Patents by Inventor Ben J. Sugden

Ben J. Sugden 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: 10955665
    Abstract: A see through head mounted display apparatus includes code performing a method of choosing and optimal viewing location and perspective for shared-view virtual objects rendered for multiple users in a common environment. Multiple objects and multiple users are taken into account in determining the optimal, common viewing location. The technology allows each user to have a common view if the relative position of the object in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Tom G. Salter, Ben J. Sugden, Daniel Deptford, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda
  • Patent number: 10643389
    Abstract: A system for allowing a virtual object to interact with other virtual objects across different spaces within an augmented reality (AR) environment and to transition between the different spaces is described. An AR environment may include a plurality of spaces, each comprising a bounded area or volume within the AR environment. In one example, an AR environment may be associated with a three-dimensional world space and a two-dimensional object space corresponding with a page of a book within the AR environment. A virtual object within the AR environment may be assigned to the object space and transition from the two-dimensional object space to the three-dimensional world space upon the detection of a space transition event. In some cases, a dual representation of the virtual object may be used to detect interactions between the virtual object and other virtual objects in both the world space and the object space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 10175483
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying virtual objects in a mixed reality environment in a way that is optimal and most comfortable for a user to interact with the virtual objects. When a user is not focused on the virtual object, which may be a heads-up display, or HUD, the HUD may remain body locked to the user. As such, the user may explore and interact with a mixed reality environment presented by the head mounted display device without interference from the HUD. When a user wishes to view and/or interact with the HUD, the user may look at the HUD. At this point, the HUD may change from a body locked virtual object to a world locked virtual object. The user is then able to view and interact with the HUD from different positions and perspectives of the HUD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Tom G. Salter, Ben J. Sugden, Daniel Deptford, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda
  • Patent number: 10139623
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the creation of a perspective-locked virtual object having in world space. The virtual object may be consumed) by another user with a consumption device at a location, position, and orientation which is the same as, or proximate to, the location, position, and orientation where the virtual object is created. Objects may have one, few or many allowable consumption locations, positions, and orientations defined by its creator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Keane, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Daniel Deptford, Tom G. Salter, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda
  • Patent number: 9606992
    Abstract: Technology is described for resource management based on data including image data of a resource captured by at least one capture device of at least one personal audiovisual (A/V) apparatus including a near-eye, augmented reality (AR) display. A resource is automatically identified from image data captured by at least one capture device of at least one personal A/V apparatus and object reference data. A location in which the resource is situated and a 3D space position or volume of the resource in the location is tracked. A property of the resource is also determined from the image data and tracked. A function of a resource may also be stored for determining whether the resource is usable for a task. Responsive to notification criteria for the resource being satisfied, image data related to the resource is displayed on the near-eye AR display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Jeffrey A. Kohler, Daniel J. McCulloch
  • Patent number: 9583032
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein to help a user navigate through large amounts of content while wearing a see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device such as a head mounted display (HMD). The user can use a physical object such as a book to navigate through content being presented in the HMD. In one embodiment, a book has markers on the pages that allow the system to organize the content. The book could have real content, but it could be blank other than the markers. As the user flips through the book, the system recognizes the markers and presents content associated with the respective marker in the HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Sheridan Martin Small, Stephen G. Latta
  • Patent number: 9524081
    Abstract: A system for generating and displaying holographic visual aids associated with a story to an end user of a head-mounted display device while the end user is reading the story or perceiving the story being read aloud is described. The story may be embodied within a reading object (e.g., a book) in which words of the story may be displayed to the end user. The holographic visual aids may include a predefined character animation that is synchronized to a portion of the story corresponding with the character being animated. A reading pace of a portion of the story may be used to control the playback speed of the predefined character animation in real-time such that the character is perceived to be lip-syncing the story being read aloud. In some cases, an existing book without predetermined AR tags may be augmented with holographic visual aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Keane, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Mathew J. Lamb, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 9498720
