Patents by Inventor Dennis Toms

Dennis Toms 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: 10258880
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer readable instructions are disclosed herein for dynamically allocating fixed bandwidth over a wireless link between a video game console and a wireless peripheral device. In an embodiment, the voice sample rate in a wireless microphone may be dynamically adjusted to free up bandwidth that can be repurposed for other operations. The sample rate adjustment can range from maximum where the bandwidth is filled with voice data to a lesser sample rate. In the case where the sample rate is less than max, the freed up bandwidth can be for used for other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Tom, Loren Reas, Eric Filer
  • Patent number: 9563233
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an electronic component configured to receive electric current and a plated contact electrically coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the device. The plated contact includes a copper-alloy layer, a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated over the copper-alloy layer, and a gold-alloy layer plated over the PGM layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Thomas McCormack, Anthony Allen Fischer, Raj Master, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, Zulfiqar Alam
  • Publication number: 20160206956
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer readable instructions are disclosed herein for dynamically allocating fixed bandwidth over a wireless link between a video game console and a wireless peripheral device. In an embodiment, the voice sample rate in a wireless microphone may be dynamically adjusted to free up bandwidth that can be repurposed for other operations. The sample rate adjustment can range from maximum where the bandwidth is filled with voice data to a lesser sample rate. In the case where the sample rate is less than max, the freed up bandwidth can be for used for other operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Dennis Tom, Loren Reas, Eric Filer
  • Patent number: 9327193
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer readable instructions are disclosed herein for dynamically allocating fixed bandwidth over a wireless link between a video game console and a wireless peripheral device. In an embodiment, the voice sample rate in a wireless microphone may be dynamically adjusted to free up bandwidth that can be repurposed for other operations. The sample rate adjustment can range from maximum where the bandwidth is filled with voice data to a lesser sample rate. In the case where the sample rate is less than max, the freed up bandwidth can be for used for other operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Tom, Loren D. Reas, Eric Filer
  • Publication number: 20160074706
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device includes a sensor array with one or more sensors configured to measure physical activity attributes of a user. A controller automatically determines time intervals where the user is actively engaged in a physical activity based on the physical activity attributes. The controller also automatically determines a type of physical activity the user in actively engaged in during the determined time intervals based on the physical activity attributes. A reporter outputs information regarding the type of physical activity to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Publication number: 20160048159
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an electronic component configured to receive electric current and a plated contact electrically coupled to the electronic component and configured to carry the electric current to the electronic component from a system external to the device. The plated contact includes a copper-alloy layer, a platinum-group metal (PGM) layer plated over the copper-alloy layer, and a gold-alloy layer plated over the PGM layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Thomas McCormack, Anthony Allen Fischer, Raj Master, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, Zulfiqar Alam
  • Patent number: 9174084
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device includes a sensor array with one or more sensors configured to measure physical activity attributes of a user. A controller automatically determines time intervals where the user is actively engaged in a physical activity based on the physical activity attributes. The controller also automatically determines a type of physical activity the user in actively engaged in during the determined time intervals based on the physical activity attributes. A reporter outputs information regarding the type of physical activity to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Patent number: 8951165
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device receives a workout regimen including a plurality of exercises. For each of the plurality of exercises, the physical activity monitoring device indicates that exercise to a user and measures physical activity attributes of the user. The physical activity monitoring device outputs information regarding the user's progress towards completion of that exercise based on the physical activity attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Patent number: 8951164
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device receives an indication of one or more physical activities to be performed as an extension of a game being played on a game system and measures physical activity attributes of a user wearing the physical activity monitoring device. The physical activity monitoring device determines the user's progress towards completion of the one or more physical activities based on the physical activity attributes and outputs to the game device an indication of the user's progress towards completion of the one or more physical activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Patent number: 8879748
    Abstract: A wireless audio client device such as a headset worn by a user allows the user to talk with multiple other devices using different communication protocols. In one approach, the wireless audio client device is a slave device which pairs with multiple master devices such as a game console and cell phone. The wireless audio client device uses a common set of peripherals such as a speaker, microphone, RF antenna, battery, status lights and control buttons. Processing circuitry is provided in one or more chips, to handle the different communication protocols. The wireless audio client device can automatically interrupt a game chat to allow the user to accept an incoming phone call, or can prompt the user to accept the call. Or, the wireless audio client device can play audio from the cell phone while the game chat continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Zulfigar Alam, Brian Bilodeau, Dennis Tom, Carlos Manzanedo
  • Publication number: 20140257534
