Patents by Inventor Ravin Balakrishnan

Ravin Balakrishnan 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: 7839400
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that manages a volumetric display using volume windows. The volume windows have the typical functions, such as minimize, resize, etc., which operate in a volume. When initiated by an application a volume window is assigned to the application in a volume window data structure. Application data produced by the application is assigned to the windows responsive to which applications are assigned to which windows in the volume window data structure. Input events are assigned to the windows responsive to whether they are spatial or non-spatial. Spatial events are assigned to the window surrounding the event or cursor where a policy resolves situations where more than one window surrounds the cursor. Non-spatial events are assigned to the active or working window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7724251
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that allows a user to physically rotate a three-dimensional volumetric display enclosure with a corresponding rotation of the display contents. The rotation of the enclosure is sampled with an encoder and the display is virtually rotated by a computer maintaining the scene by an amount corresponding to the physical rotation before being rendered. This allows the user to remain in one position while viewing different parts of the displayed scene corresponding to different viewpoints. The display contents can be rotated in direct correspondence with the display enclosure or with a gain (positive or negative) that accelerates the rotation of the contents with respect to the physical rotation of the enclosure. Any display widgets in the scene, such as a virtual keyboard, can be maintained stationary with respect to the user while scene contents rotate by applying a negative rotational gain to the widgets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice
  • Patent number: 7701441
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice
  • Publication number: 20100088582
    Abstract: A range of unified software authoring tools for creating a talking paper application for integration in an end user platform are described herein. The authoring tools are easy to use and are interoperable to provide an easy and cost-effective method of creating a talking paper application. The authoring tools provide a framework for creating audio content and image content and interactively linking the audio content and the image content. The authoring tools also provide for verifying the interactively linked audio and image content, reviewing the audio content, the image content and the interactive linking on a display device. Finally, the authoring tools provide for saving the audio content, the video content and the interactive linking for publication to a manufacturer for integration in an end user platform or talking paper platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, Gerald Chu, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20100020026
    Abstract: Touch interaction with a curved display (e.g., a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, etc.) is enabled through various user interface (UI) features. In an example embodiment, a curved display is monitored to detect a touch input. If a touch input is detected based on the act of monitoring, then one or more locations of the touch input are determined. Responsive to the determined one or more locations of the touch input, at least one user UI feature is implemented. Example UI features include an orb-like invocation gesture feature, a rotation-based dragging feature, a send-to-dark-side interaction feature, and an object representation and manipulation by proxy representation feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Andrew D. Wilson, Billy Chen, Ravin Balakrishnan, Patrick M. Baudisch
  • Publication number: 20100023895
    Abstract: Touch interaction with a curved display (e.g., a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, etc.) is facilitated by preserving a predetermined orientation for objects. In an example embodiment, a curved display is monitored to detect a touch input on an object. If a touch input on an object is detected based on the monitoring, then one or more locations of the touch input are determined. The object may be manipulated responsive to the determined one or more locations of the touch input. While manipulation of the object is permitted, a predetermined orientation is preserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Andrew D. Wilson, Billy Chen, Ravin Balakrishnan, Patrick M. Baudisch
  • Publication number: 20090327171
    Abstract: A machine learning model is trained by instructing a user to perform proscribed gestures, sampling signals from EMG sensors arranged arbitrarily on the user's forearm with respect to locations of muscles in the forearm, extracting feature samples from the sampled signals, labeling the feature samples according to the corresponding gestures instructed to be performed, and training the machine learning model with the labeled feature samples. Subsequently, gestures may be recognized using the trained machine learning model by sampling signals from the EMG sensors, extracting from the signals unlabeled feature samples of a same type as those extracted during the training, passing the unlabeled feature samples to the machine learning model, and outputting from the machine learning model indicia of a gesture classified by the machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Desney Tan, Dan Morris, Scott Saponas, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7640518
    Abstract: A method maps positions of a direct input device to locations of a pointer displayed on a surface. The method performs absolute mapping between physical positions of a direct input device and virtual locations of a pointer on a display device when operating in an absolute mapping mode, and relative mapping between the physical positions of the input device and the locations the pointer when operating in a relative mapping mode. Switching between the absolute mapping and the relative mappings is in response to control signals detected from the direct input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton Forlines, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7640515
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a two-handed input control system that dynamically changes an input-to-object mapping for mapping movement of a graphical object on a display of a virtual scene as the viewpoint of the virtual scene changes. As input to the system for changing the position of the graphical object occurs, the mapping is revised to reflect changes in the viewpoint so that the object moves as inherently expected. That is, changes to the viewpoint change the mapping so that a correspondence between the viewpoint and the input space is always maintained. During movement of the object a screen cursor is visually suppressed so that the movement of the graphical object and the screen cursor do not split the attention of the user. The screen cursor is always maintained within the visual display region of the virtual scene even when the object moves out of the visual display region by moving the cursor to a center of the screen when it reaches an edge of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Kurtenbach
  • Publication number: 20090307623
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program for organizing and visualizing display objects within a virtual environment is provided. In one aspect, attributes of display objects define the interaction between display objects according to pre-determined rules, including rules simulating real world mechanics, thereby enabling enriched user interaction. The present invention further provides for the use of piles as an organizational entity for desktop objects. The present invention further provides for fluid interaction techniques for committing actions on display objects in a virtual interface. A number of other interaction and visualization techniques are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Anand Agarawala, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7589732
    Abstract: The system displays an image portraying a virtual space as viewed by a virtual camera at a first location on a spatially navigable camera surface within the virtual space. A user begins a drag operation. Based on the dragging, the virtual camera is spatially translated from the first location on the spatially navigable region to a second location on the spatially navigable region. The orientation of the virtual camera at the second location may be automatically set to either point towards the pre-defined look-at point or to point in a direction normal to the spatially navigable region at the second location. The system then displays an image portraying the virtual space in accordance with the location and orientation of the virtual camera at the second location in the spatially navigable camera surface. While the drag operation continues, the system determines that further translating the virtual camera would place the virtual camera beyond the spatially navigable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Burtnyk, Azam Khan, George William Fitzmaurice, Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach
  • Patent number: 7583252
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that allows a number of 3D volumetric display or output configurations, such as dome, cubical and cylindrical volumetric displays, to interact with a number of different input configurations, such as a three-dimensional position sensing system having a volume sensing field, a planar position sensing system having a digitizing tablet, and a non-planar position sensing system having a sensing grid formed on a dome. The user interacts via the input configurations, such as by moving a digitizing stylus on the sensing grid formed on the dome enclosure surface. This interaction affects the content of the volumetric display by mapping positions and corresponding vectors of the stylus to a moving cursor within the 3D display space of the volumetric display that is offset from a tip of the stylus along the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20090189857
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus that includes a curved display surface that has an interior and an exterior. The curved display surface is configured to display images thereon. The apparatus also includes an emitter that emits light through the interior of the curved display surface. A detector component analyzes light reflected from the curved display surface to detect a position on the curved display surface where a first member is in physical contact with the exterior of the curved display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Andrew Wilson, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7554541
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that places 2D user interface widgets in optimal positions in a 3D volumetric display where they can be easily used based on the knowledge user have about traditional 2D display systems. The widgets are placed on a shell or outer edge surface of a volumetric display, in a ring around the outside bottom of the display, in a vertical or horizontal plane within the display and/or responsive to the users focus of attention. Virtual 2D widgets are mapped to volumetric voxels of the 3D display system. This mapping includes any mapping between a 2D representation or virtual display map of the widget to the corresponding voxels. For example, a 2D texture map of the widget image may be mapped into voxels. Control actions in the 3D volume initiated by conventional control devices, such as a mouse or a touch sensitive dome enclosure surface, are mapped to controls of the widgets and appropriate control functions are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: George William Fitzmaurice, Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach
  • Patent number: 7528823
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice
  • Patent number: 7486274
    Abstract: The invention provides a method to stabilize a pointer displayed within an output image. The method enables the user to magnify selected areas within the output image. This allows the user to ‘zoom’ in on areas of interest in the output image, and to make accurate selections with the stabilized pointer. Design features of the method enable pixel and sub-pixel accurate pointing, which is not possible with most conventional direct pointing devices. The invention can be worked for 2D and 3D pointers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20080284729
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that allows a number of 3D volumetric display or output configurations, such as dome, cubical and cylindrical volumetric displays, to interact with a number of different input configurations, such as a three-dimensional position sensing system having a volume sensing field, a planar position sensing system having a digitizing tablet, and a non-planar position sensing system having a sensing grid formed on a dome. The user interacts via the input configurations, such as by moving a digitizing stylus on the sensing grid formed on the dome enclosure surface. This interaction affects the content of the volumetric display by mapping positions and corresponding vectors of the stylus to a moving cursor within the 3D display space of the volumetric display that is offset from a tip of the stylus along the vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Silicon Graphics, Inc
    Inventors: Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20080040689
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Kurtenbach, George Fitzmaurice
  • Publication number: 20080036738
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Kurtenbach, George Fitzmaurice
  • Patent number: 7324085
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in association with the display, touching a digitizing surface of the display enclosure or otherwise inputting position coordinates. The cursor can take a number of different forms including a ray, a point, a volume and a plane. The ray can include a ring, a bead, a segmented wand, a cone and a cylinder. The user designates an input position and the system maps the input position to a 3D cursor position within the volumetric display. The system also determines whether any object has been designated by the cursor by determining whether the object is within a region of influence of the cursor. The system also performs any function activated in association with the designation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravin Balakrishnan, Gordon Paul Kurtenbach, George William Fitzmaurice