Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Walters

Jeffrey A. Walters 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: 10898797
    Abstract: An electronic controller includes a controller body having a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. An adjustment mechanism couples the resilient member to the head and permits the resilient member to be adjusted betweena plurality of discrete positions to adjust the resilient member towards or away from the user's purlicue. The adjustment mechanism may include an anchor that is movable peripherally about the head between the plurality of discrete positions and is pivotably attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, with a friction member interposed between the resilient member and the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Petersen, Philip Bryan, Carl Samuel Conlee, IV, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Eric VanWyk, Michael Baseflug, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Lawrence Yang, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 10898796
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers that are coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hope, Scott Nietfeld, Carl Conlee, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 10888773
    Abstract: A force sensing resistor (FSR) that is constructed with a first substrate made of polyimide disposed underneath a second substrate that is resistive and flexible. A handheld controller for an electronic system may include the FSR having a first substrate made of polyimide. The FSR may be mounted on a planar surface of a structure within the controller body, such as a structure mounted within a handle of the controller body, and/or a structure that is mounted underneath at least one thumb-operated control that is included on a head of the controller body. The FSR may be configured to measure a resistance value that corresponds to an amount of force applied to an outer surface of the handle and/or an amount of force applied to the at least one thumb-operated control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Patent number: 10874939
    Abstract: A controller includes a body having a handle, and an array of proximity sensors spatially distributed on, in, beneath, or near the outer surface of the handle, responsive to a proximity of a user's fingers to that outer surface. A finger tracker converts the output of the array of proximity sensors to a set of joint angles corresponding to a plurality of the user's fingers. The controller may include a renderer for processing the joint angles to deform a hand mesh that is rendered for display. Values may be calculated to facilitate normalization of the output of the proximity sensor array and thereby generate a set of normalized finger detection data. This data may be processed through curl logic to produce a linear estimate of gross finger curl with respect to the user and thereby generate a set of estimates for a plurality of finger joint angles for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20200246691
    Abstract: An electronic controller includes a controller body having a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. An adjustment mechanism couples the resilient member to the head and permits the resilient member to be adjusted betweena plurality of discrete positions to adjust the resilient member towards or away from the user's purlicue. The adjustment mechanism may include an anchor that is movable peripherally about the head between the plurality of discrete positions and is pivotably attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, with a friction member interposed between the resilient member and the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Walter Petersen, Philip Bryan, Carl Samuel Conlee, IV, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Eric VanWyk, Michael Baseflug, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Lawrence Yang, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20200218377
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Patent number: 10691233
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Patent number: 10592234
    Abstract: A first client computing device, including a display and a processor. The processor may execute a distributed source code authoring management system client configured to communicate with a codebase host server. The processor may output a graphical user interface (GUI) of the distributed source code authoring management system client and may receive a first edit to a code file in an editor window included in the GUI. The editor window may provide real-time mark-up of the code file. In response to the first edit, the processor may transmit change set information including the first edit to a codebase host server. The processor may receive, from the codebase host server, a first conflict notification indicating that the first edit and a second edit to the code file have a pending merge conflict. The processor may output the first conflict notification to the display for display in the editor window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Lawrence Young, Ahmed Mohamed Metwally, Jeffrey Walter Kelly
  • Patent number: 10567746
    Abstract: A calibration jig for calibrating an image capturing device mounted on a machine is provided. A second rope is connected to a first rope at a first connection point. A third rope is connected to the first rope and the second rope at a second connection point and a third connection point respectively. The first, second, and third ropes, when taut, define the calibration triangle with the first, second, and the third connection points as vertices of the calibration triangle. A center rope is connected to the first connection point with a first anchor point associated with the machine. A first tether rope is connected to the second connection point of the calibration triangle with a second anchor point associated with the machine. A second tether rope is connected to the third connection point of the calibration triangle with a third anchor point associated with the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, David Paul Gitz, Maikel Orlando Torres Pineiro, Matthew Daniel Fike, Qi Chen, Jeffrey Walter Earleson
  • Patent number: 10549183
