Patents by Inventor Michael P. Browne

Michael P. Browne 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: 20250094652
    Abstract: A user interface for a lightweight viewer may include, among other things, a viewing window operable to display geometry established by one or more geometric objects of a tessellated model and an information window established by a plurality of content objects of the tessellated model. The content objects are associated with respective layers of the tessellated model that occupy a common display region. The content objects are operable to selectively display information associated with the tessellated model in response to user interaction with the respective content object such that the respective layer is activated but a remainder of the layers are deactivated in the common display region. A method of establishing a tessellated model is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen Doll, Michael P. Brown
  • Publication number: 20250095294
    Abstract: A user interface for a lightweight viewer may include, among other things, a viewing window operable to display geometry established by one or more of geometric objects of a tessellated model and a plurality of notification objects of the tessellated model. The notification objects include a first statement object and an acknowledgement object linked to the first statement object. The first statement object is operable to establish a first notification screen that blocks display of the geometry in the viewing window prior to selection of the acknowledgement object but permits display of the geometry in response to selection of the acknowledgement object. A method of establishing a tessellated model is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Stephen Doll, Michael P. Brown
  • Publication number: 20240272726
    Abstract: A system may include an external facing camera arranged to capture images of an external environment in front of a user, a display configured to display images, and a beam combiner that provides a first optical path and a second optical path. The first optical path directs images from the display to an eye, and the second optical path directs light from the external environment to the eye. The system may include a shutter positioned along the second optical path, where the system is configured to operate in one of a plurality of states including an electronic see-through state and an optical see-through state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin L. Mellott
  • Publication number: 20240188815
    Abstract: A handheld ophthalmic device configured to perform various optical diagnostic tests to determine the health of a subject's eye. The handheld ophthalmic device is configured to be attached to a smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet. The smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet can be used to view images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device and to transmit data and images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device to an ophthalmologist located remotely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Andrew J. Olson, Nathan J. Fo
  • Patent number: 11995243
    Abstract: A system, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), displays images to a user. The system has an active state and an idle state. The system includes a display device, a beam combiner, and a user-operated control. The display device displays images when the system is in the active state and emits a reduced amount or no light when the system is in the idle state. The beam combiner provides a first optical path for light from an external environment to the user's eye and also provides a second optical path for light emitted from the display device to the user's eye. Responsive to activation by the user, the control switches the system between states that include the active state and the idle state, where the idle state is a default state and the system remains in the active state only while the user-operated control remains activated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 11730356
    Abstract: A handheld ophthalmic device configured to perform various optical diagnostic tests to determine the health of a subject's eye. The handheld ophthalmic device is configured to be attached to a smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet. The smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet can be used to view images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device and to transmit data and images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device to an ophthalmologist located remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Andrew J. Olson, Nathan J. Fo
  • Patent number: 11567323
    Abstract: A partial electronic see-through HMD includes one or more subassemblies that occlude a central portion of a user's field of view (the peripheral portions of the user's field of view may remain unobstructed). Each subassembly includes an outward facing camera, a display, and an eyepiece. Images of the occluded central zone are captured by the camera and projected to the user via the display and eyepiece. The projected images can also include electronic information, such as AR image overlays. The peripheral zones are not occluded and remain directly viewable by the user. Thus, the projected images complete (or partially complete) the user's FOV of the external environment between the peripheral zones and may provide additional electronic information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 11448881
    Abstract: A wide field of view night vision system is described. The system comprises a head attachment apparatus configured to attach to a user's head and a night vision subsystem. The night vision subsystem comprises one or more night vision image sensors attached to the head attachment apparatus. Each sensor receives input light and produces a digital image of the input light. A processor processes the digital image(s) to produce a wide-field image. The wide-field image spans at least 60 degrees of a user's horizontal field of view. A display and eyepiece attached to the head attachment apparatus receives and displays the wide-field image. The eyepiece is positionable between the display and the user's eye to image the wide-field image into the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 11378801
    Abstract: Described is a wide field of view, high resolution digital night vision system that uses transparent, repositionable eyepieces to present night vision information in the field of view of the user. The WNVS is advantageous in that it can be used in both night environments, but also in daytime environments by using clear eye pieces that allow the user to concurrently see the outside environment or allowing the eyepieces to be positioned out of the field of view of the user without significantly occluding the user's field of use during daytime use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, James A. Davey, Martin Vasquez
  • Publication number: 20220147149
    Abstract: A system, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), displays images to a user. The system has an active state and an idle state. The system includes a display device, a beam combiner, and a user-operated control. The display device displays images when the system is in the active state and emits a reduced amount or no light when the system is in the idle state. The beam combiner provides a first optical path for light from an external environment to the user's eye and also provides a second optical path for light emitted from the display device to the user's eye. Responsive to activation by the user, the control switches the system between states that include the active state and the idle state, where the idle state is a default state and the system remains in the active state only while the user-operated control remains activated by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 11204649
