Patents by Inventor Gerald Nilles
Gerald Nilles 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).
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Patent number: 11963105Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, computer readable media, and other various embodiments are described for location management processes in wearable electronic devices. Performance of such devices is improved with reduced time to first fix of location operations in conjunction with low-power operations. In one embodiment, low-power circuitry manages high-speed circuitry and location circuitry to provide location assistance data from the high-speed circuitry to the low-power circuitry automatically on initiation of location fix operations as the high-speed circuitry and location circuitry are booted from low-power states. In some embodiments, the high-speed circuitry is returned to a low-power state prior to completion of a location fix and after capture of content associated with initiation of the location fix. In some embodiments, high-speed circuitry is booted after completion of a location fix to update location data associated with content.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, John James Robertson, Gerald Nilles, Jason Heger, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Patent number: 11947198Abstract: A case for an eyewear device having a conductive interface includes a housing that receives the eyewear device. A multi-purpose interface, supported by the housing, includes at least one contact arranged to couple with the conductive interface of the eyewear device when the housing receives the eyewear device. Circuitry is coupled to the at least one contact and includes a processor that detects a connection of the conductive interface of the eyewear device to the multi-purpose interface of the case. The processor performs a charging process during a charge state of the case in which an electrical charge is provided at the multi-purpose interface of the case to the eyewear device. Data is exchanged with the eyewear device during a communication state of the case.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Miran Alhaideri, Alex Bamberger, Gerald Nilles, Russell Douglas Patton, Yu Jiang Tham
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Publication number: 20240061491Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting whether a wearable device is being worn by a user. The system transmits a radio signal from a first communication device of a wearable device to a second communication device of the wearable device and measures a signal strength associated with the radio signal received by the second communication device. The system compares the signal strength to a threshold value and generates an indication of a wear status associated with the wearable device based on comparing the signal strength to the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Jason Heger, Dunxu Hu, Eric Nachtigall, Gerald Nilles, Ugur Olgun, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Publication number: 20240061798Abstract: An eyewear device that includes a plurality of SoCs that share processing workload, and a USB port configured to perform low-power debugging and automation of the plurality of SoCs, such as using either a Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) or a Serial Wire Debug (SWD). The eyewear includes a USB hub configured such that the USB port can simultaneously communicate with the plurality of SoCs. The USB hub can be shut down to disable the USB hub, and all the SoCs can enter their low-power modes without being kept awake by a persistent USB connection. The eyewear includes a first switch and a control logic, wherein the control logic controls the first switch and enables the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs. The eyewear further includes a second switch, wherein the control logic controls the second switch to enable the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs via a processor, or to enable the USB port to control each of the SoCs.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Alex Feinman, Jason Heger, Shaheen Moubedi, Gerald Nilles, John Recchio, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Publication number: 20240064396Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. The wearable device can comprise a housing, an image capture component, a locking component, and a control component. The housing defines an imaging aperture. The image capture component is coupled to the housing and aligned with the imaging aperture. The image capture component is configured to capture image data of a field of view aligned with the imaging aperture. The locking component is coupled to the image capture component. The locking component modifies a capture state of the image capture component to selectively enable image capture in response to a selection releasing the locking component. The control component is coupled to the locking component. Interaction with the control component comprises the selection releasing the locking component and triggering modification of the capture state of the image capture component.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II, Gerald Nilles
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Publication number: 20240014668Abstract: A closed loop control system actively regulates the battery current paths of physically separated circuits so that the current is approximately the same for each of the circuits regardless of the various system loads. The closed loop control system modulates the current paths by either modulating a high side transistor used to independently limit each battery's current path or by modulating a DC/DC converter's output voltage to independently boost each battery's current path. The closed loop control system is also designed to handle undervoltage lockout (UVLO) situations when one of the batteries is nearing empty to tilt the power balance in the chance that there is an existing battery charge mismatch to support system load bursts and to turn off the circuit when the system current draw is exceptionally low. A tilting circuit also identifies and discharges the battery with the higher charge until the charge states are substantially equal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Shaheen Moubedi, Gerald Nilles, Stephen Pomes
