Patents by Inventor Sean Jason Keller
Sean Jason Keller 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).
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Publication number: 20240019934Abstract: A method for large scale integration of haptic devices is described. The method comprises forming a first elastomer layer of a large scale integration (LSI) device on a substrate according to a specified manufacturing process, the first elastomer layer having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the first elastomer layer adhering to a plurality of formation specifications. The method further comprises curing the first elastomer layer. Additionally, one or more additional elastomer layers of the LSI device are formed with the first elastomer layer according to the specified manufacturing process, the one or more additional elastomer layers having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the one or more additional elastomer layers adhering to the plurality of formation specifications.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna
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Patent number: 11747901Abstract: A virtual reality system enables a user to interact with virtual objects. The system includes a fiducial ring, an imaging device and a console. The fiducial ring includes a ring body that includes a plurality of fiducial markers that each correspond to a different location on the ring body. An imaging device is configured to capture one or more images of the fiducial ring. The console receives the images that include an image of one or more fiducial markers. Based on the received images of the fiducial markers, the console determines a location on the fiducial ring that corresponds to the imaged fiducial marker. The console determines a position of the fiducial ring based on the determined location of the fiducial marker on the fiducial ring. The console provides content to a head mounted display (HMD) based on the determined position of the fiducial ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King
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Patent number: 11640206Abstract: A method for large scale integration of haptic devices is described. The method comprises forming a first elastomer layer of a large scale integration (LSI) device on a substrate according to a specified manufacturing process, the first elastomer layer having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the first elastomer layer adhering to a plurality of formation specifications. The method further comprises curing the first elastomer layer. Additionally, one or more additional elastomer layers of the LSI device are formed with the first elastomer layer according to the specified manufacturing process, the one or more additional elastomer layers having a plurality of fluid based circuits, the one or more additional elastomer layers adhering to the plurality of formation specifications.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna
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Patent number: 11590492Abstract: The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Nicholas Roy Corson, Yigit Menguc, Serol Turkyilmaz, Robert Manson
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Patent number: 11567576Abstract: A wearable glove for interacting with virtual objects is described herein. An example wearable glove includes a fabric material to be worn on a user's hand. The wearable glove also includes a matrix made of an elastic polymer, the matrix including a plurality of voids, each respective void (i) including at least one fluidic actuator and (ii) not being fluidically coupled with a positionally adjacent void. The wearable glove additionally includes a non-fluidic actuator configured to restrict movement of one of the user's digits; and one or more position sensors for monitoring positional data used to a determine a position of the wearable glove within a three-dimensional space. The wearable device can control the at least one fluidic actuator and the at least one non-fluidic actuator to simulate real-world interactions in the artificial-reality environment based on the position of the wearable device as compared to respective positions of virtual objects.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna
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Patent number: 11519511Abstract: A fluidic device comprises a channel, a gate, and one or more additional elements. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The gate includes a chamber with an adjustable volume that affects fluid flow within the channel by displacing a wall of the channel toward an opposite wall of the channel based in part on fluid pressure within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure. A high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a first flow rate of the fluid. A low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size and a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate. The additional elements are configured to reduce the threshold pressure past which the chamber decreases the cross-sectional area of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King, Jack Lindsay, Riccardo DeSalvo, Joseph Minh Tien, Matthew Robert Schwab
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Methods, devices, and systems for displaying a user interface on a user and detecting touch gestures
Patent number: 11467670Abstract: An example method of identifying a touch gesture on a user is provided. The method includes receiving, by one or more transducers of a wearable device, a set of signals that establish a signal pathway to the wearable device. The method also includes, while receiving the set of signals, determining baseline characteristics for the signal pathway, and sensing a change in the baseline characteristics caused by user interaction with an affordance of a user interface projected or perceived on the user's appendage. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the sensed change in the baseline characteristics satisfies a contact criterion, reporting a candidate touch event on the user's appendage to a separate electronic device that creates the user interface or is in communication with another electronic device that creates the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Hrvoje Benko -
Patent number: 11422628Abstract: A method creates haptic stimulations on a user of an artificial reality system. The system includes a head-mounted display (HMD) and a wearable device. The HMD includes a display and speakers. The wearable device includes a plurality of transducers that can each generate waves to provide haptic feedback to a user. The system displays media content on the display and, in accordance with the displayed media content, determines a virtual object location in the displayed media content corresponding to a physical object location. The system provides, to the user, audio directed to the virtual object location. The system activates one or more transducers to provide haptic feedback at a target location on the user, distinct from the physical object location, to produce haptic feedback whose perceptual interpretation is at the physical object location based on a combination of the displayed media, the provided audio, and the haptic feedback.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignees: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Hrvoje Benko, Raymond King, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Massimiliano Di Luca, Yon Visell, Yitian Shao, Bharat Dandu
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Patent number: 11402903Abstract: A virtual reality system enables a user to interact with virtual objects. The system includes a fiducial ring, an imaging device and a console. The fiducial ring includes a ring body that includes a plurality of fiducial markers that each correspond to a different location on the ring body. An imaging device is configured to capture one or more images of the fiducial ring. The console receives the images that include an image of one or more fiducial markers. Based on the received images of the fiducial markers, the console determines a location on the fiducial ring that corresponds to the imaged fiducial marker. The console determines a position of the fiducial ring based on the determined location of the fiducial marker on the fiducial ring. The console provides content to a head mounted display (HMD) based on the determined position of the fiducial ring.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King
