Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC

Facebook Technologies, LLC

Meta Platforms, Inc.

John M Cooke

Andrew John Ouderkirk

Katherine Marie Smyth

Robin Sharma

Karol Constantine Hatzilias

Nagi H Elabbasi

Lu Lu

Sheng Ye

Behnam Bastani

Kenneth Alexander Diest

Renate Eva Klementine Landig

Spencer Allan Wells

Maik Andre Scheller

Yigit Menguc

Christopher Bruce Stipe

James Ransley

Matthew James Hancock

The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element including a substantially transparent transducer configured to deform, and thus change at least one optical property of, the deformable optical element. At least a portion of the substantially transparent transducer may be positioned within a substantially transparent optical aperture of the optical lens assembly. Various head-mounted displays incorporating such an optical lens assembly, and methods of fabricating the same, are also disclosed.

Optical lens assemblies

A varifocal lens includes a substrate having an inclined region, a primary electrode disposed over the inclined region of the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the primary electrode, a deformable membrane disposed over and at least partially spaced away from the dielectric layer, a secondary electrode disposed over a surface of the deformable membrane facing toward or away from the dielectric layer and overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and a fluid between the membrane and the substrate, wherein a surface of the dielectric layer facing the secondary electrode comprises a textured surface.

High reliability varifocal electrostatic lens

The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable element, a structural support element, and a compliant interface material that is disposed between and couples at least a portion of the deformable element and the structural support element. The deformable element may, when deformed, alter an optical property of the optical lens assembly. The compliant interface material may be configured to compensate for a difference between a physical property of the deformable element and the structural support element. Related head-mounted displays and methods are also disclosed.

Optical lens assemblies, head-mounted displays, and related methods

An optical element can be adjusted using a displacement element in an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of lead screws and a mechanical linkage configured to simultaneously rotate the lead screws. The actuator assembly further includes a displacement element configured to act upon the optical element, through translational motion of the displacement element in response to rotation of the lead screws. Multiple optical elements can be adjusted simultaneously using respective displacement elements. In some embodiments, a controller determines a target position for at least one displacement element, where the target position is configured to provide a desired optical characteristic such as an optical power. The controller can apply power to the actuator to move the at least one displacement element. The controller can also shut off power upon detecting that the at least one displacement element has reached the target position or an end-of-travel position.

Multi-element electromechanical actuation mechanism for asymmetric optical applications

An apparatus having an asymmetric adjustable lens with a deformable optical element. The apparatus may also include one or more actuators coupled to a deformable element of the asymmetric adjustable lens in a direct-drive configuration such that (1) mechanical action of the one or more actuators applies force to the deformable optical element and (2) the force applied by the mechanical action of the one or more actuators changes an optical property of the asymmetric adjustable lens by deforming the deformable optical element. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Apparatuses and methods for actuation of optical elements

The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable element, a structural support element, a substantially transparent deformable medium positioned between the deformable element and the structural support element, a compliant peripheral component positioned between peripheral portions of the deformable element and the structural support element, and an actuator configured to displace at least a portion of the compliant peripheral component to deform the deformable element and change at least one optical property of the optical lens assembly. Related head-mounted displays and methods of fabricating such optical lens assemblies are also disclosed.

A casting method involves providing a precursor to a mold that includes a deformable surface overlying a chamber, shaping the deformable surface according to a surface profile by adjusting a fluid pressure within the chamber and driving one or more actuators that are configured to distort the deformable surface, and solidifying the precursor while the deformable surface is shaped according to the surface profile to form an optical element.

Lens casting with deformable molds

The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element and at least one adaptive element positioned at a peripheral region of the deformable optical element. The deformable optical element may include a substantially transparent electroactive element positioned at least partially within an optical aperture of the deformable optical element. An electrical driving circuit may be configured to apply a voltage to the electroactive element to deform the electroactive element and thus change at least one optical property of the deformable optical element. The at least one adaptive element may be positioned outside of the optical aperture and may be configured to alter a physical boundary condition of the deformable optical element. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Optical lens assemblies with adaptive elements and related systems and methods

In some examples, a device includes a fluid lens having a substrate and a membrane connected to the substrate using a flexure. The fluid lens may include a fluid located within a cavity at least partially defined by the substrate and the membrane. The flexure may include a membrane attachment and an elastic element. The device may be configured so that a displacement of the membrane attachment adjusts a profile of the membrane, and may induce a compression of at least a portion of the elastic member. In some examples, a flexure may include a plurality of elastic elements, which may be attached to the substrate (e.g., through a flexure support), and a rigid element, that may include or be connected to the membrane attachment. Example devices include head-mounted devices, such as augmented reality or virtual reality devices.

Elastomer based flexures for fluid lenses

Techniques for adjusting an optical element using an actuator assembly. The optical element is adjusted by translating the optical element along a linear axis of motion or by applying force upon a surface of the optical element. The optical element can be a liquid lens that is shaped by the application of force upon a surface of the lens. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of lead screws and a mechanical linkage that intercouples the lead screws and that is configured to simultaneously rotate the plurality of lead screws. The actuator assembly further includes a displacement element configured to act upon the optical element, through translational motion of the displacement element in response to rotation of the lead screws. Multiple optical elements can be adjusted simultaneously using respective displacement elements coupled to the lead screws.

Systems and methods for actuation of asymmetric optical elements

An apparatus may include an adjustable fluid lens that includes a deformable element and a fluid that is substantially transparent and that is contained at least in part by the deformable element. The apparatus may additionally include a sensor that detects a property of the fluid that indicates a viscosity of the fluid. The apparatus may further include a control element that regulates, based at least in part on the property of the fluid, a speed with which to apply a deforming force to the deformable element. Additionally, the apparatus may include an actuator that adjusts an optical property of the adjustable fluid lens by applying the deforming force to the deformable element at the regulated speed. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for adjusting fluid lenses

The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element, at least one primary actuator for deforming, and thus changing at least one optical property of, the deformable optical element, and at least one augmentation mechanism that may be configured to augment the deformation of the deformable optical element by the primary actuator. Various head-mounted displays incorporating such an optical lens assembly, and related methods, are also disclosed.

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

John M Cooke