Patents by Inventor Micah P. Kalscheur
Micah P. Kalscheur 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).
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Patent number: 11255972Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a lens element assembly which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. The lens element assembly can include multiple lens elements, one or more of which translates parallel to the light beam to adjust beam divergence. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Publication number: 20210373160Abstract: A system for detecting a vehicle includes a light source configured to emit a light signal. The system also includes a receiver sensor configured to receive a reflected light signal based at least in part on the light signal reflected from a plurality of reflectors. The system also includes a controller, the controller configured to identify an arrangement pattern of the plurality of reflectors based at least in part on the reflected light signal and determine that plurality of reflectors are coupled to another vehicle based at least in part on an identification of the arrangement pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Micah P. Kalscheur
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Patent number: 11092689Abstract: A system for detecting a vehicle includes a light source configured to emit a light signal. The system also includes a receiver sensor configured to receive a reflected light signal based at least in part on the light signal reflected from a plurality of reflectors. The system also includes a controller, the controller configured to identify an arrangement pattern of the plurality of reflectors based at least in part on the reflected light signal and determine that plurality of reflectors are coupled to another vehicle based at least in part on an identification of the arrangement pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Micah P. Kalscheur
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Patent number: 10990805Abstract: A facial recognition authentication process may utilize images of a user's face that are captured while the user is being illuminated using both flood infrared illumination and patterned illumination (e.g., speckle pattern illumination). As the user's face is illuminated by both flood infrared illumination and patterned illumination, the captured images may include both flood infrared illumination data and depth map image data. Flood infrared illumination data may be generated from the images to assess two-dimensional features of the user in the captured images. Depth map image data may be generated from the pattern data in the images to assess three-dimensional (depth) features of the user in the captured images. The flood infrared illumination data and the depth map image data may be used separately by facial recognition authentication process to attempt to authenticate the user in the captured images as an authorized user of the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Joshua M. Susskind
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Patent number: 10788316Abstract: Methods and systems for multi-sensor real-time alignment and calibration are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a projector configured to project a pattern on a target location. The vehicle also includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to capture sensor data from the target location and detect the pattern at the target location. The vehicle further includes a calibration system configured to determine whether a particular sensor of the one or more sensors is out of alignment based on a relative position of the pattern as detected by the one or more sensors. The calibration system is also configured to, based on a determination that the particular sensor is out of alignment, adjust an alignment of the particular sensor based on the sensor data and the diffractive pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Micah P. Kalscheur
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Patent number: 10719692Abstract: Subepidermal imaging of a face may be used to assess subepidermal features such as blood vessels (e.g., veins) when the device is attempting to authenticate a user in a facial recognition authentication process. Assessment of the subepidermal features may be used to distinguish between users that have closely related facial features (e.g., siblings or twins) in situations where the facial recognition authentication process has less certainty in a decision about recognition of the user's face as an authorized user.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Feng Tang
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Patent number: 10712446Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve example systems and methods for remote sensing of objects. In one example, a system includes a light source, a camera, a light source timing circuit, an exposure window timing circuit, and a range determination circuit. The light source timing circuit is to generate light pulses using the light source. The exposure window timing circuit generates multiple exposure windows for the light pulses for the camera, each of the multiple exposure windows representing a corresponding first range of distance from the camera. The range determination circuit processes an indication of an amount of light captured at the camera during an opening of each of the multiple exposure windows for one of the light pulses to determine a presence of an object within a second range of distance from the camera, the second range having a lower uncertainty than the first range.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Bills, Micah P. Kalscheur, Evan Cull, Ryan A. Gibbs
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Patent number: 10656275Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve example systems and methods for remote sensing of objects. In one example, a system includes a light source, a camera, a light radar (lidar) system, a region of interest identification circuit, and a range refining circuit. The region of interest identification circuit identifies a region of interest corresponding to an object and a first range of distance to the region of interest using the camera and the light source. The range refining circuit probes the region of interest to refine the first range to a second range of distance to the region of interest using the lidar system, the second range having a lower uncertainty than the first range.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Bills, Micah P. Kalscheur, Evan Cull, Ryan A. Gibbs
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Publication number: 20200082155Abstract: A facial recognition authentication process may utilize images of a user's face that are captured while the user is being illuminated using both flood infrared illumination and patterned illumination (e.g., speckle pattern illumination). As the user's face is illuminated by both flood infrared illumination and patterned illumination, the captured images may include both flood infrared illumination data and depth map image data. Flood infrared illumination data may be generated from the images to assess two-dimensional features of the user in the captured images. Depth map image data may be generated from the pattern data in the images to assess three-dimensional (depth) features of the user in the captured images. The flood infrared illumination data and the depth map image data may be used separately by facial recognition authentication process to attempt to authenticate the user in the captured images as an authorized user of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Joshua M. Susskind