    Abstract: A system, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), displays images to a user. The system has an active state and an idle state. The system includes a display device, a beam combiner, and a user-operated control. The display device displays images when the system is in the active state and emits a reduced amount or no light when the system is in the idle state. The beam combiner provides a first optical path for light from an external environment to the user's eye and also provides a second optical path for light emitted from the display device to the user's eye. Responsive to activation by the user, the control switches the system between states that include the active state and the idle state, where the idle state is a default state and the system remains in the active state only while the user-operated control remains activated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SA Photonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Publication number: 20210240275
    Abstract: A system, such as a head-mounted display (HMD), displays images to a user. The system has an active state and an idle state. The system includes a display device, a beam combiner, and a user-operated control. The display device displays images when the system is in the active state and emits a reduced amount or no light when the system is in the idle state. The beam combiner provides a first optical path for light from an external environment to the user's eye and also provides a second optical path for light emitted from the display device to the user's eye. Responsive to activation by the user, the control switches the system between states that include the active state and the idle state, where the idle state is a default state and the system remains in the active state only while the user-operated control remains activated by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Publication number: 20210168270
    Abstract: A partial electronic see-through HMD includes one or more subassemblies that occlude a central portion of a user's field of view (the peripheral portions of the user's field of view may remain unobstructed). Each subassembly includes an outward facing camera, a display, and an eyepiece. Images of the occluded central zone are captured by the camera and projected to the user via the display and eyepiece. The projected images can also include electronic information, such as AR image overlays. The peripheral zones are not occluded and remain directly viewable by the user. Thus, the projected images complete (or partially complete) the user's FOV of the external environment between the peripheral zones and may provide additional electronic information to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Publication number: 20200018958
    Abstract: A wide field of view night vision system is described. The system comprises a head attachment apparatus configured to attach to a user's head and a night vision subsystem. The night vision subsystem comprises one or more night vision image sensors attached to the head attachment apparatus. Each sensor receives input light and produces a digital image of the input light. A processor processes the digital image(s) to produce a wide-field image. The wide-field image spans at least 60 degrees of a user's horizontal field of view. A display and eyepiece attached to the head attachment apparatus receives and displays the wide-field image. The eyepiece is positionable between the display and the user's eye to image the wide-field image into the user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 10473931
    Abstract: A wide field of view night vision system is described. The system comprises a head attachment apparatus configured to attach to a user's head and a night vision subsystem. The night vision subsystem comprises one or more night vision image sensors attached to the head attachment apparatus. Each sensor receives input light and produces a digital image of the input light. A processor processes the digital image(s) to produce a wide-field image. The wide-field image spans at least 60 degrees of a user's horizontal field of view. A display and eyepiece attached to the head attachment apparatus receives and displays the wide-field image. The eyepiece is positionable between the display and the user's eye to image the wide-field image into the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SA Photonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 10451878
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of reducing light leakage from display devices are described. An embodiment of reducing light leakage from display devices includes providing an optical shutter that is configured to block light from a display device from being emitted into the ambient environment when the display device is in a bright state and configured to display visual information to the user. The optical shutter can be configured to transmit light from the ambient environment to the user when the display device is not displaying visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SA Photonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Patent number: 10373246
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention may include a method and apparatus configured to authenticate a user transaction (e.g., point-of-sale, ATM transactions, etc.). One example method may include receiving user authentication information during the user transaction and confirming the user authentication information is correct. The method may also include determining a current user location by a location associated with the user's mobile device, and comparing the current user location to a known location of an entity associated with the user transaction. The method may also include authenticating the transaction if the current user location is within a predetermined distance of the known location of the entity associated with the user transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: WEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason H. Groenjes, Michael P. Brown, Gerald M. Price
  • Publication number: 20190133435
    Abstract: A handheld ophthalmic device configured to perform various optical diagnostic tests to determine the health of a subject's eye. The handheld ophthalmic device is configured to be attached to a smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet. The smartphone, a cell phone or an electronic tablet can be used to view images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device and to transmit data and images obtained by the handheld ophthalmic device to an ophthalmologist located remotely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Andrew J. Olson, Nathan J. Fo
  • Publication number: 20180031838
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of reducing light leakage from display devices are described. An embodiment of reducing light leakage from display devices includes providing an optical shutter that is configured to block light from a display device from being emitted into the ambient environment when the display device is in a bright state and configured to display visual information to the user. The optical shutter can be configured to transmit light from the ambient environment to the user when the display device is not displaying visual information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne
  • Publication number: 20180011318
    Abstract: A wide field of view night vision system is described. The system comprises a head attachment apparatus configured to attach to a user's head and a night vision subsystem. The night vision subsystem comprises one or more night vision image sensors attached to the head attachment apparatus. Each sensor receives input light and produces a digital image of the input light. A processor processes the digital image(s) to produce a wide-field image. The wide-field image spans at least 60 degrees of a user's horizontal field of view. A display and eyepiece attached to the head attachment apparatus receives and displays the wide-field image. The eyepiece is positionable between the display and the user's eye to image the wide-field image into the user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventor: Michael P. Browne