Patents by Inventor Stephen G Latta

Stephen G Latta 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: 8869072
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a gesture recognizer system architecture. A recognizer engine is provided, which receives user motion data and provides that data to a plurality of filters. A filter corresponds to a gesture, that may then be tuned by an application receiving information from the gesture recognizer so that the specific parameters of the gesture—such as an arm acceleration for a throwing gesture—may be set on a per-application level, or multiple times within a single application. Each filter may output to an application using it a confidence level that the corresponding gesture occurred, as well as further details about the user motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Relja Markovic, Arthur Charles Tomlin, Gregory N. Snook
  • Publication number: 20140306891
    Abstract: Methods for providing real-time feedback to an end user of a mobile device as they are interacting with or manipulating one or more virtual objects within an augmented reality environment are described. The real-time feedback may comprise visual feedback, audio feedback, and/or haptic feedback. In some embodiments, a mobile device, such as a head-mounted display device (HMD), may determine an object classification associated with a virtual object within an augmented reality environment, detect an object manipulation gesture performed by an end user of the mobile device, detect an interaction with the virtual object based on the object manipulation gesture, determine a magnitude of a virtual force associated with the interaction, and provide real-time feedback to the end user of the mobile device based on the interaction, the magnitude of the virtual force applied to the virtual object, and the object classification associated with the virtual object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Adam G. Poulos, Cameron G. Brown, Daniel J. McCulloch, Matthew Kaplan, Arnulfo Zepeda Navratil, Jon Paulovich, Kudo Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 8847988
    Abstract: The technology described herein includes a see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device for providing customized experiences for a user. The personal A/V apparatus serves as an exercise program that is always with the user, provides motivation for the user, visually tells the user how to exercise, and lets the user exercise with other people who are not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin A. Geisner, Kathryn Stone Perez, Stephen G. Latta, Ben J. Sugden, Benjamin I. Vaught, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman
  • Patent number: 8814693
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects, for a particular user one or more other users associated with that particular user are identified based on a social graph of that particular user. An avatar of at least one of the other users is obtained and included as a non-player-character in a game being played by that particular user. The particular user can provide requests to interact with the avatar of the second user (e.g., calling out the name of the second user, tapping the avatar of the second user on the shoulder, etc.), these requests being invitations for the second user to join in a game with the first user. An indication of such an invitation is presented to the second user, which can, for example, accept the invitation to join in a game with the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Scott Murphy, Stephen G. Latta, Darren Alexander Bennett, Kevin Geisner, Shawn C. Wright, Relja Markovic, Joel B. Deaguero, Christopher H. Willoughby, Ryan Lucas Hastings
  • Patent number: 8810600
    Abstract: In embodiments of wearable display device calibration, a first display lens system forms an image of an environment viewed through the first display lens system. A second display lens system also forms the image of the environment viewed through the second display lens system. The first display lens system emits a first reference beam and the second display lens system emits a second reference beam. The first display lens system then captures a reflection image of the first and second reference beams. The second display lens system also captures a reflection image of the first and second reference beams. An imaging application is implemented to compare the reflection images to determine a misalignment between the first and second display lens systems, and then apply an alignment adjustment to align the image of the environment formed by each of the first and second display lens systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Stephen G. Latta, Jeffrey N. Margolis
  • Patent number: 8782567
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a gesture recognizer system architecture. A recognizer engine is provided, which receives user motion data and provides that data to a plurality of filters. A filter corresponds to a gesture, that may then be tuned by an application receiving information from the gesture recognizer so that the specific parameters of the gesture—such as an arm acceleration for a throwing gesture—may be set on a per-application level, or multiple times within a single application. Each filter may output to an application using it a confidence level that the corresponding gesture occurred, as well as further details about the user motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Relja Markovic, Arthur Charles Tomlin, Gregory N. Snook
  • Patent number: 8762894
