Meta patents lens design that blocks stray light for clearer AR glasses
Meta has been granted a patent for a compact lens system used in augmented reality displays. It uses a special filter that absorbs unwanted light in the center of the lens to make the virtual image stand out more clearly against the real world.
In the filing’s own words
A device may include an optical system that creates an image to a user and a light-absorbing element that absorbs a portion of the light transmitted by the optical system. The optical system may include a beamsplitting element and a reflective polarizer that reflects a first handedness of circularly polarized light and transmits a second handedness of polarized light. Various other devices, systems, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A device comprising: an optical system that creates an image to a user, wherein the optical system comprises: a beamsplitting element; and a reflective polarizer that reflects a first handedness of circularly polarized light and transmits a second handedness of polarized light; and a light-absorbing element absorbs a portion of the light transmitted by the optical system, wherein the light-absorbing element has a higher absorptivity of the light at a center of the light-absorbing element than at 50% of an outer radius of an edge by at least 10%.
Facts
- Company
- Meta (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)
- Official title
- High-contrast pancake lens with pass-polarization absorber
- Patent number
- US12754423B2
- Application number
- 18420128
- Filed
- Jan 23, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G02B 27/0172 Physics & computingG02B 5/003 Physics & computingG02B 5/3058 Physics & computingG02B 5/3083 Physics & computingG02B 2027/0178 Physics & computingMore from Meta in AR, VR & displays
- Meta patents VR avatars that mimic facial expressions from voice Sep 15, 2026
- Meta patents spatial mouse for pointing at and controlling real-world objects Sep 24, 2026
- Meta patents AR notifications that grow when you look at them Sep 1, 2026
- Meta patents AR glasses with antennas built into the lenses Sep 8, 2026
- Meta patents auto-pause for VR headsets when you take them off Oct 6, 2026
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.