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device receives an indication of one or more physical activities to be performed as an extension of a game being played on a game system and measures physical activity attributes of a user wearing the physical activity monitoring device. The physical activity monitoring device determines the user's progress towards completion of the one or more physical activities based on the physical activity attributes and outputs to the game device an indication of the user's progress towards completion of the one or more physical activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Publication number: 20140257535
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device receives a workout regimen including a plurality of exercises. For each of the plurality of exercises, the physical activity monitoring device indicates that exercise to a user and measures physical activity attributes of the user. The physical activity monitoring device outputs information regarding the user's progress towards completion of that exercise based on the physical activity attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Publication number: 20140257533
    Abstract: A physical activity monitoring device includes a sensor array with one or more sensors configured to measure physical activity attributes of a user. A controller automatically determines time intervals where the user is actively engaged in a physical activity based on the physical activity attributes. The controller also automatically determines a type of physical activity the user in actively engaged in during the determined time intervals based on the physical activity attributes. A reporter outputs information regarding the type of physical activity to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Morris, Ilya Kelner, Farah Shariff, Dennis Tom, T. Scott Saponas, Andrew Guillory
  • Patent number: 8638450
    Abstract: A simplified system and method for synchronizing a three dimensional digitizers is disclosed. Various three dimensional digitizers utilize detected light sequences received from a probe as a synchronization signal negating the need for complex synchronization circuitry and communication signals. One embodiment utilizes no transmitted synchronization signal, but relies on embedded, high-stability clocks to maintain synchronization after initial one-time synchronization of the clocks. In this manner the design of the three dimensional digitizer may be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Boulder Innovation Group Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Faul, Dennis Toms
  • Patent number: 8294082
    Abstract: A probe for use in a coordinate digitizing system includes an indicator, such as a pointing tip or crosshairs, and a marker, the location of which can be determined by a marker tracking system relative to a coordinate system. The probe is configured to effectively place the marker's virtual image—as seen by the tracker—at the same location as the indicator without blocking a user's view of the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Boulder Innovation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Juris George Melkis, Ivan Faul, Dennis Toms
  • Publication number: 20120237053
    Abstract: A wireless audio client device such as a headset worn by a user allows the user to talk with multiple other devices using different communication protocols. In one approach, the wireless audio client device is a slave device which pairs with multiple master devices such as a game console and cell phone. The wireless audio client device uses a common set of peripherals such as a speaker, microphone, RF antenna, battery, status lights and control buttons. Processing circuitry is provided in one or more chips, to handle the different communication protocols. The wireless audio client device can automatically interrupt a game chat to allow the user to accept an incoming phone call, or can prompt the user to accept the call. Or, the wireless audio client device can play audio from the cell phone while the game chat continues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zulfigar Alam, Brian Bilodeau, Dennis Tom, Carlos Manzanedo
  • Publication number: 20120086953
    Abstract: A simplified system and method for synchronizing a three dimensional digitizers is disclosed. Various three dimensional digitizers utilize detected light sequences received from a probe as a synchronization signal negating the need for complex synchronization circuitry and communication signals. One embodiment utilizes no transmitted synchronization signal, but relies on embedded, high-stability clocks to maintain synchronization after initial one-time synchronization of the clocks. In this manner the design of the three dimensional digitizer may be simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Boulder Innovation Group Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Faul, Dennis Toms
  • Publication number: 20100313133
    Abstract: A method is provided for using a wireless controller to interact with a user interface presented on a display. The method includes receiving an audio signal and a position signal from the wireless controller. The audio signal is based on an audio input applied to the wireless controller, while the position signal is based on a position input applied to the wireless controller. The method includes selecting a user interface item displayed on the display, based on the audio signal and the position signal. One or more position signals from the wireless controller may also be received and processed to cause navigation of the user interface to highlight a user interface item for selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adam Green, Robert Matthew Craig, Dennis Tom, Jeffrey Ma, Erik Arthur
  • Publication number: 20090325704
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and computer readable instructions are disclosed herein for dynamically allocating fixed bandwidth over a wireless link between a video game console and a wireless peripheral device. In an embodiment, the voice sample rate in a wireless microphone may be dynamically adjusted to free up bandwidth that can be repurposed for other operations. The sample rate adjustment can range from maximum where the bandwidth is filled with voice data to a lesser sample rate. In the case where the sample rate is less than max, the freed up bandwidth can be for used for other operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Tom, Loren Reas, Eric Filer
  • Publication number: 20090122008
    Abstract: A probe for use in a coordinate digitizing system includes an indicator, such as a pointing tip or crosshairs, and a marker, the location of which can be determined by a marker tracking system relative to a coordinate system. The probe is configured to effectively place the marker's virtual image—as seen by the tracker—at the same location as the indicator without blocking a user's view of the indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: BOULDER INNOVATION GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Juris George Melkis, Ivan Faul, Dennis Toms