Patents by Inventor Nigel Stuart Keam
Nigel Stuart Keam 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: 10592228Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to updating stylus firmware. One example provides a method of performing a stylus firmware upgrade in an interactive display system including a display and a stylus comprising sending, from the display, a signal to the stylus causing the stylus to enter a listen mode, while the stylus operates in the listen mode, sending, from the display, a firmware upgrade notification to the stylus configured for receipt by the listen mode, receiving, at the display, a reply to the firmware upgrade notification from the stylus, determining, at the display, whether the reply was received within a predetermined time range, and, responsive to determining that the reply was received within the predetermined time range, initiating transfer of a firmware update to the stylus if a newer firmware version is available.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Ian McLean, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Patent number: 10444866Abstract: Examples are provided for measuring force applied to a device, such as a stylus tip. An example stylus includes a stylus body, a stylus tip, and the stylus tip including a light emitting device and a compressible light reflecting optic, the light emitting device comprising a light emitter and a light detector, and the compressible light reflecting optic comprising a first reflective layer configured to (i) allow a first portion of light from the light emitting device to pass and (ii) to reflect a second portion of light from the light emitting device, and a second reflective layer, more reflective than the first reflective layer, configured to reflect light from the light emitting device, the first layer being spaced from the second layer by a light-transmissive material. A force exerted on the stylus tip is measurable based at least on a parameter of light received at the light detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Nigel Stuart Keam, John Michael Lutian
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Patent number: 9989690Abstract: An electronic device includes a display frame, a light guide plate disposed within the display frame, and a light source disposed along an edge of the light guide plate. The light source is secured to the display frame. The electronic device further includes an enclosure in which the display frame and the light guide plate are disposed. The enclosure is configured to allow thermal expansion of the display frame and of the light guide plate. The light guide plate and the display frame have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Edward Francis Burress, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Publication number: 20180136747Abstract: Examples are provided for measuring force applied to a device, such as a stylus tip. An example stylus includes a stylus body, a stylus tip, and the stylus tip including a light emitting device and a compressible light reflecting optic, the light emitting device comprising a light emitter and a light detector, and the compressible light reflecting optic comprising a first reflective layer configured to (i) allow a first portion of light from the light emitting device to pass and (ii) to reflect a second portion of light from the light emitting device, and a second reflective layer, more reflective than the first reflective layer, configured to reflect light from the light emitting device, the first layer being spaced from the second layer by a light-transmissive material. A force exerted on the stylus tip is measurable based at least on a parameter of light received at the light detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nigel Stuart Keam, John Michael Lutian
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Publication number: 20170315286Abstract: An electronic device includes a display frame, a light guide plate disposed within the display frame, and a light source disposed along an edge of the light guide plate. The light source is secured to the display frame. The electronic device further includes an enclosure in which the display frame and the light guide plate are disposed. The enclosure is configured to allow thermal expansion of the display frame and of the light guide plate. The light guide plate and the display frame have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Edward Francis Burress, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Patent number: 9759851Abstract: An electronic device includes a display frame, a light guide plate disposed within the display frame, and a light source disposed along an edge of the light guide plate. The light source is secured to the display frame. The electronic device further includes an enclosure in which the display frame and the light guide plate are disposed. The enclosure is configured to allow thermal expansion of the display frame and of the light guide plate. The light guide plate and the display frame have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Edward Francis Burress, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Publication number: 20170235560Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to updating stylus firmware. One example provides a method of performing a stylus firmware upgrade in an interactive display system including a display and a stylus comprising sending, from the display, a signal to the stylus causing the stylus to enter a listen mode, while the stylus operates in the listen mode, sending, from the display, a firmware upgrade notification to the stylus configured for receipt by the listen mode, receiving, at the display, a reply to the firmware upgrade notification from the stylus, determining, at the display, whether the reply was received within a predetermined time range, and, responsive to determining that the reply was received within the predetermined time range, initiating transfer of a firmware update to the stylus if a newer firmware version is available.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ian McLean, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Patent number: 9544504Abstract: This document describes various apparatuses and techniques for rapid synchronized lighting and shuttering. These apparatuses and techniques are capable of capturing two images, where one of the images integrates multiple exposures during which an image area is illuminated by a light source and another of the images integrates multiple exposures during which the image is not illuminated by the light source. The image area can be illuminated by rapidly flashing the image area with the light source and synchronizing a shutter to permit one image sensor to capture an image when the image area is illuminated and another image sensor to capture the image area when the image area is not illuminated. These two images can be captured concurrently or nearly concurrently, thereby reducing or eliminating motion artifacts. Further, these apparatuses and techniques may do so with slow and relatively low-cost cameras and relatively low computational costs.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Bernard K. Rihn, Paul Henry Dietz, Nigel Stuart Keam, Steven Nabil Bathiche
