US 12,032,170 B2
Systems and methods for external light management
Andrew Ian Russell, Plantation, FL (US)
Assigned to Magic Leap, Inc., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed by MAGIC LEAP, INC., Plantation, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/331,669.
Application 18/331,669 is a continuation of application No. 17/813,693, filed on Jul. 20, 2022, granted, now 11,719,941.
Application 17/813,693 is a continuation of application No. 17/275,663, granted, now 11,428,942, issued on Aug. 30, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2019/051188, filed on Sep. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/731,755, filed on Sep. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0359043 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 27/0172 (2013.01) [G02F 1/0136 (2013.01); G02F 1/133528 (2013.01); G02F 1/134309 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0118 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0134 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A head-mounted device, comprising:
a frame configured to be worn about a head of a user of the head-mounted device;
a controllable dimming assembly physically coupled to the frame in a manner so as to be positioned between an eye of the user and an environment of the user when the head-mounted device is worn by the user,
wherein the controllable dimming assembly comprises a first electrode assembly comprising a first electrode having a first spatially varying property, a second electrode assembly comprising a second electrode having a second spatially varying property different from the first spatially varying property, a first polarizer, a second polarizer and a liquid crystal layer, wherein the first and second electrode assemblies are disposed between the first and second polarizers, and the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second electrode assemblies, wherein the controllable dimming assembly is configured to exhibit levels of opacity that vary from a first level of opacity to a second level of opacity as a function of location on the controllable dimming assembly; and
control circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes of the controllable dimming assembly, wherein the control circuitry is configured to apply one or more electrical signals to the first and second electrodes to produce an electric field between the first and second electrode assemblies and adjust one or both of the first and second levels of opacity.