Patents by Inventor David G. Stork

David G. Stork 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: 11372147
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Publication number: 20210349250
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 11035989
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a phase grating overlying a two-dimensional array of pixels, which may be thermally sensitive pixels for use in infrared imaging. The phase grating comprises a two-dimensional array of identical subgratings that define a system of Cartesian coordinates. The subgrating and pixel arrays are sized and oriented such that the pixels are evenly distributed with respect to the row and column intersections of the subgratings. The location of each pixel thus maps to a unique location beneath a virtual archetypical subgrating. Portions of the phase grating extend beyond the edges of the pixels array to interference pattern in support of Fourier-domain imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, John Eric Linstadt
  • Patent number: 11029459
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and also to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 10854652
    Abstract: An array of diffraction-pattern generators employ phase anti-symmetric gratings to projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced array of photoelements. Each generator in the array of generators produces point-spread functions with spatial frequencies and orientations of interest. The generators are arranged in an irregular mosaic with little or no short-range repetition. Diverse generators are shaped and placed with some irregularity to reduce or eliminate spatially periodic replication of ambiguities to facilitate imaging of nearby scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 10846835
    Abstract: An optical method of measuring motion employs a phase grating that produces a diffraction pattern responsive to light from an imaged scene. First and second images of the diffraction pattern are captured and compared to produce an image comparison. Apparent motion is then calculated from the image comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, Patrick R. Johnstone
  • Patent number: 10653313
    Abstract: A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto an array of closely spaced pixels. Due to physical properties of the grating, the spatial modulations are in focus for a range of wavelengths and spacings. The spatial modulations are captured by the array, and photographs and other image information can be extracted from the resultant data. Pixels responsive to infrared light can be used to make thermal imaging devices and other types of thermal sensors. Some sensors are well adapted for tracking eye movements, and others for imaging barcodes and like binary images. In the latter case, the known binary property of the expected images can be used to simplify the process of extracting image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 10404908
    Abstract: An imaging system includes multiple diffractive optical gratings disposed over a two-dimensional array of photosensitive pixels. The different gratings present different patterns and features that are tailored to produce point-spread responses that emphasize different properties of an imaged scene. The different responses are captured by the pixels, and data captured from the responses can be used separately or together to analyze aspects of the scene. The imaging systems can include circuitry to analyze the image data, and to support modes that select between point-spread responses, selections of the pixels, and algorithms for analyzing image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Stork, Patrick R. Gill, Evan L. Erickson, Mark D. Kellam, Alexander C. Schneider, Jay Endsley, Salman Kabir
  • Patent number: 10386788
    Abstract: An infrared imaging system includes a phase grating overlying a two-dimensional array of thermally sensitive pixels. The phase grating comprises a two-dimensional array of identical subgratings that define a system of Cartesian coordinates. The subgrating and pixel arrays are sized and oriented such that the pixels are evenly distributed with respect to the row and column intersections of the subgratings. The location of each pixel thus maps to a unique location beneath a virtual archetypical subgrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, John Eric Linstadt
  • Publication number: 20190191993
    Abstract: A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto an array of closely spaced pixels. Due to physical properties of the grating, the spatial modulations are in focus for a range of wavelengths and spacings. The spatial modulations are captured by the array, and photographs and other image information can be extracted from the resultant data. Pixels responsive to infrared light can be used to make thermal imaging devices and other types of thermal sensors. Some sensors are well adapted for tracking eye movements, and others for imaging barcodes and like binary images. In the latter case, the known binary property of the expected images can be used to simplify the process of extracting image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Publication number: 20190180424
    Abstract: An optical method of measuring motion employs a phase grating that produces a diffraction pattern responsive to light from an imaged scene. First and second images of the diffraction pattern are captured and compared to produce an image comparison. Apparent motion is then calculated from the image comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, Patrick R. Johnstone
  • Patent number: 10261584
    Abstract: A user interface includes both a touchscreen for tactile input and one or more lensless optical sensors for sensing additional, remote gestures. Users can interact with the user interface in a volume of space near the display, and are thus not constrained to the relatively small area of the touchscreen. Remote hand or face gestures can be used to turn on or otherwise alter the tactile user interface. Shared user interfaces can operate without touch, and thus avoid cross-contamination of e.g. viruses and bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, Thomas Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 10222742
    Abstract: An optical phase grating produces an interference pattern rich in intensity and spatial-frequency information from the external scene. The grating includes an odd number of repeated sets of adjacent horizontal portions, separated by steps, that fill an area that radiates outward from a central region. At a given distance from the central region and within the area of the phase grating, each of the first horizontal portions is of a first width that differs from a second width of the adjacent second horizontal portions. The interference patterns produced by the grating can be processed to extract images and other information of interest about an imaged scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, Mehjabin Sultana Monjur, Luke A. Pfister
  • Patent number: 10188289
    Abstract: A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto an array of closely spaced pixels. Due to physical properties of the grating, the spatial modulations are in focus for a range of wavelengths and spacings. The spatial modulations are captured by the array, and photographs and other image information can be extracted from the resultant data. Pixels responsive to infrared light can be used to make thermal imaging devices and other types of thermal sensors. Some sensors are well adapted for tracking eye movements, and others for imaging barcodes and like binary images. In the latter case, the known binary property of the expected images can be used to simplify the process of extracting image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 10176562
    Abstract: An optical method of measuring motion employs a phase grating that produces a diffraction pattern responsive to light from an imaged scene. First and second images of the diffraction pattern are captured and compared to produce an image comparison. Apparent motion is then calculated from the image comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, Patrick R. Johnstone
  • Publication number: 20180329185
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a phase grating overlying a two-dimensional array of pixels, which may be thermally sensitive pixels for use in infrared imaging. The phase grating comprises a two-dimensional array of identical subgratings that define a system of Cartesian coordinates. The subgrating and pixel arrays are sized and oriented such that the pixels are evenly distributed with respect to the row and column intersections of the subgratings. The location of each pixel thus maps to a unique location beneath a virtual archetypical subgrating. Portions of the phase grating extend beyond the edges of the pixels array to interference pattern in support of Fourier-domain imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork, John Eric Lindstadt
  • Publication number: 20180299604
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and also to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 10057510
    Abstract: An infrared imaging system combines a low-resolution infrared camera with a high-resolution visible-light camera. Information extracted from images taken using the visible-light camera is combined with the low-resolution infrared images to produce an infrared image with enhanced spatial details. The process of extracting the information from the visible image adjusts the quantization level of the visible-light image to scale visible objects to match objects identified in the infrared image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Stork, Patrick R. Gill
  • Publication number: 20180197909
    Abstract: An array of diffraction-pattern generators employ phase anti-symmetric gratings to projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced array of photoelements. Each generator in the array of generators produces point-spread functions with spatial frequencies and orientations of interest. The generators are arranged in an irregular mosaic with little or no short-range repetition. Diverse generators are shaped and placed with some irregularity to reduce or eliminate spatially periodic replication of ambiguities to facilitate imaging of nearby scenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Publication number: 20180191953
    Abstract: An imaging system includes multiple diffractive optical gratings disposed over a two-dimensional array of photosensitive pixels. The different gratings present different patterns and features that are tailored to produce point-spread responses that emphasize different properties of an imaged scene. The different responses are captured by the pixels, and data captured from the responses can be used separately or together to analyze aspects of the scene. The imaging systems can include circuitry to analyze the image data, and to support modes that select between point-spread responses, selections of the pixels, and algorithms for analyzing image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: David G. Stork, Patrick R. Gill, Evan L. Erickson, Mark D. Kellam, Alexander C. Schneider, Jay Endsley, Salman Kabir