Patents by Inventor David D. Bohn

David D. Bohn 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: 20140168735
    Abstract: Embodiments related near-eye display devices having angularly multiplexed holograms are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a near-eye display device including an image source, a waveguide, and a controller. The waveguide is configured to propagate light received the image source to a user of the near-eye display device, and includes a holographic grating comprising a plurality of angularly multiplexed holograms. The controller is configured to control display of an image via the image source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Sheng Yuan, Ian Nguyen, Steve Robbins, David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 8736963
    Abstract: A near-eye display system includes an image former and first and second series of mutually parallel beamsplitters. The image former is configured to form a display image and to release the display image through an exit pupil. The first series of mutually parallel beamsplitters is arranged to receive the display image from the image former. The second series of mutually parallel beamsplitters is arranged to receive the display image from the first series of beamsplitters, and to release the display image through an exit pupil longer and wider than that of the image former. The second series of beamsplitters has a different alignment and a different orientation than the first series of beamsplitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Robbins, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20140104685
    Abstract: In embodiments of eyebox adjustment for interpupillary distance, a first optical lens receives light of an image at a projected orientation of the light, and deviates the light by a deviation angle from the projected orientation of the light. A second optical lens receives the deviated light of the image from the first optical lens at the deviation angle, and alters the deviated light back to the projected orientation of the light for viewing the image. Left and right eyeboxes align with respective left and right eyes that view the image, and a distance between the left and right eyeboxes approximately correlates to an interpupillary distance between the left and right eyes. The light of the image can be laterally shifted to increase or decrease the distance between the left and right eyeboxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck, Steven John Robbins
  • Publication number: 20140064655
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing uniform color distribution of light emitted from a light source to an eye box in a near eye display (NED). An example of the system and method uses an optical element including two or more waveguides optimized to different colors of the visible light spectrum. The optical element further includes one or more polarization state generators for controlling the polarization of light incident on the waveguides to facilitate coupling of light into a matched waveguide, and to impede coupling of light into unmatched waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Ian A. Nguyen, Tapani Levola, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20140062883
    Abstract: A scroll wheel assembly for computer input device having a housing. The scroll wheel assembly includes a housing and an engagable scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is rotatable with a shaft to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The scroll wheel is laterally tiltable relative to the housing and the shaft. A sensor is preferably positioned within the housing for sensing tilting of the rotatable member. In response to sensed tilting movement of the rotatable member, the image is horizontally scrolled, preferably in the direction of the lateral movement. The computer input device having the rotatable member may take the form of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball device, or another type of computer input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20140049471
    Abstract: Architecture for managing clutch height in an optical navigational device such as a computer mouse. In one embodiment for a mouse, a feature can be molded into the bottom case that limits the clutch height by occluding the reflected light to the image sensor when the device is lifted from the tracking surface. Tracking is disabled when the clutch height threshold is exceeded, and re-enabled when the device is brought under the distance clutch height threshold. The device includes firmware controlled algorithm adjustments to one or more correlation parameters. User interfaces may also be employed to implement various aspects of the embodiments discussed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Marshall T. DePue, David M. Lane, Steve E. Klein, Brian L. Hastings, David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 8638498
    Abstract: In embodiments of eyebox adjustment for interpupillary distance, a first optical lens receives light of an image from a display optic at a projected orientation of the light, and the first optical lens deviates the light of the image by a deviation angle from the projected orientation of the light. A second optical lens receives the light of the image from the first optical lens at the deviation angle, and the second optical lens alters the deviated light of the image back to the projected orientation of the light for viewing the image. Left and right eyeboxes align with respective left and right eyes that view the image, and a distance between the left and right eyeboxes approximately correlates to an interpupillary distance between the left and right eyes. The light of the image can be laterally shifted to increase or decrease the distance between the left and right eyeboxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck, Steven John Robbins
  • Publication number: 20130335302
    Abstract: In embodiments of selective illumination, an illumination system includes light sources implemented for selective illumination of a target within a field of view of an imaging system. The illumination system also includes optics that can be positioned to direct light that is generated by a subset of the light sources to illuminate a region within the field of view. An imaging application can activate the subset of the light sources and position the optics to illuminate the region within the field of view that includes the target of the selective illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Randall T. Crane, David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck
  • Publication number: 20130335546
    Abstract: In embodiments of selective imaging, an imaging system includes an imaging sensor implemented to capture an image of a target within a field of view of the imaging system. The imaging sensor is divided into zones of pixel arrays. The imaging system also includes optics that can be positioned to direct light of the image at a zone of the imaging sensor. An imaging application can position the optics to direct the light at the zone of the imaging sensor and activate the zone of the imaging sensor to capture the image of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Randall T. Crane, David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck
  • Publication number: 20130335671
    Abstract: In embodiments of active reflective surfaces, an imaging structure includes a circuit control layer that controls pixel activation to emit light. A reflective layer of the imaging structure reflects input light from an illumination source. An active color conversion material that is formed on the reflective layer converts the input light to the emitted light. The active color conversion material can be implemented as a phosphorus material or quantum dot material that converts the input light to the emitted light, and in embodiments, the active color conversion material is laminated directly on the reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Rod G. Fleck, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130314793
