Patents by Inventor W. Hillis

W. Hillis 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).

  • Publication number: 20070017172
    Abstract: A space division system (100) is disclosed, with the space division system (100) incorporating technology. The space division system (100) is disclosed as having a space divider (102) vertically suspended from a rail system (104). The rail system (104) includes a rail (106) with a pair of hanger clips (108) releasably secured to the rail (106) and capable of being moved along a continuum of the length of the rail (106). In one embodiment, the space divider (102) includes a main body (114) consisting of an opaque fabric. Associated with the main body (114) is lighting technology including a series of LED lights (116). Arrow lights (118) may be activated in an appropriate manner for emergency or other purposes. Color changing is also provided for purposes of wayfinding, signaling occupant activities or other external or internal circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Sheila Kennedy, Bill Yen, Joseph Ho, Senan Choe, Robert Insalaco, W. Hillis, Russel Howe, Kenneth Munsch
  • Publication number: 20070019272
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Roderick Hyde, Muriel Ishikawa, Edward Jung, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20070019157
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Roderick Hyde, Muriel Ishikawa, Edward Jung, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20070010757
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modifying or enhancing vision are described. In exemplary embodiments, neural or neuromuscular activity is analyzed to determine a focus or other quality of a visual input, and the focus or quality information used as a basis for controlling an adjustable lens system or optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Searete LLC
    Inventors: Eleanor Goodall, W. Hillis, Roderick Hyde, Muriel Ishikawa, Edward Jung, Nathan Myhrvold, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20070010868
    Abstract: Embodiments of a lumenally-active system and method of use and control thereof are disclosed. According to various embodiments, a lumenally-active device is positioned in a body lumen of an organism, where the device may sense a parameter of a fluid in the body lumen and perform an action on the fluid. Control logic and/or circuitry may be located on the device, or the system may include a separate control module. Liquid or gaseous fluids may be treated by embodiments of the device. Actions may include, for example, modification of a body fluid by addition or removal of a material, or by modification of a property of a body fluid or a component thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, W. Hillis, Roderick Hyde, Muriel Ishikawa, Edward Jung, Nathan Myhrvold, Elizabeth Sweeney, Clarence Tegreene, Richa Wilson, Lowell Wood, Victoria Wood
  • Publication number: 20070000201
    Abstract: A ceiling system (100) is disclosed, and illustrated in various embodiments as may be utilized within an architectural interior (102). The ceiling system (100) includes shielding elements (116) supported through the use of parallel and spaced apart rails (118). The rails are suspended through the use of suspension cables (121) to overhead building supports. The shielding elements (116) include coverings (121) of varying translucence for a series of LED lighting modules (122) or other lighting elements. The varying degrees of translucency of the shielding elements (116) provides for adjustment of intensity and diffusion of lighting projecting from the LED lighting modules (122) or other lighting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Sheila Kennedy, Senan Choe, W. Hillis, Russei Howe, Waltraud Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20060288313
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying gestures performed by a user to control an interactive display. The gestures are identified based on a bounding box enclosing the points at which a user contacts a touch sensor corresponding with the display surface. The invention thus permits the use of inexpensive and highly reliable grid-based touch sensors that provide a bounding box to describe contact information. In identifying the gestures, the position, motion, shape, and deformation of the bounding box may all be considered. In particular, the center, width, height, aspect ratio, length of the diagonal, and orientation of the diagonal of the bounding box may be determined. A stretch factor, defined as the maximum of the ratio of the height of the bounding box to the width of the bounding box and the ratio of the width of the bounding box to the height of the bounding box, may also be computed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventor: W. Hillis
  • Publication number: 20060273982
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for constructing and utilizing displays constructed from superimposed display subunits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060274046
    Abstract: The invention provides an interactive display that is controlled by user gestures identified on a touch detecting display surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, imagery is projected onto a horizontal projection surface from a projector located above the projection surface. The locations where a user contacts the projection surface are detected using a set of infrared emitters and receivers arrayed around the perimeter of the projection surface. For each contact location, a computer software application stores a history of contact position information and, from the position history, determines a velocity for each contact location. Based upon the position history and the velocity information, gestures are identified. The identified gestures are associated with display commands that are executed to update the displayed imagery accordingly. Thus, the invention enables users to control the display through direct physical interaction with the imagery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Bran Ferren, Ryan McKinley
  • Publication number: 20060268419
    Abstract: A system constructs a composite image using focus assessment information of image regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: Searete LLC
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060264144
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light emitting elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light emitting and self-organizing characteristics may be used during display assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood, Victoria Wood
  • Publication number: 20060247924
    Abstract: A simple and efficient method for producing an obfuscated speech signal which may be used to mask a stream of speech, is disclosed. A speech signal representing the speech stream to be masked is obtained. The speech signal is then temporally partitioned into segments, preferably corresponding to phonemes within the speech stream. The segments are then stored in a memory, and some or all of the segments are subsequently selected, retrieved, and assembled into an obfuscated speech signal representing an unintelligible speech stream that, when combined with the speech signal or reproduced and combined with the speech stream, provides a masking effect. While the presently preferred embodiment finds application most readily in an open plan office, embodiments suitable for use in restaurants, classrooms, and in telecommunications systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Bran Ferren, Russel Howe
  • Publication number: 20060239688
    Abstract: An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060238464
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for constructing and utilizing displays constructed from superimposed display subunits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060239686
    Abstract: An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060220988
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light-modulating elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light-modulating and self-assembling characteristics may be used during display assembly and operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Victoria Wood, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060220989
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light-modulating elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light-modulating and self-assembling characteristics may be used during display assembly and operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Victoria Wood, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060210279
    Abstract: An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood
  • Publication number: 20060202944
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light emitting elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light emitting and self-organizing characteristics may be used during display assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood, Victoria Wood
  • Publication number: 20060202943
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light emitting elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light emitting and self-organizing characteristics may be used during display assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: W. Hillis, Nathan Myhrvold, Clarence Tegreene, Lowell Wood, Victoria Wood