Patents by Inventor Russell Douglas Patton

Russell Douglas Patton 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: 11947198
    Abstract: A case for an eyewear device having a conductive interface includes a housing that receives the eyewear device. A multi-purpose interface, supported by the housing, includes at least one contact arranged to couple with the conductive interface of the eyewear device when the housing receives the eyewear device. Circuitry is coupled to the at least one contact and includes a processor that detects a connection of the conductive interface of the eyewear device to the multi-purpose interface of the case. The processor performs a charging process during a charge state of the case in which an electrical charge is provided at the multi-purpose interface of the case to the eyewear device. Data is exchanged with the eyewear device during a communication state of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Miran Alhaideri, Alex Bamberger, Gerald Nilles, Russell Douglas Patton, Yu Jiang Tham
  • Patent number: 11947388
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a body having fasteners and a frame coupled between two fasteners. The frame includes first and second sections. A first portion of the body includes the first section of the frame and one fastener and a second portion of the body includes the second section of the frame and the other fastener. A speaker and a microphone are connected to the first portion and another speaker and another microphone are connected to the second portion. The body also includes a processor, memory accessible to the processor, and programming in the memory for configuring the processor to selectively activate the speakers and microphones such that a first speaker emits an output sound signal while a first microphone and a second speaker are deactivated and a second microphone captures an input sound signal during the emission of the output sound signal by the first speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II, Julio Cesar CastaƱeda, Samuel Bryson Thompson
  • Patent number: 11945579
    Abstract: A UAV having a manual gimbal including a camera, and a flight mode selector configured to select both a flight mode and manually establish a camera position as a function of the selected fight mode. A controller responds to a position of the gimbal or selector to establish the flight mode. The flight mode is selected from several available modes, for example, a horizontal flight mode, a 45-degree flight mode, and a vertical (aerial) flight mode. The flight mode selector is mechanically coupled to the gimbal and establishes a pitch angle of the gimbal, and thus the camera angle attached to the gimbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Nielsen, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20240097461
    Abstract: Methods and devices for wired charging and communication with a wearable device are described. In one embodiment, a symmetrical contact interface comprises a first contact pad and a second contact pad, and particular wired circuitry is coupled to the first and second contact pads to enable charging as well as receive and transmit communications via the contact pads as part of various device states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Nicolas Larson, Peter Brook, Russell Douglas Patton, Miran Alhaideri, Zhihao Hong
  • Patent number: 11935442
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for performing operations for controlling brightness in an AR device. The operations comprise displaying an image on an eyewear device worn by a user; detecting a gaze direction of a pupil of the user; identifying a first region of the image that corresponds to the gaze direction of the pupil; and modifying a brightness level or value of pixels in the image based on the gaze direction such that pixels in the first region of the image are set to a first brightness value and pixels in a second region of the image are set to a second brightness value that is lower than the first brightness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventor: Russell Douglas Patton
  • Patent number: 11933977
    Abstract: Eyewear having an optical waveguide communicating infrared light from a remote infrared emitter in the eyewear to an optical output coupler that uniformly illuminates an eye for tracking eye movement of a user. An optical input coupler couples a light beam emitted by the remote infrared emitter into the waveguide. The remote infrared emitter simplifies industrial design and is a single light source. The remote infrared emitter is not in a peripheral vision of a user's eye and improves a cosmetic impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SNAP INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kubala, Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II
  • Publication number: 20240045214
    Abstract: Eyewear with camera-based compensation that improves the user experience of eyewear devices for user's having partial blindness or complete blindness. To compensate for blindness, the camera-based compensation uses eyewear cameras to communicate a video feed, and a microphone to provide an optional audio feed, to a remote operator of a remote device to responsively assist the user to complete a task. For example, the user may want audio advice on how to navigate a crowded scene or unknown obstacle. The camera-based compensation is configured to receive instructions from the remote operator to navigate, such as by receiving audio instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Venu Iyengar, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Patent number: 11880039
