SUNY Scientists Awarded Patent for Virtual Reality Software
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Release Date: 07/22/2002 SUNY receives a total of 6 scientific patents in June, 2002 ALBANY - State University of New York Chancellor Robert L. King announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded the State University of New York a patent for a software tool that enables cyber professionals to enter text while working in their computer-generated virtual reality world. Scientists in the Computer Science Department at SUNY Stony Brook's Visualization Laboratory made the discovery. "The quality of the research at the State University of New York is of the highest order," said King. "Royalties earned from the patents awarded to our researchers place the University among the elite research universities in the country and help to fund our growing research enterprise. I am very proud of the work of our researchers and I congratulate the Stony Brook team for earning this patent." The invention - Patent No. 6,407,679 - involves a software tool, Vtype, that enables a user wearing virtual reality gloves to input words and sentences while in a virtual world. The user simulates the press of a keyboard in the gloves, allowing the user to remain in the virtual environment and enter text data without the need for a keyboard that cannot be easily attached to the human body. "The ability to enter important data such as text in a virtual environment will become more critical over time, especially as we realize the potential of virtual world representations of complex file systems, flowcharts, architectural drawings, and event simulations," said Dr. Steven Skiena, a professor in the Computer Science Department at SUNY Stony Brook. He developed the invention along with Francine Evans, currently at Schlumberger Corp. in Houston, and Amitabh Varshney, now at the University of Maryland, College Park. The user calibrates the gloves by entering text, during which time the system establishes threshold values that represent simulated presses for each finger. After the initial calibration of the sensory gloves, the user enters text with simulated finger presses. The system distinguishes which movements are intended as simulated finger presses by examining the relative motions of fingers and maintaining dynamic thresholds. Errors are minimized by providing feedback to the user, such as beeps and a visual display of the fingers and the current text. Because keys may represent more than one character, the system determines the intended text by probabilistic analysis and custom algorithms. The State University of New York Research Foundation applies for patents to protect SUNY intellectual property and commercializes these technologies for public benefit through its Technology Transfer office in Albany and through offices at State University campuses in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook. In 2002, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded 18 patents to SUNY, including the six awarded in June. The five other patents SUNY received in June include:
Inventors: Drs. Thomas A. Russo and Ulrike Carlino, Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, Issued: June 25, 2002 Filed: Sept. 22, 2000 Summary: SUNY scientists identified a gene found in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Studies show this gene can be used as an immunogen in vaccine formulations against E. coli found outside the intestines, which are responsible for the majority of urinary tract infections and cause considerable sickness and death. Inventors: Drs. Israel Kleinberg and Milroy Codipilly, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University Issued: June 25, 2002 Filed: June 10, 1998 Summary: SUNY scientists have discovered a way to deliver an oral mixture to reduce halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis (red, swollen and bleeding gums) and periodontitis (deep pockets in the gums that may ultimately result in tooth loss). Studies show that bacterial decay and oral disease production can be prevented with this technology. Inventors: Dr. Robert A. Coburn; Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, and Drs. Richard T. Evans and Robert J. Genco, Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo Issued: June 18, 2002 Filed: Oct. 2, 2001 Summary: SUNY scientists have identified novel chemical compounds that can act as antimicrobial agents against a wide variety of bacteria, an anti-inflammatory for obtaining relief from infections associated with the bacteria, and a method for the control of periodontal disease. This patent is licensed to Therex Technologies Inc., a Buffalo-based biotech company founded by University of Buffalo faculty and alumni. Therex is working to bring this technology to market where it will be used in oral hygiene, skin care, animal oral health, acne and other pharmaceutical applications. Inventors: Drs. Paras N. Prasad; and Jayant D. Bhawalker; Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo; Ping Chin Cheng; Department of Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo; and a former graduate student Shan Jen Pan. Issued: June 11, 2002 Filed: Nov. 16, 1999 Summary: SUNY research team demonstrated organic materials capable of efficiently absorbing two photons of light at the same time and their applications, especially in high-density data storage and photodynamic therapy of cancers deeper in tissues, which will minimize damage to adjacent normal tissues. Inventors: Drs. Peisen S. Huang and Imin Kao, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Stony Brook University Issued: June 4, 2002 Filed: Aug. 8, 2000 Summary: SUNY researchers invented a computer-based semi-automatic focusing and assembly system that can easily set up and focus laser diode assemblies focus and assemble optical devices, such as laser diode assemblies. This technology can reduce the manufacturing time and the number of moving parts as well as improve the overall quality of bar-code scanning systems used in such areas as inventory control and postal delivery. Established in 1979, the Technology Transfer Office of the Research Foundation of SUNY identifies and protects University-developed intellectual property and serves as a catalyst for economic growth by creating partnerships with business and industry to further research and license inventions for public use. The State University of New York consistently ranks in the top 10 of U.S. patent-generating institutions. As of the end of fiscal year 2000-01, more than 570 patents have been issued to SUNY. With $16.5 million in gross license revenue, the State University of New York earned more in patent royalties than either Harvard or Johns Hopkins. Information about U.S. Patent 6,407,679 on "System and method for entering text in a virtual environment" or other patented SUNY technologies is available at the SUNY Research Foundation's Technology Transfer Web site The State University of New York is the largest university system in the United States with more than 388,000 students enrolled in more than 5,100 fields of study on 64 campuses. |