Patents by Inventor Peter Shintani

Peter Shintani 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).

  • PERFORMANCE OF A TIME OF FLIGHT (ToF) LASER RANGE FINDING SYSTEM USING ACOUSTIC-BASED DIRECTION OF ARRIVAL (DoA)
    Publication number: 20190049579
    Abstract: An acoustic-based Direction of Arrival (DoA) system uses acoustic information to determine the direction of incoming sound, such as a person talking. The direction of the sound is then used to focus a laser-based time of flight (ToF) system to narrow the area of laser illumination, improving the signal to noise ratio because laser illumination is focused on the direction of the sound. The DoA system also provides elevation information pertaining to the source of the sound, to further narrow the required field of view of the laser ToF system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: PETER SHINTANI, MORIO USAMI, KEITH RESCH
  • Selective enablement of sign language display
    Patent number: 10204433
    Abstract: Content substitution and/or picture-in-picture technology is used to provide a sign language window that provides a sign language interpretation of audio content in main program audio/video content. The sign language window can be selectively disabled by a user that does not wish to view the sign language video. Also, in some implementations, the user can move the sign language window to a desired location on the display. The desired location may be one of a plurality of pre-defined display locations. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore
  • Establishing z-axis location of graphics plane in 3D video display
    Patent number: 10194132
    Abstract: A television for presenting video content in 3D has a video display controlled by a processor to present video content in a video plane and a user interface (UI) in a graphics plane. The processor receives input indicating a viewer desire to virtually move the UI up or back along a z-axis that is perpendicular to the video plane and responsive to the input change the location of the UI on the z-axis. This may done by altering image disparity produced to create a 3D effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Shintani
  • PRESENTING AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY OPTIONS AS LIST OR MATRIX
    Publication number: 20190018551
    Abstract: A user such as a vision-impaired person watching an audio video device (AVD) such as a TV may be given the option to define, in his user profile, whether he prefers options (such as channel listings on an electronic program guide (EPG)) to be presented in a two-dimensional matrix format or a one-dimensional list format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat
  • MOVING AUDIO FROM CENTER SPEAKER TO PERIPHERAL SPEAKER OF DISPLAY DEVICE FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION ACCESSIBILITY
    Publication number: 20190018640
    Abstract: Audio is shifted from being played on a central speaker element to either the right or left side speaker to accommodate a viewer suffering from macular degeneration moving his head to better see the visual display with his peripheral vision. If the user moves his head to the left to use the peripheral vision on the right, the audio is moved to the left speaker. Likewise, if the viewer is moving his head to the right, to take advantage of the peripheral vision on the left, then the audio switches to the right speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat
  • SENSING VIEWER DIRECTION OF VIEWING TO INVOKE ACCESSIBILITY MENU IN AUDIO VIDEO DEVICE
    Publication number: 20190018478
    Abstract: A camera senses a direction in which a viewer such as a person whose vision is impaired by macular degeneration is looking. If the gaze is not straight ahead toward an audio video device (AVD) on which the camera may be mounted, visual impairment may be deduced, and a visual and/or audible accessibility menu automatically invoked. The AVD, for example, can play an audible prompt on speakers asking if the viewer would like to turn on a screen reader. This is especially advantageous where sighted and un-sighted persons share a common space with an AVD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat
  • USER PLACEMENT OF CLOSED CAPTIONING
    Publication number: 20190020927
    Abstract: Placement of Closed Captioning (CC) in content by a content provider is overridden by means of a user interface (UI) that allows the user to place CC on screen on top of the video. The CC may be derived directly from the audio and synchronized with play of the audio and video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE CAMERA ON HEAD-MOUNT FOR THE BLIND
    Publication number: 20190020808
    Abstract: A camera on a head mount can be remotely controlled by a monitoring device to pan and tilt so that a remote monitor may gain a picture of the surroundings of a vision-impaired person wearing the head mount without pestering the person to move his head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat
  • Using pattern recognition to reduce noise in a 3D map
    Patent number: 10181089
    Abstract: To reduce the random noise in a depth map that is rendered using colors to convey the various depths, pattern recognition may be used to selectively apply noise reduction or to modulate the strength of the noise reduction. In this way, the potential adverse effect on the detail/sharpness of the image can be ameliorated. For example, in an image of a person, the skin does not have any sharp edges so noise reduction can be applied to such an image with little adverse consequence, whereas noise reduction applied to the image of a person's eye can cause loss of the detail of the iris, eyelashes, etc. Using pattern recognition on objects in the image, the appropriate level of noise reduction can be applied across an image while minimizing blurring/loss of detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Jose Omar Gonzalez Hernandez, William Clay, Pablo Antonio Espinosa, Fred Ansfield, Bibhudendu Mohapatra, Keith Resch, Morio Usami
  • MODIFYING DISPLAY REGION FOR PEOPLE WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION
    Publication number: 20190014380
    Abstract: The most active part of a video frame is magnified on a display to accommodate people with eye maladies such as macular degeneration. An area of interest in a video frame is identified, and that area is expanded or magnified to the periphery of the display, where people suffering from macular degeneration can best see. Assuming the viewer sits a benchmark distance from the display, the active part of the image is expanded to fit in what can be seen in the periphery of the display without moving the head left to right and up and down. This may be done by the display recognizing where most of the action is taking place by means of with motion vectors and I-macroblocks, or by allowing the viewer to switch to various predetermined blocks on screen using a remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • BACKWARD COMPATIBLE MECHANISM TO PROVIDE CABLE TYPE SIGNALING IN HDMI
    Publication number: 20190013889
