Patents by Inventor Steve J. Robbins

Steve J. Robbins 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: 9164290
    Abstract: Grating configurations are described for creating time sequenced field of view (FOV) tiles for a waveguide display. Pairings of non-output diffraction gratings and output diffraction gratings are activated to create a number of FOV tiles in a time sequence, for example in a frame update period for the image. Examples of a non-output grating are an input grating and a fold grating. For a set of at least three gratings used to make the pairings, each non-output grating is paired with each output grating. The number of pairings, and so the number of FOV tiles, is equal to a product of the total number of non-output gratings and the total number of output gratings. At least one diffraction grating in the pairing is an active pairing. Also described is a multiplexed diffraction grating including multiplexed K-vectors which increases the overall angular bandwidth for both incidence and diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve J. Robbins, Ian A. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150125109
    Abstract: Grating configurations are described for creating time sequenced field of view (FOV) tiles for a waveguide display. Pairings of non-output diffraction gratings and output diffraction gratings are activated to create a number of FOV tiles in a time sequence, for example in a frame update period for the image. Examples of a non-output grating are an input grating and a fold grating. For a set of at least three gratings used to make the pairings, each non-output grating is paired with each output grating. The number of pairings, and so the number of FOV tiles, is equal to a product of the total number of non-output gratings and the total number of output gratings. At least one diffraction grating in the pairing is an active pairing. Also described is a multiplexed diffraction grating including multiplexed K-vectors which increases the overall angular bandwidth for both incidence and diffraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Steve J. Robbins, Ian A. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8937771
    Abstract: A prism eye piece and optical system including a prism eye piece and microdisplay are described herein. The prism eye piece may include three prisms. A main body prism has a surface that receives light from a source such as a microdisplay. Another prism has a surface that receives light from a source such as the real world. Both of these images are projected through a surface of still another prism that is proximate to an exit pupil. The surface of the prism proximate the exit pupil may be flat. Also the surface of the prism that receives light from a source such as the real world may be flat. These flat surfaces may be parallel to each other. This allows the light from the real world to be transmitted to the exit pupil without distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Steve J. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8873149
    Abstract: Technology is described for a projection optical system which optically couples image light from an image source to a near-eye display (NED) of a wearable near-eye display device. The projection optical system and the image source make up a projection light engine. Light from the image source is directed to a birdbath reflective optical element which is immersed in high index glass. The image light is reflected and collimated by the birdbath element and travels outside a housing of the projection light engine forming an external exit pupil, meaning the exit pupil is external to the projection light engine. A waveguide optically couples the image light of the external exit pupil. An example of a waveguide which can be used is a surface relief grating waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Ned Nestorovic, Steve J. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20140211322
    Abstract: Technology is described for a projection optical system which optically couples image light from an image source to a near-eye display (NED) of a wearable near-eye display device. The projection optical system and the image source make up a projection light engine. Light from the image source is directed to a birdbath reflective optical element which is immersed in high index glass. The image light is reflected and collimated by the birdbath element and travels outside a housing of the projection light engine forming an external exit pupil, meaning the exit pupil is external to the projection light engine. A waveguide optically couples the image light of the external exit pupil. An example of a waveguide which can be used is a surface relief grating waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Ned Nestorovic, Steve J. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20140160576
    Abstract: A prism eye piece and optical system including a prism eye piece and microdisplay are described herein. The prism eye piece may include three prisms. A main body prism has a surface that receives light from a source such as a microdisplay. Another prism has a surface that receives light from a source such as the real world. Both of these images are projected through a surface of still another prism that is proximate to an exit pupil. The surface of the prism proximate the exit pupil may be flat. Also the surface of the prism that receives light from a source such as the real world may be flat. These flat surfaces may be parallel to each other. This allows the light from the real world to be transmitted to the exit pupil without distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Steve J. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20140146394
    Abstract: Technology is described for a peripheral display for use with a near-eye display device. The peripheral display is positioned by a near-eye support structure of the near-eye display device for directing a visual representation of an object towards a side of an eye area associated with the near-eye display device. The peripheral display has a lower resolution than a resolution of a front display of the near-eye display device. The peripheral display may include a Fresnel structure. The peripheral display may be used for augmented reality, virtual reality and enhanced vision applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Nigel David Tout, Steve J. Robbins
  • Patent number: 6088424
    Abstract: A videofluoroscopy device having a rotatable and vertically moveable c-arm, with an x-ray device mounted thereupon, is connected to a system for producing a picture-in-a-picture (PIP) real time motion x-ray image. A video camera mounted on the videofluoroscopy device c-arm, proximal to the x-ray device, permits an operator to view an external picture of the patient while simultaneously viewing the x-ray image. An electrical circuit coupled to the system converts the two video signals into one PIP image. The single PIP image can be recorded on video tape and/or viewed on a monitor. In the preferred embodiment, the "full-screen" image is the motion z-ray image while the overlaid smaller image, placed in a box in the corner of the video frame, is that of an external view of the patient corresponding to the portion of the body being x-rayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: VF Works, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Postlethwaite, Steve J. Robbins