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Patent number: 11863861Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for electronic wearable devices such as smart glasses are described. The wearable device can comprise a housing, an image capture component, a locking component, and a control component. The housing defines an imaging aperture. The image capture component is coupled to the housing and aligned with the imaging aperture. The image capture component is configured to capture image data of a field of view aligned with the imaging aperture. The locking component is coupled to the image capture component. The locking component modifies a capture state of the image capture component to selectively enable image capture in response to a selection releasing the locking component. The control component is coupled to the locking component. Interaction with the control component comprises the selection releasing the locking component and triggering modification of the capture state of the image capture component.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: SNAP INC.Inventors: Jonathan M Rodriguez, II, Gerald Nilles
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Publication number: 20230422176Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, computer readable media, and other various embodiments are described for location management processes in wearable electronic devices. Performance of such devices is improved with reduced time to first fix of location operations in conjunction with low-power operations. In one embodiment, low-power circuitry manages high-speed circuitry and location circuitry to provide location assistance data from the high-speed circuitry to the low-power circuitry automatically on initiation of location fix operations as the high-speed circuitry and location circuitry are booted from low-power states. In some embodiments, the high-speed circuitry is returned to a low-power state prior to completion of a location fix and after capture of content associated with initiation of the location fix. In some embodiments, high-speed circuitry is booted after completion of a location fix to update location data associated with content.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, John James Robertson, Gerald Nilles, Jason Heger, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Publication number: 20230393422Abstract: Eyewear including a voltage controller in the frame that generates dynamic analog control signals to control voltage regulators in the temple. The voltage regulators include a voltage rail for each electronic component in the temple. A separate analog control loop is coupled to each voltage regulator and receives the respective analog control signal. Each voltage regulator generates a rail voltage on the respective voltage rail that is controlled by the respective analog control signal. The analog control loop configures the respective voltage regulator as a voltage follower regulator such that the respective rail voltage follows a voltage of the analog control signal. A power source, such as a battery, is included in the temple and provides the operating power to each electronic component, and power is not communicated across a hinge to the temple electronic components.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Shaheen Moubedi, Gerald Nilles
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Patent number: 11829312Abstract: An eyewear device that includes a plurality of SoCs that share processing workload, and a USB port configured to perform low-power debugging and automation of the plurality of SoCs, such as using either a Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) or a Serial Wire Debug (SWD). The eyewear includes a USB hub configured such that the USB port can simultaneously communicate with the plurality of SoCs. The USB hub can be shut down to disable the USB hub, and all the SoCs can enter their low-power modes without being kept awake by a persistent USB connection. The eyewear includes a first switch and a control logic, wherein the control logic controls the first switch and enables the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs. The eyewear further includes a second switch, wherein the control logic controls the second switch to enable the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs via a processor, or to enable the USB port to control each of the SoCs.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Alex Feinman, Jason Heger, Shaheen Moubedi, Gerald Nilles, John Recchio, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Publication number: 20230350206Abstract: Devices and methods for dynamic power configuration (e.g., reduction) for thermal management (e.g., mitigation) in a wearable electronic device such as an eyewear device. The wearable electronic device monitors its temperature and, responsive to the temperature, configures the services it provides to operate in different modes for thermal mitigation (e.g., to prevent overheating). For example, based on temperature, the wearable electronic device adjusts sensors (e.g., turns cameras on or off, changes the sampling rate, or a combination thereof) and adjusts display components (e.g., adjusted rate at which a graphical processing unit generates images and a visual display is updated). This enables the wearable electronic device to consume less power when temperatures are too high in order to provide thermal mitigation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: Snap Inc.Inventors: Sumant Hanumante, Bernhard Jung, Matthias Kalkgruber, Anton Kondratenko, Edward Lee Kim-Koon, Gerald Nilles, John James Robertson, Dmitry Ryuma, Alexander Sourov, Daniel Wolf
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Patent number: 11784619Abstract: A circuit includes a first system-on-chip (SoC) driven by a first clock generator and a second SoC driven by a second clock generator where the first clock generator and the second clock generator have independent time bases. The first and second clock generators are synchronized using an RLC circuit external to the first clock generator and the second clock generator that converts an output of the first clock generator into current pulses and injects the current pulses into the second clock generator to pull an output of the second clock generator into synchronization with the output of the first clock generator. The RLC circuit converts a voltage output of the first clock generator into current pulses at the resonant frequency or specific harmonics of the output of the first clock generator. The second clock generator may include a ring oscillator into which the current pulses are injected.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Jason Heger, Gerald Nilles
