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MetaGranted patentAR, VR & displaysInterest 6/10

Meta patents curved reflective screens for lighter VR headsets

Meta has been granted a patent for a virtual reality display that uses a reflective liquid crystal screen instead of a traditional backlit one. The design features a curved reflective surface and places the light source on the same side as the viewer, allowing the light to bounce off the screen to create the image.

Why it mattersThis approach could help make VR headsets thinner and lighter by simplifying the light path, which is a common goal for improving comfort in long-term use.

In the filing’s own words

A near-eye display comprises a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) panel configured to generate a display image, display optics configure to project the display image to a user, and one or more light sources positioned on a same side of the reflective LCD panel as the display optics and configured to illuminate the reflective LCD panel to generate the display image.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A near-eye display system comprising: a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) panel configured to generate a display image and having a portion of a reflective surface being concave-shaped; display optics configure to project the display image to a user; and one or more light sources positioned on a same side of the reflective LCD panel as the display optics and configured to illuminate the reflective LCD panel to generate the display image.

Facts

Company
Meta (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)
Official title
Reflective LCD based virtual reality system
Patent number
US12736820B2
Application number
18608884
Filed
Mar 18, 2024
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
4
Claims
20

Classified under

G02B 27/0172 Physics & computingG02F 1/133553 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0178 Physics & computingG02F 1/133514 Physics & computingG02F 1/133528 Physics & computingG02F 2203/01 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.