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).

  • Patent number: 8352110
    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: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Christopher Paul Urmson, Sebastian Thrun, Philip Nemec
  • Patent number: 8346426
    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: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson, Sebastian Thrun
  • Publication number: 20120317484
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems relate to a multimode input field for a head-mountable display (HMD). An exemplary multimode input field is operable to display content based on a number of modalities of input data, which may be received from a number of different input sources. Further, the input sources and/or content for the multimode input field may be selected based on implicit information in input data from the input sources, explicit instructions, and/or context information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Aaron Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20120299870
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for interfacing with a wearable heads-up display via a finger-operable input device. The wearable heads-up display may include a display element for receiving and displaying display information received from a processor, and may also include a wearable frame structure supporting the display element and having a projection extending away from the display element. The projection may be configured to secure the heads-up display to a user's body in a manner such that the display element is disposed within a field of view of the user. A finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the input device, and to provide corresponding input information to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Sanjay G. Mavinkurve
  • Patent number: 8321067
    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: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Nathaniel Fairfield, Andy Szybalski, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson
  • Patent number: 8275893
    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: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Sanjay Mavinkurve, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Publication number: 20120235827
    Abstract: The present application discloses methods and systems for augmenting a field of view of a user. In one embodiment, a device may include a detector, a processor, and an array of visual indicators. According to an embodiment of the method, the detector may image an environment. The processor may identify within the environment imaged by the detector an object of interest. The processor may also determine a relative spatial location of the identified object of interest. Further, the array of visual indicators may be used to indicate the determined relative spatial location of the identified object of interest. In particular, a set of one or more visual indicators may be selected that has a relative spatial location in the array of visual indicators that is indicative of the relative spatial location of the identified object of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8260482
    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 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Szybalski, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson, Sebastian Thrun
  • Patent number: 8248364
    Abstract: The disclosure describes methods and systems for gathering and conveying information, for example, such as with a hand of a user. In one embodiment, the method may include using a detector to record a series of images of an environment and detecting a predetermined motion by comparing two or more images in the series. The method may include selecting a function based on the predetermined motion and triggering the function. In another embodiment, the method may include using a first detector to record a first series of images of an environment and using a second detector to record a second series of images of an environment. The method may include detecting a predetermined relative motion by comparing one or more images from the first series with one or more images from the second series, and selecting and/or triggering a function based on the predetermined relative motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Harvey Ho, Sergey Brin
  • Patent number: 8228315
    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: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8223088
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems relate to a multimode input field for a head-mounted display (HMD). An exemplary multimode input field is operable to display content based on a number of modalities of input data, which may be received from a number of different input sources. Further, the input sources and/or content for the multimode input field may be selected based on implicit information in input data from the input sources, explicit instructions, and/or context information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Aaron Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8203502
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for interfacing with a wearable heads-up display via a finger-operable input device. The wearable heads-up display may include a display element for receiving and displaying display information received from a processor, and may also include a wearable frame structure supporting the display element and having a projection extending away from the display element. The projection may be configured to secure the heads-up display to a user's body in a manner such that the display element is disposed within a field of view of the user. A finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the input device, and to provide corresponding input information to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Sanjay G Mavinkurve
  • Patent number: 8199974
    Abstract: Methods are apparatuses are described for identifying a target object using optical occlusion. A head-mounted display perceives a characteristic of a reference object. The head-mounted display detects a change of the perceived characteristic of the reference object and makes a determination that a detected object caused the change of the perceived characteristic. In response to making the determination, the head-mounted display identifies the detected object as the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp
  • Patent number: 8190749
    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: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu (Tom) Chi, Sanjay Mavinkurve, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8188880
    Abstract: The present application discloses methods and systems for augmenting a field of view of a user. In one embodiment, a device may include a detector, a processor, and an array of visual indicators. According to an embodiment of the method, the detector may image an environment. The processor may identify within the environment imaged by the detector an object of interest. The processor may also determine a relative spatial location of the identified object of interest. Further, the array of visual indicators may be used to indicate the determined relative spatial location of the identified object of interest. In particular, a set of one or more visual indicators may be selected that has a relative spatial location in the array of visual indicators that is indicative of the relative spatial location of the identified object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8184983
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems for exchanging information between a first wearable electronic device and one of a second wearable electronic device and an account at a remote computing device associated with a user of the second wearable electronic device. The first wearable electronic device intermittently emits directed electromagnetic radiation comprising a beacon signal, and receives, via a receiver coupled to the first wearable electronic device, a signal from the second wearable electronic device identifying one of the second wearable electronic device and the account at the remote computing device. An input may then be detected at the first wearable electronic device, and in response to receiving the signal and detecting the input, the first wearable device may transmit additional data to one of the second wearable electronic device and the remote computing device associated with the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Harvey Ho, Babak Amirparviz, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Thad Eugene Starner
  • Patent number: 8179604
    Abstract: In accordance with example embodiments, a wearable marker may be used for passive interaction with a wearable computing device. A wearable marker may take the form of a ring, a bracelet, an artificial fingernail configured to be affixed to a fingernail, a decal configured to be affixed to a fingernail, or a glove, among other possible wearable items. A wearable marker may further include an infrared (IR) reflective surface in the form of a surface pattern that is substantially optically invisible. A wearable computing device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) equipped with an IR camera device capable of detecting IR radiation reflected from the surface pattern on a wearable marker. The HMD and the IR camera device can function together to track position and motion of the wearable marker via reflection, and by doing so can recognize known patterns of motion that correspond to known hand gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Liang-Yu Chi
  • Patent number: 8078349
    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: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Nathaniel Fairfield, Andy Szybalski, Philip Nemec, Christopher Urmson
  • Patent number: 8060533
    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: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Wheeler, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez
  • Patent number: 8009141
    Abstract: The disclosure describes methods and systems for gathering and conveying information, for example, such as with a hand of a user. In one embodiment, the method may include using a detector to record a series of images of an environment and detecting a predetermined motion by comparing two or more images in the series. The method may include selecting a function based on the predetermined motion and triggering the function. In another embodiment, the method may include using a first detector to record a first series of images of an environment and using a second detector to record a second series of images of an environment. The method may include detecting a predetermined relative motion by comparing one or more images from the first series with one or more images from the second series, and selecting and/or triggering a function based on the predetermined relative motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Chi, Robert Allen Ryskamp, Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez, Harvey Ho, Sergey Brin