Patents by Inventor Stephen Lake

Stephen Lake 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: 10528135
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods that enable a user to access and interact with content displayed on a portable electronic display in an inconspicuous, hands-free manner are described. There is disclosed a completely wearable system comprising a wearable muscle interface device and a wearable head-mounted display, as well as methods for using the wearable system to effect interactions between the user and content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display. The wearable muscle interface device includes muscle activity sensors worn on an arm of the user to detect muscle activity generated when the user performs a physical gesture. The wearable system is adapted to recognize a plurality of gestures made by the user and, in response to each recognized gesture, to effect one or more interaction(s) with content displayed on the wearable head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CTRL-labs Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Bailey, Aaron Grant, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20190392163
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for enabling private communication between head-mounted displays. A first user dons a first head-mounted display. The first head-mounted display authenticates that the first user is authorized to view information displayed by the first head-mounted display. In response to positive authentication, the first head-mounted display displays the information to the first user. The first user inputs a selection command via an input interface, such as, for example, gazing at particular information, to select some of the displayed information. The first head-mounted display generates a message based on the user selection, which may be encrypted by the first head-mounted display prior to transmission. The first head-mounted display transmits the message to a second head-mounted display, such that the second head-mounted display displays the message to an eye of a second user wearing the second head-mounted display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey, Aaron Grant, Stefan Alexander
  • Publication number: 20190356838
    Abstract: Wearable electronic devices having a selfie camera are described herein. The wearable electronic devices include a body defining an aperture that is sized and shaped to receive a finger of a user. The wearable electronic device also includes a processor housed in the body, an input device arranged on an outer surface of the body and communicatively coupled to the processor to receive an input from a second finger of the user, an optical sensor to capture an image in response to the input from the second finger of the user, a transmitter communicatively coupled to the processor to transmit the image to an external electronic device, and optionally a power source communicatively coupled to the processor and the transmitter to provide power to at least the processor and the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen Lake, Antonio Gomes, Gabriel Reyes
  • Patent number: 10429928
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CTRL-labs Corporation
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10362958
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CTRL-labs Corporation
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20190192037
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10331210
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10310601
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20190129676
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for wearable computer systems are described. A wearable heads-up display (“WHUD”) is implemented as a peripheral to a wearable electronic band worn on a limb of the user. The majority (or all) of the application storage and processing is performed on the band instead of on the WHUD, and therefore the WHUD does not include all of the hardware infrastructure necessary for application storage and processing. This significantly reduces the bulk of the WHUD and enables more aesthetically pleasing WHUD designs. Graphics processing is also performed on the band instead of on the WHUD. In some implementations, rasterized display data is wirelessly transmitted from the band to the WHUD using an ultra-wideband wireless communication scheme. Gesture-based control of content displayed by the WHUD is enabled by sensors on-board the band itself or by a third wearable component in communication with the band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen Lake, Stefan Alexander, Thomas Mahon
  • Patent number: 10251577
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10216274
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for wearable human-electronics interfaces are described. A wearable human-electronics interface device includes a band that in use is worn on an appendage (e.g., a wrist, arm, finger, or thumb) of a user. The band carries multiple sensors that are responsive to vibrations. The sensors are physically spaced apart from one another on or within the band. The band also carries an on-board processor. The sensors detect vibrations at the appendage of the user when the user performs different finger tapping gestures (i.e., tapping gestures involving different individual fingers or different combinations of fingers) and provide corresponding vibration signals to the processor. The processor classifies the finger tapping gesture(s) based on the vibration signals and an on-board transmitter sends a corresponding signal to control, operate, or interact with a receiving electronic device. The sensors include inertial sensors, digital MEMS microphones, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NORTH INC.
    Inventors: Jake Chapeskie, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10199008
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods that implement state machine models in wearable electronic devices are described. A wearable electronic device stores processor-executable gesture identification instructions that, when executed by an on-board processor, enable the wearable electronic device to identify one or more gesture(s) performed by a user. The wearable electronic device also stores processor-executable state determination instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wearable electronic device to enter into and transition between various operational states depending on signals detected by on-board sensors. The state machine models described herein enable the wearable electronic devices to identify and automatically recover from operational errors, malfunctions, or crashes with minimal intervention from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NORTH INC.
    Inventors: Idris S. Aleem, Pedram Ataee, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20190033967
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10188309
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NORTH INC.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20190011699
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for reducing bulk and balancing weight in wearable heads-up displays are described. Bulk can be reduced in a wearable heads-up display by positioning a battery in a first arm of the wearable heads-up display and other electronics in a second arm of the wearable heads-up display, thus reducing the amount of extraneous housing that would otherwise be required to house multiple batteries or electronic components in both arms. Weight of a wearable heads-up display can be balanced by selecting appropriately sized and weight electronics in the first arm, and by adjusting size and therefore weight of the battery in the second arm. Densely filling the first arm with electronics can result in the first arm and the second arm having similar weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua Moore, Lloyd Frederick Holland, Stephen Lake, George Shaker
  • Publication number: 20180344195
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for surface electromyography (“EMG”) sensors that combine elements from traditional capacitive and resistive EMG sensors are described. For example, capacitive EMG sensors that are adapted to resistively couple to a user's skin are described. Resistive coupling between a sensor electrode and the user's skin is galvanically isolated from the sensor circuitry by a discrete component capacitor included downstream from the sensor electrode. The combination of a resistively coupled electrode and a discrete component capacitor provides the respective benefits of traditional resistive and capacitive (respectively) EMG sensor designs while mitigating respective drawbacks of each approach. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such capacitive EMG sensors is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20180321745
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Publication number: 20180321746
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10101809
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: THALMIC LABS INC.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake
  • Patent number: 10042422
    Abstract: Systems, articles, and methods for improved capacitive electromyography (“EMG”) sensors are described. The improved capacitive EMG sensors include one or more sensor electrode(s) that is/are coated with a protective barrier formed of a material that has a relative permittivity ?r of about 10 or more. The protective barrier shields the sensor electrode(s) from moisture, sweat, skin oils, etc. while advantageously contributing to a large capacitance between the sensor electrode(s) and the user's body. In this way, the improved capacitive EMG sensors provide enhanced robustness against variations in skin and/or environmental conditions. Such improved capacitive EMG sensors are particularly well-suited for use in wearable EMG devices that may be worn by a user for an extended period of time and/or under a variety of skin and/or environmental conditions. A wearable EMG device that provides a component of a human-electronics interface and incorporates such improved capacitive EMG sensors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: THALMIC LABS INC.
    Inventors: Cezar Morun, Stephen Lake