Patents by Inventor Heather POLLARD

Heather POLLARD 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).

  • Patent number: 10795630
    Abstract: A method, computing device and computer program product for configuring the computing device to utilize a multiple display arrangement. The eye movement of a user is tracked using an eye tracker in response to detecting the user adding a second display unit to the computing device that already includes a display unit. The logical display arrangement of the display units is then determined based on tracking the eye movement of the user. The computing device is then configured to utilize the display units in a particular display arrangement when the logical display arrangement of the display units is verified to match the physical display arrangement of the display units. In this manner, the computing device is accurately configured to utilize multiple displays without requiring the user to manually change the operating system settings of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Heather Pollard
  • Publication number: 20200117413
    Abstract: A method, computing device and computer program product for configuring the computing device to utilize a multiple display arrangement. The eye movement of a user is tracked using an eye tracker in response to detecting the user adding a second display unit to the computing device that already includes a display unit. The logical display arrangement of the display units is then determined based on tracking the eye movement of the user. The computing device is then configured to utilize the display units in a particular display arrangement when the logical display arrangement of the display units is verified to match the physical display arrangement of the display units. In this manner, the computing device is accurately configured to utilize multiple displays without requiring the user to manually change the operating system settings of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Heather Pollard
  • Patent number: 10086269
    Abstract: A wireless controller for a video game playing device includes electrically conductive contacts on portions of the surface of the controller positioned so that a first contact is contactable by one hand of the user and a second contact is contactable by the other hand of the user during operation of the controller. Electrical circuitry applies a voltage between the first contact and the second contact so that when the one hand contacts the first contact and the other hand contacts the second contact an electrical current flows through the user's body completing an electrical circuit. Further electrical circuitry enables power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to completion of the electrical circuit, and disables electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Clarke, Adam Coulthard, Mark J. Lawrence, Heather Pollard
  • Publication number: 20170144061
    Abstract: A wireless controller for a video game playing device includes electrically conductive contacts on portions of the surface of the controller positioned so that a first contact is contactable by one hand of the user and a second contact is contactable by the other hand of the user during operation of the controller. Electrical circuitry applies a voltage between the first contact and the second contact so that when the one hand contacts the first contact and the other hand contacts the second contact an electrical current flows through the user's body completing an electrical circuit. Further electrical circuitry enables power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to completion of the electrical circuit, and disables electrical power supply to the controller electronic control circuitry responsive to breaking of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. CLARKE, Adam COULTHARD, Mark J. LAWRENCE, Heather POLLARD