    Abstract: A see-through display including a polarized reflective pinhole mirror display. The pinhole mirror display includes a plurality of tiny switchable polarized mirrors. The respective polarized mirrors individually reflect impinging light from an illuminator, and guide the respective portion of light into a pupil of an eye. A reflective optically powered surface reflects light from the illuminator. Each mirror has a first polarization and reflects a portion of light and produces a picture element (pixel) that forms a virtual image seen by the eye of the user. A user may view the reflected virtual image having the first polarization from the illuminator, as well as the image from the real world via a rear substrate that has a second polarization. Although the mirrors are very small, human eyes can still detect the mirrors if they are not polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kubala, Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II
  • Patent number: 11876391
    Abstract: Methods and devices for wired charging and communication with a wearable device are described. In one embodiment, a symmetrical contact interface comprises a first contact pad and a second contact pad, and particular wired circuitry is coupled to the first and second contact pads to enable charging as well as receive and transmit communications via the contact pads as part of various device states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SNAP INC
    Inventors: Yu Jiang Tham, Nicholas Larson, Peter Brook, Russell Douglas Patton, Miran Alhaideri, Zhihao Hong
  • Publication number: 20240015260
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system for capturing infrared (IR) images using an RGB camera. The system captures, by a camera of a client device, a first image comprising a visible light representing a real-world environment. The system receives a strobe signal for capturing an infrared (IR) image by the camera. In response to receiving the strobe signal, the system switches a filter associated with a lens of the camera to pass IR light to an image sensor of the camera, captures a second image comprising IR illumination of the real-world environment, and switches the filter after the second image is captured to allow visible light to pass through to the image sensor of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Russell Douglas Patton
  • Patent number: 11860371
    Abstract: An eyewear device including an eye tracker to track a user's eye. The eyewear includes a see-through display for creating an image. The eyewear includes a light source generating a collimated light beam, and the display includes a powered optical element that receives and reflects the light beam. The powered optical element spreads the light beam to uniformly illuminate a user's eye. The powered optical element may include a holographic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kubala, Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20230396877
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location of a wearable electronic device are disclosed. In some aspects, the device includes a position acquisition device and an accelerometer. A hardware processor included in the device may be configured to generally maintain the position acquisition device in a low power state to save power. When a video or image is captured, it may tag the video or image with first location information. Given the inoperative position acquisition device, a current location may not be known. In some aspects, in response to a need for location information, measurements from an accelerometer may be stored. The position acquisition device may also be transitioned to an operative state, and after some time delay, a second location determined. In some aspects, the location of the capture may then be obtained based on the acceleration measurements and the second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Zhibin Zhang, Russell Douglas Patton, Peter Brook, Dunxu Hu
  • Publication number: 20230369741
    Abstract: An antenna system comprises a combination of a loop antenna and a non-loop antenna. The loop antenna and the non-loop antenna is connected in common to a transceiver mechanism or signal feed mechanism. The non-loop antenna is in some embodiments provided by a dipole conductor. An eyewear device incorporates the antenna system, a loop conductor and a dipole conductor of the antenna system being integrated in a body of the eyewear device. The loop conductor may be provided by a lens ring that extends around a lens held by the body. The lens ring may serve both as loop conductor and as a lens retention mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Mathias Andreas Hintermann, Pat Kusbel, Douglas Wayne Moskowitz, Ugur Olgun, Russell Douglas Patton, Patrick Timothy McSweeney Simons, John Bernard Ardisana, II, Teodor Dabov, Ashutosh Y. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20230350414
    Abstract: Systems, computer readable medium and methods for autonomous drone stabilization and navigation are disclosed. Example methods include capturing an image using an image capturing device of the autonomous drone, processing the image to identify an object, and navigating the autonomous drone relative to the object to one or more waypoints. The autonomous drone navigates initially based on a relative location of the autonomous drone from the object. The autonomous drone determines a distance from the object based on an estimated size of the object and a number of pixels of an image sensor the object occupies. The autonomous drone determines a height above a ground to assist in navigation. Additionally, the autonomous drone hovers to determine a windspeed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: David G. Fliszar, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20230348067