    Abstract: In embodiments of waveguide optics focus elements, an imaging structure includes a waveguide for viewing of an environment that is viewable with the imaging structure. The waveguide transmits light of a virtual image that is generated to appear as part of the environment for augmented-reality imaging or virtual-reality imaging. The imaging structure also includes one or more focus elements that are integrated in the waveguide and switchable to focus the virtual image at a focus depth that approximately correlates to a focal distance of the environment. The focus elements can each be implemented for a different focus depth of the virtual image, and the focus depth is adjustable based on a combination of the focus elements being switched-on or switched-off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Steven John Robbins, Ian Anh Nguyen, David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 8570194
    Abstract: Architecture for managing clutch height in an optical navigational device such as a computer mouse. In one embodiment for a mouse, a feature can be molded into the bottom case that limits the clutch height by occluding the reflected light to the image sensor when the device is lifted from the tracking surface. Tracking is disabled when the clutch height threshold is exceeded, and re-enabled when the device is brought under the distance clutch height threshold. The device includes firmware controlled algorithm adjustments to one or more correlation parameters. When employing a D-shaped aperture, a threshold can be placed on the z-axis height tracking distance using dimensional characteristics of the shaped aperture, such as a knife-edge (the straight portion of the ā€œDā€ shaped aperture), to impose a shadow across the image sensor. The aperture can be custom designed to occlude a portion of the emitted light from an LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Marshall T DePue, David M Lane, Stephan C Klein, Brian L Hastings, David D Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130250207
    Abstract: An imaging panel includes a light source, a reflective image-forming array, and a freeform-prism eyepiece. The light source includes a light emitter and a waveguide having a grating. The waveguide is configured to confine the light from the light emitter and to release the light through the grating. The reflective image-forming array is configured to form a display image using light from the light source and to reflect the display image back through the waveguide. The freeform-prism eyepiece configured to receive the display image and to present the display image for viewing, together with an external image transmitted through the eyepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130250431
    Abstract: A near-eye display system includes an image former and first and second series of mutually parallel beamsplitters. The image former is configured to form a display image and to release the display image through an exit pupil. The first series of mutually parallel beamsplitters is arranged to receive the display image from the image former. The second series of mutually parallel beamsplitters is arranged to receive the display image from the first series of beamsplitters, and to release the display image through an exit pupil longer and wider than that of the image former. The second series of beamsplitters has a different alignment and a different orientation than the first series of beamsplitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Steve Robbins, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130250430
    Abstract: A near-eye display system includes an image former and a waveguide. The image former is configured to form a display image and to release the display image through a first exit pupil. The waveguide presents a back surface that faces the wearer's eye, and a front surface opposite the back surface. The waveguide is substantially transparent to external imagery received normal to the front surface, and is configured to receive the display image from the image former and to release the display image through a second exit pupil, which is larger than the first exit pupil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Steve Robbins, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130242056
    Abstract: In embodiments of imaging structure emitter calibration, an imaging unit includes an emitter structure that direct emits light, and optics direct the light along a light path in the imaging unit to illuminate a projection surface. A reflective panel reflects a portion of the light to illuminate a light sensor. An imaging application receives the sensor data from the light sensor, where the sensor data corresponds to emitted light output from the emitter structure. The imaging application can then initiate a calibration input to the emitter structure to adjust the emitted light output from the emitter structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Rod G. Fleck, David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 8525777
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to computer mice configured to track motion on smooth surfaces. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides an optical mouse comprising a light source configured to illuminate a tracking surface, an image sensor, and an array of lenses configured to superimpose a plurality of images of spatially different areas of the tracking surface onto the image sensor. The optical mouse further comprises a controller configured to receive a plurality of time-sequenced frames of image data from the image sensor, to detect motion of the mouse on the tracking surface from movement of one or more tracking features in the plurality of time-sequenced frames of image data, and to output a motion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, David D. Bohn
  • Publication number: 20130208482
    Abstract: In embodiments of imaging structure color conversion, an imaging structure includes a silicon backplane with a driver pad array. An embedded light source is formed on the driver pad array in an emitter material layer, and the embedded light source emits light in a first color. A conductive material layer over the embedded light source forms a p-n junction between the emitter material layer and the conductive material layer. A color conversion layer can then convert a portion of the first color to at least a second color. Further, micro lens optics can be implemented to direct the light that is emitted through the color conversion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Rod G. Fleck, David D. Bohn, Andreas G. Nowatzyk
  • Publication number: 20130208003
    Abstract: In embodiments of imaging structure emitter configurations, an imaging structure includes a silicon backplane with a driver pad array. The embedded light sources are formed on the driver pad array in an emitter material layer, and the embedded light sources can be individually controlled at the driver pad array to generate and emit light. The embedded light sources are configured in multiple rows for scanning by an imaging unit to generate a scanned image for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck
  • Publication number: 20130208014
    Abstract: A blocking image generating system including a head-mounted display device having an opacity layer and related methods are disclosed. A method may include receiving a virtual image to be presented by display optics in the head-mounted display device. Lighting information and an eye-position parameter may be received from an optical sensor system in the head-mounted display device. A blocking image may be generated in the opacity layer of the head-mounted display device based on the lighting information and the virtual image. The location of the blocking image in the opacity layer may be adjusted based on the eye-position parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Rod G. Fleck, David D. Bohn, Stephen Latta, Julia Meinershagen, Sebastian Sylvan, Brian McDowell, Jeff Cole, Jeffrey Alan Kohler