Patents by Inventor Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez

Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez 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: 20150268799
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for a virtual input device. In one example, the virtual input device includes a projector and a camera. The projector projects a pattern onto a surface. The camera captures images that can be interpreted by a processor to determine actions. The projector may be mounted on an arm of a pair of eyeglasses and the camera may be mounted on an opposite arm of the eyeglasses. A pattern for a virtual input device can be projected onto a “display hand” of a user, and the camera may be able to detect when the user uses an opposite hand to select items of the virtual input device. In another example, the camera may detect when the display hand is moving and interpret display hand movements as inputs to the virtual input device, and/or realign the projection onto the moving display hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 9134729
    Abstract: A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Christopher Paul Urmson, Sebastian Thrun, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 9132840
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicles use various computing systems to transport passengers from one location to another. A control computer sends messages to the various systems of the vehicle in order to maneuver the vehicle safely to the destination. The control computer may display information on an electronic display in order to allow the passenger to understand what actions the vehicle may be taking in the immediate future. Various icons and images may be used to provide this information to the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Philip Nemec, Christopher Paul Urmson, Sebastian Thrun
  • Patent number: 9096920
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes detecting, at a wearable computing device, a first direction of a first stare, wherein the wearable computing device includes a head-mountable display unit, identifying a target based on the detected first direction, and based on a determination that a first time duration of the first stare is greater than or equal to a first predetermined time threshold, identifying information relevant to the target and displaying the identified information on the display unit. Subsequent to displaying the identified information, the method includes detecting a second stare that is directed at the target or at the displayed information, and based on a determination that a second time duration of the second stare is greater than or equal to a second predetermined time threshold, identifying additional information relevant to the target, and displaying the additional information on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Alejandro Kauffmann
  • Publication number: 20150193098
    Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein relate to an action that could proceed or be dismissed in response to an affirmative or negative input, respectively. An example method could include displaying, using a head-mountable device, a graphical interface that presents a graphical representation of an action. The action could relate to at least one of a contact, a contact's avatar, a media file, a digital file, a notification, and an incoming communication. The example method could further include receiving a binary selection from among an affirmative input and a negative input. The example method may additionally include proceeding with the action in response to the binary selection being the affirmative input and dismissing the action in response to the binary selection being the negative input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Alejandro Kauffmann, Hayes Solos Raffle, Aaron Joseph Wheeler, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Steven John Lee
  • Publication number: 20150185971
    Abstract: Methods and devices for providing a user-interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving data corresponding to a first position of a wearable computing device and responsively causing the wearable computing device to provide a user-interface. The user-interfaces comprises a view region and a menu, where the view region substantially fills a field of view of the wearable computing device and the menu is not fully visible in the view region. The method further comprises receiving movement data corresponding to an upward movement of the wearable computing device to a second position above the first position and responsively causing the wearable computing device to move the menu such that the menu becomes more visible in the view region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Aaron Wheeler, Jon Wiley
  • Patent number: 9069164
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for a virtual input device. In one example, the virtual input device includes a projector and a camera. The projector projects a pattern onto a surface. The camera captures images that can be interpreted by a processor to determine actions. The projector may be mounted on an arm of a pair of eyeglasses and the camera may be mounted on an opposite arm of the eyeglasses. A pattern for a virtual input device can be projected onto a “display hand” of a user, and the camera may be able to detect when the user uses an opposite hand to select items of the virtual input device. In another example, the camera may detect when the display hand is moving and interpret display hand movements as inputs to the virtual input device, and/or realign the projection onto the moving display hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 9024842
    Abstract: In accordance with example embodiments, hand gestures can be used to provide user input to a wearable computing device, and in particular to identify, signify, or otherwise indicate what may be considered or classified as important or worthy of attention or notice. A wearable computing device, which could include a head-mounted display (HMD) and a video camera, may recognize known hand gestures and carry out particular actions in response. Particular hand gestures could be used for selecting portions of a field of view of the HMD, and generating images from the selected portions. The HMD could then transmit the generated images to one or more applications in a network server communicatively connected with the HMD, including a server or server system hosting a social networking service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Aaron Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20150049018
    Abstract: Methods and systems involving a virtual window in a head-mounted display (HMD) are disclosed herein. An exemplary system may be configured to: (i) receive head-movement data that is indicative of head movement; (ii) cause an HMD to operate in a first mode in which the HMD is configured to: (a) simultaneously provide a virtual window and a physical-world view in the HMD; (b) display, in the virtual window, a portion of a media item that corresponds to a field of view; (c) determine movement of the field of view; and (d) update the portion of the media item that is displayed in the virtual window; (iii) receive mode-switching input data and responsively cause the HMD to switch between the first mode and a second mode; and (iv) responsive to the mode-switching input data, cause the HMD to operate in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8947322
