Patents by Inventor Thad E. Starner

Thad E. Starner 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: 10032429
    Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to receive image data that is indicative of a field-of-view (FOV) that is associated with a head-mountable display (HMD). The computing device also includes a computing system configured to determine optical flow from the image data and to determine, based on the optical flow, whether or not the HMD is associated with operation of a vehicle. Further, the computing device is configured to control the HMD to display information in a first mode, if the HMD is associated with the operation of the vehicle, and to control the HMD to display information in a second mode, if the HMD is not associated with the operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Michael P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9316481
    Abstract: Disclosed are a sensor for measuring a tilt angle based on electronic textile according to the present invention and a method thereof. A sensor for measuring a tilt angle based on electronic textile according to the present invention includes a plurality of textile electrodes disposed at predetermined uniform intervals on a textile surface; a textile conductive wire of which one end is connected to a center between the plurality of textile electrodes; and a metal bead connected to another end of the textile conductive wire to thereby be connected to the textile surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyung Sun Lee, Hyung Cheol Shin, Thad E. Starner, Scott M. Gilliland, Clint Zeagler
  • Patent number: 9230501
    Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to receive image data that is indicative of a field-of-view (FOV) that is associated with a head-mountable display (HMD). The computing device also includes a computing system configured to determine optical flow from the image data and to determine, based on the optical flow, whether or not the HMD is associated with operation of a vehicle. Further, the computing device is configured to control the HMD to display information in a first mode, if the HMD is associated with the operation of the vehicle, and to control the HMD to display information in a second mode, if the HMD is not associated with the operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Michael P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9223139
    Abstract: An apparatus for a head mounted display includes a display module for launching display light along a forward propagating path. The apparatus also includes a light relay to receive the display light. The light relay includes a first optic disposed along the forward propagating path. The light relay also includes a second optic disposed along the forward propagating path between the first optic and the display module. The first optic is configured to direct the display light in an eye-ward direction and the second optic is configured to direct the display light in an eye-ward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Kress, Thad E. Starner
  • Patent number: 9223152
    Abstract: A head mounted display (“HMD”) includes a display module, an eyepiece, a switchable hologram, and a controller. The display module is configured for launching CGI light along a forward propagating path. The eyepiece is optically coupled to receive the CGI light and direct the CGI light to an eye-ward region of the eyepiece. The switchable hologram is disposed along a surface of the eyepiece and the switchable hologram is configured to redirect ambient light propagating toward the eyepiece, when activated. The controller is coupled to the switchable hologram to activate and deactivate the switchable hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Kress, Thad E. Starner
  • Patent number: 9176652
    Abstract: A method is provided for providing scroll-wheel functionality on a touchpad without the touchpad predefining a scroll-wheel. The method includes receiving data corresponding to progressive movement of a touch point on the touchpad, determining from the received data that the progressive movement is substantially elliptical, defining an ellipse around an ellipse center. The method further includes detecting, based on the determined movement, continued angular movement of the touch point around the ellipse center, and registering the continued angular movement as one or more scroll events in the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nirmal J. Patel, Thad E. Starner
  • Patent number: 9021379
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a word input by a gesture stroke on a virtual keyboard. The method includes receiving data representing the gesture stroke, analyzing the data to identify a set of dwell points in the gesture stroke, generating a simplified stroke defining a polyline having vertices corresponding with the dwell points of the identified set. The method further includes comparing the simplified stroke polyline with a plurality of predefined polylines each representing a respective word, to determine a closest matching polyline. The computing system outputs the word represented by the closest matching polyline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nirmal J. Patel, Thad E. Starner
  • Publication number: 20140232651
    Abstract: An apparatus for a head mounted display includes a display module for launching display light along a forward propagating path. The apparatus also includes a light relay to receive the display light. The light relay includes a first optic disposed along the forward propagating path. The light relay also includes a second optic disposed along the forward propagating path between the first optic and the display module. The first optic is configured to direct the display light in an eye-ward direction and the second optic is configured to direct the display light in an eye-ward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Kress, Thad E. Starner
