Patents by Inventor Hayes S. Raffle

Hayes S. Raffle 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).

  • Publication number: 20170336915
    Abstract: A method for aligning an image on a mobile device disposed within a head-mounted display (HMD) housing includes: detecting a request to align an image on a touchscreen of a mobile device; detecting, on the touchscreen, a first detected location corresponding to a first touchscreen input event; determining a first displacement of the first detected location with respect to a first target location of the first touchscreen input event; and transposing the image on the touchscreen based on the first displacement. A virtual reality system includes: a mobile device having a touchscreen configured to display an image; and a HMD housing having a first contact configured to generate a first input event at a first location on the touchscreen when the mobile device is disposed within the HMD housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Chun Yat Frank Li, Hayes S. Raffle, Eric Allan MacIntosh
  • Publication number: 20170336882
    Abstract: A controller configured to control a pointer in a virtual reality environment includes a multi-axis magnetic field sensor, a multi-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, a touchpad, and a wireless communications circuit. The controller can also include a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to obtain geomagnetic field data from the multi-axis magnetic field sensor, obtain acceleration data describing a direction and a magnitude of force affecting the controller from the multi-axis accelerometer, and obtain angular velocity data describing a rotational position of the controller from the gyroscope. The processor can communicate movement data to a computing device configured to generate a rendering of the virtual reality environment, the movement data describing an orientation of the controller wherein the movement data is based on at least one of the geomagnetic field data, the acceleration data, or the angular velocity data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Basheer TOME, Hayes S. RAFFLE, Chun Yat Frank LI
  • Publication number: 20170329398
    Abstract: Eye tracking methods and systems for virtual reality (VR) environments are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving light through a lens positioned in an opening defined through a surface of a head-mounted display (HMD), reflecting an infrared light portion of the light off a display device of the HMD, the display device oriented generally parallel to the lens, and performing eye tracking based on the reflected infrared portion of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Hayes S. RAFFLE, Xinda HU
  • Publication number: 20170322623
    Abstract: In a virtual reality system, an optical tracking device may detect and track a user's eye gaze direction and/or movement, and/or sensors may detect and track a user's head gaze direction and/or movement, relative to virtual user interfaces displayed in a virtual environment. A processor may process the detected gaze direction and/or movement as a user input, and may translate the user input into a corresponding interaction in the virtual environment. Gaze directed swipes on a virtual keyboard displayed in the virtual environment may be detected and tracked, and translated into a corresponding text input, either alone or together with user input(s) received by the controller. The user may also interact with other types of virtual interfaces in the virtual environment using gaze direction and movement to provide an input, either alone or together with a controller input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Chris McKenzie, Chun Yat Frank Li, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Patent number: 9658453
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a diffractive combiner having a front side, a rear surface, and an optical axis running substantially through the center of the diffractive combiner and normal to the back side. A display unit directs display light toward the back side of the diffractive combiner; the display unit positioned at a first angle relative to the optical axis, and the display light having a first range of wavelengths. An eye-tracking sensor receives eye-tracking radiation reflected by the back side of the diffractive combiner, the eye-tracking sensor positioned next to the display unit at a second angle relative to the optical axis, the second angle being different than the first angle and the eye-tracking radiation having a wavelength outside the first range of wavelengths. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard C. Kress, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20170045741
    Abstract: Embodiments are described of an apparatus including an eyepiece having a front surface, a back surface spaced apart from the front surface, and an edge forming a perimeter of the eyepiece. The eyepiece includes an angled surface to direct light eye-measurement light reflected from an eye into the eyepiece and to direct display light out of the eyepiece to the eye. A first waveguide is formed in the eyepiece and extending from the angled surface to the edge, the first waveguide being optically coupled to a first portion of the angled surface having a first surface treatment. And a second waveguide is formed in the eyepiece and extending from the angled surface to the edge, the second waveguide being optically coupled to a second portion of the angled surface having a second surface treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Hayes S. Raffle, Ozan Cakmakci, Oscar A. Martinez
  • Patent number: 9285877
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a light guide including a proximal end, a distal end, a display positioned near the proximal end, an eye-measurement camera positioned at or near the proximal end to image eye-measurement radiation, a proximal optical element positioned in the light guide near the proximal end and a distal optical element positioned in the light guide near the distal end. The proximal optical element is optically coupled to the display, the eye-measurement camera and the distal optical element and the distal optical element is optically coupled to the proximal optical element, the ambient input region and the input/output region. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hayes S. Raffle, Chia-Jean Wang
  • Patent number: 9235049
    Abstract: A lens includes a depth of field (“DOF”) range and a macro range. The macro range is distinct and separate from the DOF range. The macro range is a near field relative to the DOF range. The DOF range provides a first field of view (“FOV”) while the macro range provides a second FOV that is smaller than the first FOV within the DOF range. The lens transfers sharpness from a peripheral viewing region within the macro range into a central viewing region within the macro range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Miao, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20150199009
