Granted Patent B2

US 12,650,608 · App. 18/329,982 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventor: Brian T. Schowengerdt (Seattle, WA)

Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.

G02B27/4205G02B3/0006G02B3/0037G02B5/005G02B5/1814G02B5/1828G02B5/20G02B6/00G02B6/02042G02B6/06G02B6/32G02B6/34G02B6/40G02B17/08G02B26/0808G02B27/0087G02B27/0093G02B27/01G02B27/017G02B27/0172G02B27/0176G02B30/24G02C7/049G02C7/104G02F1/0105G02F1/1334G02F1/17G02F1/29G02F1/292G02F1/31G06F3/011G06F3/013G06F3/017G06F3/1423G06T5/50G06T5/70G06T5/73G06T7/50G06T7/73G06T13/40G06T15/00G06T15/10G06T15/506G06T17/10G06T19/003G06T19/006G06T19/20G06V40/193G09G5/003G09G5/02G09G5/10G09G5/18H04N5/21H04N5/74H04N13/117H04N13/239H04N13/286H04N13/341H04N13/344H04N13/361H04N13/363H04N13/366H04N13/383G02B2006/0098G02B2027/0118G02B2027/0123G02B2027/0125G02B2027/0134G02B2027/014G02B2027/0163G02B2027/0178G02C2202/16G02F1/294G06T2207/10021G06T2207/30201G06T2213/08H04N2013/0085

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:

an image generating source to provide one or more frames of image data;

a display assembly to project light rays associated with the one or more frames of image data, the display assembly comprising a first display element corresponding to a first frame-rate and a first bit depth, a second display element corresponding to a second frame-rate and a second bit depth, and a variable focus element (VFE) configurable to vary a focus of the projected light and transmit the projected light;

a stack of two or more spatial light modulators (SLMs) positioned such that the stack delivers light associated with the one or more frames of image data to the user, wherein the SLM spatially attenuates light from an outside environment;

a processor to control the stack of SLMs in a manner such that an angle at which light beams pass through one or more cells of the SLM is modulated; and

an occluder comprising at least one optical component, the at least one optical component comprising a one-pinholed layer or cylindrical lenses and wherein the processor controls the at least one optical component of the occluder to produce a darkfield representation of a dark virtual object,

wherein the stack of SLMs comprises an array of cholesteric liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a set of display optics, wherein the set of display optics is positioned between the user's eye and the outside environment.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the array of cholesteric LCDs forms a controlled occlusion/blocking array.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controlled occlusion/blocking array does not include polarizing films.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stack of SLMs is positioned such that the user views an outside world through the stack of SLMs, wherein the SLMs are at least semi-transparent.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical component comprises said one-pinholed layer.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial attenuation is based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the one or more frames of image data to be presented to the user.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises a color scale of the one or more frames of image data.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more frames of image data comprises a dark virtual object.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulators (SLMs) of the stack of SLMs are independently controllable.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to control each said spatial light modulator of said stack of SLMs independently.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the stack of SLMs in a manner to selectively block all light from a first angle, to produce a darkfield representation.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical component comprises cylindrical lenses.

14 . A system for displaying virtual content to a user, comprising:

an image generating source to provide one or more frames of image data;

a display assembly to project light rays associated with the one or more frames of image data, the display assembly comprising a first display element corresponding to a first frame-rate and a first bit depth, a second display element corresponding to a second frame-rate and a second bit depth, and a variable focus element (VFE) configurable to vary a focus of the projected light and transmit the projected light;

a stack of two or more spatial light modulators (SLMs) positioned such that the stack delivers light associated with the one or more frames of image data to the user, wherein the SLM spatially attenuates light from an outside environment;

a processor to control the stack of SLMs in a manner such that an angle at which light beams pass through one or more cells of the SLM is modulated;

an occluder comprising at least one optical component, and wherein the processor controls the at least one optical component of the occluder to produce a darkfield representation of a dark virtual object, and

a lightfield occluder comprising two LCD panels;

wherein the at least one optical component of the occluder comprises a one-pinholed layer.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the spatial light modulators of the stack of SLMs comprise at least one of a number of liquid crystal arrays, a number of digital mirror device elements of digital light processing systems, a number of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) arrays, and a number of MEMS shutters.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (274)