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Patent number: 10445896Abstract: A system includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations including generating multiple exposure windows for light pulses for a camera, the multiple exposure windows having a sequence comprising a first exposure window having an opening for a duration of time and each other exposure window of the multiple exposure windows having an opening for the duration of time except for a closing for a subset of the duration of time corresponding to a distance from one of a light source and the camera, wherein none of the closings of the multiple exposure windows overlaps another closing of the multiple exposure windows and determining a difference between an indication of an amount of light captured at the camera during the first exposure window and each other exposure window of the multiple exposure windows.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard E. Bills, Micah P. Kalscheur, Evan Cull, Ryan A. Gibbs, Ashwin Wagadarikar
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Publication number: 20190080153Abstract: Subepidermal imaging of a face may be used to assess subepidermal features such as blood vessels (e.g., veins) when the device is attempting to authenticate a user in a facial recognition authentication process. Assessment of the subepidermal features may be used to distinguish between users that have closely related facial features (e.g., siblings or twins) in situations where the facial recognition authentication process has less certainty in a decision about recognition of the user's face as an authorized user.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Feng Tang
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Publication number: 20190041521Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a lens element assembly which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. The lens element assembly can include multiple lens elements, one or more of which translates parallel to the light beam to adjust beam divergence. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Patent number: 10107914Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a lens element assembly which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. The lens element assembly can include multiple lens elements, one or more of which translates parallel to the light beam to adjust beam divergence. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Publication number: 20180081058Abstract: A system for detecting a vehicle includes a light source configured to emit a light signal. The system also includes a receiver sensor configured to receive a reflected light signal based at least in part on the light signal reflected from a plurality of reflectors. The system also includes a controller, the controller configured to identify an arrangement pattern of the plurality of reflectors based at least in part on the reflected light signal and determine that plurality of reflectors are coupled to another vehicle based at least in part on an identification of the arrangement pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Micah P. Kalscheur
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Patent number: 9921299Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a controller device which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Patent number: 9846473Abstract: An electronic device may have light-based components. The light-based components may include light sources, light detectors, and image sensors. The light-based components may be aligned with a window in the device. The window may be formed within an inactive area of a display or within other device structures. The window may have one or more window members mounted within an opening in a display layer in the inactive area. Visible light blocking material such as chalcogenide glass may be incorporated into the window to provide the window with an opaque appearance that matches the opaque appearance of surrounding portions of the inactive portion of the display. In configurations in which the light-based components include a visible image sensor or other visible light detecting component, the window may be provided with a portion that is transparent at visible wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Matthew C. Waldon
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Publication number: 20160245903Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a controller device which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Publication number: 20160245919Abstract: A light beam scanning device includes a lens element assembly which dynamically adjusts a divergence of the beam. The lens element assembly can include multiple lens elements, one or more of which translates parallel to the light beam to adjust beam divergence. Divergence adjustment can include adjusting the beam divergence along one or more cross sectional axes of the beam. Beam divergence can be adjusted between consecutive scans, during a scan, etc. Beam divergence can be adjusted based on the field of view and scan rate. Beam divergence adjustment can enable dynamic adjustment of the spot size of the beam, which can enable the apparatus to adjust between scanning a wide divergence beam to detect objects in a scene and scanning a narrow divergence beam to generate detailed point clouds of the detected objects. Beam divergence adjustment can enable adjustment of reflection point intensity, enabling detection of low-reflectivity objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Micah P. Kalscheur, Jawad Nawasra
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Patent number: 9277144Abstract: A system and method for estimating an ambient light condition is using an image sensor of a digital camera. An array of pixels is obtained using the image sensor. A matrix of grid elements is defined. Each grid element comprises multiple adjacent pixels of the array of pixels. A first measurement value is generated for a grid element of the matrix of grid elements based on the pixels associated with the grid element. A set of grid elements are identified having a first measurement value that satisfies a brightness criteria. A second measurement is generated using the identified set of grid elements. A simulated-light-sensor array is generated using the second measurement value. An estimate of the ambient light condition is calculated using the simulated-light-sensor array.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Suppawan Kleekajai, Micah P. Kalscheur, Michael R. Malone
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Patent number: 9232150Abstract: A system and method for calculating an ambient light estimate using an image sensor in a camera of a device. An array of pixels is obtained using the image sensor. A matrix of grid elements is defined. Each grid element is comprised of multiple adjacent pixels of the array of pixels. A first measurement value is generated for a grid element of the matrix of grid elements based on the pixels associated with a respective grid element. A set of grid elements are identified having a first measurement value that satisfies a brightness criteria. A weighted measurement value is calculated using the identified set of grid elements. The ambient light estimate is calculated based on the weighted measurement value and the first measurement value.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Suppawan Kleekajai, Micah P. Kalscheur