Patents by Inventor John Allen Tardif

John Allen Tardif 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: 20230385118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selective execution of workloads using hardware accelerators are described. A method includes a client application submitting a command for execution of a workload directly to a hardware accelerator, where the command includes an indication of a performance expectation from the hardware accelerator, and where the workload can be executed either by a compute core accessible to the client application or by the hardware accelerator. The method further includes upon receiving a retry response from the hardware accelerator, the client application executing the workload using the compute core accessible to the client application, where the hardware accelerator is configured to provide the retry response directly to the client application after determining that the hardware accelerator is unable to meet the performance expectation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: John Allen TARDIF, Bharadwaj PUDIPEDDI
  • Publication number: 20230208093
    Abstract: Technologies pertaining to accounting for pulse history effects are described herein. In connection with accounting for pulse history effects, an amount of time between a first current pulse and a second current pulse that are to be transmitted to a pulsed laser is determined. Based upon such an amount of time, a determination is made as to whether a porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse. When the porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse, an amplitude and duration of the porch pulse are computed based upon the amount of time. The porch pulse is transmitted to the pulsed laser immediately followed by the second current pulse, wherein the porch pulse pre-charges the pulsed laser for emitting a pulse of light based upon the second current pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Hamish Barter, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 11594852
    Abstract: Technologies pertaining to accounting for pulse history effects are described herein. In connection with accounting for pulse history effects, an amount of time between a first current pulse and a second current pulse that are to be transmitted to a pulsed laser is determined. Based upon such an amount of time, a determination is made as to whether a porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse. When the porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse, an amplitude and duration of the porch pulse are computed based upon the amount of time. The porch pulse is transmitted to the pulsed laser immediately followed by the second current pulse, wherein the porch pulse pre-charges the pulsed laser for emitting a pulse of light based upon the second current pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Hamish Barter, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20230004217
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for an eye tracking that may be employed by devices and systems such as head mount display (HMD) devices. Light that is reflected from a user's eye may be specular or scattered. The specular light has an intensity or magnitude that may saturate the electronics. The presently disclosed techniques mitigate saturation by generating detected signals from an optical detector, evaluating the signal levels for the detected signal, and selectively gating the detected signals that have saturated. The remaining scattered signals can be combined to achieve a combined signal that can be converted into a digital signal without saturating the electronics, which can then be processed to form an image of the eye for identification purposes, for tracking eye movement, and for other uses. The described technologies provide a clear image without ambient light reflections or specular light interfering with the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Niranjan Achugundla PUTTASWAMY, Gregory Theodore GIBSON, Jeffrey Neil MARGOLIS, John Allen TARDIF
  • Patent number: 11537201
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for an eye tracking that may be employed by devices and systems such as head mount display (HMD) devices. Light that is reflected from a user's eye may be specular or scattered. The specular light has an intensity or magnitude that may saturate the electronics. The presently disclosed techniques mitigate saturation by generating detected signals from an optical detector, evaluating the signal levels for the detected signal, and selectively gating the detected signals that have saturated. The remaining scattered signals can be combined to achieve a combined signal that can be converted into a digital signal without saturating the electronics, which can then be processed to form an image of the eye for identification purposes, for tracking eye movement, and for other uses. The described technologies provide a clear image without ambient light reflections or specular light interfering with the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Niranjan Achugundla Puttaswamy, Gregory Theodore Gibson, Jeffrey Neil Margolis, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 11232730
    Abstract: A display system comprises a current source, pulse circuitry, a pulsed laser, control circuitry, and a display surface. The pulse circuitry outputs a first pulse of electrical current based upon electrical current emitted by the current source. The pulsed laser emits first light based upon the first pulse, wherein luminance of the first light is based upon a first amplitude of the first pulse. The control circuitry generates an estimate of pulse history effects on second light that is to be emitted by the pulsed laser, the estimate is generated based upon a parameter of the first pulse and a desired luminance of the second light. The control circuitry causes the pulse circuitry to output a second pulse of electrical current based upon the estimate. Based upon the second pulse, the pulsed laser emits second light with the desired luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Hamish Barter, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20210351557
    Abstract: Technologies pertaining to accounting for pulse history effects are described herein. In connection with accounting for pulse history effects, an amount of time between a first current pulse and a second current pulse that are to be transmitted to a pulsed laser is determined. Based upon such an amount of time, a determination is made as to whether a porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse. When the porch pulse is to be prepended to the second current pulse, an amplitude and duration of the porch pulse are computed based upon the amount of time. The porch pulse is transmitted to the pulsed laser immediately followed by the second current pulse, wherein the porch pulse pre-charges the pulsed laser for emitting a pulse of light based upon the second current pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Hamish Barter, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20210335171
    Abstract: A display system comprises a current source, pulse circuitry, a pulsed laser, control circuitry, and a display surface. The pulse circuitry outputs a first pulse of electrical current based upon electrical current emitted by the current source. The pulsed laser emits first light based upon the first pulse, wherein luminance of the first light is based upon a first amplitude of the first pulse. The control circuitry generates an estimate of pulse history effects on second light that is to be emitted by the pulsed laser, the estimate is generated based upon a parameter of the first pulse and a desired luminance of the second light. The control circuitry causes the pulse circuitry to output a second pulse of electrical current based upon the estimate. Based upon the second pulse, the pulsed laser emits second light with the desired luminance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Hamish Barter, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 10658814
    Abstract: A modulated light source comprises a laser diode and a drive circuit coupled operatively to the laser diode. The laser diode is configured to lase upon passing an above-threshold current for an accumulation period. The drive circuit is configured to draw a priming current through the laser diode over a priming period, the priming current being insufficient to cause the laser diode to lase during the priming period, but sufficient to shorten the accumulation period. The drive circuit is further configured to draw the above-threshold current through the laser diode after the priming period, thereby triggering emission from the laser diode following a shortened accumulation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Algird Michael Gudaitis, Raymond Kirk Price, Niranjan Achugundla Puttaswamy, Sheethal Somesh Nayak, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 10365709
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that related to scanning image display systems. In one example, a scanning display system comprises a laser light source comprising two or more offset lasers, a scanning mirror system configured to scan light from the laser light source in a first direction at a higher frequency, and in a second direction at a lower frequency to form an image, and a controller configured to control the scanning mirror system to scan the laser light an interlaced pattern to form the image, and to adjust one or more of a scan rate in the second direction and a phase offset between a first frame and a second frame of the interlaced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: John Allen Tardif, Joshua Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 10361537
    Abstract: A system for dynamically adjusting a bias voltage for a laser diode or a light emitting diode is provided. An output voltage of the laser diode is measured and a level of a supply voltage applied to the laser diode is adjusted to change the bias voltage to the laser diode to manage power usage and avoid saturation of the laser diode. Also, a junction temperature of a laser diode may be estimated by mapping a measured output voltage and known current to device characteristic data based on temperature and the supply voltage adjusted in order to bias the laser diode to compensate for a temperature change. Further, data indicating an intensity level of data to be rendered by the laser diode is used to adjust the second supply voltage to bias the laser diode in advance of rendering the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Algird Michael Gudaitis, Niranjan Puttaswamy, Sheethal Somesh Nayak, Raymond Kirk Price, John Allen Tardif
  • Patent number: 10317670
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that related to scanning image display systems. In one example, a scanning head-mounted display system includes a light source, a motion sensor, a scanning mirror system configured to scan light from the light source along at least one dimension to form an image, and a controller configured to control the scanning mirror system to scan the light to form the image, receive head motion data from the motion sensor, and adjust one or more of a scan rate and a phase offset between a first frame and a second frame of the image based upon the head motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: John Allen Tardif, Joshua Owen Miller, Jeffrey N. Margolis
  • Publication number: 20190157839
    Abstract: A system for dynamically adjusting a bias voltage for a laser diode or a light emitting diode is provided. An output voltage of the laser diode is measured and a level of a supply voltage applied to the laser diode is adjusted to change the bias voltage to the laser diode to manage power usage and avoid saturation of the laser diode. Also, a junction temperature of a laser diode may be estimated by mapping a measured output voltage and known current to device characteristic data based on temperature and the supply voltage adjusted in order to bias the laser diode to compensate for a temperature change. Further, data indicating an intensity level of data to be rendered by the laser diode is used to adjust the second supply voltage to bias the laser diode in advance of rendering the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Algird Michael Gudaitis, Niranjan Puttaswamy, Sheethal Somesh Nayak, Raymond Kirk Price, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20190123512
