Patents by Inventor Stephen Latta
Stephen 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).
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Patent number: 9799145Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to augmenting an appearance of a surface via a see-through display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, on a computing device comprising a see-through display device, a method of augmenting an appearance of a surface. The method includes acquiring, via an outward-facing image sensor, image data of a first scene viewable through the display. The method further includes recognizing a surface viewable through the display based on the image data and, in response to recognizing the surface, acquiring a representation of a second scene comprising one or more of a scene located physically behind the surface viewable through the display and a scene located behind a surface contextually related to the surface viewable through the display. The method further includes displaying the representation via the see-through display.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Mike Scavezze, Jason Scott, Jonathan Steed, Ian McIntyre, Aaron Krauss, Daniel McCulloch, Stephen Latta
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Patent number: 9761057Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to operating a user interface on an augmented reality computing device comprising a see-through display system. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes identifying one or more objects located outside a field of view of a user, and for each object of the one or more objects, providing to the user an indication of positional information associated with the object.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Thomas George Salter, Ben Sugden, Daniel Deptford, Robert Crocco, Jr., Brian Keane, Laura Massey, Alex Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Kamuda, Zachary Quarles, Michael Scavezze, Ryan Hastings, Cameron Brown, Tony Ambrus, Jason Scott, John Bevis, Jamie B. Kirschenbaum, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Michael Klucher, Relja Markovic, Stephen Latta, Daniel McCulloch
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Patent number: 9754420Abstract: Embodiments that relate to interacting with a physical object in a mixed reality environment via a head-mounted display are disclosed. In one embodiment a mixed reality interaction program identifies an object based on an image from captured by the display. An interaction context for the object is determined based on an aspect of the mixed reality environment. A profile for the physical object is queried to determine interaction modes for the object. A selected interaction mode is programmatically selected based on the interaction context. A user input directed at the object is received via the display and interpreted to correspond to a virtual action based on the selected interaction mode. The virtual action is executed with respect to a virtual object associated with the physical object to modify an appearance of the virtual object. The modified virtual object is then displayed via the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Michael Scavezze, Jonathan Steed, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Daniel McCulloch, Brian Mount, Ryan Hastings, Phillip Charles Heckinger
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Patent number: 9734633Abstract: A system and related methods for visually augmenting an appearance of a physical environment as seen by a user through a head-mounted display device are provided. In one embodiment, a virtual environment generating program receives eye-tracking information, lighting information, and depth information from the head-mounted display. The program generates a virtual environment that models the physical environment and is based on the lighting information and the distance of a real-world object from the head-mounted display. The program visually augments a virtual object representation in the virtual environment based on the eye-tracking information, and renders the virtual object representation on a transparent display of the head-mounted display device.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Darren Bennett, Brian Mount, Stephen Latta, Alex Kipman, Ryan Hastings, Arthur Tomlin, Sebastian Sylvan, Daniel McCulloch, Jonathan Steed, Jason Scott, Mathew Lamb
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Publication number: 20170178410Abstract: Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ben Sugden, John Clavin, Ben Vaught, Stephen Latta, Kathryn Stone Perez, Daniel McCulloch, Jason Scott, Wei Zhang, Darren Bennett, Ryan Hastings, Arthur Tomlin, Kevin Geisner
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Publication number: 20170123505Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Johnny Lee, Adam Jethro Langridge
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Publication number: 20170103582Abstract: A system for automatically displaying virtual objects within a mixed reality environment is described. In some embodiments, a see-through head-mounted display device (HMD) identifies a real object (e.g., a person or book) within a field of view of the HMD, detects one or more interactions associated with real object, and automatically displays virtual objects associated with the real object if the one or more interactions involve touching or satisfy one or more social rules stored in a social rules database. The one or more social rules may be used to infer a particular social relationship by considering the distance to another person, the type of environment (e.g., at home or work), and particular physical interactions (e.g., handshakes or hugs). The virtual objects displayed on the HMD may depend on the particular social relationship inferred (e.g., a friend or acquaintance).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Novak, James Liu, Stephen Latta, Anton O.A. Andrews, Craig R. Maitlen, Sheridan Martin
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Patent number: 9594537Abstract: Embodiments for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object are disclosed. In one example, a method for interacting with an executable virtual object associated with a real object includes receiving sensor input from one or more sensors attached to the portable see-through display device, and obtaining information regarding a location of the user based on the sensor input. The method also includes, if the location includes a real object comprising an associated executable virtual object, then determining an intent of the user to interact with the executable virtual object, and if the intent to interact is determined, then interacting with the executable object.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Ben Sugden, John Clavin, Ben Vaught, Stephen Latta, Kathryn Stone Perez, Daniel McCulloch, Jason Scott, Wei Zhang, Darren Bennett, Ryan Hastings, Arthur Tomlin, Kevin Geisner
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Publication number: 20170069143Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to operating a user interface on an augmented reality computing device comprising a see-through display system. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes identifying one or more objects located outside a field of view of a user, and for each object of the one or more objects, providing to the user an indication of positional information associated with the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Thomas George Salter, Ben Sugden, Daniel Deptford, Robert Crocco, JR., Brian Keane, Laura Massey, Alex Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Kamuda, Zachary Quarles, Michael Scavezze, Ryan Hastings, Cameron Brown, Tony Ambrus, Jason Scott, John Bevis, Jamie B. Kirschenbaum, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Michael Klucher, Relja Markovic, Stephen Latta, Daniel McCulloch
