion of the lens stack, wherein the lens stack comprises (A) a lens, (B) an optical waveguide that (I) is configured to display computer-generated content to the user and (II) is at least partially aligned with the lens, and (C) a radio-frequency antenna disposed on the lens. Various other apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
1 . An augmented-reality device comprising:
a frame dimensioned to be worn on a head of a user; and
a lens stack coupled to the frame and positioned in an optical path of the user such that the user is able to see through at least a portion of the lens stack, wherein the lens stack comprises:
a lens;
an optical waveguide that:
is configured to display computer-generated content to the user; and
is at least partially aligned with the lens; and
a radio-frequency antenna that is disposed on the lens and comprises a nano-wire meshed structure that is at least partially optically transmissible.
2 . The augmented-reality device of claim 1 , wherein the lens stack further comprises an additional lens positioned closer to the head of the user relative to the lens.
3 . The augmented-reality device of claim 2 , wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between the lens and the additional lens within the lens stack.
4 . The augmented-reality device of claim 3 , wherein the radio-frequency antenna is disposed along a perimeter of a see-through area of the lens via a transparent thin film.
5 . The augmented-reality device of claim 4 , wherein the transparent thin film is coupled to a side of the lens that faces the user.
6 . The augmented-reality device of claim 4 , further comprising a circuit board embedded in the frame; and
wherein the radio-frequency antenna is communicatively coupled to at least one component disposed on the circuit board via a board-to-board connector attached to the transparent thin film.
7 . The augmented-reality device of claim 6 , wherein the circuit board and the board-to-board connector are:
positioned outside the optical path of the user; and
embedded in a front-frame portion of the frame.
8 . The augmented-reality device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a flexible microphone device; and
an antenna tuner communicatively coupled between the radio-frequency antenna and a modem disposed on the circuit board, wherein the antenna tuner is incorporated in the flexible microphone device.
9 . The augmented reality device of claim 8 , further comprising an antenna feed communicatively coupled between the radio-frequency antenna and a radio-frequency circuit disposed on the circuit board.
10 . The augmented-reality device of claim 9 , wherein the radio-frequency antenna comprises:
a tuner port communicatively coupled to the antenna tuner; and
a feed port communicatively coupled to the antenna feed.
11 . The augmented-reality device of claim 2 , wherein the lens stack further comprises an eye-tracking device disposed on the additional lens.
12 . The augmented-reality device of claim 11 , wherein the eye-tracking device comprises one or more sensors coupled to a side of the additional lens that faces the optical waveguide via a transparent thin film.
13 . The augmented reality device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the lens and the additional lens comprise a corrective feature configured to mitigate a refractive error in the vision of the user.
14 . The augmented-reality device of claim 1 , wherein the radio-frequency antenna further comprises at least one of:
a loop antenna topology;
a ring antenna topology; or
a monopole antenna topology.
15 . The augmented-reality device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is at least one of:
opaque to radio frequencies; or
opaque to visible light.
16 . A system comprising:
an augmented-reality device that comprises:
a frame dimensioned to be worn on a head of a user; and
a lens stack coupled to the frame and positioned in an optical path of the user such that the user is able to see through at least a portion of the lens stack, wherein the lens stack comprises:
a lens;
an optical waveguide that:
is configured to display computer-generated content to the user; and
is at least partially aligned with the lens; and
a radio-frequency antenna that is disposed on the lens and comprises a nano-wire meshed structure that is at least partially optically transmissible; and
a computing device communicatively coupled to the augmented reality device via the radio-frequency antenna disposed on the lens.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the lens stack further comprises an additional lens positioned closer to the head of the user relative to the lens.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the optical waveguide is positioned between the lens and the additional lens within the lens stack.
19 . A method comprising:
coupling a lens stack to a frame of an artificial-reality device dimensioned to be worn by a user such that the lens stack is positioned in an optical path of the user by:
securing a set of lenses to the frame of the artificial-reality device in the optical path;
securing an optical waveguide between the set of lenses, the optical waveguide being:
configured to display computer-generated content to the user; and
at least partially aligned with the set of lenses in the optical path; and
disposing a radio-frequency antenna comprising a nano-wire meshed structure that is at least partially optically transmissible on a lens included in the set of lenses.