Patents by Inventor Richard J. Topliss
Richard J. Topliss has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Publication number: 20260202685
Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a lens module with a tunable lens. The tunable lens may include a lens element and one or more actuators that control the shape of the lens element. The actuators may be locally controlled or globally controlled. The actuators may be globally controlled by a common shape memory alloy wire. The common shape memory alloy wire may be wrapped around a pulley system and/or routed about a suitable portion of the head-mounted device. Each actuator may include one or more wedge-shaped structures. Each actuator may include a flexure that is attached between a chassis and a lens shaping element. Each actuator may include a pivot assembly and a brake assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: December 9, 2025
Publication date: July 16, 2026
Inventors:
Daniel J. Burbridge, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Oliver Hart, Roman Patscheider
Publication number: 20260202589
Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a lens module with a tunable lens. The tunable lens may include a fluid-filled chamber interposed between first and second lens elements. The tunable lens may include one or more actuators that control the shape of the first lens element. To mitigate the total actuation energy associated with the one or more actuators, the tunable lens may include bellows structures that are in tension for some or all of the displacement range of the lens shaping element, a pre-deformed lens shaping element, a magnetic negative stiffness element, a bistable springs negative stiffness mechanism, a cam roller negative stiffness mechanism, and/or a torsion spring.
Type: Application
Filed: December 9, 2025
Publication date: July 16, 2026
Inventors:
Oliver Hart, Daniel J. Burbridge, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Roman Patscheider, James E. Pedder
Patent number: 12681308
Abstract: An electronic device may include a display module that generates image light and an optical system that redirects the light towards an eye box. The optical system may have first hologram structures that replicate the light over multiple output angles onto second hologram structures. The second hologram structures may focus the replicated light onto the eye box. If desired, the device may include an image sensor. The first and second hologram structures may include transmission and/or reflection holograms. The optical system may redirect a first portion of the light to the eye box and a second portion of the light to the sensor. The sensor may generate image data based on the second portion of the light. Control circuitry may compensate for distortions in the first portion of the light by performing feedback adjustments to the display module based on distortions in the image data.
Type: Grant
Filed: July 7, 2023
Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
Inventors:
Matthew D. Hollands, Michael D. Simmonds, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
Patent number: 12613417
Abstract: A lens module may include a first lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the first lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the first lens element. The lens module may also include a second lens element and a fluid-filled chamber between the first and second lens elements. To allow dynamic adjustments of the second lens element without requiring additional actuators, the second lens element may be a semi-rigid lens element. When the actuators adjust the curvature of the first lens element, the gauge pressure applied to the second lens element is changed. This causes a change in curvature of the second lens element. The actuators may therefore adjust the curvature of both the first and second lens elements even though none of the actuators are attached to the second lens element.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 5, 2023
Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
Inventors:
James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Michael D. Simmonds
Patent number: 12578511
Abstract: Various embodiments include a sag compensation structure that may be used to compensate for gravity sag of a deformable lens membrane. In some embodiments, the sag compensation structure may be combined with a lens assembly comprising the deformable lens membrane. The sag compensation structure may include one or more sag compensation membranes that may interface with fluids to provide the gravity sag compensation. According to some embodiments, the lens assembly may include a lens that corrects for one or more optical aberrations of the deformable lens membrane. The sag compensation structure may be disposed between the deformable lens membrane and the lens that corrects for the optical aberration(s), in some embodiments.
Type: Grant
Filed: June 9, 2021
Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, James E. Pedder, Michael D. Simmonds
Publication number: 20260023258
Abstract: A lens module may include a transparent lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the transparent lens element. The lens shaping structure may include a plurality of extensions that are each coupled to a respective actuator. To ensure the lens shaping structure has desired curvature between the extensions, the lens shaping structure may have a portion in one or more segments between adjacent extensions that has a property with a different magnitude than an additional portion of the lens shaping structure. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have an increased or decreased rigidity relative to the additional portions. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have a different width, thickness, or Young’s modulus compared to the additional portions.
Type: Application
Filed: September 26, 2025
Publication date: January 22, 2026
Inventors:
Igor Stamenov, Richard J. Topliss, Ran He, Peng Lv, Yuan Li, James E. Pedder, Thomas M. Gregory
Patent number: 12523866
Abstract: Various embodiments include a piezoelectric actuator for driving motion of a deformable lens. The piezoelectric actuator may include a frame coupled with piezoelectric elements. According to some embodiments, the piezoelectric elements may be activated to produce relative elliptical motion between portions of the frame. The relative elliptical motion may modulate friction between surfaces of the frame, so as to drive motion of at least a portion of the deformable lens.