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Publication number: 20220187920Abstract: A wearable glove for interacting with virtual objects is described herein. An example wearable glove includes a fabric material to be worn on a user's hand. The wearable glove also includes a matrix made of an elastic polymer, the matrix including a plurality of voids, each respective void (i) including at least one fluidic actuator and (ii) not being fluidically coupled with a positionally adjacent void. The wearable glove additionally includes a non-fluidic actuator configured to restrict movement of one of the user's digits; and one or more position sensors for monitoring positional data used to a determine a position of the wearable glove within a three-dimensional space. The wearable device can control the at least one fluidic actuator and the at least one non-fluidic actuator to simulate real-world interactions in the artificial-reality environment based on the position of the wearable device as compared to respective positions of virtual objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna
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Publication number: 20220072545Abstract: The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Nicholas Roy Corson, Yigit Menguc
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Publication number: 20220065355Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Jack Lindsay, Serol Turkyilmaz, John Michael Lutian, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Andrew Arthur Stanley
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Patent number: 11231055Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a first fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive a fluidic input and provide a first stage fluidic output, and a second fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive the first stage fluidic output and provide a second stage fluidic output. The first fluidic amplifier stage may include a fluidic valve, for example having a source, a gate, and a drain. The fluidic input may be connected to the gate of the fluidic valve through a fluid channel, and a fluid flow between the source and the drain of the fluidic valve may be controlled by the fluidic input. An example device may be configured to provide a fluidic output, wherein the fluidic output is based on the fluidic input, and the fluidic output may be provided to a fluidic load such as an actuator.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Andrew Arthur Stanley, Jack Lindsay, Casey Glick, Erik Roby
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Patent number: 11231266Abstract: A wearable device comprises one or more deformable signaling pathways wherein each deformable signaling pathway is configured to enable an electrical connection between two devices electrically connected to each other via the deformable signaling pathway. Deformable signaling pathways enable the conduction of electrical signals between various circuit elements similar to one or more circuit elements such as electronic traces or wires. A deformable signaling pathway includes one or more conductive elements surrounded by a conductive gel. Both the conductive gel and the one or more conductive elements are encased in an elastomeric shell. The elastomeric shell is attached to terminals (e.g., one on either end). The one or more connectors are attached to one another such that the one or more connectors span the length of the elastomeric shell and form a low resistance contact between the terminals of the deformable signaling pathway.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King, Vincenzo Casasanta, III
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Patent number: 11204100Abstract: A fluidic device comprises a channel, a gate, and one or more additional elements. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The gate includes a chamber with an adjustable volume that affects fluid flow within the channel by displacing a wall of the channel toward an opposite wall of the channel based in part on fluid pressure within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure. A high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a first flow rate of the fluid. A low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size and a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate. The additional elements are configured to reduce the threshold pressure past which the chamber decreases the cross-sectional area of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, David R. Perek, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Garrett Andrew Ochs, Nicholas Roy Corson, Raymond King, Jack Lindsay, Riccardo DeSalvo, Joseph Minh Tien, Matthew Robert Schwab
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Patent number: 11198125Abstract: The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Nicholas Roy Corson, Yigit Mengue
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Patent number: 11193597Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Jack Lindsay, Serol Turkyilmaz, John Michael Lutian, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Andrew Arthur Stanley
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METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR DISPLAYING A USER INTERFACE ON A USER AND DETECTING TOUCH GESTURES
Publication number: 20210311553Abstract: An example method of identifying a touch gesture on a user is provided. The method includes receiving, by one or more transducers of a wearable device, a set of signals that establish a signal pathway to the wearable device. The method also includes, while receiving the set of signals, determining baseline characteristics for the signal pathway, and sensing a change in the baseline characteristics caused by user interaction with an affordance of a user interface projected or perceived on the user's appendage. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the sensed change in the baseline characteristics satisfies a contact criterion, reporting a candidate touch event on the user's appendage to a separate electronic device that creates the user interface or is in communication with another electronic device that creates the user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Sean Jason Keller, Tristan Thomas Trutna, Hrvoje Benko -
Patent number: 11112868Abstract: A haptic glove comprises a glove body including a glove digit corresponding to a phalange of a user hand with the glove digit having a bend location that is located along the glove digit. A haptic apparatus is coupled to the glove body at the bend location with the haptic apparatus comprising a plurality of sheets that are flexible and inextensible and a pressure actuator coupled to one or more of the plurality of sheets. The plurality of sheets are stacked and configured to translate relative to each other along the centerline with bending of the glove digit. The pressure actuator is configured to adjust an applied pressure to the plurality of sheets to adjust friction between the sheets. The adjustment of friction is proportional to a bending resistance of the glove digit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Charles Stewart, Raymond King, Nicholas Roy Corson, Sean Jason Keller
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Patent number: 11084031Abstract: The disclosed microfluidic valves may include a valve body having at least one cavity therein, a gate transmission element separating the cavity into an input gate terminal and an output gate terminal, a gate port configured to convey drive fluid into the input gate terminal, and a fluid channel. The gate transmission element may include a flexible membrane and a plunger coupled to the flexible membrane. The gate transmission element may be configured to move within the cavity to inhibit a subject fluid flow from an inlet port to an outlet port of the fluid channel upon pressurization of the input gate terminal, and to allow subject fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port upon depressurization of the input gate terminal. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventors: Sean Jason Keller, Nicholas Roy Corson, Yigit Mengue, Serol Turkyilmaz, Robert Manson