Patents by Inventor J. Turner Whitted
J. Turner Whitted 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).
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Patent number: 8547345Abstract: Described herein is a liquid crystal display apparatus that includes a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes a receiver component that receives a sensed parameter of a column line in the liquid crystal display apparatus, wherein electrical voltage is transmitted along the column line and directed at a particular sub-pixel. An output component outputs an indication that a member is in physical contact with the display panel based at least in part upon the received sensed parameter of the column line.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: J. Turner Whitted
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Publication number: 20100277423Abstract: Described herein is a liquid crystal display apparatus that includes a liquid crystal display panel comprising. The liquid crystal display panel includes a receiver component that receives a sensed parameter of a column line in the liquid crystal display apparatus, wherein electrical voltage is transmitted along the column line and directed at a particular sub-pixel. An output component outputs an indication that a member is in physical contact with the display panel based at least in part upon the received sensed parameter of the column line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventor: J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 7768783Abstract: Embodiments for cooling electronic modules are disclosed. In accordance with at least one embodiment, an electronic module is inserted into a cooling sled that is equipped with a bay. The bay of the cooling sled is equipped with a pair of sides to retain the electronic module. The electronic module contains a working fluid that is sealed inside the module with one or more electronic components. During the operation of the electronic module, the working fluid is vaporized by the heat generated by the one or more electronic components. The electronic module is then cooled via the cooling sled. The cooling of the electronic module condenses the working fluid that is vaporized by the heat generated by the one or more electronic components. The condensed cooling fluid is then returned to the one or more electronic components via a wick structure that is also sealed in the electronic module.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: James T. Kajiya, J. Turner Whitted, David W. Williams
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Publication number: 20100117931Abstract: A display apparatus described herein includes a display screen and a display processor. The display processor includes a plurality of function units that comprise functions that are representative of data that is desirably displayed on the display screen. The display processor is configured to receive configurations, compositions, and/or parameters for the plurality of function units. In addition, the display processor displays data on the display screen based at least in part upon output of the plurality of function units.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, James Thomas Kajiya, Erik S. Ruf, Ray A. Bittner, JR.
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Patent number: 7414623Abstract: Techniques and tools for rendering procedural graphics are described. For example, an architecture is provided which allows evaluation of geometric, transform, texture, and shading procedures locally for a given set of procedure parameter values. This evaluation is performed in parallel for different parameter values on a single-instruction, multiple-data array to allow parallel processing of a procedure set. In another example, a sampling controller is described which selects sets of parameter points for evaluation based on information in tag maps, rate maps, and parameter maps.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, James T. Kajiya
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Patent number: 7280107Abstract: Techniques and tools for rendering procedural graphics are described. For example, an architecture is provided which allows evaluation of geometric, transform, texture, and shading procedures locally for a given set of procedure parameter values. This evaluation is performed in parallel for different parameter values on a single-instruction, multiple-data array to allow parallel processing of a procedure set. In another example, a sampling controller is described which selects sets of parameter points for evaluation based on information in tag maps, rate maps, and parameter maps.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, James T. Kajiya
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Patent number: 7145572Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bodin Dresevic, William Hill, Gregory C. Hitchcock, Leroy B. Keely, Jr., John C. Platt, J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 7134091Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bodin Dresevic, William Hill, Gregory Hitchcock, Leroy B. Keely, John C. Platt, J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 7110062Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices use ambient light from a natural or artificial source to supplement light supplied by a backlight. Ambient light passes through a transmissive diffuser to a rear surface of a transmissive display panel. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of ambient light and automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. As a result, backlight intensity and power usage can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, Eric Horvitz, Michael J. Sinclair
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Patent number: 7085412Abstract: Image data processing and image rendering methods and systems whereby images are displayed on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components. Image data, such as data encoded in a three-channel signal, is passed through a low-pass filter to remove frequencies higher than a selected cutoff frequency, which obtain samples from the color components of the signal that map spatially different image regions to individual pixel sub-components. It has been found that color aliasing effects can be significantly reduces at a cutoff frequency somewhat higher than the Nyquist frequency, while enhancing the spatial resolution of the image. The image data is then passed through sampling filters, A generalized set of filters includes nine filters, one for each combination of one color and one pixel sub-component.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: John C. Platt, Donald P. Mitchell, J. Turner Whitted, James F. Blinn
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Patent number: 6977712Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, Eric Horvitz, Michael J. Sinclair
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Patent number: 6973210Abstract: Image data processing and image rendering methods and systems whereby images are displayed on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components. Image data, such as data encoded in a three-channel signal, is passed through a low-pass filter to remove frequencies higher than a selected cutoff frequency, which obtain samples from the color components of the signal that map spatially different image regions to individual pixel sub-components. It has been found that color aliasing effects can be significantly reduces at a cutoff frequency somewhat higher than the Nyquist frequency, while enhancing the spatial resolution of the image. The image data is then pass through sampling filters, A generalized set of filters includes nine filters, one for each combination of one color and one pixel sub-component.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2000Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: John C. Platt, Donald P. Mitchell, J. Turner Whitted, James F. Blinn
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Publication number: 20040207786Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, Eric Horvitz, Michael J. Sinclair
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Patent number: 6795137Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1999Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: J. Turner Whitted, Eric Horvitz, Michael J. Sinclair
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Patent number: 6693615Abstract: Displaying image data with sub-pixel precision on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components, such as those used in liquid crystal display devices. Samples of the image data are obtained, and spatially different sets of one or more of the samples are mapped to individual pixel sub-components as opposed to mapping sets of samples to entire pixels. Luminous intensity values based on the mapped sets of samples are generated and used to control the operation of the separately controllable pixel sub-components. The image is thereby displayed on the display device, with different portions of the image being represented by different pixel sub-components, resulting an image with sub-pixel resolution. The image data can represent a text character, in which case the stem width of a stem of the text character can have a value that is not an integer multiple of the width of a full pixel.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William Hill, Michael Duggan, Leroy B. Keely, Jr., Gregory C. Hitchcock, J. Turner Whitted
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Publication number: 20040008208Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Inventors: Bodin Dresevic, William Hill, Gregory Hitchcock, Leroy B. Keely, John C. Platt, J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 6674436Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bodin Dresevic, William Hill, Gregory Hitchcock, Leroy B. Keely, John C. Platt, J. Turner Whitted
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Publication number: 20030193515Abstract: Displaying image data with sub-pixel precision on display devices having pixels with separately controllable pixel sub-components, such as those used in liquid crystal display devices. Samples of the image data are obtained, and spatially different sets of one or more of the samples are mapped to individual pixel sub-components as opposed to mapping sets of samples to entire pixels. Luminous intensity values based on the mapped sets of samples are generated and used to control the operation of the separately controllable pixel sub-components. The image is thereby displayed on the display device, with different portions of the image being represented by different pixel sub-components, resulting an image with sub-pixel resolution. The image data can represent a text character, in which case the stem width of a stem of the text character can have a value that is not an integer multiple of the width of a full pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: William Hill, Michael Duggan, Leroy B. Keely, Gregory C. Hitchcock, J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 6624828Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for increasing the perceived quality of displayed images. This is achieved in a variety of ways including the use of a plurality of device specific display characteristics when preparing images for display. It is also achieved through the monitoring of display device and/or ambient light conditions, e.g., on a periodic basis, and using the obtained information when controlling display output. Another approach to improving the perceived quality of displayed images involves the use of information relating to a specific user's ability to perceive image characteristics such as color. By customizing display output to an individual user's own physical perception capabilities and/or viewing characteristics it is possible to enhance the image quality perceived by the individual viewer as compared to embodiments which do not take into consideration individual user characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Bodin Dresevic, William Hill, Gregory Hitchcock, Leroy B. Keely, John C. Platt, J. Turner Whitted
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Patent number: 6577291Abstract: Display apparatus, and methods for displaying images, e.g., text, on gray scale and color monitors are described. Gray scale displays implemented in accordance with the present invention include displays having a resolution in a first dimension, e.g., the horizontal dimension, which is several time the resolution in a second dimension, e.g., the vertical dimension. Various other displays of the present invention are capable of operating as both gray scale and color display devices. In one such display, the color filter used to implement a color portion of the display is omitted from another, e.g., gray scale portion of the same display. In such an embodiment, text, e.g., captions, are displayed using the gray scale portion of the display while color images, e.g., graphics, are displayed on the color portion of the display. In another display of the present invention, a color filter with filter cells that can be switched between a color and a clear mode of operation are employed. When images, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: William Hill, Michael Duggan, Leroy B. Keely, Jr., Gregory C. Hitchcock, J. Turner Whitted