Patents by Inventor David Zachris Nister

David Zachris Nister 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: 9946339
    Abstract: A method to furnish input representing gaze direction in a computer system operatively coupled to a vision system. In this method, a first image of an eye at a first level of illumination is acquired by a camera of the vision system. The first image is obtained from the camera, and a second image of the eye corresponding to a second, different level of illumination is also obtained. Brightness of corresponding pixels of the first and second images is compared in order to distinguish a reflection of the illumination by the eye from a reflection of the illumination by eyewear. The input is then furnished based on the reflection of the illumination by the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Huimin Guo, Ibrahim Eden, Vaibhav Thukral, David Zachris Nister
  • Patent number: 9773170
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining an estimated pupil region of an eye are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving an image of an eye, with the image comprising a plurality of pixels. A rough pupil region is generated using at least a subset of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of pupil boundary point candidates are extracted from the rough pupil region, with each of the candidates weighted based on color values of at least two neighbor pixels. A parametric curve may be fitted to the weighted pupil boundary point candidates to determine the estimated pupil region of the eye of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Milan Vugdelija, Djordje Nijemcevic, David Zachris Nister, Christopher Maurice Mei, Chandra Sekhar Gatla
  • Patent number: 9465991
    Abstract: Embodiments relating to determining characteristics of eyeglass lenses are disclosed. A head-mounted display device comprises a camera communicatively coupled to a computing device and including an optical axis having a center point. Light sources are configured to emit light rays toward the lens to produce lens glints. The light sources are in a light source plane that is spaced from a lens plane by an offset distance of between 8 mm and 12 mm. The light sources are either spaced vertically from a line perpendicular to the light source plane and extending through the center point by a distance between 13 mm and 53 mm, or spaced horizontally from the line by a distance of between 13 mm and 80 mm. Lens characterization program logic identifies an image location of each lens glint, and outputs an estimated lens shape model comprising the one or more lens characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Maurice Mei, David Zachris Nister
  • Publication number: 20160259961
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining an estimated pupil region of an eye are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving an image of an eye, with the image comprising a plurality of pixels. A rough pupil region is generated using at least a subset of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of pupil boundary point candidates are extracted from the rough pupil region, with each of the candidates weighted based on color values of at least two neighbor pixels. A parametric curve may be fitted to the weighted pupil boundary point candidates to determine the estimated pupil region of the eye of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Milan Vugdelija, Djordje Nijemcevic, David Zachris Nister, Christopher Maurice Mei, Chandra Sekhar Gatla
  • Patent number: 9355315
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining an estimated pupil region of an eye are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving an image of an eye, with the image comprising a plurality of pixels. A rough pupil region is generated using at least a subset of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of pupil boundary point candidates are extracted from the rough pupil region, with each of the candidates weighted based on color values of at least two neighbor pixels. A parametric curve may be fitted to the weighted pupil boundary point candidates to determine the estimated pupil region of the eye of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Milan Vugdelija, Djordje Nijemcevic, David Zachris Nister, Christopher Maurice Mei, Chandra Sekhar Gatla
  • Publication number: 20160103484
    Abstract: A method to furnish input representing gaze direction in a computer system operatively coupled to a vision system. In this method, a first image of an eye at a first level of illumination is acquired by a camera of the vision system. The first image is obtained from the camera, and a second image of the eye corresponding to a second, different level of illumination is also obtained. Brightness of corresponding pixels of the first and second images is compared in order to distinguish a reflection of the illumination by the eye from a reflection of the illumination by eyewear. The input is then furnished based on the reflection of the illumination by the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Huimin Guo, Ibrahim Eden, Vaibhav Thukral, David Zachris Nister
  • Publication number: 20160042221
    Abstract: Embodiments relating to determining characteristics of eyeglass lenses are disclosed. A head-mounted display device comprises a camera communicatively coupled to a computing device and including an optical axis having a center point. Light sources are configured to emit light rays toward the lens to produce lens glints. The light sources are in a light source plane that is spaced from a lens plane by an offset distance of between 8 mm and 12 mm. The light sources are either spaced vertically from a line perpendicular to the light source plane and extending through the center point by a distance between 13 mm and 53 mm, or spaced horizontally from the line by a distance of between 13 mm and 80 mm. Lens characterization program logic identifies an image location of each lens glint, and outputs an estimated lens shape model comprising the one or more lens characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Maurice Mei, David Zachris Nister
  • Publication number: 20160026847
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to determining an estimated pupil region of an eye are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving an image of an eye, with the image comprising a plurality of pixels. A rough pupil region is generated using at least a subset of the plurality of pixels. A plurality of pupil boundary point candidates are extracted from the rough pupil region, with each of the candidates weighted based on color values of at least two neighbor pixels. A parametric curve may be fitted to the weighted pupil boundary point candidates to determine the estimated pupil region of the eye of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Milan Vugdelija, Djordje Nijemcevic, David Zachris Nister, Christopher Maurice Mei, Chandra Sekhar Gatla