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a light guide including a proximal end, a distal end, a display positioned near the proximal end, an eye-measurement camera positioned at or near the proximal end to image eye-measurement radiation, a proximal optical element positioned in the light guide near the proximal end and a distal optical element positioned in the light guide near the distal end. The proximal optical element is optically coupled to the display, the eye-measurement camera and the distal optical element and the distal optical element is optically coupled to the proximal optical element, the ambient input region and the input/output region. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Hayes S. Raffle, Chia-Jean Wang
  • Patent number: 9065993
    Abstract: A lens includes a depth of field (“DOF”) range and a macro range. The macro range is distinct and separate from the DOF range. The macro range is a near field relative to the DOF range. The DOF range provides a first field of view (“FOV”) while the macro range provides a second FOV that is smaller than the first FOV within the DOF range. The lens transfers sharpness from a peripheral viewing region within the macro range into a central viewing region within the macro range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Miao, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Patent number: 9058054
    Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing an image are provided. In one example, a head-mounted device (HMD) having an image capturing device, a viewfinder, a gaze acquisition system, and a controller may be configured to capture an image. The image capturing device may be configured to have an imaging field of view including at least a portion of a field of view provided by the viewfinder. The gaze acquisition system may be configured to acquire a gaze direction of a wearer. The controller may be configured to determine whether the acquired gaze direction is through the viewfinder and generate an image capture instruction based on a determination that the acquired gaze direction indicates a gaze through the viewfinder. The controller may further be configured to cause the image capturing device to capture an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Wheeler, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Patent number: 9001030
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a light guide including a proximal end, a distal end, a display positioned near the proximal end, an eye-tracking camera positioned at or near the proximal end to image eye-tracking radiation, a proximal optical element positioned in the light guide near the proximal end and a distal optical element positioned in the light guide near the distal end. The proximal optical element is optically coupled to the display, the eye-tracking camera and the distal optical element and the distal optical element is optically coupled to the proximal optical element, the ambient input region and the input/output region. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hayes S. Raffle, Chia-Jean Wang
  • Patent number: 8548434
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a picture, a sensor that is configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor, and a power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20130222638
    Abstract: Methods and systems for capturing an image are provided. In one example, a head-mounted device (HMD) having an image capturing device, a viewfinder, a gaze acquisition system, and a controller may be configured to capture an image. The image capturing device may be configured to have an imaging field of view including at least a portion of a field of view provided by the viewfinder. The gaze acquisition system may be configured to acquire a gaze direction of a wearer. The controller may be configured to determine whether the acquired gaze direction is through the viewfinder and generate an image capture instruction based on a determination that the acquired gaze direction indicates a gaze through the viewfinder. The controller may further be configured to cause the image capturing device to capture an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Wheeler, Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20130207887
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a light guide including a proximal end, a distal end, a display positioned near the proximal end, an eye-tracking camera positioned at or near the proximal end to image eye-tracking radiation, a proximal optical element positioned in the light guide near the proximal end and a distal optical element positioned in the light guide near the distal end. The proximal optical element is optically coupled to the display, the eye-tracking camera and the distal optical element and the distal optical element is optically coupled to the proximal optical element, the ambient input region and the input/output region. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Hayes S. Raffle, Chia-Jean Wang
  • Patent number: 8442493
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a first picture and a second picture, a first sensor that is configured to receive a first input and that is associated with the first picture, a second sensor that is configured to receive a second input and that is associated with the second picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the first picture in response to selection of the first sensor and control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the second picture in response to selection of the second sensor, and a power module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20100151830
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a picture, a sensor that is configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor, and a power module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Hayes S. Raffle
  • Publication number: 20090298556
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a first picture and a second picture, a first sensor that is configured to receive a first input and that is associated with the first picture, a second sensor that is configured to receive a second input and that is associated with the second picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the first picture in response to selection of the first sensor and control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the second picture in response to selection of the second sensor, and a power module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Hayes S. Raffle
  • Patent number: D776640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Simonian, Basheer Tome, Maaike Evers, Hayes S. Raffle, Albert Lee