    Abstract: An active optical cable (AOC) signals to a source that it needs power above a standard voltage, e.g., above five volts, by sending a signal such as a voltage step from one non-zero voltage to a second non-zero voltage or other voltage pattern on a hot plug detect (HPD) pin of a display data channel (DDC). While a legacy source device may not be able to detect this and consequently will operate as usual, a source device programmed according to present principles detects the request for more power represented by the voltage pattern established by the AOC, and in response increases the power (voltage and/or current) on DDC 5V line to the requested level, e.g., 10V at 500 mA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Robert Noel Blanchard
  • MODIFYING DISPLAY REGION FOR PEOPLE WITH LOSS OF PERIPHERAL VISION
    Publication number: 20190012931
    Abstract: The most active part of a video frame is magnified on a display to accommodate people with eye maladies such as glaucoma or perhaps retinitis pigmentosa. An area of interest in a video frame is identified, and that area is expanded or magnified to the center of the display, where people suffering from loss of peripheral vision can best see. Assuming the viewer sits a benchmark distance from the display, the active part of the image is expanded to fit in what can be seen in the center of the display without moving the head left to right and up and down. This may be done by the display recognizing where most of the action is taking place by means of with motion vectors and I-macroblocks, or by allowing the viewer to switch to various predetermined blocks on screen using a remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • Using multiple cameras to stitch a consolidated 3D depth map
    Patent number: 10178370
    Abstract: Each of plural devices includes a laser emitter and a camera for detecting reflections of laser light emitted by the device, so that plural of the devices can generate their own depth maps showing images within the field of view of their cameras. The resulting 3D depth maps from multiple cameras at potentially arbitrary locations can be aggregated to create a more accurate 3D depth map of the area covered by all the individual cameras. Each device/camera may be assigned a unique identification such as a unique number and a mechanism to identify, either electronically or visually, devices in its field of view. Using this information, the relative locations of the cameras can be calculated for purposes of aggregating the multiple depth maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Jose Omar Gonzalez Hernandez, William Clay, Pablo Antonio Espinosa, Fred Ansfield, Bibhudendu Mohapatra, Keith Resch, Morio Usami
  • MODIFYING DISPLAY REGION FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT
    Publication number: 20180376212
    Abstract: The most active part of a video frame is magnified on a display to accommodate people with eye maladies such as glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa. An area of interest in a video frame is identified, and that area is expanded or magnified. This may be done by the display recognizing where most of the action is taking place by means of with motion vectors and I-macroblocks, or by allowing the viewer to switch to various predetermined blocks on screen using a remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • ACCESSIBILITY MENU FROM REMOTE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180373695
    Abstract: An accessibility button is provided on the remote control, which may replace any existing buttons that may be present for closed captioning. When the accessibility button is pressed, the TV screen text to speech function is immediately enabled, including accessing closed captioning functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • Accessibility remote control for the blind
    Patent number: 10148901
    Abstract: A remotely controlled device receives a first command from a remote control (RC) but does not execute the command. Instead, the remotely controlled device waits to receive the first command within a threshold period, and if not received twice within the period, the first command is then executed. However, the first command is not executed if it is received twice, at which point the name of the corresponding RC key is announced. A second double command caused by a second double press of the same key on the RC causes the remotely controlled device to announce the function of the key. The logic may be executed in the RC as well as or in lieu of executing it in the remotely controlled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Peter Shintani
  • Method and system for audio data transmission
    Patent number: 10142698
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and system for audio data transmission are disclosed herein. The method includes selection of a frequency modulation (FM) band by a first electronic device. The FM band is selected to receive an audio portion of a multimedia content rendered at a display device. The method further includes receipt of a video description portion of the multimedia content, via the selected FM band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Mahyar Nejat
  • Selective sign language location
    Patent number: 10097785
    Abstract: Content substitution and/or picture-in-picture technology is used to provide a sign language window that provides a sign language interpretation of audio content in main program audio/video content. The sign language window can be selectively disabled by a user that does not wish to view the sign language video. Also, in some implementations, the user can move the sign language window to a desired location on the display. The desired location may be one of a plurality of pre-defined display locations. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore
  • USING SUPER IMPOSITION TO RENDER A 3D DEPTH MAP
    Publication number: 20180288385
    Abstract: Each of plural devices includes a laser emitter and a camera for detecting reflections of laser light emitted by the device, so that plural of the devices can generate their own depth maps showing images within the field of view of their cameras. The resolution of each depth map may be improved by accessing a data store of prior images of objects and combining the prior images using super-resolution with current images of the depth maps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Jose Omar Gonzalez Hernandez, William Clay, Pablo Antonio Espinosa, Fred Ansfield, Bibhudendu Mohapatra, Keith Resch, Morio Usami
  • 3D Depth Map
    Publication number: 20180252815
    Abstract: Machine learning is applied to both 2D images from an infrared imager imaging laser reflections from an object and to the 3D depth map of the object that is generated using the 2D images and time of flight (TOF) information. In this way, the 3D depth map accuracy can be improved without increasing laser power or using high resolution imagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Morio Usami, Kissei Matsumoto, Kazuyuki Shikama, Bibhudendu Mohapatra, Keith Resch