    Abstract: Techniques for managing virtual ports are disclosed herein. Each such virtual port may have different associated features such as, for example, privileges, rights or options. When one or more users are in a capture scene of a gesture based system, the system may associate virtual ports with the users and maintain the virtual ports. Also provided are techniques for disassociating virtual ports with users or swapping virtual ports between two or more users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn Stone-Perez, Jeffrey Margolis, Mark J. Finocchio, Brian E. Keane, Rudy Jacobus Poot, Stephen G. Latta
  • Patent number: 8752963
    Abstract: The technology provides various embodiments for controlling brightness of a see-through, near-eye mixed display device based on light intensity of what the user is gazing at. The opacity of the display can be altered, such that external light is reduced if the wearer is looking at a bright object. The wearer's pupil size may be determined and used to adjust the brightness used to display images, as well as the opacity of the display. A suitable balance between opacity and brightness used to display images may be determined that allows real and virtual objects to be seen clearly, while not causing damage or discomfort to the wearer's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. McCulloch, Ryan L. Hastings, Kevin A. Geisner, Robert L. Crocco, Alexandru O. Balan, Derek L. Knee, Michael J. Scavezze, Stephen G. Latta, Brian J. Mount
  • Patent number: 8665479
    Abstract: Three-dimensional printing techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a system includes a three-dimensional printer and a computing device. The three-dimensional printer has a three-dimensional printing mechanism that is configured to form a physical object in three dimensions. The computing device is communicatively coupled to the three-dimensional printer and includes a three-dimensional printing module implemented at least partially in hardware to cause the three-dimensional printer to form the physical object in three dimensions as having functionality configured to communicate with a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Desney S. Tan, Hrvoje Benko, Stephen G. Latta, Steven Nabil Bathiche, Kevin Geisner, Kenneth P. Hinckley
  • Publication number: 20130342572
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling content displayed to a user in a virtual environment. The virtual environment may include virtual controls with which a user may interact using predefined gestures. Interacting with a virtual control may adjust an aspect of the displayed content, including for example one or more of fast forwarding of the content, rewinding of the content, pausing of the content, stopping the content, changing a volume of content, recording the content, changing a brightness of the content, changing a contrast of the content and changing the content from a first still image to a second still image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Adam G. Poulos, Stephen G. Latta, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeffrey Cole
  • Publication number: 20130335594
    Abstract: Captured data is obtained, including various types of captured or recorded data (e.g., image data, audio data, video data, etc.) and/or metadata describing various aspects of the capture device and/or the manner in which the data is captured. One or more elements of the captured data that can be replaced by one or more substitute elements are determined, the replaceable elements are removed from the captured data, and links to the substitute elements are associated with the captured data. Links to additional elements to enhance the captured data are also associated with the captured data. Enhanced content can subsequently be constructed based on the captured data as well as the links to the substitute elements and additional elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Paul Henry Dietz, Stephen G. Latta, Kevin Geisner, Steven Nabil Bathiche
  • Publication number: 20130335405
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for building and experiencing three-dimensional virtual objects from within a virtual environment in which they will be viewed upon completion. A virtual object may be created, edited and animated using a natural user interface while the object is displayed to the user in a three-dimensional virtual environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Michael J. Scavezze, Jonathan T. Steed, Ryan L. Hastings, Stephen G. Latta, Daniel J. McCulloch
  • Publication number: 20130328763
    Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures using adaptive multi-sensor gesture recognition are described. In some embodiments, a gesture recognition system receives a plurality of sensor inputs from a plurality of sensor devices and a plurality of confidence thresholds associated with the plurality of sensor inputs. A confidence threshold specifies a minimum confidence value for which it is deemed that a particular gesture has occurred. Upon detection of a compensating event, such as excessive motion involving one of the plurality of sensor devices, the gesture recognition system may modify the plurality of confidence thresholds based on the compensating event. Subsequently, the gesture recognition system generates a multi-sensor confidence value based on whether at least a subset of the plurality of confidence thresholds has been satisfied. The gesture recognition system may also modify the plurality of confidence thresholds based on the plugging and unplugging of sensor inputs from the gesture recognition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Brian J. Mount, Adam G. Poulos, Jeffrey A. Kohler, Arthur C. Tomlin, Jonathan T. Steed
  • Publication number: 20130328925
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for interpreting user focus on virtual objects in a mixed reality environment. Using inference, express gestures and heuristic rules, the present system determines which of the virtual objects the user is likely focused on and interacting with. At that point, the present system may emphasize the selected virtual object over other virtual objects, and interact with the selected virtual object in a variety of ways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Adam G. Poulos, Daniel J. McCulloch, Jeffrey Cole, Wei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130328927
    Abstract: A system for generating a virtual gaming environment based on features identified within a real-world environment, and adapting the virtual gaming environment over time as the features identified within the real-world environment change is described. Utilizing the technology described, a person wearing a head-mounted display device (HMD) may walk around a real-world environment and play a virtual game that is adapted to that real-world environment. For example, the HMD may identify environmental features within a real-world environment such as five grassy areas and two cars, and then spawn virtual monsters based on the location and type of the environmental features identified. The location and type of the environmental features identified may vary depending on the particular real-world environment in which the HMD exists and therefore each virtual game may look different depending on the particular real-world environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Brian J. Mount, Jason Scott, Ryan L. Hastings, Darren Bennett, Stephen G. Latta, Daniel J. McCulloch, Kevin A. Geisner, Jonathan T. Steed, Michael J. Scavezze
  • Publication number: 20130326364
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for positioning and sizing virtual objects in a mixed reality environment in a way that is optimal and most comfortable for a user to interact with the virtual objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Adam G. Poulos, Daniel J. McCulloch, Wei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130321390
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for augmenting a reading experience in a mixed reality environment. In response to predefined verbal or physical gestures, the mixed reality system is able to answer a user's questions or provide additional information relating to what the user is reading. Responses may be displayed to the user on virtual display slates in a border or around the reading material without obscuring text or interfering with the user's reading experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Latta, Ryan L. Hastings, Cameron G. Brown, Aaron Krauss, Daniel J. McCulloch, Ben J. Sugden
  • Publication number: 20130321255
    Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein to help a user navigate through large amounts of content while wearing a see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display device such as a head mounted display (HMD). The user can use a physical object such as a book to navigate through content being presented in the HMD. In one embodiment, a book has markers on the pages that allow the system to organize the content. The book could have real content, but it could be blank other than the markers. As the user flips through the book, the system recognizes the markers and presents content associated with the respective marker in the HMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Mathew J. Lamb, Ben J. Sugden, Robert L. Crocco, JR., Brian E. Keane, Christopher E. Miles, Kathryn Stone Perez, Laura K. Massey, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Sheridan Martin Small, Stephen G. Latta
  • Publication number: 20130293530
    Abstract: An augmented reality system that provides augmented product and environment information to a wearer of a see through head mounted display. The augmentation information may include advertising, inventory, pricing and other information about products a wearer may be interested in. Interest is determined from wearer actions and a wearer profile. The information may be used to incentivize purchases of real world products by a wearer, or allow the wearer to make better purchasing decisions. The augmentation information may enhance a wearer's shopping experience by allowing the wearer easy access to important product information while the wearer is shopping in a retail establishment. Through virtual rendering, a wearer may be provided with feedback on how an item would appear in a wearer environment, such as the wearer's home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kathryn Stone Perez, John Clavin, Kevin A. Geisner, Stephen G. Latta, Brian J. Mount, Arthur C. Tomlin, Adam G. Poulos
  • Publication number: 20130293577
    Abstract: A see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display apparatus for providing translations of real world data for a user. A wearer's location and orientation with the apparatus is determined and input data for translation is selected using sensors of the apparatus. Input data can be audio or visual in nature, and selected by reference to the gaze of a wearer. The input data is translated for the user relative to user profile information bearing on accuracy of a translation and determining from the input data whether a linguistic translation, knowledge addition translation or context translation is useful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kathryn Stone Perez, John Clavin, Kevin A. Geisner, Stephen G. Latta, Brian J. Mount, Arthur C. Tomlin, Adam G. Poulos