Looking into Easter Egg key patents (and a few more)

Updates:

08/29/2020 - 3 new patents added, one with 13 Apple citations. Goertek patent mentioning MVIS' PicoP technology added.

08/27/2020 - New patent added with 15 citations from Microsoft. Citation breakdown by company added.

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Since I have nothing better to do on this lovely Sunday, I started digging into the highlighted Microvision patents from the two videos posted not long ago. Some of them are not the most cited patents in the history of patents, but some others... You will see. Almost every highlighted patent is cited by at least one top tier company, but I selected the ones with several citations, and the companies I specifically included are the ones who we believe to be on the list of potential suitors. Of the patents and applications that refer to MVIS, some have been withdrawn and some are still pending, but neither changes the fact that they acknowledge and are required to acknowledge Microvision. Lemoptix has been acquired by Intel, keep that in mind. Let's begin!

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Patent 8251517: Scanned proximity detection method and apparatus for a scanned image projection system. Landscape map: http://prntscr.com/u4ejv8

Abstract: A encoded image projection system is configured to determine the proximity of the system to a projection surface. The encoded image projection system includes a light encoder that scans a non-visible light beam on the projection surface selectively when scanning visible light to create an image. A detector is then configured to receive reflections of the non-visible light beam from the projection surface. A control circuit is configured to determine the distance between the projection surface and the system from, for example, intensity data or location data received from the detector. Where the distances are below a threshold, the control circuit can either reduce the output power of the system or turn the system off.

from Claims: 1. A method of determining a distance between a encoded projection system and a projection surface, the method comprising:

delivering one or more light beams to a encoding device;

delivering a non-visible light beam to the encoding device with the one or more light beams;

scanning, with the encoding device, an image on the projection surface with the one or more light beams and scanning, selectively, a pattern with the non-visible light beam;

receiving a reflected non-visible light beam from the projection surface in response to scanning the pattern;

determining the distance by comparing the non-visible light beam to a threshold;

determining a rate of change in proximity by comparing the non-visible light beam to data corresponding to a previously captured non-visible light beam; and

determining an estimated reflectivity of at least a portion of the projection surface and adjusting the threshold based upon the estimated reflectivity.

39 citations, including:

Apple, Intel, Lite-On (cites two more MVIS patents), Velodyne, Bosch, Microsoft, Amazon, Mitsubishi, Oakley x4, Panasonic, Lemoptix.

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Patent 10503265: Mixed-mode depth detection. The patent itself is relatively new but it gives priority to a former application which supposedly has quite some citations as you can see on the landscape. When checking the suggested patents, Google tells me that MVIS is the one citing the patents which are shown to cite the earlier MVIS application (these 3 Apple patents, for example, one of which says "In the disclosed embodiments, scanner 34 comprises a scanning mirror 50 with a mechanical scan drive, although other types of scanners (such as acousto-optical scanners) may alternatively be used. Scanner 34 may comprise, for example, a bi-directional scanning mirror or a pair of uni-directional scanning minors. Such mirrors may be based on integrated micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Scanning minors of this sort are produced by a number of manufacturers, such as Microvision, Inc*. (Redmond, Wash.*)"). Not entirely sure how this works with all the different stages and statuses.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a MEMS laser beam display to implement mixed-mode depth detection comprises an imaging engine to project an image in a field of view of the MEMS laser beam display, a time of flight (TOF) depth detector to determine a distance to a target within the field of view in a first mode of depth detection, wherein the TOF depth detector determines coarse depth data of the target, and a structured light depth detector to determine a distance to the target in a second mode of depth detection, wherein the structured light depth detector determines fine depth data of the target. Depth processing circuitry may generate a composite three-dimensional (3D) image of the target, or may identify a gesture region of the target for gesture recognition.

Cited by: Facebook, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Samsung and Artilux 4 times.

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Patent 8576468: Scanning projector with dynamic scan angle.

Abstract: A scanning projector includes a MEMS device with a scanning mirror that sweeps a beam in two dimensions. Actuating circuits receive scan angle information and provide signal stimulus to the MEMS device to control the amount of mirror deflection on two axes. The period of movement on one or both axes may be modified to effect changes in line density in a resultant display.

Cited by: Bosch, North, Valeo.

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Patent 8248541: Phased locked resonant scanning display projection. Covered by s2upid here. Microsoft, STM, Samsung, Hitachi, Lite-On, Qualcomm, Magic Leap.

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Patent 8810561: Dual laser drive method. apparatus, and system.

