Patents by Inventor Scott McEldowney
Scott McEldowney 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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Publication number: 20140160493Abstract: Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Scott McEldowney, Dawson Yee
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Patent number: 8723118Abstract: A dual-mode includes a light source configured to project a structured illumination from which visible light can be filtered. The dual-mode imager also includes a detector configured to capture both the structured illumination and visible light from the scene. A temporal or spatial filter is used to selectively block visible light from one or more portions of the detector while passing the structured illumination to the one or more portions of the detector.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Scott McEldowney, Edward Giaimo
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Patent number: 8704763Abstract: Embodiments related to the enhancement of contrast in an image pattern in a structured light depth sensor are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, in a structured light depth sensor system comprising a structured light depth sensor, a method comprising projecting a light pattern onto an object, detecting via an image sensor an image of the light pattern as reflected from the object, increasing a contrast of the light pattern relative to ambient light present in the image of the light pattern as reflected from the object to form a contrast-enhanced image of the light pattern as reflected from the object, and based upon a motion of the object as detected via the contrast-enhanced image of the light pattern, controlling an application that is providing output to a display.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8670029Abstract: A depth camera illuminator with a superluminescent light-emitting diode (SLED) in a motion tracking system. One or more SLEDs have a sufficient power, such as 75-200 milliwatts, to extend in a field of view in an area such as a room in a home. To correct for chromatic aberration which would otherwise exist due to the wider range of wavelengths which are emitted by an SLED compared to a laser, an achromatic diffractive optical element is used to disperse the light over the field of view. The achromatic diffractive optical element can have a stepped multi-level profile with three or more levels, or a continuous profile. Based on a tracked movement of a human target, an input is provided to an application in a motion tracking system, and the application performs a corresponding action such as updating a position of an on-screen avatar.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8654152Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for selectively focusing on certain areas of interest within an imaged scene to gain more image detail within those areas. In general, the present system identifies areas of interest from received image data, which may for example be detected areas of movement within the scene. The system then focuses on those areas by providing more detail in the area of interest. This may be accomplished by a number of methods, including zooming in on the image, increasing pixel density of the image and increasing the amount of light incident on the object in the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Scott McEldowney, John A. Tardif, John Clavin, David Cohen, Giora Yahav
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Patent number: 8592739Abstract: Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Scott McEldowney, Dawson Yee
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Patent number: 8558873Abstract: A 3-D depth camera system, such as in a motion capture system, tracks an object such as a human in a field of view using an illuminator, where the field of view is illuminated using multiple diffracted beams. An image sensing component obtains an image of the object using a phase mask according to a double-helix point spread function, and determines a depth of each portion of the image based on a relative rotation of dots of light of the double-helix point spread function. In another aspect, dual image sensors are used to obtain a reference image and a phase-encoded image. A relative rotation of features in the images can be correlated with a depth. Depth information can be obtained using an optical transfer function of a point spread function of the reference image.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8373810Abstract: A micro-array of optical vortex retarders is provided by forming an alignment layer having a plurality of discrete alignment patches with different orientations. A layer of birefringent material, including one of a liquid crystal and a liquid crystal polymer precursor material, is provided adjacent to the alignment layer. The aligning orientation and position of each discrete alignment patch in the plurality of discrete alignment patches is selected to induce the layer of birefringent material to form at least one optical vortex retarder adjacent to a substantially non-oriented region of the alignment layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: David M. Shemo, Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8330822Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for setting a depth camera light source operating temperature in a thermal tuning mode executed during a depth camera manufacturing process. One embodiment of a method includes illuminating a target with light from a light source at a plurality of light source temperatures; for each light source temperature, sensing an intensity of reflected light received at a light sensor through a light filter positioned intermediate the target and the light sensor; approximating a frequency response relationship between a light filter cutoff frequency and a light source emission wavelength based on a comparison of the sensed intensities and stored reference data; generating a temperature set point so that the light source emission wavelength does not overlap the light filter cutoff frequency by more than a predetermined overlap threshold; and programming a temperature controller to control the light source to the temperature set point during depth camera operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Scott McEldowney, Prafulla Masalkar, Yun Fang
