Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Roger Stafford

Jeffrey Roger Stafford 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: 20190371075
    Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting an object on a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) include receiving an image of a real-world environment in proximity of a user wearing the HMD. The image is received from one or more forward facing cameras of the HMD and processed for rendering on a screen of the HMD by a processor within the HMD. A gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, is detected using one or more gaze detecting cameras of the HMD that are directed toward one or each eye of the user. Images captured by the forward facing cameras are analyzed to identify an object captured in the real-world environment that is in line with the gaze direction of the user, wherein the image of the object is rendered at a first virtual distance that causes the object to appear out-of-focus when presented to the user. A signal is generated to adjust a zoom factor for lens of the one or more forward facing cameras so as to cause the object to be brought into focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Michael Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190361526
    Abstract: Gaze tracking data may representing a user's gaze with respect to one or more images transmitted to a user are analyzed to determine one or more regions of interest. The one or more transmitted images are selectively compressed so that fewer bits are needed to transmit data for portions of an image outside the one or more regions interest than for portions of the image within the one or more regions of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20190346922
    Abstract: Gaze tracking data may be analyzed to determine the onset and duration of a vision interrupting event, such as a blink or saccade. Presentation of images to a viewer may then be suspended during the vision interrupting event and resumed in sufficient time to ensure that the viewer sees the image at the time the vision interrupting event has concluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10456682
    Abstract: An autonomous personal companion executing a method of projection including tracking within a reference system a current position and orientation of a gaming controller used for controlling game play of a gaming application played by a user, wherein the personal companion is configured to provide services to the user. The method includes receiving information related to the gaming application from a gaming console supporting the game play. The method includes generating content based on the information related to the gaming application. The method includes moving the autonomous personal companion to a location having a direct line of sight to the controller. The method includes projecting the content from the autonomous personal companion to a surface of the gaming controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Javier Fernandez-Rico
  • Publication number: 20190325634
    Abstract: A method for implementing a graphics pipeline. The method includes generating a system of particles creating an effect in a virtual scene, the system of particles comprising a plurality of particle geometries. The method includes determining a subsystem of particles from the system of particles, the subsystem of particles comprising a subset of particle geometries taken from the plurality of particle geometries. The method includes determining a foveal region when rendering an image of the virtual scene, wherein the foveal region corresponds to where an attention of a user is directed. The method includes determining that at least one portion of the effect is located in the peripheral region for the image. The method includes rendering the subsystem of particles to generate the effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Chris Ho, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10430018
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing user tagging of content within a virtual scene are described. One of the methods includes sending data for display of a virtual environment on a head-mounted display. The virtual environment includes a virtual item. The method further includes receiving an indication of a selection associated with the virtual item. The method includes sending option data for allowing entry of content regarding the virtual item upon receiving the indication of the selection, receiving the content, associating the content with the virtual item, and sending tagged data for displaying a tag associated with the virtual item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Black, Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Javier Fernandez Rico
  • Patent number: 10409364
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for head mounted display (HMD) implementations. One example implementation includes a circuit for communicating with a computing system that processes multimedia content for display in the HMD. A front unit of the HMD has a screen for displaying multimedia content, and the front unit has a set of LEDs. A rear section of the HMD has a set of LEDs. A connector is provided for coupling the front unit with the rear section of the HMD, such that adjustment of the connector changes a separation distance between at least one of the set of LEDs of the front unit and at least one of the set of LEDs of the rear section. The computing system processes image data captured of the HMD when worn by a user. The image data includes at least one of the set of LEDs of the front unit and at least one of the set of LEDs of the rear section to identify the separation distance for a current adjustment of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Mikhailov, Eric Larsen, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10401952
    Abstract: Gaze tracking data may representing a user's gaze with respect to one or more images transmitted to a user are analyzed to determine one or more regions of interest. Compression of the one or more transmitted images is adjusted so that fewer bits are needed to transmit data for portions of an image outside the one or more regions interest than for portions of the image within the one or more regions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10395428
    Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting an object on to a screen of a head mounted display (HMD) include receiving an image of a real-world environment in proximity of a user wearing the HMD. The image is received from one or more forward facing cameras of the HMD and processed for rendering on a screen of the HMD by a processor within the HMD. A gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, is detected using one or more gaze detecting cameras of the HMD that are directed toward one or each eye of the user. Images captured by the forward facing cameras are analyzed to identify an object captured in the real-world environment that is in line with the gaze direction of the user, wherein the image of the object is rendered at a first virtual distance that causes the object to appear out-of-focus when presented to the user. A signal is generated to adjust a zoom factor for lens of the one or more forward facing cameras so as to cause the object to be brought into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Michael Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190250409
    Abstract: Systems and methods include receiving an image for presenting on a display screen of a head mounted display (HMD). The image is provided by an application. The received image is pre-distorted to enable optics provided in a HMD to render the image. An alignment offset is identified for an eye of a user wearing the HMD by determining a position of the eye relative to an optical axis of at least one lens of the optics of the HMD. The pre-distorted image provided by the application is adjusted to define a corrected pre-distorted image that accounts for the alignment offset. The corrected pre-distorted image is forwarded to the display screen of the HMD for rendering, such that the image presented through the optics of the HMD removes aberrations caused by the alignment offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Eric Larsen
  • Patent number: 10372205
