Patents by Inventor Nigel Keam

Nigel Keam 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: 20160202760
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating multiple haptic zone responses for electronic devices are disclosed. Suitable electronic devices are embedded with a number of haptic elements that are spaced along the surface of the device. In one aspect, the number of haptic elements is sufficient to have at least one haptic element proximal in a grip zone of a user. During operation, the device may receive user interaction information (e.g., user location, pressure etc.) and indications to deliver a haptic response to the user, possibly depending on the execution of an application where haptic response is appropriate. The device determines a desirable number of haptic elements to energize depending upon the user interaction information and the set of haptic elements define a dynamic set of user interaction zones in which to deliver the haptic response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Anatoly Churikov, Catherine Boulanger, Tristan Trutna, Nigel Keam, Steven Bathiche, Luis Cabrera-Cordon, Carl Picciotto
  • Patent number: 9383769
    Abstract: A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, Nigel Keam
  • Publication number: 20150253811
    Abstract: A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Rajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 9041877
    Abstract: A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Rajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, Nigel Keam
  • Publication number: 20140226091
    Abstract: A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 8681126
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the correction of an image acquired in a rolling image capture system for ambient light. One embodiment provides a device comprising a screen, a rolling image capture system, a local light source, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the local light source while acquiring first and second frames of image data to integrate each field of image sensor pixels for a duration of local+ambient light and for a duration of ambient light such that a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the first frame is different than a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the second frame for each field of pixels. The controller is further configured to determine an ambient light value, and to adjust one or more pixels based upon the ambient light value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Publication number: 20130002613
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the correction of an image acquired in a rolling image capture system for ambient light. One embodiment provides a device comprising a screen, a rolling image capture system, a local light source, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the local light source while acquiring first and second frames of image data to integrate each field of image sensor pixels for a duration of local+ambient light and for a duration of ambient light such that a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the first frame is different than a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the second frame for each field of pixels. The controller is further configured to determine an ambient light value, and to adjust one or more pixels based upon the ambient light value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 8289300
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the correction of an image acquired in a rolling image capture system for ambient light. One embodiment provides a device comprising a screen, a rolling image capture system, a local light source, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the local light source while acquiring first and second frames of image data to integrate each field of image sensor pixels for a duration of local+ambient light and for a duration of ambient light such that a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the first frame is different than a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the second frame for each field of pixels. The controller is further configured to determine an ambient light value, and to adjust one or more pixels based upon the ambient light value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 8212857
    Abstract: An interactive display in which alternating illuminators are used to reduce or cancel specular reflections. The interactive display includes multiple illuminators and at least one camera placed behind one or more display layers. The interactive display uses a phase management mechanism that controls alternation of phases of the interactive display. When in the first phase, the first illuminator is controlled to dominate over the second illuminator. When in the second phase, the second illuminator is controlled to dominate over the first illuminator. A consolidated image is then formulated using a combination of the first and second images. The consolidated image has reduced or eliminated specular reflections as compared to the first and second images alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 8184101
    Abstract: The detection of touch on an optical touch-sensitive device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a touch-sensitive device including a display screen, a laser, and a scanning mirror configured to scan light from the laser across the screen. The touch-sensitive device also includes a position-sensitive device and optics configured to form an image of at least a portion of the screen on the position-sensitive device. A location of an object relative to the screen may be determined by detecting a location on the position-sensitive device of laser light reflected by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nigel Keam, John Lewis, Andrew D Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120075252
    Abstract: A ruggedized display device is disclosed. The ruggedized display device may include an optical stack configured to resist a load up to a load threshold. The optical stack may include an electronic display including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a top protective component coupled to the top surface of the electronic display via a bonding material layer, to shield the electronic display. The top protective component and the bonding material layer may collectively have a first thickness of less than 1.0 millimeters. The optical stack may further include a bottom protective component, coupled to the bottom surface via a resiliently deformable adhesive layer, to support the electronic display from below. The bottom protective component and the adhesive layer may collectively have a second thickness less than 10.0 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 8125458
