Patents by Inventor Scott Douglas Nietfeld

Scott Douglas Nietfeld 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: 20200225768
    Abstract: A method including receiving data corresponding to one or more objects in proximity to the controller, determining scores for controller configurations of the controller, ranking the scores of controller configurations, selecting a controller configuration among the controller configurations, and configuring a touch sensor of the controller according to a selected controller configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Scott Douglas Nietfeld
  • Publication number: 20200218377
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Patent number: 10691233
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha
  • Patent number: 10635202
    Abstract: A method including receiving data corresponding to one or more objects in proximity to the controller, determining scores for controller configurations of the controller, ranking the scores of controller configurations, selecting a controller configuration among the controller configurations, and configuring a touch sensor of the controller according to a selected controller configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Douglas Nietfeld
  • Publication number: 20190325651
    Abstract: Techniques and devices for holding and releasing virtual objects on a display based on input received from one or more handheld controllers are described herein. In some instances, a handheld controller includes one or more sensors, such as proximity sensors, force sensors (e.g., force resisting sensors, etc.), accelerometers, and/or other types of sensors configured to receive input from a hand of a user gripping the handheld controller. Hardware, software, and/or firmware on the controller and/or on a device coupled to the controller (e.g., a game console, a server, etc.) may receive data from these sensors and generate a representation of a corresponding gesture on a display, such as a monitor, a virtual-reality system, and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Keith Bradner, Jeremy Slocum, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh
  • Publication number: 20190290999
    Abstract: Techniques and devices for determining how to present the release of the virtual object based at least in part on received sensor data is described herein. For example, when the hardware and/or software determines that the virtual object is to be released, the hardware and/or software may calculate one or more of a velocity of the object (e.g., speed and direction), a position at which the virtual object is to be released, a trajectory of the virtual object from the position of release to the landing point of the virtual object, a landing location of the virtual object, and/or the like. The hardware and/or software may then present the virtual object being released according to this determined information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Keith Bradner, Jeremy Slocum, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh
  • Publication number: 20190138107
    Abstract: A method including receiving at least one of touch data or force data representing a touch input received at the controller, determining one or more model(s), generating image data using the one or more models, the image data representing at least a hand gesture corresponding to the touch input received at the controller, and transmitting the image data to a virtual reality (VR) environment for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Joe van den Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20180264357
    Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Dalton, Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen, Scott Douglas Nietfeld, Jeffrey George Leinbaugh, Ian Campbell, Cheang Tad Yoo, Lawrence Yang, Jeffrey Walter Mucha