Patents by Inventor Mark Hatton

Mark Hatton 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: 20240174870
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solar additive composition comprising at least an inorganic solid material comprising particles and an organic solvent, wherein the additive may be added to a water-based acrylic paint providing high solar absorption property to the acrylic paint, wherein the acrylic paint with solar additive may absorb solar energy and convert the solar energy into electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph LaGrandeur, Mark Hatton
  • Patent number: 7965295
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E Tipping
  • Publication number: 20090225087
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E. Tipping
  • Patent number: 7525546
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E Tipping
  • Publication number: 20080129874
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E. Tipping
  • Patent number: 7358973
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E. Tipping
  • Patent number: 7260560
    Abstract: In a virtual reality environment, the behavior of the computer-controlled virtual vehicle may be made more human-like by increasing the AI driver's reaction time to environmental stimuli, such as physical stimuli (e.g., detecting a loss of tire traction, audio warning signals, smoke, virtual fatigue, weather changes, etc.) or “visual” stimuli (e.g., virtual visual detection by the computer driver of a turn or obstacle in its path, ambient lighting differences, etc.). Reaction time may be increased by introducing a delay in receipt of stimuli by the artificial intelligence motion control system, by introducing a delay in receipt of control signals by the physics engine, or by modifying the control signal to degrade their accuracy in approximating a prescribed racing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Patent number: 7246103
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided. The computer driver may be “distracted” by various characteristics, such as nervousness caused by another competitor closing the gap behind a computer driver. The distraction effects may be reflected in the alteration of stimuli to represent the computer driver “missing” stimuli, as though the AI competitor has taken its virtual eyes away from the course in front of its vehicle for an extended time period in order to watch the racing vehicle behind it. In addition, some distractions may be caused by different directional stimuli. When it is determined that an AI driver has glanced into the rear view mirror, visual stimuli from in front of the vehicle may be skipped because a human driver would not be able to simultaneously process visual stimuli from both the front of the vehicle and the rear view mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20070155458
    Abstract: A target speed profile for a specified racer is computed at various points along a track. The calculation is based on the real world physics of the racing environment and incorporates physical characteristics of the track, including curvature, undulation, and/or camber. A lateral acceleration component is developed to limit the realistic maximum speed a racer may obtain at any given point along the track. Furthermore, differences in realistic maximum speeds at different points along the track can overwhelm a racer's braking capability. As such, braking capacity adjustments can be applied to decrease the maximum speed in the target speed profile, so that the overall target speed profile is more realistic and attainable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20070156327
    Abstract: An automatic agorithm for finding racing lines via computerized minimization of a measure of the curvature of a racing line is derived. Maximum sustainable speed of a car on a track is shown to be inversely proportional to the curvature of the line it is attempting to follow. Low curvature allows for higher speed given that a car has some maximum lateral traction when cornering. The racing line can also be constrained, or “pinned,” at arbitrary points on the track. Pinning may be randomly, deterministically, or manually and allows, for example, a line designer to pin the line at any chosen points on the track, such that when the automatic algorithm is run, it will produce the smoothest line that still passes through all the specified pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tipping, Mark Hatton, Ralf Herbrich
  • Publication number: 20070156294
    Abstract: A learning controller overcomes tuning problems in vehicle simulation programs by estimating requisite vehicle-specific parameters, effectively learning from its mistakes, as the vehicle is automatically driven around a track. After a sufficient period of calibration, the learned parameters are automatically saved to a car-specific file. The file parameters may be loaded in the controller in the future to optimally control a vehicle without the need to re-run the learning procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tipping, Mark Hatton, Barry Brumitt
  • Publication number: 20070111768
    Abstract: In a video game or simulator, suggested speed indicators are computed along a suggested driving line on a path (e.g., a race track) and displayed in a simple, progressive, and user-friendly format. The displayed speed indicators are based on a racer's current speed and target speeds attributed to individual locations along the suggested driving line on the path. The speed indicators provide a dynamic indication of where and how the player should slow down or speed up relative to their current speed as their racer travels along the path. The speed indicators are displayed (e.g., using color to represent different magnitudes of suggested acceleration and deceleration) along the suggested driving line in front of the racer so that the player can anticipate braking and acceleration actions as the path and the racer's speed change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Patent number: 7090576
    Abstract: Racing-based computer games typically include a mode in which one or more human players can compete against one or more computer-controlled opponents. For example, a human player may drive a virtual race car against a computer-controlled virtual race car purported to be driven by Mario Andretti or some other race car driver. Such computer controlled opponents may be enhanced by including a sampling of actual game behavior of a human subject into the opponent's artificial intelligence control system. Such a sampling can allow the game system to personalize the behavior of the computer control opponent to emulate the human subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20040266526
    Abstract: In a virtual reality environment, the behavior of the computer-controlled virtual vehicle may be made more human-like by increasing the AI driver's reaction time to environmental stimuli, such as physical stimuli (e.g., detecting a loss of tire traction, audio warning signals, smoke, virtual fatigue, weather changes, etc.) or “visual” stimuli (e.g., virtual visual detection by the computer driver of a turn or obstacle in its path, ambient lighting differences, etc.). Reaction time may be increased by introducing a delay in receipt of stimuli by the artificial intelligence motion control system, by introducing a delay in receipt of control signals by the physics engine, or by modifying the control signal to degrade their accuracy in approximating a prescribed racing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20040267683
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided. The computer driver may be “distracted” by various characteristics, such as nervousness caused by another competitor closing the gap behind a computer driver. The distraction effects may be reflected in the alteration of stimuli to represent the computer driver “missing” stimuli, as though the AI competitor has taken its virtual eyes away from the course in front of its vehicle for an extended time period in order to watch the racing vehicle behind it. In addition, some distractions may be caused by different directional stimuli. When it is determined that an AI driver has glanced into the rear view mirror, visual stimuli from in front of the vehicle may be skipped because a human driver would not be able to simultaneously process visual stimuli from both the front of the vehicle and the rear view mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20040266506
    Abstract: Racing-based computer games typically include a mode in which one or more human players can compete against one or more computer-controlled opponents. For example, a human player may drive a virtual race car against a computer-controlled virtual race car purported to be driven by Mario Andretti or some other race car driver. Such computer controlled opponents may be enhanced by including a sampling of actual game behavior of a human subject into the opponent's artificial intelligence control system. Such a sampling can allow the game system to personalize the behavior of the computer control opponent to emulate the human subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Michael E. Tipping, Mark Hatton
  • Publication number: 20040263693
    Abstract: Improved human-like realism of computer opponents in racing or motion-related games is provided by using a mixture model to determine a dynamically prescribed racing line that the AI driver is to follow for a given segment of the race track. This dynamically prescribed racing line may vary from segment to segment and lap to lap, roughly following an ideal line with some variation. As such, the AI driver does not appear to statically follow the ideal line perfectly throughout the race. Instead, within each segment of the course, the AI driver's path may smoothly follow a probabilistically-determined racing line defined relative to at least one prescribed racing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ralf Herbrich, Mark Hatton, Michael E. Tipping