    Abstract: A UAV including a shroud with cooling openings to cool electronics in the UAV. The shroud includes propeller openings surrounding respective propellers. The propeller openings include intake openings that draw air from outside the shroud into the shroud to cool UAV components. The propeller openings are formed at an interface between an upper portion of the shroud and a lower portion of the shroud. The UAV includes a selector, such as a dial, including exit openings under the selector that provide air outflow from the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: David G. Fliszar, Mathias Hintermann, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20230350434
    Abstract: Systems, computer readable medium and methods for autonomous drone navigation based on vision are disclosed. Example methods include capturing an image using an image capturing device of the autonomous drone, processing the image to identify an object, and navigating the autonomous drone relative to the object for a period of time. After the period of time a second type of navigation is used based on determining structure from motion navigation. Images are captured during the period of time to transition to the second type of navigation. The second type of navigation uses a downward pointing navigation camera and other sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: David G. Fliszar, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20230350693
    Abstract: Systems, computer readable medium and methods for improved boot time for autonomous drones are disclosed. Autonomous drones are disclosed that include an Off State and a Power off State. The Off State appears to a user of the autonomous drone as if the autonomous drone is off, but the Off State maintains some of the autonomous drone's state such as the operating system being loaded in a memory. The autonomous drone enters the Power off State, where all or substantially all the power is turned off, from the Off State based on a timeout or a power level of a battery dropping below a threshold level. The Off State reduces the boot time of the autonomous drone compared with the Power off State. The time reduction is often less than ten seconds, but this time is beneficial for situations where a user would like the autonomous drone to immediately perform photography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Huang, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20230350433
    Abstract: Systems, computer readable medium and methods for unlocking an autonomous drone are disclosed. Example methods include receiving an indication of a selection of a fly instruction, capturing an image using an image capturing device of the autonomous drone, processing the image to determine whether a face is present in the image, and if the face is present in the image, taking off. The face has to be within a predetermined distance of the autonomous drone. This ensures that the face is likely from the person that selected the fly instruction and ensures that the autonomous drone is far enough away from the face that the autonomous drone will not crash into the face on take-off. In some examples, the autonomous drone determines whether the autonomous drone is sitting on a hand before taking off. The autonomous drone uses a position of the face to determine an initial flight plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mathias Andreas Hintermann, Justin Huang, Russell Douglas Patton
  • Publication number: 20230350203
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for performing operations for displaying virtual content on a contact lens. The operations comprise causing the contact lens to operate in a first display mode to allow unobstructed light associated with a real-world environment to be received by a pupil of a user; detecting a condition associated with display of virtual content; selecting between a second display mode and a third display mode as a new display mode in which to operate the contact lens, the second display mode obstructing a portion of the light associated with a real-world environment received by the pupil with the virtual content, the third display mode obstructing all of the light associated with a real-world environment received by the pupil with the virtual content; and transitioning the contact lens from operating in the first display mode to operating in the new display mode in response to detecting the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Russell Douglas Patton, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, II
  • Publication number: 20230350431
    Abstract: Systems, computer readable medium and methods for fully autonomous drone flight are disclosed. Example methods include taking off, navigating in accordance with a flight plan, and navigating the autonomous drone to land. The autonomous drone performs flight plans with only an initial command for the autonomous drone to fly and, in some examples, an indication of a landing space such as an open hand presented under the autonomous drone. After an initial fly command, the autonomous drone is not controlled by a remote-control device and does not receive any additional commands to complete the flight plan. The autonomous drone enters a lower energy state while flying where the wireless connections are turned off since the autonomous drone does not respond to commands during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mathias Andreas Hintermann, Justin Huang, Russell Douglas Patton