    Abstract: A game can be created, shared and played using a personal audio/visual apparatus such as a head-mounted display device (HMDD). Rules of the game, and a configuration of the game space, can be standard or custom. Boundary points of the game can be defined by a gaze direction of the HMDD, by the user's location, by a model of a physical game space such as an instrumented court or by a template. Players can be identified and notified of the availability of a game using a server push technology. For example, a user in a particular location may be notified of the availability of a game at that location. A server manages the game, including storing the rules, boundaries and a game state. The game state can identify players and their scores. Real world objects can be imaged and provided as virtual objects in the game space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A Geisner, Stephen G Latta, Ben J Sugden, Benjamin I Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Kathryn Stone Perez, Ryan L Hastings, Jason Scott, Darren A Bennett, John Clavin, Daniel McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20160292850
    Abstract: The technology described herein includes a see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device for providing customized experiences for a user. The system can be used in various entertainment, sports, shopping and theme-park situations to provide a mixed reality experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Kevin A. Geisner, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Jennifer A. Karr
  • Patent number: 9417692
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for rendering, in a see-through, near-eye mixed reality display, a virtual object within a virtual hole, window or cutout. The virtual hole, window or cutout may appear to be within some real world physical object such as a book, table, etc. The virtual object may appear to be just below the surface of the physical object. In a sense, the virtual world could be considered to be a virtual container that provides developers with additional locations for presenting virtual objects. For example, rather than rendering a virtual object, such as a lamp, in a mixed reality display such that appears to sit on top of a real world desk, the virtual object is rendered such that it appears to be located below the surface of the desk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Jeffrey Neil Margolis
  • Publication number: 20160210789
    Abstract: A system for allowing a virtual object to interact with other virtual objects across different spaces within an augmented reality (AR) environment and to transition between the different spaces is described. An AR environment may include a plurality of spaces, each comprising a bounded area or volume within the AR environment. In one example, an AR environment may be associated with a three-dimensional world space and a two-dimensional object space corresponding with a page of a book within the AR environment. A virtual object within the AR environment may be assigned to the object space and transition from the two-dimensional object space to the three-dimensional world space upon the detection of a space transition event. In some cases, a dual representation of the virtual object may be used to detect interactions between the virtual object and other virtual objects in both the world space and the object space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, JR., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 9384737
    Abstract: A system for generating one or more enhanced audio signals such that one or more sound levels corresponding with sounds received from one or more sources of sound within an environment may be dynamically adjusted based on contextual information is described. The one or more enhanced audio signals may be generated by a head-mounted display device (HMD) worn by an end user within the environment and outputted to earphones associated with the HMD such that the end user may listen to the one or more enhanced audio signals in real-time. In some cases, each of the one or more sources of sound may correspond with a priority level. The priority level may be dynamically assigned depending on whether the end user of the HMD is focusing on a particular source of sound or has specified a predetermined level of importance corresponding with the particular source of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 9355583
    Abstract: The technology described herein includes a see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device for providing customized experiences for a user. The personal A/V apparatus serves as an exercise program that is always with the user, provides motivation for the user, visually tells the user how to exercise, and lets the user exercise with other people who are not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 9345957
    Abstract: Technology is described for providing a personalized sport performance experience with three dimensional (3D) virtual data displayed by a near-eye, augmented reality display of a personal audiovisual (A/V) apparatus. A physical movement recommendation is determined for the user performing a sport based on skills data for the user for the sport, physical characteristics of the user, and 3D space positions for at least one or more sport objects. 3D virtual data depicting one or more visual guides for assisting the user in performing the physical movement recommendation may be displayed from a user perspective associated with a display field of view of the near-eye AR display. An avatar may also be displayed by the near-eye AR display performing a sport. The avatar may perform the sport interactively with the user or be displayed performing a prior performance of an individual represented by the avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, John Clavin
  • Patent number: 9329682