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Publication number: 20160306396Abstract: A connection device for computing devices is described. In one or more implementations, a connection device comprises a plurality of connection portions that are physically and communicatively coupled, one to another. Each of the plurality of connection portions has at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of a plurality of computing devices and with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions to support communication between the plurality of computing devices. Each of the plurality of connection portions also includes a magnetic coupling device to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Steven Nabil Bathiche, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro, Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn, Panos C. Panay, David W. Voth
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Publication number: 20160291233Abstract: An electronic device includes a display frame, a light guide plate disposed within the display frame, and a light source disposed along an edge of the light guide plate. The light source is secured to the display frame. The electronic device further includes an enclosure in which the display frame and the light guide plate are disposed. The enclosure is configured to allow thermal expansion of the display frame and of the light guide plate. The light guide plate and the display frame have substantially similar coefficients of thermal expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Tristan Thomas Trutna, Edward Francis Burress, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Patent number: 9426905Abstract: A connection device for computing devices is described. In one or more implementations, a connection device comprises a plurality of connection portions that are physically and communicatively coupled, one to another. Each of the plurality of connection portions has at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of a plurality of computing devices and with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions to support communication between the plurality of computing devices. Each of the plurality of connection portions also includes a magnetic coupling device to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Steven Nabil Bathiche, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro, Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn, Panos C. Panay, David W. Voth
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Patent number: 9330302Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining gaze locations are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes shining light along an outbound light path to the eyes of the user wearing glasses. Upon detecting the glasses, the light is dynamically polarized in a polarization pattern that switches between a random polarization phase and a single polarization phase, wherein the random polarization phase includes a first polarization along an outbound light path and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization along a reflected light path. The single polarization phase has a single polarization. During the random polarization phases, glares reflected from the glasses are filtered out and pupil images are captured. Glint images are captured during the single polarization phase. Based on pupil characteristics and glint characteristics, gaze locations are repeatedly detected.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Vaibhav Thukral, Sudipta Sinha, Vivek Pradeep, Timothy Andrew Large, Nigel Stuart Keam, David Nister
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Publication number: 20160044225Abstract: This document describes various apparatuses and techniques for rapid synchronized lighting and shuttering. These apparatuses and techniques are capable of capturing two images, where one of the images integrates multiple exposures during which an image area is illuminated by a light source and another of the images integrates multiple exposures during which the image is not illuminated by the light source. The image area can be illuminated by rapidly flashing the image area with the light source and synchronizing a shutter to permit one image sensor to capture an image when the image area is illuminated and another image sensor to capture the image area when the image area is not illuminated. These two images can be captured concurrently or nearly concurrently, thereby reducing or eliminating motion artifacts. Further, these apparatuses and techniques may do so with slow and relatively low-cost cameras and relatively low computational costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Bernard K. Rihn, Paul Henry Dietz, Nigel Stuart Keam, Steven Nabil Bathiche
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Publication number: 20150242680Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining gaze locations are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes shining light along an outbound light path to the eyes of the user wearing glasses. Upon detecting the glasses, the light is dynamically polarized in a polarization pattern that switches between a random polarization phase and a single polarization phase, wherein the random polarization phase includes a first polarization along an outbound light path and a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization along a reflected light path. The single polarization phase has a single polarization. During the random polarization phases, glares reflected from the glasses are filtered out and pupil images are captured. Glint images are captured during the single polarization phase. Based on pupil characteristics and glint characteristics, gaze locations are repeatedly detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Vaibhav Thukral, Sudipta Sinha, Vivek Pradeep, Timothy Andrew Large, Nigel Stuart Keam, David Nister
