Patents by Inventor Joe Thompson

Joe Thompson 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: 10740971
    Abstract: A wearable, head-mounted display system includes a near-eye display to display an augmented reality object perceivable at an apparent real world depth and an apparent real world location by a wearer of the head-mounted display system, and a controller to adjust the apparent real world location of the augmented reality object as a function of a field of view (FOV) of the wearer. The function is based on a bounding region of the augmented reality object and one or more overlap parameters between the bounding region of the augmented reality object and the FOV of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Ramsby, Joe Thompson, Dan Osborn, Shawn Crispin Wright, Brian Kramp, Megan Saunders, Forest Woodcroft Gouin
  • Patent number: 10409443
    Abstract: A head mounted display device and method for contextual cursors comprising a camera configured to capture a series of images, a display, and a processor configured to: display, to a user of the head mounted display device, a virtual cursor on display so as to appear at a location in a three dimensional environment, determine whether motion of a hand of the user in the images is trackable, and in response to at least determining that motion of the hand is trackable, modify a visual appearance of the virtual cursor to indicate that motion of the hand is trackable, and in response to at least determining that motion of the hand is not trackable, modify the visual appearance of the virtual cursor to indicate that motion of the hand is not trackable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Scott Robert Ramsby, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders, Aaron David Cottle
  • Patent number: 10370882
    Abstract: An injection molded housing includes a first piece, a second piece, and a wall defined by the first piece removably joined to the second piece by a joint at abutting surfaces of the first piece and the second piece. A central catch is integrally molded with the first piece, protruding from the wall. A latch is integrally molded with the second piece, and connected to the second piece first and second living hinges. A half-knuckle is integrally molded with the second piece, protruding from the wall. A hinge pin is fixedly attached to the latch. The latch is bendable at the living hinges to align the hinge pin with the half-knuckle. The latch is rotatable about the hinge pin to engage the central catch and selectably prevent the first piece from being disengaged from the second piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Spryshak, Joe Thompson, Jason Kreucher
  • Patent number: 10127917
    Abstract: A conferencing system includes a display device that displays video received from a remote communication device of a communication partner. An audio stream is transmitted to the remote communication device. The audio stream includes real-world sounds produced by one or more real-world audio sources captured by a microphone array and virtual sounds produced by one or more virtual audio sources. A relative volume of sounds in the audio stream is selectively adjusted based, at least in part, on real-world positioning of corresponding audio sources, including real-world and/or virtualized audio sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Hongwu Huai, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Patent number: 9898865
    Abstract: A method for operating a computing device is described herein. The method includes determining a user's gaze direction based on a gaze input, determining an intersection between the user's gaze direction and an identified environmental surface in a 3-dimensional environment, and generating a drawing surface based on the intersection within a user interface on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Thompson, Dan Osborn, Tarek Hefny, Stephen G. Latta, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, James Nakashima, Megan Saunders, Anatolie Gavriliuc, Alberto E. Cerriteno, Shawn Crispin Wright
  • Patent number: 9824499
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a visible-light camera configured to collect a visible-light image of a physical space, a surface sensor configured to measure one or more surface parameters of the physical space, a see-through display configured to visually present an augmentation image while light from the physical space passes through the see-through display to a user eye, and an augmented-reality engine. The augmented-reality engine may be configured to identify a surface of the physical space from the one or more measured surface parameters, compose a mixed-reality image that includes the augmentation image overlaid on the visible-light image, and visually present, via the see-through display, the mixed-reality image in alignment with the identified surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Alberto E. Cerriteno, Bofan Hsu, Evan Jones, Joe Thompson, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Publication number: 20170313155
    Abstract: An HVAC module for a vehicle includes a cooling unit to cool air that passes through the cooling unit and a heating unit to warm air that passes through the heating unit. The HVAC module has a housing having a plurality of airflow paths to guide the air that passes through the cooling unit or the heating unit. An upper discharge outlet temperature is indeterminate based on a temperature detected by a single temperature sensor in one of the plurality of airflow paths and a blend setting. The HVAC module includes a temperature sensor to determine a reference temperature of the air at a sensor location. The reference temperature is offset from a floor outlet temperature by a floor offset function of the blend setting. The reference temperature is offset from the upper discharge outlet temperature by an upper offset function of the blend setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph J. Spryshak, German Bosherz, Joe Thompson, Steven B. Marshall, Andrew Eggebroten, Darshan Parikh