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a head and a handle, and a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body. The head includes at least one thumb-operated control, and the handle has a tubular housing that is partially wrapped by an outer shell. The controller includes a hand retainer configured to physically bias the user's palm against the outer shell. A first plurality of tracking transducers is disposed in the tracking member, the first plurality of tracking sensors being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation. An array of proximity sensors is spatially distributed on the outer shell, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hope, Scott Nietfeld, Carl Conlee, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20190344173
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Scott Nietfeld, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20190339964
    Abstract: A first client computing device, including a display and a processor. The processor may execute a distributed source code authoring management system client configured to communicate with a codebase host server. The processor may output a graphical user interface (GUI) of the distributed source code authoring management system client and may receive a first edit to a code file in an editor window included in the GUI. The editor window may provide real-time mark-up of the code file. In response to the first edit, the processor may transmit change set information including the first edit to a codebase host server. The processor may receive, from the codebase host server, a first conflict notification indicating that the first edit and a second edit to the code file have a pending merge conflict. The processor may output the first conflict notification to the display for display in the editor window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Lawrence YOUNG, Ahmed Mohamed METWALLY, Jeffrey Walter KELLY
  • Patent number: 10391400
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Scott Nietfeld, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20190232160
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers that are coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Eric James Hope, Scott Nietfeld, Carl Conlee, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Jeremy Slocum
  • Patent number: 10368111
    Abstract: Channel trending, including determining a number of viewers watching a multimedia program, is achieved in a digital television network. Cached multimedia frames that correspond to portions of the multimedia program are maintained, for example, on a device located on an edge (i.e., in a network edge device) of the digital television network. In response to a request from a client device (e.g., a set-top box) to receive the multimedia program, cached multimedia frames are fed from the edge device to the client device. Upon a seamless transfer or handoff resulting in a simulcast replicator or multicast replicator providing further portions of the multimedia program, a signal (e.g., a simple network management protocol TRAP statement) is sent to a viewership statistic server for incrementing a counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Randolph, Bradley C. Griner, Jeffrey Walter Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10307669
    Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers that are coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hope, Scott Nietfeld, Carl Conlee, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20190149814
    Abstract: A calibration jig for calibrating an image capturing device mounted on a machine is provided. A second rope is connected to a first rope at a first connection point. A third rope is connected to the first rope and the second rope at a second connection point and a third connection point respectively. The first, second, and third ropes, when taut, define the calibration triangle with the first, second, and the third connection points as vertices of the calibration triangle. A center rope is connected to the first connection point with a first anchor point associated with the machine. A first tether rope is connected to the second connection point of the calibration triangle with a second anchor point associated with the machine. A second tether rope is connected to the third connection point of the calibration triangle with a third anchor point associated with the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, David Paul Gitz, Maikel Orlando Torres Pineiro, Matthew Daniel Fike, Qi Chen, Jeffrey Walter Earleson
  • Publication number: 20180361234
    Abstract: A controller includes a body having a handle, and an array of proximity sensors spatially distributed on, in, beneath, or near the outer surface of the handle, responsive to a proximity of a user's fingers to that outer surface. A finger tracker converts the output of the array of proximity sensors to a set of joint angles corresponding to a plurality of the user's fingers. The controller may include a renderer for processing the joint angles to deform a hand mesh that is rendered for display. Values may be calculated to facilitate normalization of the output of the proximity sensor array and thereby generate a set of normalized finger detection data. This data may be processed through curl logic to produce a linear estimate of gross finger curl with respect to the user and thereby generate a set of estimates for a plurality of finger joint angles for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: VALVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Eric James Hope, Philip Bryan, Scott Richard Britt, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Jeremy Slocum
  • Publication number: 20180272232
    Abstract: A force sensing resistor (FSR) that is constructed with a first substrate made of polyimide disposed underneath a second substrate that is resistive and flexible. A handheld controller for an electronic system may include the FSR having a first substrate made of polyimide. The FSR may be mounted on a planar surface of a structure within the controller body, such as a structure mounted within a handle of the controller body, and/or a structure that is mounted underneath at least one thumb-operated control that is included on a head of the controller body. The FSR may be configured to measure a resistance value that corresponds to an amount of force applied to an outer surface of the handle and/or an amount of force applied to the at least one thumb-operated control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Publication number: 20180264357
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha