Facebook Technologies, LLC

Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Fletcher Nelson

Sam Sarmast

Brian P Kennedy

Tony David

Saara Khan

Staci Elaan

To address privacy issues with 'always on' cameras of an AR headset, the cameras can be muted and content displayed by the headset adjusted to provide a user with a visual indication that the cameras are deactivated. The headset includes a display element configured to display content to a user and an eye tracking system that includes a camera configured to track eye motion of the user. In response to the headset receiving a camera muting event from the user or the external environment, the headset deactivates the camera and adjusts the content displayed on the display element to provide the user with a visual indication that the camera is deactivated. In one embodiment, the visual indication is an adjustment of the display from a default RGB color mode to 'monochrome' or other predefined color map.

Camera mute indication for headset user

The disclosed electronic shutter may include (1) an optical structure including a medium through which light from an environment passes to a lens of a camera for capturing an image of the environment; and (2) a controlling circuit that (a) detects a first condition of a signal, where the first condition indicates an activation of the camera, (b) controls, in response, to the first condition, the optical structure such that the medium attains a transparent optical state, (c) detects a second condition of the signal, where the second condition indicates a deactivation of the camera, and (d) controls, in response to the second condition, the optical structure such that the medium attains a non-transparent optical state in a manner that prevents visual detection of the lens from the environment. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Electronic shutter for concealing and revealing a camera

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Kent, WA, United States of America

Fletcher Nelson