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).

  • Patent number: 12684109
    Abstract: Various AR systems include a fail-safe mode where the user can see the region in front of the user without the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera), if for example, power to the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) is lost or the outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) and/or display malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin Mellott
  • Patent number: 12669871
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin L. Mellott
  • Publication number: 20250335146
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to collaborative workspaces using head-mounted displays (HMDs). Collaborative workspaces enable multiple users to collaborate together in a common environment while also viewing content specific to each user using HMDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin L. Mellott
  • Publication number: 20250248595
    Abstract: An eye tracking system may include a light source with adjustable emission and positioned to illuminate an eye of a user with light. The system may include a light detector positioned to generate data corresponding to the eye of the user. The system may include a shutter with adjustable transmission and positioned between the eye of the user and an external environment. The system may include a control module configured to control the light source and the shutter to synchronize repeated variations of transmission of the shutter with repeated variations of emission from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin Lee Mellott
  • Publication number: 20250240401
    Abstract: Various AR systems include a fail-safe mode where the user can see the region in front of the user without the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera), if for example, power to the display and/or outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) is lost or the outward facing imaging sensor (e.g., camera) and/or display malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin Mellott
  • Publication number: 20250173116
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to collaborative workspaces using head-mounted displays (HMDs). Collaborative workspaces enable multiple users to collaborate together in a common environment while also viewing content specific to each user using HMDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin Lee Mellott
  • Patent number: 12314627
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to collaborative workspaces using head-mounted displays (HMDs). Collaborative workspaces enable multiple users to collaborate together in a common environment while also viewing content specific to each user using HMDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Vision Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Browne, Kevin Lee Mellott
  • 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