    Abstract: A modulated light source comprises a laser diode and a drive circuit coupled operatively to the laser diode. The laser diode is configured to lase upon passing an above-threshold current for an accumulation period. The drive circuit is configured to draw a priming current through the laser diode over a priming period, the priming current being insufficient to cause the laser diode to lase during the priming period, but sufficient to shorten the accumulation period. The drive circuit is further configured to draw the above-threshold current through the laser diode after the priming period, thereby triggering emission from the laser diode following a shortened accumulation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Algird Michael GUDAITIS, Raymond Kirk PRICE, Niranjan Achugundla PUTTASWAMY, Sheethal Somesh NAYAK, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20180252913
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that related to scanning image display systems. In one example, a scanning head-mounted display system includes a light source, a motion sensor, a scanning mirror system configured to scan light from the light source along at least one dimension to form an image, and a controller configured to control the scanning mirror system to scan the light to form the image, receive head motion data from the motion sensor, and adjust one or more of a scan rate and a phase offset between a first frame and a second frame of the image based upon the head motion data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Allen TARDIF, Joshua Owen MILLER, Jeffrey N. MARGOLIS
  • Publication number: 20180255278
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that related to scanning image display systems. In one example, a scanning display system comprises a laser light source comprising two or more offset lasers, a scanning mirror system configured to scan light from the laser light source in a first direction at a higher frequency, and in a second direction at a lower frequency to form an image, and a controller configured to control the scanning mirror system to scan the laser light an interlaced pattern to form the image, and to adjust one or more of a scan rate in the second direction and a phase offset between a first frame and a second frame of the interlaced image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Allen TARDIF, Joshua Owen MILLER
  • Patent number: 10007330
    Abstract: A sensor manager provides dynamic input fusion using thermal imaging to identify and segment a region of interest. Thermal overlay is used to focus heterogeneous sensors on regions of interest according to optimal sensor ranges and to reduce ambiguity of objects of interest. In one implementation, a thermal imaging sensor locates a region of interest that includes an object of interest within predetermined wavelengths. Based on the thermal imaging sensor input, the regions each of the plurality of sensors are focused on and the parameters each sensor employs to capture data from a region of interest are dynamically adjusted. The thermal imaging sensor input may be used during data pre-processing to dynamically eliminate or reduce unnecessary data and to dynamically focus data processing on sensor input corresponding to a region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Raghu Murthi, Steven Bathiche, John Allen Tardif, Nicholas Robert Baker
  • Patent number: 9424490
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to processing image pixels. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system for classifying pixels comprising retrieval logic; a pixel storage allocation including a plurality of pixel slots, each pixel slot being associated individually with a pixel, where the retrieval logic is configured to cause the pixels to be allocated into the pixel slots in an input sequence; pipelined processing logic configured to output, for each of the pixels, classification information associated with the pixel; and scheduling logic configured to control dispatches from the pixel slots to the pipelined processing logic, where the scheduling logic and pipelined processing logic are configured to act in concert to generate the classification information for the pixels in an output sequence that differs from and is independent of the input sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Adam James Muff, John Allen Tardif, Susan Carrie, Mark J. Finocchio, Kyungsuk David Lee, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Randy Crane
  • Patent number: 9313376
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods to control the power consumption of a battery powered platform comprising at least one depth camera. The battery powered platform may adjust the consumption of one or more systems of the depth camera, or other systems on the battery powered platform to alter the power consumption of the battery powered platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Bertolami, John Allen Tardif
  • Publication number: 20150379376
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to processing image pixels. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system for classifying pixels comprising retrieval logic; a pixel storage allocation including a plurality of pixel slots, each pixel slot being associated individually with a pixel, where the retrieval logic is configured to cause the pixels to be allocated into the pixel slots in an input sequence; pipelined processing logic configured to output, for each of the pixels, classification information associated with the pixel; and scheduling logic configured to control dispatches from the pixel slots to the pipelined processing logic, where the scheduling logic and pipelined processing logic are configured to act in concert to generate the classification information for the pixels in an output sequence that differs from and is independent of the input sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Adam James Muff, John Allen Tardif, Susan Carrie, Mark J. Finocchio, Kyungsuk David Lee, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Randy Crane