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Publication number: 20120300040Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging system to reduce detected ambient light comprises a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene, an optical bandpass filter, and a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter, the camera configured to use the received imaging light for generating a depth map of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20120300024Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging system to reduce detected ambient light comprises a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene, an optical bandpass filter, and a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter, the camera configured to use the received imaging light for generating a depth map of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8320621Abstract: A projector is disclosed for use in a 3-D imaging device. The projector includes a light source formed of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, or VCSEL array. The VCSEL array provides a light source for illuminating a capture area. Light from the VCSEL array is reflected off of objects in the capture area and received within a sensing device such as a 3-D camera. The projector may further include a collimating lens array for focusing the light emitted from each VCSEL in the array, as well as a DOE for patterning the light from the collimating lens array to enable the sensing device to generate a 3-D image of the objects in the capture area.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Patent number: 8264536Abstract: A depth-sensitive imager for imaging a scene in three dimensions. The depth-sensitive imager comprises a light source configured to project a polarized illumination onto a surface of the scene, and a detector configured to capture an image of the scene by detecting light from the scene, in which image a polarization state of the light is encoded. The detected light includes a portion of the polarized illumination reflected from the surface. The depth-sensitive imager further comprises an analyzer configured to generate output responsive to a distance between the light source and the surface based on the image.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20120104225Abstract: Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Scott McEldowney, Dawson Yee
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Publication number: 20120051588Abstract: A projector is disclosed for use in a 3-D imaging device. The projector includes a light source formed of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, or VCSEL array. The VCSEL array provides a light source for illuminating a capture area. Light from the VCSEL array is reflected off of objects in the capture area and received within a sensing device such as a 3-D camera. The projector may further include a collimating lens array for focusing the light emitted from each VCSEL in the array, as well as a DOE for patterning the light from the collimating lens array to enable the sensing device to generate a 3-D image of the objects in the capture area.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2009Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20120026085Abstract: Embodiments related to the enhancement of contrast in an image pattern in a structured light depth sensor are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, in a structured light depth sensor system comprising a structured light depth sensor, a method comprising projecting a light pattern onto an object, detecting via an image sensor an image of the light pattern as reflected from the object, increasing a contrast of the light pattern relative to ambient light present in the image of the light pattern as reflected from the object to form a contrast-enhanced image of the light pattern as reflected from the object, and based upon a motion of the object as detected via the contrast-enhanced image of the light pattern, controlling an application that is providing output to a display.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20110310125Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for selectively focusing on certain areas of interest within an imaged scene to gain more image detail within those areas. In general, the present system identifies areas of interest from received image data, which may for example be detected areas of movement within the scene. The system then focuses on those areas by providing more detail in the area of interest. This may be accomplished by a number of methods, including zooming in on the image, increasing pixel density of the image and increasing the amount of light incident on the object in the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Scott McEldowney, John A. Tardif, John Clavin, David Cohen, Giora Yahav
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Publication number: 20110310220Abstract: A depth camera illuminator with a superluminescent light-emitting diode (SLED) in a motion tracking system. One or more SLEDs have a sufficient power, such as 75-200 milliwatts, to extend in a field of view in an area such as a room in a home. To correct for chromatic aberration which would otherwise exist due to the wider range of wavelengths which are emitted by an SLED compared to a laser, an achromatic diffractive optical element is used to disperse the light over the field of view. The achromatic diffractive optical element can have a stepped multi-level profile with three or more levels, or a continuous profile. Based on a tracked movement of a human target, an input is provided to an application in a motion tracking system, and the application performs a corresponding action such as updating a position of an on-screen avatar.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20110310226Abstract: A 3-D depth camera system, such as in a motion capture system, tracks an object such as a human in a field of view using an illuminator, where the field of view is illuminated using multiple diffracted beams. An image sensing component obtains an image of the object using a phase mask according to a double-helix point spread function, and determines a depth of each portion of the image based on a relative rotation of dots of light of the double-helix point spread function. In another aspect, dual image sensors are used to obtain a reference image and a phase-encoded image. A relative rotation of features in the images can be correlated with a depth. Depth information can be obtained using an optical transfer function of a point spread function of the reference image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventor: Scott McEldowney
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Publication number: 20110304281Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for setting a depth camera light source operating temperature in a thermal tuning mode executed during a depth camera manufacturing process. One embodiment of a method includes illuminating a target with light from a light source at a plurality of light source temperatures; for each light source temperature, sensing an intensity of reflected light received at a light sensor through a light filter positioned intermediate the target and the light sensor; approximating a frequency response relationship between a light filter cutoff frequency and a light source emission wavelength based on a comparison of the sensed intensities and stored reference data; generating a temperature set point so that the light source emission wavelength does not overlap the light filter cutoff frequency by more than a predetermined overlap threshold; and programming a temperature controller to control the light source to the temperature set point during depth camera operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Scott McEldowney, Prafulla Masalkar, Yun Fang