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems relate to a wearable computing device determining a user-context and dynamically changing the content of a user-interface based on the determined user-context. The device may determine a user-context based on digital context; such as a text document a user is reading or a current website the device is accessing. User-context may also be based on physical context; such as the device's location or the air temperature around a user. Once a user-context is determined, a device may identify content that is related to the user-context and add objects representing this related content to a user-interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Aaron Joseph Wheeler, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8934015
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for experience sharing for emergency situations. A wearable computing device can receive an indication of an emergency situation. In response to the indication, the wearable computing device can initiate an experience sharing session with one or more emergency contacts. During the experience sharing session, the wearable computing device can capture video data, add text to the captured video data, and transmit the captured video data and added text to the one or more emergency contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Tom Chi, Steven John Lee, Indika Charles Mendis, Max Benjamin Braun, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8922481
    Abstract: Methods and systems for annotating objects and/or actions are provided. An example method includes receiving a selection of a content object via an interface of a wearable computing device. The wearable computing device may include a head-mounted display (HMD). The method may also include, but is not limited to, displaying the selected content object on the HMD. Additionally, the method may include obtaining facial-muscle information while the content object is being displayed on the HMD. A facial expression may also be determined based on the facial-muscle information. According to the method, the content object may be associated with an annotation comprising an indication of the facial expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Kauffmann, Clifford L. Biffle, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Thad Eugene Starner
  • Patent number: 8912979
    Abstract: Methods and systems involving a virtual window in a head-mounted display (HMD) are disclosed herein. An exemplary system may be configured to: (i) receive head-movement data that is indicative of head movement; (ii) cause an HMD to operate in a first mode in which the HMD is configured to: (a) simultaneously provide a virtual window and a physical-world view in the HMD; (b) display, in the virtual window, a portion of a media item that corresponds to a field of view; (c) determine movement of the field of view; and (d) update the portion of the media item that is displayed in the virtual window; (iii) receive mode-switching input data and responsively cause the HMD to switch between the first mode and a second mode; and (iv) responsive to the mode-switching input data, cause the HMD to operate in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Publication number: 20140358331
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Nathaniel Fairfield, Andy Szybalski, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson
  • Patent number: 8874760
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for accessing digital content between multiple devices. The systems and methods may be directed to providing access to an interaction with a first application on a head-mounted display (HMD) to a second device. Contextual information relating information of the HMD and information associated with the interaction to describe an interaction state may be stored. A second device may be selected upon which the interaction state may be accessed and a determination of attributes of the second device may be made. The HMD may transfer to the second device the stored contextual information such that the second device may provide via the second application access to the interaction state. Information associated with a user input to the first application may also be transferred. In one example, the contextual information may describe an identified occurrence of digital content accessed via the first application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Sanjay Mavinkurve, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8849493
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for transitioning a mixed-mode autonomous vehicle from a human driven mode to an autonomously driven mode. Transitioning may include stopping a vehicle on a predefined landing strip and detecting a reference indicator. Based on the reference indicator, the vehicle may be able to know its exact position. Additionally, the vehicle may use the reference indictor to obtain an autonomous vehicle instruction via a URL. After the vehicle knows its precise location and has an autonomous vehicle instruction, it can operate in autonomous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Nathaniel Fairfield, Andy Szybalski, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson
  • Patent number: 8825261
    Abstract: A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Christopher Paul Urmson, Sebastian Thrun, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 8818610
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicles use various computing systems to transport passengers from one location to another. A control computer sends messages to the various systems of the vehicle in order to maneuver the vehicle safely to the destination. The control computer may display information on an electronic display in order to allow the passenger to understand what actions the vehicle may be taking in the immediate future. Various icons and images may be used to provide this information to the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Philip Nemec, Christopher Paul Urmson, Sebastian Thrun
  • Patent number: 8786953
    Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) may include an eye-tracking system, an HMD-tracking system and a display configured to display virtual images. The virtual images may present an augmented reality to a wearer of the HMD and the virtual images may adjust dynamically based on HMD-tracking data. However, position and orientation sensor errors may introduce drift into the displayed virtual images. By incorporating eye-tracking data, the drift of virtual images may be reduced. In one embodiment, the eye-tracking data could be used to determine a gaze axis and a target object in the displayed virtual images. The HMD may then move the target object towards a central axis. The HMD may also record data based on the gaze axis, central axis and target object to determine a user interface preference. The user interface preference could be used to adjust similar interactions with the HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Joseph Wheeler, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Hayes Solos Raffle
  • Patent number: 8751538
    Abstract: A mechanism for providing panel-based management of data. In accordance with instructions on a machine-readable medium, a computing system receives data objects from various sources such as various user devices and application servers. Further, the computing system causes a device to display a graphical user interface through which a user can define panels that will be associated with various received data objects, so as to define a record, by time or subject matter, of relevant data objects. Further, the computing system allows a user to readily switch from display of one panel to display of another panel, so as to assist the user with multi-tasking and associated context switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Wheeler, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez