US 12,352,970 B2
Dimming control with display-directed activation light for an optical assembly
Robin Sharma, Redmond, WA (US); Afsoon Jamali, Redmond, WA (US); Ming Lei, Bellevue, WA (US); Sho Nakahara, Bothell, WA (US); Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, Snoqualmie, WA (US); Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Kenmore, WA (US); and Carl Chancy, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/717,669.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/284,410, filed on Nov. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168508 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/157 (2006.01); G02F 1/163 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02F 1/0126 (2013.01); G02F 1/157 (2013.01); G02F 1/163 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0118 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0178 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical assembly, comprising:
an eyeward side and a backside, wherein the optical assembly is configured to receive visible scene light at the backside of the optical assembly and to direct the visible scene light on an optical path toward the eyeward side;
a dimming element disposed on the optical path between the eyeward side and the backside, wherein the dimming element includes a photochromic material that is configured to darken in response to exposure to a range of light wavelengths; and
a display layer disposed on the optical path between the eyeward side of the optical assembly and the dimming element, wherein the display layer is configured to direct visible display light toward the eyeward side and to reflect activation light towards the dimming element, wherein the activation light is within the range of light wavelengths to activate a darkening of the photochromic material to dim the visible scene light.