Patents by Inventor Michele Stoppa

Michele Stoppa 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: 11954885
    Abstract: A tracked device may be used in an extended reality system in coordination with a tracking device. The tracked device may be ordinarily difficult to track, for example due to changing appearances or relatively small surface areas of unchanging features, as may be the case with an electronic device with a relatively large display surrounded by a thin physical outer boundary. In these cases, the tracked device may periodically present an image to the tracking device that the tracking device stores as an indication to permit tracking of a known, unchanging feature despite the image not being presented continuously on the display of the tracked device. The image may include a static image, designated tracking data overlaid on an image frame otherwise scheduled for presentation, or extracted image features from the image frame otherwise scheduled for presentation. Additional power saving methods and known marker generation methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Di Febbo, Anthony Ghannoum, Michele Stoppa, Kiranjit Dhaliwal
  • Patent number: 11854242
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing personalized saliency models, e.g., for use in mixed reality environments, are disclosed herein, comprising: obtaining, from a server, a first saliency model for the characterization of captured images, wherein the first saliency model represents a global saliency model; capturing a first plurality of images by a first device; obtaining information indicative of a reaction of a first user of the first device to the capture of one or more images of the first plurality images; updating the first saliency model based, at least in part, on the obtained information to form a personalized, second saliency model; and transmitting at least a portion of the second saliency model to the server for inclusion into the global saliency model. In some embodiments, a user's personalized (i.e., updated) saliency model may be used to modify one or more characteristics of at least one subsequently captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Stoppa, Mohamed Selim Ben Himane, Raffi A. Bedikian
  • Publication number: 20230306709
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of estimating the heading of a device is performed by the device including a processor, non-transitory memory, and an image sensor. The method includes determining a geographic location of the device. The method includes capturing, using the image sensor, an image at the geographic location. The method includes detecting one or more lines within the image. The method includes determining a heading of the device based on the one or more lines and the geographic location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Oliver Thomas Ruepp, Jai Prakash, Johan Hedborg, Rahul Raguram, Michele Stoppa
  • Patent number: 11755124
    Abstract: A physical keyboard can be used to collect user input in a typing mode or in a tracking mode. To use a tracking mode, first movement data is detected for a hand of a user in relation to a physical keyboard at a first location. A determination is made that the first movement data is associated with a tracking movement. In response to determining that the movement type is associated with the tracking movement, a tracking mode is initiated. User input is provided based on the movement data and in accordance with the tracking mode. Contact data and non-contact data is used to determine a user intent, and a user instruction is processed based on the user intent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Stoppa, Waleed Abdulla, Henning Tjaden, Sree Harsha Kalli, Senem E. Emgin, John B. Morrell, Seung Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 11699279
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of estimating the heading of a device is performed by the device including a processor, non-transitory memory, and an image sensor. The method includes determining a geographic location of the device. The method includes capturing, using the image sensor, an image at the geographic location. The method includes detecting one or more lines within the image. The method includes determining a heading of the device based on the one or more lines and the geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Thomas Ruepp, Jai Prakash, Johan Hedborg, Rahul Raguram, Michele Stoppa
  • Publication number: 20230083758
    Abstract: A tracked device may be used in an extended reality system in coordination with a tracking device. The tracked device may be ordinarily difficult to track, for example due to changing appearances or relatively small surface areas of unchanging features, as may be the case with an electronic device with a relatively large display surrounded by a thin physical outer boundary. In these cases, the tracked device may periodically present an image to the tracking device that the tracking device stores as an indication to permit tracking of a known, unchanging feature despite the image not being presented continuously on the display of the tracked device. The image may include a static image, designated tracking data overlaid on an image frame otherwise scheduled for presentation, or extracted image features from the image frame otherwise scheduled for presentation. Additional power saving methods and known marker generation methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Paolo Di Febbo, Anthony Ghannoum, Michele Stoppa, Kiranjit Dhaliwal
  • Publication number: 20220092331
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing personalized saliency models, e.g., for use in mixed reality environments, are disclosed herein, comprising: obtaining, from a server, a first saliency model for the characterization of captured images, wherein the first saliency model represents a global saliency model; capturing a first plurality of images by a first device; obtaining information indicative of a reaction of a first user of the first device to the capture of one or more images of the first plurality images; updating the first saliency model based, at least in part, on the obtained information to form a personalized, second saliency model; and transmitting at least a portion of the second saliency model to the server for inclusion into the global saliency model. In some embodiments, a user's personalized (i.e., updated) saliency model may be used to modify one or more characteristics of at least one subsequently captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michele Stoppa, Mohamed Selim Ben Himane, Raffi A. Bedikian
  • Patent number: 11019330
    Abstract: A method for a computing device to recalibrate a multiple camera system includes collecting calibration data from one or more pictures captured by the multiple camera system of the computing device. The multiple camera system includes two or more cameras that are each physically separated by a distance from one another. The method further includes detecting decalibration of the camera system. The method further includes, when the camera system is decalibrated, generating recalibration parameters based on the calibration data. The method further includes determining whether the recalibration parameters are valid parameters and, when they are, updating the multiple camera system based on the recalibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: AQUIFI, INC.
