Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Large

Timothy A. Large 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: 11947210
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates identifying an intended viewer and an unintended viewer of a liquid crystal display (LCD) using face recognition technology. Once identified the system may determine a face position for the unintended viewer. The system may modulate the voltage applied at a third electrode on the color filter layer of the LCD to achieve a certain off-axis contrast that may reduce the unintended viewer's visibility of the LCD without restricting the visibility of the intended viewer. Ultimately, the present disclosure provides enhanced privacy options for the intended viewer with a lightweight, inexpensive, and highly transportable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Large, Neil Emerton, Sunando Sengupta
  • Publication number: 20210144313
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for a logo camera. Camera thickness may be reduced using multiple lenses and sensors. A fixed or variable color icon may provide a function, notice or privacy warning, convey information, and/or serve decorative and/or other purposes. Color filters may be fixed or variable. A color icon may be created, for example, by controlling the colors of display pixels aligned with optical paths of camera lens and sensor arrays. Colors in an icon may provide color filters corresponding to an array of lenses that focus color-separated light on one or more camera sensors. Sensors may be optimized for particular colors. Color-separated images may be combined into a single image. Lens and camera sensor arrays may be compatible with multiple logos or other icon images. Cameras behind fixed or variable color icons may be concealed, for example, using shutters or semi-reflective layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy A. Large, Neil Emerton, Yonghuan David Ren
  • Patent number: 10585230
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to backlit electronic displays that may help to avoid apparent non-uniform image brightness across a displayed image. One example provides an electronic display comprising a light guide, an image-forming layer, and a light-steering layer. The light guide is configured to release light over a display area. The image-forming layer is configured to form a display image by modulating the light released by the light guide. The light-steering layer is configured to steer together the light released from a peripheral region of the light guide and the light released from a central region of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Patent number: 10168811
    Abstract: A reflective multi-layer structure forms an external surface of an electronic device and includes a light-emitting display separated from the external surface by a dielectric polarizing film and a diffuser. Light emitted by the light-emitting display is transmitted sequentially through the dielectric polarizing film and the diffuser to present information on the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Publication number: 20170276864
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to backlit electronic displays that may help to avoid apparent non-uniform image brightness across a displayed image. One example provides an electronic display comprising a light guide, an image-forming layer, and a light-steering layer. The light guide is configured to release light over a display area. The image-forming layer is configured to form a display image by modulating the light released by the light guide. The light-steering layer is configured to steer together the light released from a peripheral region of the light guide and the light released from a central region of the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Patent number: 9756284
    Abstract: The described implementations relate to enhancement images, such as in videoconferencing scenarios. One system includes a poriferous display screen having generally opposing front and back surfaces. This system also includes a camera positioned proximate to the back surface to capture an image through the poriferous display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Cha Zhang, Timothy A. Large, Zhengyou Zhang, Ruigang Yang
  • Publication number: 20170139500
    Abstract: A touch screen panel comprises an outer surface that defines a touch sensitive surface with a touch sensitive area. The outer surface comprises friction features distributed throughout at least a portion of the touch sensitive area according to one or more predetermined spacings. The friction features are configured to have predetermined friction characteristics that impart a desired tactile effect, e.g., a paper-like feel, to the touch sensitive surface when contacted by a user's finger or a stylus. Methods of forming a touch screen panel with predetermined friction features are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Large, James D. Holbery, Robert McPherson
  • Patent number: 9160966
    Abstract: The described implementations relate to enhancement images, such as in videoconferencing scenarios. One system includes a poriferous display screen having generally opposing front and back surfaces. This system also includes a camera positioned proximate to the back surface to capture an image through the poriferous display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Cha Zhang, Timothy A. Large, Zhengyou Zhang, Ruigang Yang
  • Publication number: 20120287223
    Abstract: The described implementations relate to enhancement images, such as in videoconferencing scenarios. One system includes a poriferous display screen having generally opposing front and back surfaces. This system also includes a camera positioned proximate to the back surface to capture an image through the poriferous display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cha Zhang, Timothy A. Large, Zhengyou Zhang, Ruigang Yang
  • Patent number: 8031408