  • Publication number: 20170313156
    Abstract: An HVAC module for a vehicle includes a housing having a plurality of airflow paths to guide the air that passes through a cooling unit or a heating unit. An upper discharge outlet temperature is indeterminate based on a temperature of a single temperature sensor in one of the plurality of airflow paths and a blend setting. The HVAC module includes a temperature sensor to determine a reference temperature of the air at a sensor location. The reference temperature is offset from a floor outlet temperature by a floor offset function of the blend setting. The reference temperature is offset from the upper discharge outlet temperature by an upper offset function of the blend setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph J. Spryshak, German Bosherz, Joe Thompson, Steven B. Marshall, Andrew Eggebroten, Darshan Parikh
  • Publication number: 20170306670
    Abstract: An injection molded housing includes a first piece, a second piece, and a wall defined by the first piece removably joined to the second piece by a joint at abutting surfaces of the first piece and the second piece. A central catch is integrally molded with the first piece, protruding from the wall. A latch is integrally molded with the second piece, and connected to the second piece first and second living hinges. A half-knuckle is integrally molded with the second piece, protruding from the wall. A hinge pin is fixedly attached to the latch. The latch is bendable at the living hinges to align the hinge pin with the half-knuckle. The latch is rotatable about the hinge pin to engage the central catch and selectably prevent the first piece from being disengaged from the second piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Spryshak, Joe Thompson, Jason Kreucher
  • Publication number: 20170098453
    Abstract: A conferencing system includes a display device that displays video received from a remote communication device of a communication partner. An audio stream is transmitted to the remote communication device. The audio stream includes real-world sounds produced by one or more real-world audio sources captured by a microphone array and virtual sounds produced by one or more virtual audio sources. A relative volume of sounds in the audio stream is selectively adjusted based, at least in part, on real-world positioning of corresponding audio sources, including real-world and/or virtualized audio sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Hongwu Huai, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Publication number: 20160378294
    Abstract: A head mounted display device and method for contextual cursors comprising a camera configured to capture a series of images, a display, and a processor configured to: display, to a user of the head mounted display device, a virtual cursor on display so as to appear at a location in a three dimensional environment, determine whether motion of a hand of the user in the images is trackable, and in response to at least determining that motion of the hand is trackable, modify a visual appearance of the virtual cursor to indicate that motion of the hand is trackable, and in response to at least determining that motion of the hand is not trackable, modify the visual appearance of the virtual cursor to indicate that motion of the hand is not trackable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Scott Robert Ramsby, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders, Aaron David Cottle
  • Publication number: 20160379660
    Abstract: A conferencing system includes a near-eye display device that displays video received from a remote communication device of a communication partner. An audio stream is transmitted to the remote communication device. The audio stream includes real-world sounds produced by one or more real-world audio sources captured by a spatially-diverse microphone array and virtual sounds produced by one or more virtual audio sources. A relative volume of background sounds in the audio stream is selectively reduced based, at least in part, on real-world positioning of corresponding audio sources, including real-world and/or virtualized audio sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Hongwu Huai, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Publication number: 20160379408
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a visible-light camera configured to collect a visible-light image of a physical space, a surface sensor configured to measure one or more surface parameters of the physical space, a see-through display configured to visually present an augmentation image while light from the physical space passes through the see-through display to a user eye, and an augmented-reality engine. The augmented-reality engine may be configured to identify a surface of the physical space from the one or more measured surface parameters, compose a mixed-reality image that includes the augmentation image overlaid on the visible-light image, and visually present, via the see-through display, the mixed-reality image in alignment with the identified surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Alberto E. Cerriteno, Bofan Hsu, Evan Jones, Joe Thompson, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Patent number: 9530426