    Abstract: The determination of an orientation of a finger touching a touch-sensitive device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device comprises a display screen configured to display an image to a user, and an intensity-sensitive touch-sensing input mechanism configured to detect one or more objects touching the display screen. The device also comprises a controller configured to determine an orientation of a finger touching the screen from a direction between a center of a first set of touch data and a center of a second set of touch data, and to adjust an image on the display screen in response to a determined orientation of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Publication number: 20110298589
    Abstract: The identification of a data storage device detected on a touch-sensitive display surface of a display device is described. In one embodiment, the presence and location of the data storage device is detected on the display surface and the data storage device is detected on a wireless communications channel. It is then confirmed that the data storage device detected on the wireless communications channel is the data storage device detected on the surface of the display device by communicating with the data storage device over a second communications channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig McFarlane, Dana L. Silverstein, Victor Drake, Kevin Kennedy, Cyra Richardson, Nigel Keam, Neal Bangerter
  • Patent number: 8063888
    Abstract: The identification of a data storage device detected on a touch-sensitive display surface of a display device is described. In one embodiment, the presence and location of the data storage device is detected on the display surface and the data storage device is detected on a wireless communications channel. It is then confirmed that the data storage device detected on the wireless communications channel is the data storage device detected on the surface of the display device by communicating with the data storage device over a second communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Craig McFarlane, Dana L. Silverstein, Victor Drake, Kevin Kennedy, Cyra Richardson, Nigel Keam, Neal Bangerter
  • Publication number: 20110260976
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a computing system having virtual keyboard functionality that can be selectively enhanced through use of a tactile keyboard overlay. The tactile keyboard overlay includes a plurality of depressible key portions, and is placed onto an operative surface of a touch interactive display. The computing system configures the virtual keyboard functionality, so that each of the depressible key portions is operable to produce a touch input on the touch interactive display that causes performance of a corresponding input operation. The virtual keyboard functionality is dynamically and automatically located on the touch interactive display based on user placement of the tactile keyboard overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glen Larsen, Nigel Keam, Steven Bathiche
  • Patent number: 8018442
    Abstract: Embodiments related to the calibration of an optical touch-sensitive display device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a method of calibrating an image sensor, wherein the method comprises placing a photoluminescent panel over the display surface, and illuminating a target location on the display surface with visible light. Infrared light that is emitted by the panel in response to the illumination of the display surface is received via the image sensor. The received light then is used to calibrate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nigel Keam, Prafulla Masalkar
  • Patent number: 8004502
    Abstract: The correction of an image for ambient light in an optical touch-sensitive device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises integrating a first field of pixels in an image data frame for a different duration of ambient light exposure than a second field of pixels in the image data frame. Intensity data is read from the first field of pixels and the second field of pixels, and an ambient light value is determined for one or more pixels in the image data frame from the intensity data. The ambient light value then is used to adjusting one or more pixels of the data frame for ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 7913921
    Abstract: The tracking of a motion of an optically readable tag is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optically readable tag comprises a plurality of data features, one or more orientation features, and an optically readable tracking feature. The tracking feature comprises a continuous region with a minimum dimension greater than a maximum dimension of each data feature. Additionally, the data features and the orientation features are separated from the tracking feature by a border having a minimum width greater than a maximum dimension of each data feature. With this configuration, the tracking feature may be tracked even when a tag is moving too quickly for the data features to be read and tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 7874496
    Abstract: Embodiments related to the identification of objects via optically readable tags. One embodiment includes an optically readable tag having a data region comprising a two-dimensional array of optically contrasting data features, one or more orientation features located on the tag outside of the data region, and a tracking feature located outside of the data region and having a larger size than the orientation features and the data features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam
  • Patent number: 7876424
    Abstract: The determination of an apparent distance between an object and a surface is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises illuminating the object with a spatially inhomogeneous irradiance from the surface, an intensity variation in the spatially inhomogeneous irradiance in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to a distance between the plane and the surface. Next, an image of the object is acquired while the object is illuminated by the spatially inhomogeneous irradiance, and the apparent distance of the object from the surface is determined based on a brightness contrast in the image of the object due to the spatially inhomogeneous irradiance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Keam