    Abstract: A head mounted display allows user selection of a virtual object through multi-step focusing by the user. Focus on the selectable object is determined and then a validation object is displayed. When user focus moves to the validation object, a timeout determines that a selection of the validation object, and thus the selectable object has occurred. The technology can be used in see through head mounted displays to allow a user to effectively navigate an environment with a multitude of virtual objects without unintended selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Keane, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Daniel Deptford, Tom G. Salter, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Ferianc Kamuda
  • Patent number: 9317971
    Abstract: A system for allowing a virtual object to interact with other virtual objects across different spaces within an augmented reality (AR) environment and to transition between the different spaces is described. An AR environment may include a plurality of spaces, each comprising a bounded area or volume within the AR environment. In one example, an AR environment may be associated with a three-dimensional world space and a two-dimensional object space corresponding with a page of a book within the AR environment. A virtual object within the AR environment may be assigned to the object space and transition from the two-dimensional object space to the three-dimensional world space upon the detection of a space transition event. In some cases, a dual representation of the virtual object may be used to detect interactions between the virtual object and other virtual objects in both the world space and the object space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 9286711
    Abstract: Technology is described for representing a physical location at a previous time period with three dimensional (3D) virtual data displayed by a near-eye, augmented reality display of a personal audiovisual (A/V) apparatus. The personal A/V apparatus is identified as being within the physical location, and one or more objects in a display field of view of the near-eye, augmented reality display are automatically identified based on a three dimensional mapping of objects in the physical location. User input, which may be natural user interface (NUI) input, indicates a previous time period, and one or more 3D virtual objects associated with the previous time period are displayed from a user perspective associated with the display field of view. An object may be erased from the display field of view, and a camera effect may be applied when changing between display fields of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, John Clavin, Jonathan T. Steed, Jason Scott
  • Patent number: 9285871
    Abstract: A system for generating an augmented reality environment in association with one or more attractions or exhibits is described. In some cases, a see-through head-mounted display device (HMD) may acquire one or more virtual objects from a supplemental information provider associated with a particular attraction. The one or more virtual objects may be based on whether an end user of the HMD is waiting in line for the particular attraction or is on (or in) the particular attraction. The supplemental information provider may vary the one or more virtual objects based on the end user's previous experiences with the particular attraction. The HMD may adapt the one or more virtual objects based on physiological feedback from the end user (e.g., if a child is scared). The supplemental information provider may also provide and automatically update a task list associated with the particular attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
  • Patent number: 9268406
    Abstract: Technology is described for providing a virtual spectator experience for a user of a personal A/V apparatus including a near-eye, augmented reality (AR) display. A position volume of an event object participating in an event in a first 3D coordinate system for a first location is received and mapped to a second position volume in a second 3D coordinate system at a second location remote from where the event is occurring. A display field of view of the near-eye AR display at the second location is determined, and real-time 3D virtual data representing the one or more event objects which are positioned within the display field of view are displayed in the near-eye AR display. A user may select a viewing position from which to view the event. Additionally, virtual data of a second user may be displayed at a position relative to a first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Michael J. Scavezze, Daniel J. McCulloch, Darren Bennett, Jason Scott, Ryan L. Hastings, Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Robert L. Crocco, Jr., Mathew J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 9245387
    Abstract: Methods for positioning virtual objects within an augmented reality environment using snap grid spaces associated with real-world environments, real-world objects, and/or virtual objects within the augmented reality environment are described. A snap grid space may comprise a two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space within an augmented reality environment in which one or more virtual objects may be positioned. In some embodiments, a head-mounted display device (HMD) may identify one or more grid spaces within an augmented reality environment, detect a positioning of a virtual object within the augmented reality environment, determine a target grid space of the one or more grid spaces in which to position the virtual object, determine a position of the virtual object within the target grid space, and display the virtual object within the augmented reality environment based on the position of the virtual object within the target grid space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Adam G. Poulos, Jason Scott, Matthew Kaplan, Christopher Obeso, Cameron G. Brown, Daniel J. McCulloch, Abby Lee, Brian J. Mount, Ben J. Sugden