Patents by Inventor Brian M. Collins

Brian M. Collins 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: 20160054863
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for view-selection feedback for a visual experience are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable writers, directors, and other story creators to create or alter visual experiences based on feedback provided by view selections made during visual experiences. This feedback can be analyzed to determine portions of a visual experience that users focused on, wanted to see more of, were not interested in, found difficult to understand, and so forth. With this feedback, visual experiences, such as live-action movies and animated shorts, can be created or improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Darren Mark Austin
  • Patent number: 9153065
    Abstract: A method carried out by a graphics processing apparatus samples a texture value of a first texture layer at an offset to a second texture layer of a surface and adjusts pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value such that an appearance of depth is created between the first texture layer and the second texture layer. The method may adjust the pixel color using the sampled texture value alpha component. Another method includes transforming a surface normal vector to eye space for a surface having at least first and second texture layers mapped thereto, determining an offset between the first texture layer and the second texture layer using the transformed surface normal vector, sampling a texture value of the first texture layer using the offset, and adjusting pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Brian M Collins, Allen Khorasani
  • Patent number: 9095294
    Abstract: A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Lamps, Brian M. Collins, Lauren R. Pusey
  • Patent number: 9095293
    Abstract: A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Lamps, Brian M. Collins, Lauren R. Pusey
  • Publication number: 20150023650
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for small-screen movie-watching using a viewport. These techniques enable viewers to experience movies and other media programs using a small screen as a viewport to the movie rather than dramatically compressing or cropping the movie to fit the small screen. A viewer may select whatever portion of the movie imagery he or she desires to experience through the small screen at a size sufficient to perceive details of plot elements and an environment in which the plot elements interact. Thus, the viewer may follow plot elements central to the plot while also exploring the environment that provides context for these plot elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Publication number: 20150026576
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for visual storytelling on a mobile media-consumption device are described. These techniques and apparatuses enable a user to view events central to the story while also viewing context for the story. By so doing, a user may enjoy the story as the story's author intended without sacrificing a user's ability to engage with the story's context.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Baback Elmieh, Darren Mark Austin, Brian M. Collins, Mark Jason Oftedal, Jan J. Pinkava, Douglas Paul Sweetland
  • Publication number: 20150022557
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling view-driven consumption of frameless media. These techniques and apparatuses provide frameless media and enable a user to engage with the frameless media by orienting a viewing device within the world created by that frameless media. This orienting by the user drives what the user sees in this world and when the user sees it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Darren Mark Austin, Baback Elmieh, Douglas Paul Sweetland, Brian M. Collins, Jan J. Pinkava
  • Patent number: 8840635
    Abstract: Improved lancet configurations and protective lancet endcap configurations are disclosed. In example forms, one or more flexing cantilevers project from the lancet body for coupling with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device. A gripping handle extends from a sterility cap for ease of removal from and replacement over the lancet tip. A lancet body has a smoothly curved wave contour with at least one crest and at least one trough for engagement with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Facet Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren R. Pusey, Brian M. Collins, Christopher J. Ruf, Nicholas H. Reaves, Jonathan W. Sanders
  • Patent number: 8821525
    Abstract: Improved lancet configurations and protective lancet endcap configurations are disclosed. In example forms, one or more flexing cantilevers project from the lancet body for coupling with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device. A gripping handle extends from a sterility cap for ease of removal from and replacement over the lancet tip. A lancet body has a smoothly curved wave contour with at least one crest and at least one trough for engagement with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Facet Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren R. Pusey, Brian M. Collins, Christopher J. Ruf, Nicholas H. Reaves, Jonathan W. Sanders
  • Publication number: 20140218364
    Abstract: A method carried out by a graphics processing apparatus samples a texture value of a first texture layer at an offset to a second texture layer of a surface and adjusts pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value such that an appearance of depth is created between the first texture layer and the second texture layer. The method may adjust the pixel color using the sampled texture value alpha component. Another method includes transforming a surface normal vector to eye space for a surface having at least first and second texture layers mapped thereto, determining an offset between the first texture layer and the second texture layer using the transformed surface normal vector, sampling a texture value of the first texture layer using the offset, and adjusting pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Collins, Allen Khorasani