  • Patent number: 8766940
    Abstract: A computing device includes a trackpad, which includes a touch-sensitive surface having a touch-detectable pattern. The touch-detectable pattern includes a first feature, and a second feature having first and second side features. The first and second side features start in proximity of the first feature and are positioned on opposite sides of the first feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Maj Isabelle Olsson, Matthew Martin, Nirmal J. Patel
  • Publication number: 20140028291
    Abstract: Disclosed are a sensor for measuring a tilt angle based on electronic textile according to the present invention and a method thereof. A sensor for measuring a tilt angle based on electronic textile according to the present invention includes a plurality of textile electrodes disposed at predetermined uniform intervals on a textile surface; a textile conductive wire of which one end is connected to a center between the plurality of textile electrodes; and a metal bead connected to another end of the textile conductive wire to thereby be connected to the textile surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicants: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION, ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hyung Sun LEE, Hyung Cheol Shin, Thad E. Starner, Scott M. Gilliland, Clint Zeagler
  • Publication number: 20130108229
    Abstract: Implementations are described of a waveguide apparatus including a proximal end, a distal end, a front surface and a back surface, the back surface being spaced apart from the front surface. A display input region is positioned at or near the proximal end, an ambient input region is positioned on the front surface near the distal end and an output region is positioned on the back surface near the distal end. One or more optical elements is positioned in or adjacent to the waveguide to direct display light from the display input region to the output region and to direct ambient light from the ambient input region to the output region, and an switchable mirror layer is positioned in or on the waveguide to selectively control the amount of ambient light that is directed to the output region. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Edward Keyes, Chia-Jean Wang, Xiaoyu Miao, Mark B. Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20020071277
    Abstract: The image-capturing system and method relates to the field of optics. One embodiment of the image-capturing system comprises a light-emitting device that emits light on an object; an image-forming device that forms one or more images due to a light that is reflected from the object; and a processor that analyzes motion of the object to control electrical devices, where the light-emitting device and the image-forming device are configured to be portable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Maribeth Gandy, Daniel Ashbrook, Jake Alan Auxier, Rob Melby, James Fusia
  • Publication number: 20020030600
    Abstract: A combination smoke detector, fire alarm, emergency light, location beacon and inventory sensor incorporated into pre-installed smoke alarms which are already required by building code to be registered on building floor plans, can be powered internally or externally and part of a central system or individual systems responding to local transmissions and thus eliminating the additional expense and need to install and/or possibly maintain addition devices and exploiting advantageously a preexisting logical system of coordinates from which to monitor the loci of rescuer workers and even key security and cleaning staff, if necessary, as well as inventory in hospitals and warehouses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Thad E. Starner, Daniel Ashbrook
  • Patent number: 6236768
    Abstract: Documents stored in a database are searched for relevance to contextual information, instead of (or in addition to) similar text. Each stored document is indexed in term of meta-information specifying contextual information about the document. Current contextual information is acquired, either from the user or the current computational or physical environment, and this “meta-information” is used as the basis for identifying stored documents of possible relevance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Bradley J. Rhodes, Thad E. Starner, Pattie E. Maes, Alex P. Pentland
  • Patent number: 5563988
    Abstract: An electronic system for integrating a user's moving image into a computer-generated pictorial environment, and allowing the user to interact with the environment and objects therein. The environment is rendered on a screen display in a manner that simulates three dimensions, including respect for occlusion relationships among the user and objects in the environment. The resulting image, which changes as the user gestures and interacts with the environment, is projected onto a large screen that the user faces. The environment includes a series of mobile entities, or "agents," which respond to one or more of the user's changing position, gestures and voice, exhibiting context-dependent behavior that appears semi-intelligent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Pattie E. Maes, Bruce M. Blumberg, Trevor J. Darrell, Thad E. Starner, Michael P. Johnson, Kenneth B. Russell, Alex P. Pentland