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Publication number: 20170039773Abstract: Embodiments related to efficiently constructing an augmented reality environment with global illumination effects are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of displaying an augmented reality image via a display device. The method includes receiving image data, the image data capturing an image of a local environment of the display device, and identifying a physical feature of the local environment via the image data. The method further includes constructing an augmented reality image of a virtual structure for display over the physical feature in spatial registration with the physical feature from a viewpoint of a user, the augmented reality image comprising a plurality of modular virtual structure segments arranged in adjacent locations to form the virtual structure feature, each modular virtual structure segment comprising a pre-computed global illumination effect, and outputting the augmented reality image to the display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Jonathan Steed, Aaron Krauss, Mike Scavezze, Wei Zhang, Arthur Tomlin, Tony Ambrus, Brian Mount, Stephen Latta, Ryan Hastings
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Publication number: 20170004655Abstract: Embodiments that relate to interacting with a physical object in a mixed reality environment via a head-mounted display are disclosed. In one embodiment a mixed reality interaction program identifies an object based on an image from captured by the display. An interaction context for the object is determined based on an aspect of the mixed reality environment. A profile for the physical object is queried to determine interaction modes for the object. A selected interaction mode is programmatically selected based on the interaction context. A user input directed at the object is received via the display and interpreted to correspond to a virtual action based on the selected interaction mode. The virtual action is executed with respect to a virtual object associated with the physical object to modify an appearance of the virtual object. The modified virtual object is then displayed via the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael Scavezze, Jonathan Steed, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Daniel McCulloch, Brian Mount, Ryan Hastings, Phillip Charles Heckinger
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Patent number: 9536350Abstract: A system for automatically displaying virtual objects within a mixed reality environment is described. In some embodiments, a see-through head-mounted display device (HMD) identifies a real object (e.g., a person or book) within a field of view of the HMD, detects one or more interactions associated with real object, and automatically displays virtual objects associated with the real object if the one or more interactions involve touching or satisfy one or more social rules stored in a social rules database. The one or more social rules may be used to infer a particular social relationship by considering the distance to another person, the type of environment (e.g., at home or work), and particular physical interactions (e.g., handshakes or hugs). The virtual objects displayed on the HMD may depend on the particular social relationship inferred (e.g., a friend or acquaintance).Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Christopher Michael Novak, James Liu, Stephen Latta, Anton O. A. Andrews, Craig R. Maitlen, Sheridan Martin
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Publication number: 20160379417Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a see-through display and a virtual reality engine. The see-through display is configured to visually augment an appearance of a physical space to a user viewing the physical space through the see-through display. The virtual reality engine is configured to cause the see-through display to visually present a virtual monitor that appears to be integrated with the physical space to a user viewing the physical space through the see-through display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Brian Mount, Stephen Latta, Adam Poulos, Daniel McCulloch, Darren Bennett, Ryan Hastings, Jason Scott
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Publication number: 20160378197Abstract: A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured control, and a three-dimensional virtual world is controlled responsive to the gestured control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Stephen Latta, Darren Bennett, Kevin Geisner, Relja Markovic
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Publication number: 20160373570Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the automatic tracking of objects. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a mobile computing device having an image sensor. The method includes acquiring image data, identifying an inanimate moveable object in the image data, determining whether the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, if the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, then storing information regarding a state of the inanimate moveable object, detecting a trigger to provide a notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object, and providing an output of the notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mike Scavezze, Jason Scott, Jonathan Steed, Ian McIntyre, Aaron Krauss, Daniel McCulloch, Stephen Latta
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Patent number: 9524024Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook, Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, Johnny Lee, Adam Jethro Langridge
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Patent number: 9524585Abstract: Embodiments related to efficiently constructing an augmented reality environment with global illumination effects are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of displaying an augmented reality image via a display device. The method includes receiving image data, the image data capturing an image of a local environment of the display device, and identifying a physical feature of the local environment via the image data. The method further includes constructing an augmented reality image of a virtual structure for display over the physical feature in spatial registration with the physical feature from a viewpoint of a user, the augmented reality image comprising a plurality of modular virtual structure segments arranged in adjacent locations to form the virtual structure feature, each modular virtual structure segment comprising a pre-computed global illumination effect, and outputting the augmented reality image to the display device.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2012Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Jonathan Steed, Aaron Krauss, Mike Scavezze, Wei Zhang, Arthur Tomlin, Tony Ambrus, Brian Mount, Stephen Latta, Ryan Hastings
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Patent number: 9501873Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to operating a user interface on an augmented reality computing device comprising a see-through display system. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes identifying one or more objects located outside a field of view of a user, and for each object of the one or more objects, providing to the user an indication of positional information associated with the object.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Thomas George Salter, Ben Sugden, Daniel Deptford, Robert Crocco, Jr., Brian Keane, Laura Massey, Alex Kipman, Peter Tobias Kinnebrew, Nicholas Kamuda, Zachary Quarles, Michael Scavezze, Ryan Hastings, Cameron Brown, Tony Ambrus, Jason Scott, John Bevis, Jamie B. Kirschenbaum, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Michael Klucher, Relja Markovic, Stephen Latta, Daniel McCulloch
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Patent number: 9497501Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a see-through display and a virtual reality engine. The see-through display is configured to visually augment an appearance of a physical space to a user viewing the physical space through the see-through display. The virtual reality engine is configured to cause the see-through display to visually present a virtual monitor that appears to be integrated with the physical space to a user viewing the physical space through the see-through display.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Brian Mount, Stephen Latta, Adam Poulos, Daniel McCulloch, Darren Bennett, Ryan Hastings, Jason Scott
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Patent number: 9489053Abstract: A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured control, and a three-dimensional virtual world is controlled responsive to the gestured control.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Stephen Latta, Darren Bennett, Kevin Geisner, Relja Markovic