Type: Grant
Filed: June 9, 2021
Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, James E. Pedder
Patent number: 12468146
Abstract: A lens module may include a transparent lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the transparent lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the transparent lens element. The lens shaping structure may include a plurality of extensions that are each coupled to a respective actuator. To ensure the lens shaping structure has desired curvature between the extensions, the lens shaping structure may have a portion in one or more segments between adjacent extensions that has a property with a different magnitude than an additional portion of the lens shaping structure. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have an increased or decreased rigidity relative to the additional portions. The portion between the adjacent extensions may have a different width, thickness, or Young’s modulus compared to the additional portions.
Type: Grant
Filed: January 17, 2023
Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
Inventors:
Igor Stamenov, Richard J. Topliss, Ran He, Peng Lv, Yuan Li, James E. Pedder, Thomas M. Gregory
Patent number: 12389168
Abstract: An in-ear electronic device comprising: an enclosure having an enclosure wall that defines an interior chamber surrounding a transducer and an opening from the interior chamber to an ambient environment surrounding the enclosure; and an acoustic valve comprising a driven member coupled to a driving member having a lever and a shape memory alloy operable to cause the driven member to open and close the opening upon application of a current.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 25, 2023
Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Scott C. Grinker, Christopher J. Walton, Julia C. Canning, Michael B. Nussbaum
Patent number: 12282160
Abstract: Methods and systems for a virtual and/or augmented reality device may include a light emitting device that includes one or more light emitting elements configured to generate collimated light beams. A scanning mirror may include one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors. Each MEMS mirror of the scanning mirror may be configured to dynamically tilt in at least one of two orthogonal degrees of freedom to raster scan the light beams over multiple angles corresponding to a field of view of an image. A curved mirror may include curves in two orthogonal directions configured to reflect the collimated light beams from the scanning mirror into a subject’s eye in proximity to the curved mirror to form a virtual image. The curved mirror may allow external light to pass through, thus allowing the virtual image to be combined with a real image to provide an augmented reality.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 4, 2022
Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Alexander Shpunt
Publication number: 20250028093
Abstract: An electronic device may include a lens module with a tunable lens. The tunable lens may include multiple adjustable fluid-filled bladders distributed around the periphery of the tunable lens. Fluid may be selectively added to and removed from each adjustable fluid-filled bladder to control a displacement of a lens element at a given position along the periphery. The fluid may be added to and removed from the adjustable fluid-filled bladders by fluid-controlling components. The fluid-controlling components may be positioned locally within a ring-shaped chassis portion and adjacent to a respective bladder or may be consolidated in an additional chassis portion and connected to the bladders using fluid channels through the ring-shaped chassis portion. The fluid-controlling components may include stepper motors with two subassemblies that each have a ring-shaped magnet between two coils.
Type: Application
Filed: June 12, 2024
Publication date: January 23, 2025
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Matthew D. Hollands, James E. Pedder, Daniel J. Burbridge, Thomas M. Gregory
Publication number: 20250020910
Abstract: An electronic device may include an optical module with a display and a tunable lens. During operation, the electronic device may gather data and adjust the tunable lens based on the gathered data. The optical module may include a non-adjustable lens element with convex curvature in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a Fresnel lens element in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a catadioptric lens in addition to the tunable lens. The optical module may include a catadioptric lens that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may have a birdbath architecture that includes the tunable lens. The optical module may include a waveguide and the tunable lens may be an adjustable positive bias lens and/or an adjustable negative bias lens.
Type: Application
Filed: April 23, 2024
Publication date: January 16, 2025
Inventors:
James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Arthur Y. Zhang, Michael D. Simmonds, Pablo Benitez Gimenez, Ruben Mohedano Arroyo, Juan Carlos Minano Dominguez, Richard J. Topliss, Pablo Zamora Herranz
Publication number: 20250014292
Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.