Abstract: A scanning projector includes a scanning mirror that sweep a beam in two dimensions. The beam is created by multiple laser light sources, at least two of which create light at substantially the same wavelength. The two light sources at the same wavelength may be driven at different times, or may be driven simultaneously (equally or unequally).

Cited by: LG, Bosch, Oculus, Lemoptix.

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Patent 7826141: Scanned-beam heads-up display and related systems and methods.

Abstract: A heads-up display that includes a scanner and a projection assembly. The scanner generates an image by sweeping a beam of electromagnetic energy, and the projection assembly directs the image into a predetermined viewing space having a region with a substantially uniform intensity profile. Such a heads-up display can often be made smaller than a conventional heads-up display, and can often generate an image having a higher quality than an image generated by a conventional display. Furthermore, one can often calibrate and recalibrate such a display without physically modifying or replacing a component of the display or of a vehicle incorporating the display.

62 citations, including: Microsoft x4, North, Bosch, Valeo x2, (the other Valeo patent doesn't appear to cite MVIS yet on the MVIS patent page, it says it's cited by Valeo, so once again, might be some trouble with the different versions and priorities), Audi, Lemoptix.

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Patent 8355013: Integrated photonics module and devices using integrated photonics modules. Image from the patent looks like this thing from the promo video, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Abstract: An integrated photonics module may include a selective fold mirror configured to pass at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner and reflect scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.

134 citations, including Microsoft x4, STM, LG, Lemoptix, Panasonic x2, Sony, Bosch, Intel.

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Patent 8559086: Piezoresistive sensors for MEMS device having rejection of undesired motion.

23 citations, including Google x5, STM, Apple, Microsoft.

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The following patents were not highlighted, but I bumped into them and found them pretty interesting.

Patent 7442918, quite old and MEMS-related. Landscape.

124 citations, including Bosch x7, Apple x7, Intel x3, Microsoft x2.

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Patent 8511838: Scanning laser projection with safety system.

22 citations, including STM, LG (cites 8 patents, 4 out of which belongs to MVIS), Lemoptix, North, Microsoft (cites 4 patents, 2 are from MVIS).

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Patent 9684075: Scanning laser time of flight 3D imaging.

Abstract: Laser light pulses are reflected off a scanning mirror. A time-of-flight distance measurement device receives reflected light pulses and determines distances. The light pulses have abrupt changes in amplitude. Reflected pulses are differentiated to reduce sensitivity to amplitude variations. Differentiated pulses may be compressed to keep the receiver from saturating. Distance measurements are combined with location information to produce a 3D image of a surface.

Cited by: Amazon, Apple x2, Bosch.

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Patent 7854523: Optical Relay for Compact Head Up Display.

21 citations. 15 from Microsoft.

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There is a Goertek patent application that mentions MicroVision and its PicoP technology ("In the prior art, a pico-projector technology uses a micro scanner to form an image pixel by pixel. For example, the PicoP projector of the Microvision Inc. is one falling into this category.")

So far, it doesn't cite a MVIS patent directly (it might be added later on during the revision of the application, though). Nonetheless, out of the 13 citations, the two beautifully marked patents (this and this) cite 1+2 MVIS patents.

One of the said patents are cited by 74 others, including 13 from Apple, 3 from IBM, 2 from T-Mobile USA and one from Microsoft, LG and Panasonic.

The second one has 13 citations, including 2 from Valeo and 1 from Google, Microsoft, Maxell (as Tadayoshi Kosaka) and Sony.

The third one has 17 citations, including North, Lite-On, Qualcomm, Disney, Lenovo, IBM and Hewlett Packard (under the name Lee Warren Atkinson).

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Citation breakdown by company:

Microsoft x30 // Apple x27 // Bosch x13 // Intel (Lemoptix) x10 // Google (North) x10 // Valeo x5 // STM x4 // Artilux x4 // Panasonic x4 // IBM x4 // LG x4 // Qualcomm x3 // Lite-On Technology x3 // Facebook (Oculus) x3 // Amazon x2 // Samsung x2 // T-Mobile USA x2 // Velodyne, Mitsubishi, Audi, Disney, Lenovo, HP, Maxell, Sony x1

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Edit: found this article about patent valuation. "We found that forward citations (later patents that cite the subject patent) were the most significant factor in identifying patents that were likely to be purchased. We know that patents in the range of 8-12 years from priority had the highest probability of being valuable in licensing."

And from another document: "Forward citations – the citations subsequently received by a patent – can be used to assess the technological impact of inventions, e.g. their crosstechnology and/or geographical impact. The technological impact of inventions can indicate the economic importance of patents. The value of a patent and the number and quality of its forward citations have repeatedly been found to be correlated."