Patents by Inventor Timo Birnschein

Timo Birnschein 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: 12644701
    Abstract: A hand-held device that includes sensor components that enable the detection and measurement of surface features such as roughness or texture. Motion data (e.g., velocity and trajectory) may also be captured. The hand-held device may also include components for emulating surface features. The hand-held device may also recreate, cancel, or alter curves or roughness on virtual or real surfaces, and recreate or cancel curves or roughness on real surfaces. A hand-held device may include the sensor components, the emulation components, or both. The hand-held device may, for example, be used as an accessory in an extended reality (XR) system, or may be a standalone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C Soldner, Arthur Y Zhang, Simon Fortin-Deschenes, Robert D Silfvast, Timo Birnschein
  • Publication number: 20260093345
    Abstract: A technique for creating a control from a three-dimensional object involves registering the object as a controller. Markers are placed on the object in a constellation pattern. The object is captured in image data with the markers. A geometry of the three-dimensional is determined from the image data, and a location of the markers relative to the geometry is determined. The three-dimensional object is registered as a controller by associating the geometry with the marker locations. The constellation is tracked in additional image data and motion characteristics for the controller are determined based on a determined orientation of the constellation. The orientation of the constellation is used to determine an orientation of the controller. The determined orientation of the controller is then used for a user input action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2025
    Publication date: April 2, 2026
    Inventors: Feng Zheng, Chunjia Hu, Timo Birnschein, Waleed Abdulla
  • Publication number: 20260095656
    Abstract: Hand-held controllers are instructed to illuminate in accordance with camera data. An exposure characteristic for a camera is predicted for additional frames. The exposure characteristic is predicted based on a current frame captured by the camera and one or more previous frames captured by the camera of a first device. An LED emission timing is determined for a controller device separate from the first device based on the predicted one or more exposure characteristics. The emission instruction is transmitted to the controller device in accordance with the LED emission timing. Future frames captured by the camera are used for determining positional information for the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2025
    Publication date: April 2, 2026
    Inventors: Joryl P. Calizo, Kaushik Raghunath, Timo Birnschein, Yuhui Lai
  • Publication number: 20250104687
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for active cancellation of noise in motion sensor signals. In some embodiments, a method comprises: obtaining a motion sensor signal from a motion sensor; obtaining a reference signal indicative of parasitic vibration from a vibration source mechanically coupled to the motion sensor; generating, using an adaptive noise canceller, an estimate of the parasitic vibration; and using the estimated parasitic vibration to cancel the parasitic vibration from the motion sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher C. Painter, Axit H. Patel, Joshua D. Atkins, Moshe H. Malkin, Nicholas C. Soldner, Robert D. Silfvast, Zhengrong Shang, Timo Birnschein, Qinghung Lee
  • Publication number: 20240288699
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may include optical assemblies for presenting images to a user. The optical assemblies may be movable relative to one another. The head-mounted device may include one or more nose tracking sensors for tracking a location of the nose relative to the optical assemblies and/or for detecting changes in the topographical surface of the nose as the optical assemblies are adjusted. The nose tracking sensor may be used to determine when the optical assemblies are too close to the user's nose or face. The nose tracking sensor may be mounted in the lens barrel, may be formed from gaze tracking components, may be formed from a dedicated sensor, or may be mounted outside of the lens barrel and may gather nose measurements through a nose bridge portion of a light seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Matin Seadat Beheshti, Nicholas C Soldner, Timo Birnschein, Jia Tao
  • Publication number: 20230418019
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a display with pixel arrays that display content for a user. A head-mounted support structure in the device supports the pixel arrays on the head of the user. A left positioner may be used to position a left lens assembly that includes a left lens and a first pixel array. A right positioner may be used to position a right lens assembly that includes a right lens and a second pixel array. Control circuitry may adjust the positions of the left and right lens assemblies using interpupillary distance information. Sensing circuitry such as force sensing circuitry may be used to ensure that the lens assemblies do not apply excessive force on a nose. Force sensors may be included between the lens assemblies and the nose, such as in, on, or adjacent to a nasal flap, or may be coupled to the lens assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Nicholas C Soldner, Matin Seadat Beheshti, Bijeta Chakraborty, Joryl P Calizo, Shannon Pomeroy, Amin Farzaneh
  • Patent number: 11685456
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Andrew Piper, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
  • Publication number: 20230019223
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Andrew Piper, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
  • Patent number: 11407462
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Patent number: 11104394
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Publication number: 20200398915
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Publication number: 20200385074
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew John Piper
  • Patent number: 10737737
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Patent number: 10668926
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Publication number: 20180345971
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper
  • Publication number: 20180345777
    Abstract: Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Timo Birnschein, Adriano Di Pietro, Kyle Matthew Foley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew Piper