Type: Application
Filed: September 20, 2024
Publication date: January 9, 2025
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
Patent number: 12153229
Abstract: A head-mounted device may include one or more adjustable lens elements. The adjustable lens element may include a transparent substrate, a collapsible wall that forms an enclosed perimeter on the transparent substrate, and a flexible membrane on the collapsible wall that together define an interior volume. The interior volume may be filled with a fluid. The adjustable lens element may include a lens shaping component that applies a force to the collapsible wall to adjust a height of the collapsible wall relative to the transparent substrate, which in turn may be used to adjust the shape of the flexible membrane and thus the lens power of the lens element. The collapsible wall may have bellows that allow the collapsible wall to fold on itself when compressed, thereby minimizing unintended lateral movement of the collapsible wall.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 4, 2021
Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Igor Stamenov, Ran He, Yuan Li, Peng Lv, James E. Pedder
Patent number: 12118675
Abstract: A light system that may project virtual content onto surfaces of a room. The system may include one or more low-resolution light-emitting diode (LED) projectors for emitting light representing low-resolution virtual content, and a high-resolution LED projector for emitting light representing high-resolution virtual content. The high-resolution projector may be used to project a 2D image of augmented or virtual reality content being viewed by a person in a room using a device such as a headset or glasses onto a surface of the room so that other persons in the room can view a representation of what the person using the device is seeing. The low-resolution projector(s) may project low-resolution images onto other surfaces in the room, for example the walls and ceiling. The system may also be configured to emit diffuse light to illuminate a room when not emitting light representing virtual content.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 26, 2021
Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Michael D. Simmonds, James H. Foster, James E. Pedder, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory
Patent number: 12093446
Abstract: A direct retinal projector may include a gaze tracking system that tracks position of a subject’s pupil and automatically adjusts projection of a scanned light field so that the light field enters the pupil. A control loop adjusts a scanning mirror to substantially center an IR beam on a position sensing detector (PSD). In so doing, the scanning mirror is correctly positioned so that the scanned light field from the projector enters the subject’s pupil. In addition, a direct retinal projector may include an adjustable focusing element that adjusts focus of a combined light beam generated by a projector as the light beam is scanned to an ellipsoid mirror that reflects the light beam to the subject’s pupil. The focusing of the scanned beam may be adjusted as the beam is scanned across the azimuth angle of the curved ellipsoid mirror.
Type: Grant
Filed: September 13, 2021
Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, James H. Foster, Alexander Shpunt
Publication number: 20240288612
Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display that displays content for a user. Head-mounted support structures in the device support the display on the head of the user. A lens module in the head-mounted device may include a transparent lens element, a positioner that extends around the periphery of the transparent lens element, and an actuator that selectively shifts the positioner in a first direction. Shifting the positioner in the first direction causes the transparent lens element to be biased in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction at multiple points around the periphery of the transparent lens elements. The positioner may be attached to guide structures that each have a respective angled slot. Each angled slot may receive a respective tab of the transparent lens element or a respective tab of a lens shaping element that is attached to the transparent lens element.
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2024
Publication date: August 29, 2024
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Gregory L. Tice, Patrick R. Gill, James E. Pedder
Publication number: 20240284019
Abstract: Some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling the motion of a camera component. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an actuator module. The actuator module includes a plurality of magnets. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets is poled with magnetic domains substantially aligned in the same direction throughout each magnet. The apparatus further includes a coil rigidly disposed around a lens. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets contributes to the forces to adjust focus of the lens based on Lorentz forces generated from the coil.
Type: Application
Filed: March 4, 2024
Publication date: August 22, 2024
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Douglas S. Brodie, Anthony J. Rossetti, Richard H. Tsai, Richard L. Baer
Patent number: 11962877
Abstract: Some embodiments provide an apparatus for controlling the motion of a camera component. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an actuator module. The actuator module includes a plurality of magnets. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets is poled with magnetic domains substantially aligned in the same direction throughout each magnet. The apparatus further includes a coil rigidly disposed around a lens. Each magnet of the plurality of magnets contributes to the forces to adjust focus of the lens based on Lorentz forces generated from the coil.
Type: Grant
Filed: July 29, 2022
Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
Assignee: Apple Inc.
Inventors:
Richard J. Topliss, Douglas S. Brodie, Anthony J. Rossetti, Richard H. Tsai, Richard L. Baer
Publication number: 20240027776
Abstract: A lens module may include a first lens element, a lens shaping structure that is coupled to the first lens element, and a plurality of actuators that are configured to adjust a position of the lens shaping structure to adjust the first lens element. The lens module may also include a second lens element and a fluid-filled chamber between the first and second lens elements. To allow dynamic adjustments of the second lens element without requiring additional actuators, the second lens element may be a semi-rigid lens element. When the actuators adjust the curvature of the first lens element, the gauge pressure applied to the second lens element is changed. This causes a change in curvature of the second lens element. The actuators may therefore adjust the curvature of both the first and second lens elements even though none of the actuators are attached to the second lens element.
Type: Application
Filed: October 5, 2023
Publication date: January 25, 2024
Inventors:
James E. Pedder, Igor Stamenov, Richard J. Topliss, Thomas M. Gregory, Michael D. Simmonds