  • Publication number: 20130194313
    Abstract: A method performed by a processor of a electronic device, including rendering (402), on an electronic display, a line segment having a first direction and moving in a second direction. The method also includes a step of determining (404) whether the direction of the line segment (the first direction) is in the same direction that the line segment is moving (the second direction). If the processor determines that the line segment is not moving in the same direction of the direction of the line segment (the first direction), then the processor performs (408) a first action, such as adjusting the color intensity of the line segment. If the processor determines that the line segment is moving in the same direction of the direction of the line segment (e.g., the two directions are substantially parallel to each other), then the processor performs (406) a second action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Sen Yang, Brian M. Collins, Daniel C. Wong, Zhiming Zhuang
  • Patent number: 8398664
    Abstract: A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Facet Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Lamps, Brian M. Collins, Lauren R. Pusey
  • Publication number: 20120174030
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for consistent navigation among higher-level and lower-level windows on a device's display screen. A user can consistently navigate from one higher-level window to another and use the same navigation tools to navigate among the lower-level windows (if any) within a higher-level window. Some embodiments present a set of small “overviews” to the user. Each overview corresponds to one of the higher-level windows. In addition to the set of overviews, a larger “preview” can be shown of the window with focus. If the window with focus contains lower-level windows, then the preview can include “snapshots” of those lower-level windows. In some embodiments, a “title bar” provides more information about the window with focus, such as the title of that window. When a lower-level window is currently active within the higher-level window with focus, the title bar can show information about that active lower-level window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA-MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventors: Nirmalya Barat, Brian M. Collins, Ansuman Tapan Satpathy
  • Publication number: 20120059402
    Abstract: Improved lancet configurations and protective lancet endcap configurations are disclosed. In example forms, one or more flexing cantilevers project from the lancet body for coupling with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device. A gripping handle extends from a sterility cap for ease of removal from and replacement over the lancet tip. A lancet body has a smoothly curved wave contour with at least one crest and at least one trough for engagement with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren R. PUSEY, Brian M. COLLINS, Christopher J. RUF, Nicholas H. REAVES, Jonathan W. SANDERS
  • Publication number: 20110196261
    Abstract: A lancing device having improved guidance features and a drive mechanism subassembly that is generically compatible with a variety of outer housing configurations, and an improved assembly method for fabricating a lancing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Avi M. ROBBINS, Gil KAN, Brian M. COLLINS, Christopher J. RUF
  • Publication number: 20110130782
    Abstract: An advancement mechanism of a lancing device operates to sequentially advance lancets in a cartridge. The advancement mechanism includes a rotary drive gear assembly with a first gear and a second gear that co-rotate in a first angular direction by operation of an inter-gear unidirectional drive mechanism such as a ratcheting mechanism. A second-gear unidirectional lock mechanism, such as a ratcheting mechanism, locks the second drive gear from co-rotating with the first drive gear in a second opposite angular direction without impeding rotation in the first direction. The second gear directly or indirectly rotationally drives a pinion gear, which rotationally drives a cartridge gear to advance the lancets in indexed increments for use. The first drive gear is rotated in the first and second directions by a rack gear of a translating operating handle. In addition, a rotary-gear cap-displacement mechanism and a rotary-gear charging/actuation mechanism are provided in other embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Gil KAN, Brian M. COLLINS, Gregory LAMPS
  • Publication number: 20110054510
    Abstract: A system and method for assembling a lancing device, and a lancing device fabricated according to such a system or method. A rotating disk is applied to a spring component and/or to a carrier component of the lancing device to mount the spring onto the carrier component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lauren R. PUSEY, Brian M. COLLINS
  • Publication number: 20100160943
    Abstract: A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory LAMPS, Brian M. COLLINS, Lauren R. PUSEY
  • Publication number: 20100160942
    Abstract: A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory LAMPS, Brian M. COLLINS, Lauren R. PUSEY
  • Publication number: 20100030249
    Abstract: Improved lancet configurations and protective lancet endcap configurations are disclosed. In example forms, one or more flexing cantilevers project from the lancet body for coupling with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device. A gripping handle extends from a sterility cap for ease of removal from and replacement over the lancet tip. A lancet body has a smoothly curved wave contour with at least one crest and at least one trough for engagement with a cooperating receiver of a lancing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Lauren R. PUSEY, Brian M. COLLINS, Christopher J. RUF, Nicholas H. REAVES, Jonathan W. SANDERS