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Publication number: 20150161947Abstract: A predictive electrophoretic display is described. An electrophoretic display may include charged particles, a portion of which are designated as electronic ink, disposed between a conductive display plate and a conductive back plate. Charges may be applied to the conductive plates to migrate the electronic ink to different states. For example, the electronic ink may be positioned in an undisplayed state or in a displayed state. Further, the electronic ink may migrate through multiple intermediate states. In at least some of the intermediate states, the electronic ink may not be visible on the electrophoretic display. However, the electronic ink is configured to migrate to the displayed state faster from the intermediate state than from the undisplayed state. Portions of the electronic ink may be prepared for display on the electrophoretic display by initiating migration of electronic ink that corresponds to predicted future input to the intermediate states.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn
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Patent number: 8988763Abstract: A predictive electrophoretic display is described. An electrophoretic display may include charged particles, a portion of which are designated as electronic ink, disposed between a conductive display plate and a conductive back plate. Charges may be applied to the conductive plates to migrate the electronic ink to different states. For example, the electronic ink may be positioned in an undisplayed state or in a displayed state. Further, the electronic ink may migrate through multiple intermediate states. In at least some of the intermediate states, the electronic ink may not be visible on the electrophoretic display. However, the electronic ink is configured to migrate to the displayed state faster from the intermediate state than from the undisplayed state. Portions of the electronic ink may be prepared for display on the electrophoretic display by initiating migration of electronic ink that corresponds to predicted future input to the intermediate states.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn
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Patent number: 8982061Abstract: In embodiments of angular contact geometry, touch input sensor data is recognized as a touch input on a touch-screen display, such as a touch-screen display integrated in a mobile phone or portable computing device. A sensor map is generated from the touch input sensor data, and the sensor map represents the touch input. The sensor map can be generated as a two-dimensional array of elements that correlate to sensed contact from a touch input. An ellipse can then be determined that approximately encompasses elements of the sensor map, and the ellipse represents a contact shape of the touch input.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Weidong Zhao, David A. Stevens, Aleksandar Uzelac, Takahiro Shigemitsu, Andrew David Wilson, Nigel Stuart Keam
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Publication number: 20140333987Abstract: A predictive electrophoretic display is described. An electrophoretic display may include charged particles, a portion of which are designated as electronic ink, disposed between a conductive display plate and a conductive back plate. Charges may be applied to the conductive plates to migrate the electronic ink to different states. For example, the electronic ink may be positioned in an undisplayed state or in a displayed state. Further, the electronic ink may migrate through multiple intermediate states. In at least some of the intermediate states, the electronic ink may not be visible on the electrophoretic display. However, the electronic ink is configured to migrate to the displayed state faster from the intermediate state than from the undisplayed state. Portions of the electronic ink may be prepared for display on the electrophoretic display by initiating migration of electronic ink that corresponds to predicted future input to the intermediate states.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2013Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn
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Publication number: 20140313401Abstract: This document describes various apparatuses and techniques for rapid synchronized lighting and shuttering. These apparatuses and techniques are capable of capturing two images, where one of the images integrates multiple exposures during which an image area is illuminated by a light source and another of the images integrates multiple exposures during which the image is not illuminated by the light source. The image area can be illuminated by rapidly flashing the image area with the light source and synchronizing a shutter to permit one image sensor to capture an image when the image area is illuminated and another image sensor to capture the image area when the image area is not illuminated. These two images can be captured concurrently or nearly concurrently, thereby reducing or eliminating motion artifacts. Further, these apparatuses and techniques may do so with slow and relatively low-cost cameras and relatively low computational costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Bernard K. Rihn, Paul Henry Dietz, Nigel Stuart Keam, Steven Nabil Bathiche
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Patent number: RE48963Abstract: A connection device for computing devices is described. In one or more implementations, a connection device comprises a plurality of connection portions that are physically and communicatively coupled, one to another. Each of the plurality of connection portions has at least one communication contact configured to form a communicative coupling with a respective one of a plurality of computing devices and with at least one other communication contact of another one of the connections portions to support communication between the plurality of computing devices. Each of the plurality of connection portions also includes a magnetic coupling device to form a removable magnetic attachment to the respective one of the plurality of computing devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Steven Nabil Bathiche, Flavio Protasio Ribeiro, Nigel Stuart Keam, Bernard K. Rihn, Panos C. Panay, David W. Voth