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Patent number: 11785549Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, computer readable media, and other various embodiments are described for location management processes in wearable electronic devices. Performance of such devices is improved with reduced time to first fix of location operations in conjunction with low-power operations. In one embodiment, low-power circuitry manages high-speed circuitry and location circuitry to provide location assistance data from the high-speed circuitry to the low-power circuitry automatically on initiation of location fix operations as the high-speed circuitry and location circuitry are booted from low-power states. In some embodiments, the high-speed circuitry is returned to a low-power state prior to completion of a location fix and after capture of content associated with initiation of the location fix. In some embodiments, high-speed circuitry is booted after completion of a location fix to update location data associated with content.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, John James Robertson, Gerald Nilles, Jason Heger, Praveen Babu Vadivelu
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Publication number: 20230299596Abstract: Disclosed herein are regulated power supplies. The power source delivers power to a system load and includes battery units. The power source also includes power flow devices coupled to the battery units that are configured to provide power from the battery units to the system load. Each power flow device corresponds to a respective one of the battery units and includes a one direction current flow device connected in series with a current regulator between the respective battery unit and the system load.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Gerald Nilles, Russell Douglas Patton, Raul Alejandro Perez, Patrick Timothy Mcsweeney Simons
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Publication number: 20230297164Abstract: A method for improving the startup time of a six-degrees of freedom tracking system is described. An augmented reality system receives a device initialization request and activates a first set of sensors in response to the device initialization request. The augmented reality system receives first tracking data from the first set of sensors. The augmented reality system receives an augmented reality experience request and in response to the augmented reality request, causes display of a set of augmented reality content items based on the first tracking data and simultaneously activates a second set of sensors. The augmented reality system receives second tracking data from the activated second set of sensors. The augmented reality system updates the display of the set of augmented reality content items based on the second tracking data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Jeroen Diederik Hol, Matthias Kalkgruber, Erick Mendez Mendez, Niall Murphy, Gerald Nilles, Mathieu Emmanuel Vignau
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Publication number: 20230262207Abstract: Eyewear device including two system on a chip (SoC) that share processing workload. The SoCs communicate with each other using a low-power bridge, e.g., a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) bridge including a display serial interface (DSI) to camera serial interface (CSI) bridge. The MIPI bridge converts DSI images from one SoC to CSI images, and also communicates metadata. Another SoC receives and processes the CSI images. The other SoC has a buffer that receives both the CSI images and the metadata, and separates the CSI images from the metadata. The other SoC has computer vision (CV) algorithms that process the metadata, and a low-speed interface that sends metadata back to the one SoC to adjust and render a next image. The MIPI bridge may comprise a field programmable gate array (FPGA).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Alex Feinman, Julian Grahsl, Jason Heger, Gerald Nilles
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Publication number: 20230252918Abstract: Eyewear including a projector having a variable feedback loop controlling a forward current delivered to a colored light source. The colored light source is configured to generate a colored light beam to generate a displayed image. The variable feedback loop in one example has a variable resistance to selectively generate a high brightness image when the eyewear is operated outside, or in a high ambient light setting, and to selectively generate a nominal brightness image when the eyewear is operated inside. A controller selectively controls the drive current delivered to the colored light source to control the brightness mode of the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Jason Heger, Gerald Nilles
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Patent number: 11719939Abstract: Devices and methods for dynamic power configuration (e.g., reduction) for thermal management (e.g., mitigation) in a wearable electronic device such as an eyewear device. The wearable electronic device monitors its temperature and, responsive to the temperature, configures the services is provides to operate in different modes for thermal mitigation (e.g., to prevent overheating). For example, based on temperature, the wearable electronic device adjusts sensors (e.g., turns cameras on or off, changes the sampling rate, or a combination thereof) and adjusts display components (e.g., adjusted rate at which a graphical processing unit generates images and a visual display is updated). This enables the wearable electronic device to consume less power when temperatures are too high in order to provide thermal mitigation.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Sumant Hanumante, Bernhard Jung, Matthias Kalkgruber, Anton Kondratenko, Edward Lee Kim-Koon, Gerald Nilles, John James Robertson, Dmitry Ryuma, Alexander Sourov, Daniel Wolf
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Patent number: D995421Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Gerald Nilles, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II, Nir Daube
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Patent number: D996421Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Gerald Nilles, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II, Nir Daube