Patents by Inventor Zachary C. Nienstedt

Zachary C. Nienstedt 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).

  • Publication number: 20250172992
    Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system includes a wearable device comprising a display inside the wearable device and operable to display virtual content and an imaging device mounted to the wearable device. The AR system also includes a handheld device comprising handheld fiducials affixed to the handheld device and a computing apparatus configured to perform localization of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20250085534
    Abstract: A display system may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. One or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions, relative to the HMD, to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD and/or to view an external environment. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment may vary for different users and/or may change over time (e.g., as the HMD is displaced). The display system may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and/or may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest EDWIN, Zachary C. NIENSTEDT, Ivan Li Chuen YEOH, Samuel A. MILLER, Yan XU, Jordan Alexander CAZAMIAS
  • Publication number: 20250086824
    Abstract: Wearable systems and method for operation thereof incorporating headset and controller inside-out tracking are disclosed. A wearable system may include a headset and a controller. The wearable system may cause fiducials of the controller to flash. The wearable system may track a pose of the controller by capturing headset images using a headset camera, identifying the fiducials in the headset images, and tracking the pose of the controller based on the identified fiducials in the headset images and based on a pose of the headset. While tracking the pose of the controller, the wearable system may capture controller images using a controller camera. The wearable system may identify two-dimensional feature points in each controller image and determine three-dimensional map points based on the two-dimensional feature points and the pose of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominik Michael Kasper, Martin Georg Zahnert, Manel Quim Sanchez Nicuesa, Rafa Gomez-Jordana Manas, Nathan Yuki Baumli, Koon Keong Shee, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Emily Elizabeth Mount, Lomesh Agarwal, Andrea Lampart
  • Publication number: 20250076973
    Abstract: Wearable systems and method for operation thereof incorporating headset and controller localization using headset cameras and controller fiducials are disclosed. A wearable system may include a headset and a controller. The wearable system may alternate between performing headset tracking and performing controller tracking by repeatedly capturing images using a headset camera of the headset during headset tracking frames and controller tracking frames. The wearable system may cause the headset camera to capture a first exposure image an exposure above a threshold and cause the headset camera to capture a second exposure image having an exposure below the threshold. The wearable system may determine a fiducial interval during which fiducials of the controller are to flash at a fiducial frequency and a fiducial period. The wearable system may cause the fiducials to flash during the fiducial interval in accordance with the fiducial frequency and the fiducial period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Daniel Roberts, Christopher Michael Lopez, Brian Edward Oliver Bucknor, Samuel A. Miller, Nathan Yuki Baumli, Dominik Michael Kasper, Manel Quim Sanchez Nicuesa, Andrea Lampart, Rafa Gomez-Jordana Manas, Martin Georg Zahnert, Nikola Stan, Emily Elizabeth Mount
  • Patent number: 12196952
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment may vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a user moves around and/or the HMD slips or is otherwise displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Publication number: 20240256029
    Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) system includes a wearable device comprising a display inside the wearable device and operable to display virtual content and an imaging device mounted to the wearable device. The AR system also includes a handheld device comprising handheld fiducials affixed to the handheld device and a computing apparatus configured to perform localization of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Patent number: 11989339
    Abstract: A method of performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device includes capturing, by a first imaging device mounted to the handheld device, a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the wearable device and capturing, by a second imaging device mounted to the handheld device, a world image containing one or more features surrounding the handheld device. The method also includes obtaining, by a sensor mounted to the handheld device, handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device, determining the number of fiducials contained in the fiducial image, and updating a position and an orientation of the handheld device using at least one of the fiducial image or the world image and the handheld data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20240094528
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment may vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a user moves around and/or the HMD slips or is otherwise displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest EDWIN, Zachary C. NIENSTEDT, Ivan Li Chuen YEOH, Samuel A. MILLER, Yan XU, Jordan Alexander CAZAMIAS
  • Patent number: 11880033
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment may vary for different users and change over time (e.g., as a given user moves around or as the HMD slips or otherwise becomes displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Publication number: 20230195212
    Abstract: A method of performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device includes capturing, by a first imaging device mounted to the handheld device, a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the wearable device and capturing, by a second imaging device mounted to the handheld device, a world image containing one or more features surrounding the handheld device. The method also includes obtaining, by a sensor mounted to the handheld device, handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device, determining the number of fiducials contained in the fiducial image, and updating a position and an orientation of the handheld device using at least one of the fiducial image or the world image and the handheld data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Patent number: 11625090
