Patents by Inventor John Tardif

John 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).

  • Patent number: 8982151
    Abstract: Independently processing planes of display data is provided by a method of outputting a video stream. The method includes retrieving from memory a first plane of display data having a first set of display parameters and post-processing the first plane of display data to adjust the first set of display parameters. The method further includes retrieving from memory a second plane of display data having a second set of display parameters and post-processing the second plane of display data independently of the first plane of display data. The method further includes blending the first plane of display data with the second plane of display data to form blended display data and outputting the blended display data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: John Tardif, Mark S. Grossman
  • Patent number: 8885890
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering depth information received from a capture device. Depth information is filtered by using confidence information provided with the depth information based an adaptively created, optimal spatial filter on a per pixel basis. Input data including depth information is received on a scene. The depth information comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a depth value and a confidence value. A confidence weight normalized filter for each pixel in the depth information is generated. The weight normalized filter is combined with the input data to provide filtered data to an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Tardif
  • Publication number: 20140316763
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for performing sign language translation based on movements of a user is provided. A capture device detects motions defining gestures and detected gestures are matched to signs. Successive signs are detected and compared to a grammar library to determine whether the signs assigned to gestures make sense relative to each other and to a grammar context. Each sign may be compared to previous and successive signs to determine whether the signs make sense relative to each other. The signs may further be compared to user demographic information and a contextual database to verify the accuracy of the translation. An output of the match between the movements and the sign is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Tardif
  • Patent number: 8803952
    Abstract: A depth-mapping method comprises exposing first and second detectors oriented along different optical axes to light dispersed from a scene, and furnishing an output responsive to a depth coordinate of a locus of the scene. The output increases with an increasing first amount of light received by the first detector during a first period, and decreases with an increasing second amount of light received by the second detector during a second period different than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sagi Katz, Avishai Adler, Giora Yahav, John Tardif
  • Patent number: 8786730
    Abstract: Calculating a gain setting for a primary image sensor includes receiving a test-matrix of pixels from a test image sensor, and receiving a first-frame matrix of pixels from a primary image sensor. A gain setting is calculated for the primary image sensor using the first-frame matrix of pixels except those pixels imaging one or more exclusion regions identified from the test matrix of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Tardif, Seshagiri Panchapagesan
  • Patent number: 8767968
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for providing 3D audio, which may be used in augmented reality. A 3D audio signal may be generated based on sensor data collected from the actual room in which the listener is located and the actual position of the listener in the room. The 3D audio signal may include a number of components that are determined based on the collected sensor data and the listener's location. For example, a number of (virtual) sound paths between a virtual sound source and the listener may be determined. The sensor data may be used to estimate materials in the room, such that the affect that those materials would have on sound as it travels along the paths can be determined. In some embodiments, sensor data may be used to collect physical characteristics of the listener such that a suitable HRTF may be determined from a library of HRTFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Flaks, Avi Bar-Zeev, John Tardif
  • Patent number: 8751215
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for performing sign language translation based on movements of a user is provided. A capture device detects motions defining gestures and detected gestures are matched to signs. Successive signs are detected and compared to a grammar library to determine whether the signs assigned to gestures make sense relative to each other and to a grammar context. Each sign may be compared to previous and successive signs to determine whether the signs make sense relative to each other. The signs may further be compared to user demographic information and a contextual database to verify the accuracy of the translation. An output of the match between the movements and the sign is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Tardif
  • Patent number: 8654152
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for selectively focusing on certain areas of interest within an imaged scene to gain more image detail within those areas. In general, the present system identifies areas of interest from received image data, which may for example be detected areas of movement within the scene. The system then focuses on those areas by providing more detail in the area of interest. This may be accomplished by a number of methods, including zooming in on the image, increasing pixel density of the image and increasing the amount of light incident on the object in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott McEldowney, John A. Tardif, John Clavin, David Cohen, Giora Yahav
  • Patent number: 8602887
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synthesizing information received from multiple audio and visual sources focused on a single scene. The system may determine the positions of capture devices based on a common set of cues identified in the image data of the capture devices. As a scene may often have users and objects moving into and out of the scene, data from the multiple capture devices may be time synchronized to ensure that data from the audio and visual sources are providing data of the same scene at the same time. Audio and/or visual data from the multiple sources may be reconciled and assimilated together to improve an ability of the system to interpret audio and/or visual aspects from the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Tardif, Kathryn Stone Perez, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Dawson Yee
  • Patent number: 8514269