    Inventors: David Demirdjian, Britta Silke Hummel, Ahmed Tashrif Kamal, Michele Stoppa, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Pietro Salvagnini
  • Patent number: 10453185
    Abstract: A method for capturing a depth map includes: controlling a plurality of cameras to capture, concurrently, a plurality of first images during a first exposure interval, each of the cameras concurrently capturing a corresponding one of the first images, the cameras having overlapping fields of view; controlling a projection source to emit light at a first illumination level during the first exposure interval; controlling the cameras to capture, concurrently, a plurality of second images during a second exposure interval, each of the cameras concurrently capturing a corresponding one of the second images; controlling the projection source to emit light at a second illumination level during the second exposure interval, the second illumination level being different from the first illumination level; combining the first images with the second images to generate a depth map; and outputting the depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: AQUIFI, INC.
    Inventors: Carlo Dal Mutto, Abbas Rafii, Pietro Salvagnini, Aryan Hazeghi, Michele Stoppa, Francesco Peruch, Giulio Marin
  • Publication number: 20180211373
    Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in an object includes: capturing, by one or more depth cameras, a plurality of partial point clouds of the object from a plurality of different poses with respect to the object; merging, by a processor, the partial point clouds to generate a merged point cloud; computing, by the processor, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-view model of the object; detecting, by the processor, one or more defects of the object in the 3D multi-view model; and outputting, by the processor, an indication of the one or more defects of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Michele Stoppa, Francesco Peruch, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Aryan Hazeghi, Pietro Salvagnini, Carlo Dal Mutto, Jason Trachewsky, Kinh Tieu
  • Patent number: 9826216
    Abstract: A pattern projection system includes a coherent light source, a repositionable DOE disposed to receive coherent light from said coherent light source and disposed to output at least one pattern of projectable light onto a scene to be imaged by an (x,y) two-dimensional optical acquisition system. Coherent light speckle artifacts in the projected pattern are reduced by rapidly controllably repositioning the DOE or the entire pattern projection system. Different projectable patterns are selected from a set of M patterns that are related to each other by a translation and/or rotation operation in two-dimensional cosine space. A resultant (x,y,z) depth map has improved quality and robustness due to projection of the selected patterns. Three-dimensional (x,y,z) depth data obtained from two-dimensional imaged data including despeckling is higher quality data than if projected patterns without despeckling were used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AQUIFI, INC.
    Inventors: Aryan Hazeghi, Carlo Dal Mutto, Giulio Marin, Francesco Peruch, Michele Stoppa, Abbas Rafii
  • Patent number: 9807371
    Abstract: A method for detecting decalibration of a depth camera system including a first, second, and third cameras having overlapping fields of view in a direction includes: detecting a feature in a first image captured by the first camera; detecting the feature in a second image captured by the second camera; detecting the feature in a third image captured by the third camera, the third camera being non-collinear with the first and second cameras; identifying a first conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the first image and calibration parameters; identifying a second conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the third image and the calibration parameters; and calculating a difference between a detected location of the feature in the second image and the first and second conjugate epipolar lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Aquifi, Inc.
    Inventors: Pietro Salvagnini, Michele Stoppa, Abbas Rafii
  • Publication number: 20170223340
    Abstract: A method for detecting decalibration of a depth camera system including a first, second, and third cameras having overlapping fields of view in a direction includes: detecting a feature in a first image captured by the first camera; detecting the feature in a second image captured by the second camera; detecting the feature in a third image captured by the third camera, the third camera being non-collinear with the first and second cameras; identifying a first conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the first image and calibration parameters; identifying a second conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the third image and the calibration parameters; and calculating a difference between a detected location of the feature in the second image and the first and second conjugate epipolar lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Pietro Salvagnini, Michele Stoppa, Abbas Rafii
  • Publication number: 20170180706
    Abstract: A method for detecting decalibration of a depth camera system including a first, second, and third cameras having overlapping fields of view in a direction includes: detecting a feature in a first image captured by the first camera; detecting the feature in a second image captured by the second camera; detecting the feature in a third image captured by the third camera, the third camera being non-collinear with the first and second cameras; identifying a first conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the first image and calibration parameters; identifying a second conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the third image and the calibration parameters; and calculating a difference between a detected location of the feature in the second image and the first and second conjugate epipolar lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Pietro Salvagnini, Michele Stoppa, Abbas Rafii
  • Patent number: 9674504
    Abstract: A method for detecting decalibration of a depth camera system including a first, second, and third cameras having overlapping fields of view in a direction includes: detecting a feature in a first image captured by the first camera; detecting the feature in a second image captured by the second camera; detecting the feature in a third image captured by the third camera, the third camera being non-collinear with the first and second cameras; identifying a first conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the first image and calibration parameters; identifying a second conjugate epipolar line in the second image in accordance with a detected location of the feature in the third image and the calibration parameters; and calculating a difference between a detected location of the feature in the second image and the first and second conjugate epipolar lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Aquifi, Inc.
