Patents by Inventor Kenneth P. Hinckley

Kenneth P. Hinckley 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: 20110185299
    Abstract: Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Publication number: 20110185318
    Abstract: Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Georg F. Petschnigg
  • Publication number: 20110185300
    Abstract: Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Publication number: 20110185320
    Abstract: Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Georg F. Petschnigg
  • Publication number: 20110181524
    Abstract: Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including bimodal gestures (e.g., using more than one type of input) and single modal gestures. Additionally, the gesture techniques may be configured to leverage these different input types to increase the amount of gestures that are made available to initiate operations of a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Michel Pahud
  • Publication number: 20110167379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Mary P. Czerwinski, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Kirsten C. Risden, Daniel C. Robbins, Maarten R. van Dantzich
  • Patent number: 7970870
    Abstract: A unique system and method that facilitates extending input/output capabilities for resource deficient mobile devices and interactions between multiple heterogeneous devices is provided. The system and method involve an interactive surface to which the desired mobile devices can be connected. The interactive surface can provide an enhanced display space and customization controls for mobile devices that lack adequate displays and input capabilities. In addition, the interactive surface can be employed to permit communication and interaction between multiple mobile devices that otherwise are unable to interact with each other. When connected to the interactive surface, the mobile devices can share information, view information from their respective devices, and store information to the interactive surface. Furthermore, the interactive surface can resume activity states of mobile devices that were previously communicating upon re-connection to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Andrew D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7921376
    Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Robertson, Mary P. Czerwinski, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Kirsten C. Risden, Daniel C. Robbins, Maarten R. van Dantzich
  • Patent number: 7812825
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. Dual independent oscillators may be used to generate two pulse trains at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of two conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The pulses from each oscillator may be counted over a time interval. A ratio-metric measurement may be taken by calculating the ratio of the two counts, and a sum may also be calculated. The ratio of the two counts relates to finger position on the device, and their sum relates to finger pressure upon the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Sinclair, Kenneth P. Hinckley, James T. Kajiya, Nathan C. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20100225595
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates distinguishing input among one or more users in a surface computing environment. A variety of information can be obtained and analyzed to infer an association between a particular input and a particular user. Touch point information can be acquired from a surface wherein the touch point information relates to a touch point. In addition, one or more environmental sensors can monitor the surface computing environment and provide environmental information. The touch point information and the environmental information can be analyzed to determine direction of inputs, location of users, and movement of users and so on. Individual analysis results can be correlated and/or aggregated to generate a inference of association between a touch point and user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hodges, Hrvoje Benko, Ian M. Sands, David Alexander Butler, Shahram Izadi, William Ben Kunz, Kenneth P. Hinckley
  • Publication number: 20100207908
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Hugh E. McLoone, Steven N. Bathiche, James H. Cauthorn, Stiven Kerestegian, Timothy Michael Muss
  • Publication number: 20100180254
    Abstract: This document describes various techniques for creating, modifying, and using graphical mashups. In one embodiment, a graphical mashup is created based on locations of graphical representations of objects in a working area. Logical connections between the objects are created based on the objects' locations relative to each other. Alternatively or additionally, the techniques may enable a user to create or modify a graphical mashup by adding or deleting objects, modifying logical connections between objects, annotating objects, or abstracting the graphical mashup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Georg F. Petschnigg, Jonathan R. Harris, Kenneth P. Hinckley
  • Patent number: 7742042
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P Hinckley, Hugh E McLoone, Steven N Bathiche, James H Cauthorn, Stiven Kerestegian, Timothy Michael Muss
  • Publication number: 20100149090
    Abstract: Aspects relate to detecting gestures that relate to a desired action, wherein the detected gestures are common across users and/or devices within a surface computing environment. Inferred intentions and goals based on context, history, affordances, and objects are employed to interpret gestures. Where there is uncertainty in intention of the gestures for a single device or across multiple devices, independent or coordinated communication of uncertainty or engagement of users through signaling and/or information gathering can occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Meredith June Morris, Eric J. Horvitz, Andrew David Wilson, F. David Jones, Stephen E. Hodges, Kenneth P. Hinckley, David Alexander Butler, Ian M. Sands, V. Kevin Russ, Hrvoje Benko, Shawn R. LeProwse, Shahram Izadi, William Ben Kunz
  • Patent number: 7714840
    Abstract: A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Steven N. Bathiche
  • Patent number: 7692629
    Abstract: Techniques and technologies are provided which can allow for touch input with a touch screen device. In response to an attempt to select a target displayed on a screen, a callout can be rendered in a non-occluded area of the screen. The callout includes a representation of the area of the screen that is occluded by a selection entity when the attempt to select the target is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Baudisch, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Raman Sarin, Edward B. Cutrell, Andrew D. Wilson, Daniel Vogel
  • Patent number: 7693842
    Abstract: A system and method that facilitates and effectuates in situ search for active note taking. The system and method includes receiving gestures from a stylus and a tablet associated with the system. Upon recognizing the gesture as belonging to a set of known and recognized gestures, the system creates an embeddable object, initiates a search with terms indicated by the gesture, associates the search results with the created object and inserts the object in close proximity with the terms that instigated the search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Shengdong Zhao, Raman K. Sarin, Patrick M. Baudisch, Edward B. Cutrell, Michael Shilman, Desney S. Tan
  • Patent number: 7688312
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Hugh E. McLoone, Steven N. Bathiche, James H. Cauthorn, Stiven Kerestegian, Timothy Michael Muss
  • Patent number: 7663620
    Abstract: Providing axonometric views of layers containing objects while preserving the visual attributes of the objects is disclosed. A group of objects, e.g., overlapping objects, is determined. Layer dimensions are calculated such that each object in the group is encompassed by a layer. Objects are placed in the layers and the layers are displayed in axonometric views. Visual cues to indicate selected layers are provided. Controls to adjust the depth of the layers and to enable moving objects in the selected layer are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: George G Robertson, Daniel C Robbins, Desney S Tan, Kenneth P Hinckley, Maneesh Agrawala, Mary P Czerwinski, Patrick Markus Baudisch, Gonzalo A Ramos
  • Publication number: 20100013777
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method is adapted to tracking input with a device. The method includes an act of monitoring and acts of activating and displaying if a touch input is detected. The device has a first side and a second side, with the second side opposite the first side. The device has a display screen disposed on the first side, and a screen-reflective interface disposed on the second side. Respective positions on the screen-reflective interface correspond to respective locations of the display screen. The screen-reflective interface of the device is monitored. If a touch input is detected on the screen-reflective interface, the device performs acts of activating and displaying. Specifically, a tracking state is activated for the screen-reflective interface responsive to the detected touch input on the screen-reflective interface. The interface icon is displayed on the display screen to indicate that the tracking state has been activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick M. Baudisch, Georg F. Petschnigg, David H. Wykes, Albert Yiu-So Shum, Avi Geiger, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Michael J. Sinclair, Joel B. Jacobs, Jonathan D. Friedman, Rosanna H. Ho