    Abstract: Gaze tracking data may be analyzed to determine the onset and duration of a vision interrupting event, such as a blink or saccade. Presentation of images to a viewer may then be suspended during the vision interrupting event and resumed in sufficient time to ensure that the viewer sees the image at the time the vision interrupting event has concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10339692
    Abstract: A method for implementing a graphics pipeline. The method includes generating a system of particles creating an effect in a virtual scene, the system of particles comprising a plurality of particle geometries. The method includes determining a subsystem of particles from the system of particles, the subsystem of particles comprising a subset of particle geometries taken from the plurality of particle geometries. The method includes determining a foveal region when rendering an image of the virtual scene, wherein the foveal region corresponds to where an attention of a user is directed. The method includes determining that at least one portion of the effect is located in the peripheral region for the image. The method includes rendering the subsystem of particles to generate the effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Young, Chris Ho, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20190118091
    Abstract: A robot, including: a controller that communicates with a computing device, wherein the computing device executes a video game and renders a primary video feed of the video game to a display device, the primary video feed providing a first view into a virtual space that is defined by the executing video game; a camera that captures images of a local environment in which the robot is disposed; a projector; wherein the controller processes the images of the local environment to identify a projection surface in the local environment; wherein the computing device generates a secondary video feed of the video game and transmits the secondary video feed of the video game to the robot, the secondary video feed providing a second view into the virtual space; wherein the controller of the robot activates the projector to project the secondary video feed onto the projection surface in the local environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Taylor, Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Publication number: 20190107896
    Abstract: A system for performing a pinch and hold gesture is described. The system includes a head-mounted display (HMD) and a glove, which is worn by a hand of the user. Each finger segment of the glove includes a sensor for detecting positions of the finger segment when moved by the hand. The system includes a computing device interfaced with the HMD and the glove. The computing device analyzes data from the sensors of the finger segments to determine that a pinch and hold gesture is performed by at least two of the finger segments. Moreover, the computing device generates image data that is communicated to the HMD, such that a scene rendered on the HMD is modified to render a visual cue indicative of a location in the scene at which the pinch and hold gesture is associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Richard L. Marks
  • Publication number: 20190101980
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking gaze information of a user includes detecting, by a sensor of a head mounted display, that a user is wearing the HMD. An encoded signal indicative of glasses being worn with the HMD, by the user, is detected by the sensor of the HMD. In response to processing the encoded signal, a gaze detection function of the HMD is disabled by the HMD. Encoded gaze data transmitted by the glasses is received by the HMD. The encoded gaze data is processed by an image frame processor and used to adjust image frames produced for rendering on a display screen of the HMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Christopher Norden, Patrick Connor
  • Publication number: 20190091572
    Abstract: An autonomous personal companion executing a method of projection including tracking within a reference system a current position and orientation of a gaming controller used for controlling game play of a gaming application played by a user, wherein the personal companion is configured to provide services to the user. The method includes receiving information related to the gaming application from a gaming console supporting the game play. The method includes generating content based on the information related to the gaming application. The method includes moving the autonomous personal companion to a location having a direct line of sight to the controller. The method includes projecting the content from the autonomous personal companion to a surface of the gaming controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Javier Fernandez-Rico
  • Patent number: 10228811
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user are described. One of the methods includes sending interactive data for rendering on a head mounted display (HMD). The HMD is configured for attachment to a head of a user for playing a game. The method further includes receiving image data associated with a body part of the user while the HMD is worn by the user and the HMD renders interactive content. The method includes tracking a spatial position associated with the body part of the user from the image data of the user. In the method, physical placement of a remote-controlled device at the spatial position associated with the body part of the user is rendered in the HMD as virtual contact with an object in the interactive content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10228562
    Abstract: Systems and methods include receiving an image for presenting on a display screen of a head mounted display (HMD). The image is provided by an application. The received image is pre-distorted to enable optics provided in a HMD to render the image. An alignment offset is identified for an eye of a user wearing the HMD by determining a position of the eye relative to an optical axis of at least one lens of the optics of the HMD. The pre-distorted image provided by the application is adjusted to define a corrected pre-distorted image that accounts for the alignment offset. The corrected pre-distorted image is forwarded to the display screen of the HMD for rendering, such that the image presented through the optics of the HMD removes aberrations caused by the alignment offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Eric Larsen
  • Publication number: 20190070506
    Abstract: Methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display (HMD) during game play of a video game. A game is executed causing interactive scenes of the game to be transmitted for rendering on a display portion of the HMD. Coordinates of the HMD are determined in a three-dimensional space of a real-world environment in which the user wearing the HMD is present, to identify a current position of the user. A movement of the HMD is determined during execution of the game by identifying a change in one or more coordinates of the HMD in the three-dimensional space. When it is determined that the user is approaching a boundary of an interaction space in a real-world environment, a warning signal is conveyed to the HMD to indicate proximity of the user to the boundary of the interaction space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Jeffrey Roger Stafford
  • Patent number: 10210666
    Abstract: A method for executing computer instructions for presenting an interactive environment in a head-mounted display (HMD) is described. The method includes identifying content associated with the interactive environment to be presented on the HMD for a user and determining whether an interactive object within the identified content satisfies a threshold for presentation to the user. The method includes augmenting the interactive object with augmentation data. The augmented data acts to change a characteristic of the interactive object. The operation of augmenting the interactive object is performed after determining that the interactive object does not satisfy the threshold for presentation to the user. The augmentation data modifies the interactive object to conform the interactive object to be within the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roger Stafford, Frederick Umminger, Steven Osman