Patents by Inventor Joshua Mark Hudman
Joshua Mark Hudman 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: 10764558Abstract: Systems and methods of providing stereo depth cameras for head-mounted display systems that require less memory and/or processing power. The stereo depth camera may include a left camera and a right camera spaced apart from each other by a distance. Each of the left and right cameras may be skewed outward by a non-zero angle from a forward direction of the head-mounted display system to provide a relatively wide field of view for the stereo depth camera. Each of the left and right cameras may include a camera sensor array and a camera lens positioned forward of the camera sensor array. Each of the camera lenses may include an optical axis that is laterally offset from the center of the associated camera sensor array toward a center of the support structure to center the left camera lens substantially on a scene center or principal point.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Valve CorporationInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Kameron Wade Rausch
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Publication number: 20200107013Abstract: Systems and methods of providing stereo depth cameras for head-mounted display systems that require less memory and/or processing power. The stereo depth camera may include a left camera and a right camera spaced apart from each other by a distance. Each of the left and right cameras may be skewed outward by a non-zero angle from a forward direction of the head-mounted display system to provide a relatively wide field of view for the stereo depth camera. Each of the left and right cameras may include a camera sensor array and a camera lens positioned forward of the camera sensor array. Each of the camera lenses may include an optical axis that is laterally offset from the center of the associated camera sensor array toward a center of the support structure to center the left camera lens substantially on a scene center or principal point.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Kameron Wade Rausch
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Publication number: 20200053350Abstract: A head-mounted display, or other near-to-eye display, incorporates optics that include a spatially-varying retarder (SVR). The SVR may include one or more layers of birefringent material. Light that enters and exits the SVR experiences a change in polarization where the phase of the light is modified by amounts that are different for different portions of the SVR. Focal length of light of an image generated by a pixelated display device is shortened by the optics so that the image can be focused onto a user's eye, which is relatively close to the pixelated display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Publication number: 20190258442Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to techniques for determining pupil location of a display device's user via imaging sensors on the display device, and using that information to verify and/or correct positioning of the display device or its internal components. The display device may be a head-mounted display (“HMD”) device with display panels separated from a wearer's eyes via intervening lenses, with the sensors including optical flow sensor integrated circuits mounted on or near at least one of the display panels to capture images of the wearer's eye locations through the lenses, and with the correction to the positioning including modifications to the alignment or other positioning of the HMD device on the wearer user's head and/or its internal components within the HMD device (e.g., based on automated control of motors on the HMD device) to reflect a target alignment of the wearer's eyes relative to displayed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Jeremy Adam Selan
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Publication number: 20190258063Abstract: Methods and systems relating generally to information displays, and more particularly to systems and methods for backlight assemblies for information displays that emit an angularly narrow cone of light. A backlight assembly that emits a narrow angular cone of light can be particularly beneficial in a head-mounted display configuration, such as for use as part of virtual reality or augmented reality systems, where the head-mounted display comprises a lens assembly that directs light from an information display to the eyes of the user. Such a backlight assembly configuration may help reduce undesirable visual effects like flood illumination, ghost images, glare, and scattering.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Publication number: 20190220090Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking the position of a head-mounted display (HMD). The HMD may include a support structure that carries a forward facing camera and a plurality of optical flow sensor integrated circuits (ICs). The forward camera captures image sensor data in a forward camera field of view (FOV) at a first frame rate, and each of the plurality of sensor ICs captures image sensor data in a respective plurality of sensor IC FOVs at a second frame rate. The sensor IC FOVs may collectively cover at least a substantial portion of the forward camera FOV. A processor may receive the image sensor data from the camera and the plurality of sensor ICs. The processor may process the received image sensor data and/or other sensor data (e.g., IMU data) to track a position of the head-mounted display based on the processing of the received sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Patent number: 10178374Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that are related to depth imaging of a 360-degree field of view. One example provides a depth imaging system comprising an image sensor, a reflector subsystem comprising one or more reflectors arranged to reflect a radial field of view of a surrounding environment toward the image sensor, a projector configured to project light onto the reflector subsystem for reflection into the surrounding environment, and a computing device comprising a logic subsystem and a storage subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to receive image data from the image sensor, and output a depth image based upon the image data.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Marshall T. DePue, Andrew K. Juenger
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Publication number: 20180081092Abstract: Systems and methods for providing optical systems which utilize double Fresnel lenses on curved surfaces for use with display systems, such as silicon-based micro display systems (e.g., OLED micro displays) used with head mounted display (HMD) systems. The optical systems disclosed herein may implement multiplexing or blending to provide a smooth profile transition and reduce aberrations between zones or fields (e.g., small FOV angles, large FOV angles) of a Fresnel surface which is defined by multiple Fresnel patterns or functions. An optical system for a micro display is provided which utilizes double Fresnel lenses on curved surfaces to shorten the focal length while maintaining a good shape factor for moldability and aberration control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Patent number: 9891309Abstract: Various embodiments of TOF depth cameras and methods for illuminating image environments with illumination light are provided herein. In one example, a TOF depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light includes a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light. The example TOF camera also includes an optical assembly configured to transmit light from the plurality of surface-emitting lasers to the image environment and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Prafulla Masalkar
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Patent number: 9805454Abstract: A machine-vision system includes a modulated light source, an imaging pixel array, and a lens system. The modulated light source is configured to project light onto a subject. The imaging pixel array is configured to receive the light reflected from a locus of the subject and indicate distance to the locus. The lens system is configured to receive the light reflected from the subject and refract such light onto the imaging pixel array. The focal length of the lens system decreases with increasing angle of observation relative to a shared optical axis of the lens system and the imaging pixel array.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Publication number: 20160295197Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that are related to depth imaging of a 360-degree field of view. One example provides a depth imaging system comprising an image sensor, a reflector subsystem comprising one or more reflectors arranged to reflect a radial field of view of a surrounding environment toward the image sensor, a projector configured to project light onto the reflector subsystem for reflection into the surrounding environment, and a computing device comprising a logic subsystem and a storage subsystem comprising instructions executable by the logic subsystem to receive image data from the image sensor, and output a depth image based upon the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Marshall T. DePue, Andrew K. Juenger
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Publication number: 20160195610Abstract: Various embodiments of TOF depth cameras and methods for illuminating image environments with illumination light are provided herein. In one example, a TOF depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light includes a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light. The example TOF camera also includes an optical assembly configured to transmit light from the plurality of surface-emitting lasers to the image environment and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Prafulla Masalkar
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Patent number: 9297889Abstract: Various embodiments of TOF depth cameras and methods for illuminating image environments with illumination light are provided herein. In one example, a TOF depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light includes a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light. The example TOF camera also includes an optical assembly configured to transmit light from the plurality of surface-emitting lasers to the image environment and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Prafulla Masalkar
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Publication number: 20160019684Abstract: A machine-vision system includes a modulated light source, an imaging pixel array, and a lens system. The modulated light source is configured to project light onto a subject. The imaging pixel array is configured to receive the light reflected from a locus of the subject and indicate distance to the locus. The lens system is configured to receive the light reflected from the subject and refract such light onto the imaging pixel array. The focal length of the lens system decreases with increasing angle of observation relative to a shared optical axis of the lens system and the imaging pixel array.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2014Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Publication number: 20150342480Abstract: An optical pulse-rate sensor includes a fixture, a light emitter, a light sensor, and a light stop. The fixture has a rim configured to contact a skin surface and enclose an area of the surface. The light emitter and light sensor are each coupled to the fixture and positioned opposite the area. The light stop is coupled to the fixture and positioned between the light emitter and the light sensor to shield the light sensor from direct illumination by the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Gregory Kim Justice, Ryna Karnik, Daniel C. Canfield, Joshua Mark Hudman, Gabriel Michael Rask Gassoway, Vinod L. Hingorani, Mohammad Shakeri
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Patent number: 9057784Abstract: Various embodiments of a time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera and methods for projecting illumination light into an image environment are disclosed. One example embodiment of a TOF depth camera includes a light source configured to generate coherent light; a first optical stage including an array of periodically-arranged lens elements positioned to receive at least a portion of the coherent light and to form divergent light; a second optical stage positioned to receive at least a portion of the divergent light and to reduce an intensity of one or more diffraction artifacts in the divergent light to form illumination light for projection into an illumination environment; and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return illumination light reflected from the illumination environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Joshua Mark Hudman
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Publication number: 20140049610Abstract: Various embodiments of TOF depth cameras and methods for illuminating image environments with illumination light are provided herein. In one example, a TOF depth camera configured to collect image data from an image environment illuminated by illumination light includes a light source including a plurality of surface-emitting lasers configured to generate coherent light. The example TOF camera also includes an optical assembly configured to transmit light from the plurality of surface-emitting lasers to the image environment and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return light reflected from the image environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Joshua Mark Hudman, Prafulla Masalkar
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Publication number: 20140049766Abstract: Various embodiments of a time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera and methods for projecting illumination light into an image environment are disclosed. One example embodiment of a TOF depth camera includes a light source configured to generate coherent light; a first optical stage including an array of periodically-arranged lens elements positioned to receive at least a portion of the coherent light and to form divergent light; a second optical stage positioned to receive at least a portion of the divergent light and to reduce an intensity of one or more diffraction artifacts in the divergent light to form illumination light for projection into an illumination environment; and an image sensor configured to detect at least a portion of return illumination light reflected from the illumination environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Joshua Mark Hudman