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: 20160378331
    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: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Michel Pahud
  • Patent number: 9519356
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Andrew S. Allen, Jonathan R. Harris, Georg F. Petschnigg
  • Patent number: 9519419
    Abstract: Skinnable touch device grip pattern techniques are described herein. A touch-aware skin may be configured to substantially cover the outer surfaces of a computing device. The touch-aware skin may include a plurality of skin sensors configured to detect interaction with the skin at defined locations. The computing device may include one or more modules operable to obtain input from the plurality of skin sensors and decode the input to determine grips patterns that indicate how the computing device is being held by a user. Various functionality provided by the computing device may be selectively enabled and/or adapted based on a determined grip pattern such that the provided functionality may change to match the grip pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Paul Henry Dietz, Hrvoje Benko, Desney S. Tan, Steven Nabil Bathiche
  • Publication number: 20160342326
    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: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Publication number: 20160283021
    Abstract: A computing device includes a fingerprint detection module for detecting fingerprint information that may be contained within touch input event(s) provided by a touch input mechanism. The computing device can leverage the fingerprint information in various ways. In one approach, the computing device can use the fingerprint information to enhance an interpretation of the touch input event(s), such as by rejecting parts of the touch input event(s) associated with an unintended input action. In another approach, the computing device can use the fingerprint information to identify an individual associated with the fingerprint information. The computing device can apply this insight to provide a customized user experience to that individual, such as by displaying content that is targeted to that individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Michel Pahud
  • Publication number: 20160283104
    Abstract: Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Patent number: 9454304
    Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-screen dual tap gesture are described. In various embodiments, a first tap input to a displayed object is recognized at a first screen of a multi-screen system. A second tap input to the displayed object is recognized at a second screen of the multi-screen system, and the second tap input is recognized approximately when the first tap input is recognized. A dual tap gesture can then be determined from the recognized first and second tap inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Publication number: 20160261666
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards co-located collaboration/data sharing that is based upon detecting the proxemics of people and/or the proxemics of devices. A federation of devices is established based upon proxemics, such as when the users have entered into a formation based upon distance between them and orientation. User devices may share content with other devices in the federation based upon micro-mobility actions performed on the devices, e.g., tilting and/or otherwise interacting with a sending device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Nicolai Marquardt
  • Patent number: 9423876
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer storage media for detecting user input in an extended interaction space of a device, such as a handheld device. The method and system allow for utilizing a first sensor of the device sensing in a positive z-axis space of the device to detect a first input, such as a user's non-device-contacting gesture. The method and system also contemplate utilizing a second sensor of the device sensing in a negative z-axis space of the device to detect a second input. Additionally, the method and system contemplate updating a user interface presented on a display in response to detecting the first input by the first sensor in the positive z-axis space and detecting the second input by the second sensor in the negative z-axis space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Horvitz, Kenneth P Hinckley, Hrvoje Benko, Desney S Tan
  • Patent number: 9411504
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani, Michel Pahud
  • Patent number: 9411498
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Patent number: 9405402
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Paul H. Dietz, Matthew G. Dyor, Philip A. Eckhoff, Anoop Gupta, Jr., Kenneth P. Hinckley, III, Roderick A Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, Robert C. Petroski, Danny Allen Reed, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9395902
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Paul H. Dietz, Matthew G. Dyor, Philip A. Eckhoff, Anoop Gupta, Jr., Kenneth P. Hinckley, III, Roderick A Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, Robert C. Petroski, Danny Allen Reed, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9389728
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Paul H. Dietz, Matthew G. Dyor, Philip A. Eckhoff, Anoop Gupta, Jr., Kenneth P. Hinckley, III, Roderick A Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, Robert C. Petroski, Danny Allen Reed, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160180798
    Abstract: A display system includes a display, a focus region component, a content update component, and a content component. The focus region component is configured to determine a focus region of a user in relation to a display screen of the display. The focus region includes a region of the display screen at which a user is likely looking. The content update component is configured to select content update rates for a plurality of display regions of the display screen, including the focus region. The content update rate in the focus region is different than a content update rate in one or more other display regions of the plurality of display regions. The content component is configured to receive content and updated content for display on the display screen and to provide the content to the display based on the content update rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Paul H. Dietz, Matthew G. Dyor, Philip A. Eckhoff, Anoop Gupta, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, Robert C. Petroski, Danny Allen Reed, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20160180762
    Abstract: A display system includes a display, a content component, a focus region component, and a refresh rate component. The display is configured to selectively display information with refresh rates that vary across a plurality of display regions of the display screen. The content component is configured to receive content for display on the display screen and to provide the content to the display. The focus region component is configured to determine a focus region of a user in relation to the display screen. The focus region includes one of the plurality of display regions at which a user is likely looking. The refresh rate component is configured to select the refresh rates of the display elements in the plurality of display regions. A refresh rate in the focus region may be different than a refresh rate in one or more other display regions of the plurality of display regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Bathiche, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Paul H. Dietz, Matthew G. Dyor, Philip A. Eckhoff, Anoop Gupta, Kenneth P. Hinckley, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Andreas G. Nowatzyk, Robert C. Petroski, Danny Allen Reed, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9367205
    Abstract: Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLGOY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Patent number: 9310994
    Abstract: Bezel gestures for touch displays are described. In at least some embodiments, the bezel of a device is used to extend functionality that is accessible through the use of so-called bezel gestures. In at least some embodiments, off-screen motion can be used, by virtue of the bezel, to create screen input through a bezel gesture. Bezel gestures can include single-finger bezel gestures, multiple-finger/same-hand bezel gestures, and/or multiple-finger, different-hand bezel gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Koji Yatani
  • Patent number: 9294539
    Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards co-located collaboration/data sharing that is based upon detecting the proxemics of people and/or the proxemics of devices. A federation of devices is established based upon proxemics, such as when the users have entered into a formation based upon distance between them and orientation. User devices may share content with other devices in the federation based upon micro-mobility actions performed on the devices, e.g., tilting and/or otherwise interacting with a sending device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Hinckley, Nicolai Marquardt
  • Publication number: 20160077587
    Abstract: The description relates to a smart ring. In one example, the smart ring can be configured to be worn on a first segment of a finger of a user. The example smart ring can include at least one flexion sensor secured to the smart ring in a manner that can detect a distance between the at least one flexion sensor and a second segment of the finger. The example smart ring can also include an input component configured to analyze signals from the at least one flexion sensor to detect a pose of the finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Wolf KIENZLE, Kenneth P. HINCKLEY