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for de-aliasing depth images. The depth image may have been generated based on phase differences between a transmitted and received modulated light beam. A method may include accessing a depth image that has a depth value for a plurality of locations in the depth image. Each location has one or more neighbor locations. Potential depth values are determined for each of the plurality of locations based on the depth value in the depth image for the location and potential aliasing in the depth image. A cost function is determined based on differences between the potential depth values of each location and its neighboring locations. Determining the cost function includes assigning a higher cost for greater differences in potential depth values between neighboring locations. The cost function is substantially minimized to select one of the potential depth values for each of the locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Avishai Adler, Sagi Katz, Guy Gilboa, John Tardif
  • Patent number: 8508543
    Abstract: Various technologies for a layered texture compression architecture. In one implementation, the layered texture compression architecture may include a texture consumption pipeline. The texture compression pipeline may include a processor, memory devices, and textures compressed at varying ratios of compression. The textures within the pipeline may be compressed at ratios in accordance with characteristics of the devices in the pipeline that contains and processes the textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yan Lu, John Tardif, Matt Bronder, Huifeng Shen, Feng Wu, Shipeng Li
  • Patent number: 8417058
    Abstract: An array of image sensors is arranged to cover a field of view for an image capture system. Each sensor has a field of view segment which is adjacent to the field of view segment covered by another image sensor. The adjacent field of view (FOV) segments share an overlap area. Each image sensor comprises sets of light sensitive elements which capture image data using a scanning technique which proceeds in a sequence providing for image sensors sharing overlap areas to be exposed in the overlap area during the same time period. At least two of the image sensors capture image data in opposite directions of traversal for an overlap area. This sequencing provides closer spatial and temporal relationships between the data captured in the overlap area by the different image sensors. The closer spatial and temporal relationships reduce artifact effects at the stitching boundaries, and improve the performance of image processing techniques applied to improve image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Tardif
  • Publication number: 20130044222
    Abstract: Calculating a gain setting for a primary image sensor includes receiving a test-matrix of pixels from a test image sensor, and receiving a first-frame matrix of pixels from a primary image sensor. A gain setting is calculated for the primary image sensor using the first-frame matrix of pixels except those pixels imaging one or more exclusion regions identified from the test matrix of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Tardif, Seshagiri Panchapagesan
  • Patent number: 8379057
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating an image for a user based on an image captured by a scene-facing camera or detector. The user's position relative to a component of the system is determined, and the image captured by the scene-facing detector is modified based on the user's position. The resulting image represents the scene as seen from the perspective of the user. The resulting image may be further modified by augmenting the image with additional images, graphics, or other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel A. Mann, Joseph Bertolami, Matthew L. Bronder, Michael A. Dougherty, Robert M. Craig, John A. Tardif
  • Publication number: 20120293548
    Abstract: A system and method to present a user wearing a head mounted display with supplemental information when viewing a live event. A user wearing an at least partially see-through, head mounted display views the live event while simultaneously receiving information on objects, including people, within the user's field of view, while wearing the head mounted display. The information is presented in a position in the head mounted display which does not interfere with the user's enjoyment of the live event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kathryn Stone Perez, John A. Tardif
  • Patent number: 8314832
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating stereoscopic images for a user based on one or more images captured by one or more scene-facing cameras or detectors and the position of the user's eyes or other parts relative to a component of the system as determined from one or more images captured by one or more user-facing detectors. The image captured by the scene-facing detector is modified based on the user's eye or other position. The resulting image represents the scene as seen from the perspective of the eye of the user. The resulting image may be further modified by augmenting the image with additional images, graphics, or other data. Stereoscopic mechanisms may also be adjusted or configured based on the location or the user's eyes or other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel A. Mann, Robert M. Craig, John A. Tardif, Joseph Bertolami
  • Publication number: 20120245933
    Abstract: A device for suppressing ambient sounds from speech received by a microphone array is provided. One embodiment of the device comprises a microphone array, a processor, an analog-to-digital converter, and memory comprising instructions stored therein that are executable by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Flaks, Ivan Tashev, Duncan McKay, Xudong Ni, Robert Heitkamp, Wei Guo, John Tardif, Leo Shing, Michael Baseflug
  • Publication number: 20120223967
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating an image for a user based on an image captured by a scene-facing camera or detector. The user's position relative to a component of the system is determined, and the image captured by the scene-facing detector is modified based on the user's position. The resulting image represents the scene as seen from the perspective of the user. The resulting image may be further modified by augmenting the image with additional images, graphics, or other data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel A. Mann, Joseph Bertolami, Matthew L. Bronder, Michael Dougherty, Robert M. Craig, John A. Tardif
  • Patent number: 8219394
    Abstract: A device for suppressing ambient sounds from speech received by a microphone array is provided. One embodiment of the device comprises a microphone array, a processor, an analog-to-digital converter, and memory comprising instructions stored therein that are executable by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Flaks, Ivan Tashev, Duncan McKay, Xudong Ni, Robert Heitkamp, Wei Guo, John Tardif, Leo Shing, Michael Baseflug
  • Publication number: 20120154542
    Abstract: A depth-mapping method comprises exposing first and second detectors oriented along different optical axes to light dispersed from a scene, and furnishing an output responsive to a depth coordinate of a locus of the scene. The output increases with an increasing first amount of light received by the first detector during a first period, and decreases with an increasing second amount of light received by the second detector during a second period different than the first.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sagi Katz, Avishai Adler, Giora Yahav, John Tardif