Patents by Inventor Michael Sean Mounier

Michael Sean Mounier 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: 10636340
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a pixelated display, an eye tracking system, and a segmented resolution enhancing device coupled to the eye tracking system and operable to selectively enhance effective image resolution for the electronic display in the gaze direction. The segmented resolution enhancing device may include a polarization switch in series with a polarization gratings, at least one of which is segmented, for shifting image pixels in the gaze direction between offset positions while displaying a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Fenglin Peng, Michael Sean Mounier, Kevin James MacKenzie, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam
  • Publication number: 20190318677
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a pixelated display, an eye tracking system, and a segmented resolution enhancing device coupled to the eye tracking system and operable to selectively enhance effective image resolution for the electronic display in the gaze direction. The segmented resolution enhancing device may include a polarization switch in series with a polarization gratings, at least one of which is segmented, for shifting image pixels in the gaze direction between offset positions while displaying a frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Fenglin Peng, Michael Sean Mounier, Kevin James MacKenzie, Wai Sze Tiffany Lam
  • Patent number: 10241569
    Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 10025060
    Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Publication number: 20170160518
    Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Publication number: 20170160798
    Abstract: A virtual reality headset displays a three-dimensional (3D) virtual scene and includes a varifocal element to dynamically adjust a focal length of an optics block included in the virtual reality headset based on a location in the virtual scene where the user is looking. The headset tracks a user's eyes to approximate gaze lines and determines a plane of focus for a frame of the virtual scene as the intersection of the gaze lines. The varifocal element adjusts the focal length of the optics block so the optics block is focused at the plane of focus, which keeps the user's eyes in a zone of comfort as vergence and accommodation change. Based on the plane of focus, the virtual reality headset may provide depth cues, such as depth of field blur, to planes in the virtual scene deeper in the user's field of view than the plane of focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Lanman, Ryan Michael Ebert, Alexander Jobe Fix, William Aaron Nicholls, Michael Sean Mounier, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 7423645
    Abstract: A graphics rendering system and method is disclosed, in which color values for certain pixels appearing on the screen may be adjusted to create a blurring effect. A pixel-by-pixel comparison may be used to compare differences in depth, as noted in a depth buffer, and if pixel depths are sufficiently close, the pixel's color may be softened to take into account color values of neighboring pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Alan Dougherty, David Scott McCoy, Michael Sean Mounier