Patents by Inventor Gary Keith Starkweather

Gary Keith Starkweather 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).

  • Data input device for tracking and detecting lift-off from a tracking surface by a reflected laser speckle pattern
    Patent number: 7161582
    Abstract: A data input device for use with a tracking surface having light-scattering properties. The device comprises a coherent light source for projecting a coherent light beam onto the tracking surface to reflect a speckle pattern. A detector having a field of view detects and images the speckle pattern. The detector operates in a tracking mode when the field of view intersects the coherent light beam. The intersection of the coherent light beam and the field of view comprise a detection zone. Relative movement between the coherent light beam and the tracking surface within the detection zone between is detected in the tracking mode, based on the reflected speckle pattern. Relative movement between the coherent light beam and the tracking surface outside the detection zone is not detected. A controller responsive to the detector operates in the tracking mode for correlating the imaged laser speckle pattern to track the relative movement within the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Nabil Bathiche, Gary Keith Starkweather
  • Flat field scanning system
    Patent number: 3973825
    Abstract: A flat field scanning system is disclosed which has the following characteristics: (a) a stationary lens is located between a scanning mirror and a medium; (b) the mirror is moved linearly for scanning; (c) at the start of scan, a beam is directed from or received by the mirror substantially on axis of the lens; (d) the beam distance from the object plane of the lens to the lens and from the lens to the image plane of the lens always increases from the start of scan to the end of scan; and (e) during movement of the mirror, the mirror is pivoted to continue to reflect the beam through or receive the beam from the center of the lens. Linear movements are utilized in the scanning system eliminating the use of intricate cam surfaces.In one embodiment, the medium is either a recording medium or a document to be read by scanning and is located at the image plane of the lens. The scanning mirror is located between the object plane of the lens and the lens and scans the beam to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Keith Starkweather
  • Scanning system for imaging characters combined with graphic curves
    Patent number: 3974506
    Abstract: A flying spot scanning system is provided which has a separate scanning system for imaging characters onto a recording medium and has a separate x- y galvanometer operated mirror scanning system for imaging a graphic curve onto the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Keith Starkweather