Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Annau

Thomas M. Annau 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).

  • Publication number: 20200007743
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20190306434
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. Lens distortion effects may be removed from the frames described by the video data. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Arthur van Hoff, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 10425570
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20190260930
    Abstract: The disclosure includes generating a stream of panoramic images. A method includes determining a first matching camera module. The method includes constructing a first camera map that associates a first pixel location in a first panoramic image to the first matching camera module, wherein the first pixel location corresponds to the point in a panorama from a first viewing direction. The method includes generating, based on the first camera map, a stream of first panoramic images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 10368011
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. Lens distortion effects may be removed from the frames described by the video data. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Arthur van Hoff, Jens Christensen
  • Patent number: 10334220
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for aggregating image frames and audio data to generate virtual reality content. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: receive video data describing image frames from a camera array; receive audio data from a microphone array; aggregate the image frames to generate a stream of three-dimensional (3D) video data, the stream of 3D video data including a stream of left panoramic images and a stream of right panoramic images; generate a stream of 3D audio data from the audio data; and generate virtual reality content that includes the stream of 3D video data and the stream of 3D audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen
  • Publication number: 20190180783
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20190110042
    Abstract: A camera system is configured to capture video content with 360 degree views of an environment. The camera array comprises a housing including a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant, wherein each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant form a plurality of apertures, a chassis bottom that is removably coupled to the housing, and a plurality of camera modules, each camera module comprising a processor, a memory, a sensor, and a lens, wherein each of the camera modules is removably coupled to one of the plurality of apertures in the housing, wherein the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant each include a subset of the plurality of camera modules. Each of the plurality of camera modules includes a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: 10223456
    Abstract: A search engine system, including a slashtag server configured to detect at least one search operator in a search query and detect a boosting indicator associated with the at least one search operator. Additionally, a web server configured to, in response to the detected boosting indicator, and generate a first search result that includes a boosted ranking of at least a subset a plurality of search result items in the search result and display the first search result in a web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Gregory B. Lindahl, Samuel Makonnen, Michael Markson, Keith Peters, Robert Michael Saliba, Al Sary, Rich Skrenta, Dan Swartz, Robert N. Truel, Timothy Walters
  • Patent number: 10210898
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3X field of view overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Patent number: 10205930
    Abstract: A camera system is configured to capture video content with 360 degree views of an environment. The camera array comprises a housing including a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant, wherein each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant form a plurality of apertures, a chassis bottom that is removably coupled to the housing, and a plurality of camera modules, each camera module comprising a processor, a memory, a sensor, and a lens, wherein each of the camera modules is removably coupled to one of the plurality of apertures in the housing, wherein the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant each include a subset of the plurality of camera modules. Each of the plurality of camera modules includes a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: 10186301
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. Lens distortion effects may be removed from the frames described by the video data. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Publication number: 20180190321
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a camera array comprising camera modules, the camera modules comprising a master camera that includes a processor, a memory, a sensor, a lens, a status indicator, and a switch, the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a start operation to start recording video data using the lens and the sensor in the other camera modules and the switch configured to instruct each of the camera modules to initiate a stop operation to stop recording, the status indicator configured to indicate a status of at least one of the camera modules. The camera modules of the camera array are configured to provide a 3× field of view overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner
  • Patent number: 10007705
    Abstract: At least one key word is detect in a search query. Alternative search query is automatically generated based on the at least one key word. The alternative search query includes a search operator associated with the at least one key word. A first search result is generated based on the alternative search query and displayed in a web browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Annau, Gregory B. Lindahl, Samuel Makonnen, Michael Markson, Keith Peters, Robert Michael Saliba, Al Sary, Rich Skrenta, Dan Swartz, Robert N. Truel, Timothy Walters
  • Patent number: 9973694
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for stitching images. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: receive a group of images captured at a particular time by a group of camera modules, the group of camera modules configured to form camera pairs with respective overlap fields of view; calibrate the group of images; generate pairs of disparity maps associated with the camera pairs, the generating including generating a corresponding pair of disparity maps for each camera pair from the camera pairs; apply morphed rendering to create morphed images from the group of images; and construct a left panoramic image and a right panoramic image from the morphed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Daniel Kopeinigg
  • Patent number: D813927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D813928
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D813929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D849106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn
  • Patent number: D865846
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur van Hoff, Thomas M. Annau, Jens Christensen, Koji Gardiner, Punit Govenji, James Dunn