    Abstract: A fluid displacement mechanism is disclosed. In an embodiment, first and second cavities are separated by a flexible membrane. The first cavity contains a non-conductive fluid and the second cavity contains a conductive fluid. First and second electrodes are positioned in the first and second cavities respectively such that the application of a voltage between the electrodes causes movement of the membrane by the build up of an electrostatic charge between the membrane and first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Publication number: 20100214135
    Abstract: A dynamic projected user interface includes a light source for generating a light beam and a spatial light modulator for receiving and dynamically modulating the light beam to create a plurality of display images that are respectively projected onto a plurality of keys in a keyboard. An optical arrangement is disposed in an optical path between the light source and the spatial light modulator for conveying the light beam from the light source to the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven N. Bathiche, Adrian R.L. Travis, Neil Emerton, Timothy A. Large, David Stephen Zucker
  • Publication number: 20100053771
    Abstract: A flat panel lens system as a tapered light guide that has minimal or no margin for fan out. The tapered light guide includes a thin end, and a thick end of which is a bevelled mirror or an optical equivalent. Light is injected into the thin end and the mirror is such that rays injected through a point at the thin end emerge collimated from one of the light guide surfaces, and that collimated rays injected at an appropriate angle through one of the light guide surfaces emerge from a point at the thin end. Bragg gratings can be utilized for color implementations as well. The tapered light guide can be fabricated as a single piece, by extrusion, injection molding, or the combination/variation of extrusion and injection molding, as well as other commonly known techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy A. Large, Neil Emerton
  • Patent number: 7660047
    Abstract: A flat panel lens system as a tapered light guide that has minimal or no margin for fan out. The tapered light guide includes a thin end, and a thick end of which is a bevelled mirror or an optical equivalent. Light is injected into the thin end and the mirror is such that rays injected through a point at the thin end emerge collimated from one of the light guide surfaces, and that collimated rays injected at an appropriate angle through one of the light guide surfaces emerge from a point at the thin end. Bragg gratings can be utilized for color implementations as well. The tapered light guide can be fabricated as a single piece, by extrusion, injection molding, or the combination/variation of extrusion and injection molding, as well as other commonly known techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy A. Large, Neil Emerton
  • Publication number: 20080257435
    Abstract: A fluid displacement mechanism is disclosed. In an embodiment, first and second cavities are separated by a flexible membrane. The first cavity contains a non-conductive fluid and the second cavity contains a conductive fluid. First and second electrodes are positioned in the first and second cavities respectively such that the application of a voltage between the electrodes causes movement of the membrane by the build up of an electrostatic charge between the membrane and first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Patent number: 6373621
    Abstract: A method of operating Raman amplification pump lasers, especially in telecommunication systems, is described and claimed, in which the Raman pump laser output powers are modulated in characteristic fashions. Parameters of these characteristic modulations may be detected at remote locations (i.e. locations along the communications fibres) even in the presence of large amounts of noise. Thus, by detecting losses of signals indicative of the characteristic modulations, breaks in the communication fibres can be detected more reliably. The disappearance of these signals can then be used to shut down the typically high power Raman pump lasers, thereby reducing the possibility of high laser powers escaping from the broken fibres. The specification also described an improved method of detecting the disappearance of a data signal at an amplifier unit, using a periodic filter to split the incoming signal into two streams, the first stream comprising data and noise, and the second comprising noise only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Timothy A. Large, Douglas James Stewart Beckett
  • Patent number: 5783793
    Abstract: A laser drilling process capable of producing a plurality of holes in a pharmaceutical dosage form, at high speed, is presented. The process utilizes a high power CO.sub.2 laser steered by an acousto-optic deflector together with various mirrors and optical components to achieve the correct beam path geometry, in order to produce an unlimited number of holes through the surface or coating of a dosage form, at rates up to 100,000 units or more per hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Emerton, Graham S. Gutsell, Timothy A. Large, Stephen Owen
  • Patent number: 5170275
    Abstract: A transmitted (TX) signal received from the remote location is mixed in a polarization resolving beam splitter (10) with a local oscillator (LO) signal from a laser (15). The LO and TX signal components emerging from the beam splitter (10) are orthogonally polarized, but their polarization states are brought into alignment by passage through two birefringent elements (19, 20) before falling on two photodetectors (17, 18). Adjustment of a polarization controller (16) ensures that approximately equal LO power falls on each photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large
  • Patent number: 5115480
    Abstract: A planar coil of single mode fiber has opposed ends twisted into orthogonal planes to form a non-planar coil 20 exhibiting circular birefringence. The amount of birefringence exhibited is modulated by means of an electromechanical transducer 34 which controls the distance separating two diametrically opposed portions of the coil. Two or more such controllers may be formed in tandem with intervening additional coils 50 providing quarter-wave linear birefringence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Europe Limited
    Inventor: Timothy A. Large