Patents by Inventor Ian Michael Hocking

Ian Michael Hocking 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: 9724609
    Abstract: A method of incorporating an augmented reality video image into a virtual environment comprises detecting a state of a real-world control object captured in a video image and augmenting the video image responsive to the state of the control object. The method further includes calculating trajectory parameters for an action with respect to a local coordinate system of the video image, responsive to the state of the control object, and embedding the augmented video image within a 3D virtual environment. The method also includes calculating the trajectory parameters for the action with respect to a local co-ordinate system of the 3D virtual environment, and rendering a graphical effect corresponding to the action within the 3D virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Masami Kochi, Russell Harding, Diarmid Archibald Campbell, David Ranyard, Ian Michael Hocking
  • Patent number: 9305400
    Abstract: A method of augmented reality includes associating tint information with a predetermined graphical object, and receiving a video image of a real scene comprising a feature for detection. The method further includes detecting the feature in the video image of the real scene and selecting a graphical object responsive to the detected feature, and augmenting the video image with the selected graphical object. If the selected graphical object is the predetermined graphical object, the method further includes retrieving the tint information associated with the predetermined graphical object, and modifying the color balance of the video image responsive to the tint information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Masami Kochi, Russell Harding, Diarmid Archibald Campbell, David Ranyard, Ian Michael Hocking
  • Patent number: 8902295
    Abstract: A 3D camera comprises first and second laterally displaced optical imaging systems each comprising one or more lenses. The optical imaging systems also each comprise one or more actuators arranged to move one or more lenses of the respective optical imaging system, and a digital image analyzer configured to evaluate the respective field of view of first and second images of a stereoscopic image pair obtained respectively from the first and second optical imaging systems and to generate a disparity value based on a disparity between the respective fields of view. The 3D camera is arranged in operation to adjust the field of view of one or more images generated by the first and second optical imaging systems responsive to the disparity value so as to reduce the disparity between the respective fields of view of stereoscopic image pairs obtained from the first and second optical imaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Ian Bickerstaff, Simon Benson, Nigel Kershaw, Ian Michael Hocking
  • Publication number: 20130300767
    Abstract: A method of augmented reality includes associating tint information with a predetermined graphical object, and receiving a video image of a real scene comprising a feature for detection. The method further includes detecting the feature in the video image of the real scene and selecting a graphical object responsive to the detected feature, and augmenting the video image with the selected graphical object. If the selected graphical object is the predetermined graphical object, the method further includes retrieving the tint information associated with the predetermined graphical object, and modifying the colour balance of the video image responsive to the tint information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Masami Kochi, Russell Harding, Diarmid Archibald Campbell, David Ranyard, Ian Michael Hocking
  • Publication number: 20110306413
    Abstract: An entertainment device comprises a display, an object position detector to detect a three-dimensional position of an object in front of an image plane of the display, and a source position detector to detect a source position of a pointing source with respect to the display. A pointing direction indicates a direction in which the pointing source is pointing. The device also comprises a direction detector to detect a pointing direction of a user control device. The pointing direction of the user control device is associated with the pointing direction, so that a change in the pointing direction of the user control device causes a change in the pointing direction of the pointing source. The device also comprises an alignment detector to detect whether the three-dimensional position lies on a line passing through the source position in the direction of the pointing direction of the pointing source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: D YOUNG & CO LLP
    Inventors: Ian Bickerstaff, Ian Michael Hocking, Nigel Kershaw, Simon Benson
  • Publication number: 20110285826
    Abstract: A 3D camera comprises first and second laterally displaced optical imaging systems each comprising one or more lenses. The optical imaging systems also each comprise one or more actuators arranged to move one or more lenses of the respective optical imaging system, and a digital image analyser configured to evaluate the respective field of view of first and second images of a stereoscopic image pair obtained respectively from the first and second optical imaging systems and to generate a disparity value based on a disparity between the respective fields of view. The 3D camera is arranged in operation to adjust the field of view of one or more images generated by the first and second optical imaging systems responsive to the disparity value so as to reduce the disparity between the respective fields of view of stereoscopic image pairs obtained from the first and second optical imaging systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: D YOUNG & CO LLP
    Inventors: Ian Bickerstaff, Simon Benson, Nigel Kershaw, Ian Michael Hocking