    Abstract: A conferencing system includes a near-eye display device that displays video received from a remote communication device of a communication partner. An audio stream is transmitted to the remote communication device. The audio stream includes real-world sounds produced by one or more real-world audio sources captured by a spatially-diverse microphone array and virtual sounds produced by one or more virtual audio sources. A relative volume of background sounds in the audio stream is selectively reduced based, at least in part, on real-world positioning of corresponding audio sources, including real-world and/or virtualized audio sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Crispin Wright, Dan Osborn, Joe Thompson, Hongwu Huai, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, Megan Saunders
  • Publication number: 20160371886
    Abstract: A method for operating a computing device is described herein. The method includes determining a user's gaze direction based on a gaze input, determining an intersection between the user's gaze direction and an identified environmental surface in a 3-dimensional environment, and generating a drawing surface based on the intersection within a user interface on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Joe Thompson, Dan Osborn, Tarek Hefny, Stephen G. Latta, Forest Woodcroft Gouin, James Nakashima, Megan Saunders, Anatolie Gavriliuc, Alberto E. Cerriteno, Shawn Crispin Wright
  • Publication number: 20160210784
    Abstract: A wearable, head-mounted display system includes a near-eye display to display an augmented reality object perceivable at an apparent real world depth and an apparent real world location by a wearer of the head-mounted display system, and a controller to adjust the apparent real world location of the augmented reality object as a function of a field of view (FOV) of the wearer. The function is based on a bounding region of the augmented reality object and one or more overlap parameters between the bounding region of the augmented reality object and the FOV of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Ramsby, Joe Thompson, Dan Osborn, Shawn Crispin Wright, Brian Kramp, Megan Saunders, Forest Woodcroft Gouin
  • Patent number: 8821141
    Abstract: Various rotary pumps are disclosed that are designed to pump viscous fluids or slurries. Often, the seals of such pumps can become over heated. The disclosed pumps include slots disposed in the rotors and/or slots disposed in the openings through which the drive and driven shafts task so that some of the fluid being pumped through the pumping chamber can migrate through the proximal wall of the pump casing to the seal assemblies disposed on the other side of the proximal wall of the pump casing. Thus, the seal assemblies of the pumps are cooled without resorting to the use of a cooling jacket or other cooling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wright Flow Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Helgeson, Joe Thompson, Jim Mayer, Chris Mihm, Keith Feeley, Juan Jose Mejia
  • Publication number: 20120328462
    Abstract: Various rotary pumps are disclosed that are designed to pump viscous fluids or slurries. Often, the seals of such pumps can become over heated. The disclosed pumps include slots disposed in the rotors and/or slots disposed in the openings through which the drive and driven shafts task so that some of the fluid being pumped through the pumping chamber can migrate through the proximal wall of the pump casing to the seal assemblies disposed on the other side of the proximal wall of the pump casing. Thus, the seal assemblies of the pumps are cooled without resorting to the use of a cooling jacket or other cooling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Wright Flow Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Helgeson, Joe Thompson, Jim Mayer, Chris Mihm, Keith Feeley, Juan Jose Mejia
  • Patent number: 7581259
    Abstract: A blanket for a chair occupant, the chair having a seat and a back. The blanket includes an upper end, a lower end, opposing sides, an outer surface to be placed onto the seat of the chair, an inner surface on which the occupant sits, and a connector for connecting the opposing sides over the occupant when the occupant is seated onto the inner surface of the blanket. Preferably, an attachment device is provided for releasably securing the blanket to the chair before the occupant is seated. A method for covering a wheelchair occupant is also provided, having the steps of providing the blanket, placing the blanket over the seat of a wheelchair, attaching a flap on the upper end of the blanket to the wheelchair to keep the blanket from shifting, seating the occupant onto the blanket in the wheelchair, folding the opposing sides of the blanket over the occupant, and zipping the opposing sides together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventor: Joe Thompson
  • Publication number: 20070007800
    Abstract: A blanket for a chair occupant, the chair having a seat and a back. The blanket includes an upper end, a lower end, opposing sides, an outer surface to be placed onto the seat of the chair, an inner surface on which the occupant sits, and a connector for connecting the opposing sides over the occupant when the occupant is seated onto the inner surface of the blanket. Preferably, an attachment device is provided for releasably securing the blanket to the chair before the occupant is seated. A method for covering a wheelchair occupant is also provided, having the steps of providing the blanket, placing the blanket over the seat of a wheelchair, attaching a flap on the upper end of the blanket to the wheelchair to keep the blanket from shifting, seating the occupant onto the blanket in the wheelchair, folding the opposing sides of the blanket over the occupant, and zipping the opposing sides together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventor: Joe Thompson