    Inventors: Pietro Salvagnini, Michele Stoppa, Abbas Rafii
  • Publication number: 20170142312
    Abstract: A method for capturing a depth map includes: controlling a plurality of cameras to capture, concurrently, a plurality of first images during a first exposure interval, each of the cameras concurrently capturing a corresponding one of the first images, the cameras having overlapping fields of view; controlling a projection source to emit light at a first illumination level during the first exposure interval; controlling the cameras to capture, concurrently, a plurality of second images during a second exposure interval, each of the cameras concurrently capturing a corresponding one of the second images; controlling the projection source to emit light at a second illumination level during the second exposure interval, the second illumination level being different from the first illumination level; combining the first images with the second images to generate a depth map; and outputting the depth map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Carlo Dal Mutto, Abbas Rafii, Pietro Salvagnini, Aryan Hazeghi, Michele Stoppa, Francesco Peruch, Giulio Marin
  • Patent number: 9619042
    Abstract: A method for operating a real-time gesture based interactive system includes: obtaining a sequence of frames of data from an acquisition system; comparing successive frames of the data for portions that change between frames; determining whether any of the portions that changed are part of an interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; defining a 3D interaction zone relative to an initial position of the part of the interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; tracking a movement of the interaction medium to generate a plurality of 3D positions of the interaction medium; detecting movement of the interaction medium from inside to outside the 3D interaction zone at a boundary 3D position; shifting the 3D interaction zone relative to the boundary 3D position; computing a plurality of computed positions based on the 3D positions; and supplying the computed positions to control an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Aquifi, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Dal Mutto, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Giridhar Murali, Michele Stoppa, Amir hossein Khalili, Ahmed Tashrif Kamal, Britta Hummel
  • Publication number: 20170017307
    Abstract: A method for operating a real-time gesture based interactive system includes: obtaining a sequence of frames of data from an acquisition system; comparing successive frames of the data for portions that change between frames; determining whether any of the portions that changed are part of an interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; defining a 3D interaction zone relative to an initial position of the part of the interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; tracking a movement of the interaction medium to generate a plurality of 3D positions of the interaction medium; detecting movement of the interaction medium from inside to outside the 3D interaction zone at a boundary 3D position; shifting the 3D interaction zone relative to the boundary 3D position; computing a plurality of 2D positions based on the 3D positions; and supplying the 2D positions to control an application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Carlo Dal Mutto, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Giridhar Murali, Michele Stoppa, Amir hossein Khalili, Ahmed Tashrif Kamal, Britta Hummel
  • Patent number: 9501138
    Abstract: A method for operating a real-time gesture based interactive system includes: obtaining a sequence of frames of data from an acquisition system; comparing successive frames of the data for portions that change between frames; determining whether any of the portions that changed are part of an interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; defining a 3D interaction zone relative to an initial position of the part of the interaction medium detected in the sequence of frames of data; tracking a movement of the interaction medium to generate a plurality of 3D positions of the interaction medium; detecting movement of the interaction medium from inside to outside the 3D interaction zone at a boundary 3D position; shifting the 3D interaction zone relative to the boundary 3D position; computing a plurality of 2D positions based on the 3D positions; and supplying the 2D positions to control an application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Aquifi, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo Dal Mutto, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Giridhar Murali, Michele Stoppa, Amir hossein Khalili, Ahmed Tashrif Kamal, Britta Hummel
  • Publication number: 20160212418
    Abstract: A method for a computing device to recalibrate a multiple camera system includes collecting calibration data from one or more pictures captured by the multiple camera system of the computing device. The multiple camera system includes two or more cameras that are each physically separated by a distance from one another. The method further includes detecting decalibration of the camera system. The method further includes, when the camera system is decalibrated, generating recalibration parameters based on the calibration data. The method further includes determining whether the recalibration parameters are valid parameters and, when they are, updating the multiple camera system based on the recalibration parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: AQUIFI, INC.
    Inventors: David Demirdjian, Britta Silke Hummel, Ahmed Tashrif Kamal, Michele Stoppa, Giuliano Pasqualotto, Pietro Salvagnini