Patents by Inventor Eric Paul Filer

Eric Paul Filer 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: 9456201
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to a time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera including a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a TOF depth camera includes a heat sink having a mounting surface, an illumination module mounted to the mounting surface, and an image sensor mounted to the mounting surface. The illumination module includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a VCSEL array device configured to generate illumination light to illuminate an image environment, and a driver configured to deliver an operating current to the VCSEL array device. The VCSEL array device and the driver are mounted to the PCB. The image sensor is configured to detect at least a portion of illumination light reflected from the image environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Prafulla Masalkar, Marshall T. DePue, Zhaoming Zhu, Sridhar Canumalla, Eric Paul Filer, Blair Madison Kent, John W. Mensonides
  • Publication number: 20150229912
    Abstract: Various embodiments relating to a time-of-flight (TOF) depth camera including a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a TOF depth camera includes a heat sink having a mounting surface, an illumination module mounted to the mounting surface, and an image sensor mounted to the mounting surface. The illumination module includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a VCSEL array device configured to generate illumination light to illuminate an image environment, and a driver configured to deliver an operating current to the VCSEL array device. The VCSEL array device and the driver are mounted to the PCB. The image sensor is configured to detect at least a portion of illumination light reflected from the image environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Prafulla Masalkar, Marshall T. DePue, Zhaoming Zhu, Sridhar Canumalla, Eric Paul Filer, Blair Madison Kent, John W. Mensonides
  • Patent number: 7931537
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for enabling a microphone module that connects to a headset jack on a game controller. The microphone may include directional or omni-directional microphone element(s) that pick up voice input from people near a peripheral, such as a game controller, but reject background sounds from the room. User controls may also be available to set the microphone gain level, either manually or automatically, and/or to mute or unmute the microphone. The microphone of the invention can be used on a wired or wireless game controller. When used with a wireless game controller, wireless microphone capabilities and freedom of movement are provided without headdress requirements imposed by headsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Paul Filer, Wei Guo, Edward C. Giaimo, III, Hugh Edward McLoone, Jr.