Patents by Inventor William D. Houck, II

William D. Houck, II 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: 10154197
    Abstract: An image capture device, such as a camera, has multiple modes including a light field image capture mode, a conventional 2D image capture mode, and at least one intermediate image capture mode. By changing position and/or properties of the microlens array (MLA) in front of the image sensor, changes in 2D spatial resolution and angular resolution can be attained. In at least one embodiment, such changes can be performed in a continuous manner, allowing a continuum of intermediate modes to be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng, Kurt Akeley
  • Publication number: 20160316144
    Abstract: An image capture device, such as a camera, has multiple modes including a light field image capture mode, a conventional 2D image capture mode, and at least one intermediate image capture mode. By changing position and/or properties of the microlens array (MLA) in front of the image sensor, changes in 2D spatial resolution and angular resolution can be attained. In at least one embodiment, such changes can be performed in a continuous manner, allowing a continuum of intermediate modes to be attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng, Kurt Akeley
  • Patent number: 9411122
    Abstract: A dual-mode light field camera or plenoptic camera is enabled to perform both 3D light field imaging and conventional high-resolution 2D imaging, depending on the selected mode. In particular, an active system is provided that enables the microlenses to be optically or effectively turned on or turned off, allowing the camera to selectively operate as a 2D imaging camera or a 3D light field camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng
  • Publication number: 20160182786
    Abstract: A light-field camera may have a light-field capture configuration in which the light-field camera captures light-field images, and a conventional capture configuration in which the light-field camera captures conventional images. User input may be received; in response to receipt of the user input, the light-field camera may move from an initial configuration in which the light-field camera is in one of the light-field capture configuration, and the conventional capture configuration, to a selected configuration in which the light-field camera is in the other of the light-field capture configuration, and the conventional capture configuration. The light-field camera may be used to capture a first image in the selected configuration. The light-field camera may have a sensor, a microlens array, an actuator, and a guide mechanism by which the microlens array may be moved relative to the sensor to move the light-field camera into the selected configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: David Anderson, Todd Roesler, William D. Houck, II, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver
  • Publication number: 20150247986
    Abstract: A dual-mode light field camera or plenoptic camera is enabled to perform both 3D light field imaging and conventional high-resolution 2D imaging, depending on the selected mode. In particular, an active system is provided that enables the microlenses to be optically or effectively turned on or turned off, allowing the camera to selectively operate as a 2D imaging camera or a 3D light field camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng
  • Patent number: 9077901
    Abstract: A dual-mode light field camera or plenoptic camera is enabled to perform both 3D light field imaging and conventional high-resolution 2D imaging, depending on the selected mode. In particular, an active system is provided that enables the microlenses to be optically or effectively turned on or turned off, allowing the camera to selectively operate as a 2D imaging camera or a 3D light field camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng
  • Publication number: 20150070474
    Abstract: A dual-mode light field camera or plenoptic camera is enabled to perform both 3D light field imaging and conventional high-resolution 2D imaging, depending on the selected mode. In particular, an active system is provided that enables the microlenses to be optically or effectively turned on or turned off, allowing the camera to selectively operate as a 2D imaging camera or a 3D light field camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome Chandra Bhat, Brandon Elliott Merle Clarke, Graham Butler Myhre, Ravi Kiran Nalla, Steven David Oliver, Tony Yip Pang Poon, William D. Houck, II, Colvin Pitts, Yi-Ren Ng