Patents by Inventor Dan Morris

Dan Morris 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: 8892479
    Abstract: A machine learning model is trained by instructing a user to perform various predefined gestures, sampling signals from EMG sensors arranged arbitrarily on the user's forearm with respect to locations of muscles in the forearm, extracting feature samples from the sampled signals, labeling the feature samples according to the corresponding gestures instructed to be performed, and training the machine learning model with the labeled feature samples. Subsequently, gestures may be recognized using the trained machine learning model by sampling signals from the EMG sensors, extracting from the signals unlabeled feature samples of a same type as those extracted during the training, passing the unlabeled feature samples to the machine learning model, and outputting from the machine learning model indicia of a gesture classified by the machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney Tan, Dan Morris, T. Scott Saponas, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8686684
    Abstract: A charging station wirelessly transmits power to mobile electronic devices (MEDs) each having a planar-shaped receiver coil (RC) and a capacitor connected in parallel across the RC. The station includes a planar charging surface, a number of series-interconnected bank A source coils (SCs), a number of series-interconnected bank B SCs, and electronics for energizing the SCs. Each SC generates a flux field perpendicular to the charging surface. The bank A and bank B SCs are interleaved and alternately energized in a repeating duty cycle. The coils in each bank are also alternately wound in a different direction so that the fields cancel each other out in a far-field environment. Whenever an MED is placed in close proximity to the charging surface, the fields wirelessly induce power in the RC. The MEDs can have any two-dimensional orientation with respect to the charging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Turner, Scott Saponas, Desney Tan, Dan Morris
  • Publication number: 20130232095
    Abstract: A machine learning model is trained by instructing a user to perform various predefined gestures, sampling signals from EMG sensors arranged arbitrarily on the user's forearm with respect to locations of muscles in the forearm, extracting feature samples from the sampled signals, labeling the feature samples according to the corresponding gestures instructed to be performed, and training the machine learning model with the labeled feature samples. Subsequently, gestures may be recognized using the trained machine learning model by sampling signals from the EMG sensors, extracting from the signals unlabeled feature samples of a same type as those extracted during the training, passing the unlabeled feature samples to the machine learning model, and outputting from the machine learning model indicia of a gesture classified by the machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney Tan, Dan Morris, T. Scott Saponas, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8447704
    Abstract: A machine learning model is trained by instructing a user to perform proscribed gestures, sampling signals from EMG sensors arranged arbitrarily on the user's forearm with respect to locations of muscles in the forearm, extracting feature samples from the sampled signals, labeling the feature samples according to the corresponding gestures instructed to be performed, and training the machine learning model with the labeled feature samples. Subsequently, gestures may be recognized using the trained machine learning model by sampling signals from the EMG sensors, extracting from the signals unlabeled feature samples of a same type as those extracted during the training, passing the unlabeled feature samples to the machine learning model, and outputting from the machine learning model indicia of a gesture classified by the machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney Tan, Dan Morris, Scott Saponas, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8421634
    Abstract: Described is using the human body as an input mechanism to a computing device. A sensor set is coupled to part of a human body. The sensor set detects mechanical (e.g., bio-acoustic) energy transmitted through the body as a result of an action/performed by the body, such as a user finger tap or flick. The sensor output data (e.g., signals) are processed to determine what action was taken. For example, the gesture may be a finger tap, and the output data may indicate which finger was tapped, what surface the finger was tapped on, or where on the body the finger was tapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney S. Tan, Dan Morris, Christopher Harrison
  • Patent number: 8264455
    Abstract: Physical controls on a physical controller device (PCD) are dynamically mapped to application controls for an application being executed on a computer having a touch-sensitive display surface. The computer identifies a PCD which has been placed by a user on the display surface and displays a mapping aura for the PCD. When the user touches an activate direct-touch button displayed within the mapping aura, the computer activates a mapping procedure for the PCD and displays a highlighted direct-touch button over each application control which is available to be mapped to the physical controls on the PCD. When the user selects a particular application control which is available to be mapped by touching the highlighted button residing over the control, the computer creates a dynamic mapping between the selected application control and a user-selected physical control on the PCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Fiebrink, Dan Morris, Meredith Morris
  • Publication number: 20120188158
    Abstract: A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Desney Tan, T. Scott Saponas, Dan Morris, Jim Turner
  • Patent number: 8170656
    Abstract: A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney Tan, T. Scott Saponas, Dan Morris, Jim Turner
  • Patent number: 7985917
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for facilitating generation of an accompaniment for a recorded audio melody is described. A Hidden Markov Model, trained with blended chord transition matrices and melody observation matrices, is used for providing the accompaniment for the recorded audio melody. The recorded audio melody includes segments. Frequency analysis of the recorded audio melody is performed. The total duration of each fundamental frequency within a segment of the melody is summed. Based on the summing, a probability for each possible chord for each segment is computed. Based on the computed probabilities, a set of chords are selected for the segments. The chords are displayed on a chord chart of the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface facilitates various manipulations using the chords and/or controls, and generation of a new accompaniment for a recorded audio melody based on the manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Morris, Sumit Basu, Ian Simon
  • Publication number: 20110133934
    Abstract: Described is using the human body as an input mechanism to a computing device. A sensor set is coupled to part of a human body. The sensor set detects mechanical (e.g., bio-acoustic) energy transmitted through the body as a result of an action/performed by the body, such as a user finger tap or flick. The sensor output data (e.g., signals) are processed to determine what action was taken. For example, the gesture may be a finger tap, and the output data may indicate which finger was tapped, what surface the finger was tapped on, or where on the body the finger was tapped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney S. Tan, Dan Morris, Christopher Harrison
  • Publication number: 20100244767
    Abstract: A charging station wirelessly transmits power to mobile electronic devices (MEDs) each having a planar-shaped receiver coil (RC) and a capacitor connected in parallel across the RC. The station includes a planar charging surface, a number of series-interconnected bank A source coils (SCs), a number of series-interconnected bank B SCs, and electronics for energizing the SCs. Each SC generates a flux field perpendicular to the charging surface. The bank A and bank B SCs are interleaved and alternately energized in a repeating duty cycle. The coils in each bank are also alternately wound in a different direction so that the fields cancel each other out in a far-field environment. Whenever an MED is placed in close proximity to the charging surface, the fields wirelessly induce power in the RC. The MEDs can have any two-dimensional orientation with respect to the charging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Turner, Scott Saponas, Desney Tan, Dan Morris
  • Publication number: 20100194677
    Abstract: Physical controls on a physical controller device (PCD) are dynamically mapped to application controls for an application being executed on a computer having a touch-sensitive display surface. The computer identifies a PCD which has been placed by a user on the display surface and displays a mapping aura for the PCD. When the user touches an activate direct-touch button displayed within the mapping aura, the computer activates a mapping procedure for the PCD and displays a highlighted direct-touch button over each application control which is available to be mapped to the physical controls on the PCD. When the user selects a particular application control which is available to be mapped by touching the highlighted button residing over the control, the computer creates a dynamic mapping between the selected application control and a user-selected physical control on the PCD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Fiebrink, Dan Morris, Meredith Morris
  • Publication number: 20100192755
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for facilitating generation of an accompaniment for a recorded audio melody is described. A Hidden Markov Model, trained with blended chord transition matrices and melody observation matrices, is used for providing the accompaniment for the recorded audio melody. The recorded audio melody includes segments. Frequency analysis of the recorded audio melody is performed. The total duration of each fundamental frequency within a segment of the melody is summed. Based on the summing, a probability for each possible chord for each segment is computed. Based on the computed probabilities, a set of chords are selected for the segments. The chords are displayed on a chord chart of the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface facilitates various manipulations using the chords and/or controls, and generation of a new accompaniment for a recorded audio melody based on the manipulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Morris, Sumit Basu, Ian Simon
  • Patent number: 7705231
    Abstract: A method for generating an accompaniment for a recorded audio melody includes providing a recorded audio melody that includes segments; performing a frequency analysis of the recorded audio melody; summing the total duration of each fundamental frequency within a segment of the melody; based on the summing, computing a probability for each possible chord for each segment; based on the computed probabilities, selecting a set of chords for the segments; and outputting the set of chords as an accompaniment for the recorded audio melody. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Morris, Sumit Basu, Ian Simon
  • Publication number: 20090326406
    Abstract: A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Desney Tan, T. Scott Saponas, Dan Morris, Jim Turner
  • Publication number: 20090327171
    Abstract: A machine learning model is trained by instructing a user to perform proscribed gestures, sampling signals from EMG sensors arranged arbitrarily on the user's forearm with respect to locations of muscles in the forearm, extracting feature samples from the sampled signals, labeling the feature samples according to the corresponding gestures instructed to be performed, and training the machine learning model with the labeled feature samples. Subsequently, gestures may be recognized using the trained machine learning model by sampling signals from the EMG sensors, extracting from the signals unlabeled feature samples of a same type as those extracted during the training, passing the unlabeled feature samples to the machine learning model, and outputting from the machine learning model indicia of a gesture classified by the machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Desney Tan, Dan Morris, Scott Saponas, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20090064851
    Abstract: A method for generating an accompaniment for a recorded audio melody includes providing a recorded audio melody that includes segments; performing a frequency analysis of the recorded audio melody; summing the total duration of each fundamental frequency within a segment of the melody; based on the summing, computing a probability for each possible chord for each segment; based on the computed probabilities, selecting a set of chords for the segments; and outputting the set of chords as an accompaniment for the recorded audio melody. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc. are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Morris, Sumit Basu, Ian Simon
  • Publication number: 20080071440
    Abstract: A method and system of power management for a vehicle communication interface that provides a connection between a diagnostic tool and the vehicle is provided. Power for the vehicle communication interface may be provided by the vehicle or the diagnostic tool depending on the configuration of the interface and tool. The vehicle communication interface can detect a presence of vehicle power and operate in full power mode when the vehicle power is available. Alternatively, the vehicle communication interface can detect the absence of vehicle power, receive power from the diagnostic tool, and start out in low power mode. The interface can then request or negotiate via USB standards for additional power from the diagnostic tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Kam Patel, Dan Morris, Dennis Essenmacher, Rich Graham, Matt Roache
  • Patent number: 7334582
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward a magnetic valve reader used as an indicator tool. The magnetic valve reader determines a location and an orientation for a magnetic indicator device to indicate a device setting of an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes the magnetic indicator device coupled to a valve on the implantable medical device. External magnetic fields, specifically the Earth's magnetic field, may interfere with the compass and create an incorrect device setting indication. The electronic reader estimates the external magnetic fields to subtract the estimate from received data to minimize any influence that external magnetic field has on the accuracy of the device setting measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Bertrand, Lori C. Speckman, Robert Golden, Gary Sanders, Steve Vincent, Dan Morris