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device. At least one sensor mounted to the handheld device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), may obtain handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device with respect to the world. An imaging device mounted to either the handheld device or the wearable device may capture a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the other device. The number of fiducials contained in the image are determined. Based on the number of fiducials, at least one of a position and an orientation of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device are updated based on the image and the handheld data in accordance with a first operating state, a second operating state, or a third operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20220221934
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a given user moves around or as the HMD slips or otherwise becomes displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Patent number: 11290706
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a given user moves around or as the HMD slips or otherwise becomes displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Patent number: 11181974
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device. At least one sensor mounted to the handheld device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), may obtain handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device with respect to the world. An imaging device mounted to either the handheld device or the wearable device may capture a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the other device. The number of fiducials contained in the image are determined. Based on the number of fiducials, at least one of a position and an orientation of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device are updated based on the image and the handheld data in accordance with a first operating state, a second operating state, or a third operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20210116991
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device. At least one sensor mounted to the handheld device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), may obtain handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device with respect to the world. An imaging device mounted to either the handheld device or the wearable device may capture a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the other device. The number of fiducials contained in the image are determined. Based on the number of fiducials, at least one of a position and an orientation of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device are updated based on the image and the handheld data in accordance with a first operating state, a second operating state, or a third operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20210105456
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a given user moves around or as the HMD slips or otherwise becomes displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Patent number: 10917634
    Abstract: A wearable device may include a head-mounted display (HMD) for rendering a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object which appears to be located in an ambient environment of a user of the display. The relative positions of the HMD and one or more eyes of the user may not be in desired positions to receive, or register, image information outputted by the HMD. For example, the HMD-to-eye alignment vary for different users and may change over time (e.g., as a given user moves around or as the HMD slips or otherwise becomes displaced). The wearable device may determine a relative position or alignment between the HMD and the user's eyes. Based on the relative positions, the wearable device may determine if it is properly fitted to the user, may provide feedback on the quality of the fit to the user, and may take actions to reduce or minimize effects of any misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Samuel A. Miller, Yan Xu, Jordan Alexander Cazamias
  • Patent number: 10860090
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device. At least one sensor mounted to the handheld device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), may obtain handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device with respect to the world. An imaging device mounted to either the handheld device or the wearable device may capture a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the other device. The number of fiducials contained in the image are determined. Based on the number of fiducials, at least one of a position and an orientation of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device are updated based on the image and the handheld data in accordance with a first operating state, a second operating state, or a third operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Publication number: 20200026348
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing localization of a handheld device with respect to a wearable device. At least one sensor mounted to the handheld device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), may obtain handheld data indicative of movement of the handheld device with respect to the world. An imaging device mounted to either the handheld device or the wearable device may capture a fiducial image containing a number of fiducials affixed to the other device. The number of fiducials contained in the image are determined. Based on the number of fiducials, at least one of a position and an orientation of the handheld device with respect to the wearable device are updated based on the image and the handheld data in accordance with a first operating state, a second operating state, or a third operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Nienstedt, Samuel A. Miller, Barak Freedman, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Ron Liraz Lidji
  • Patent number: 9915575
    Abstract: Disclosed is a passive, in-situ pressure sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element having a ferromagnetic metal and a tension inducing mechanism coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The tension inducing mechanism is operable to change a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal based on a change in pressure in the sensing element. Changes in pressure are detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal when subjected to an alternating magnetic field caused by the change in the tensile stress. The sensing element is embeddable in a closed system for detecting pressure changes without the need for any penetrations of the system for power or data acquisition by detecting changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the tensile stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventors: David K. Mee, Edward B. Ripley, Zachary C. Nienstedt, Alex W. Nienstedt, Layton N. Howell, Jr.