Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Keith

Christopher A. Keith 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: 12250437
    Abstract: A system may include a processor, a night vision sensor, and an objective lens assembly comprising four lenses. Each of a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens may be configured to project a real world scene onto one of four portions of the night vision sensor. The night vision sensor may be configured to provide four images of the real world scene from the objective lens assembly to the processor. The processor may be configured to: receive a first image, a second image, a third image, and a fourth image from the night vision sensor; generate color night vision image data based at least on the first image, the second image, the third image, and the fourth image; and output the color night vision image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Keith, Michael A. Ropers, Christopher Buchholz, Bobby D. Foote
  • Patent number: 12248146
    Abstract: A system includes a head-up display (HUD) system including a display; a combiner; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to at least one image sensor of at least one tracking system and to the display. The at least one processor configured to: receive image data from one or more of the at least one image sensor, wherein the image data is (i) for performing eye tracking and/or head tracking operations and (ii) for monitoring the displayed images; and detect the at least one malfunction of the HUD system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramon Correa, Jr., Christopher A. Keith
  • Publication number: 20240427211
    Abstract: An optical device includes an electrochromic layer including a single electrochromic region and electronic drivers. The optical device includes a controller for controlling the electronic drivers to change the light transmission of the electrochromic region by applying different voltages to electrodes contacting the electrochromic region. The optical device includes a light intensity sensor for detecting light intensity of regions of a two-dimensional scene, the regions of the scene corresponding to regions of the electrochromic region. The electronic drivers are caused by the controller to apply different voltages to the electrodes to set the light transmission of the regions of the electrochromic region based on detected light intensity of the regions of the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith, Robert Brown, Robert Wood
  • Patent number: 12117617
    Abstract: The system may include at least one a light emitter configured to emit light over a range of wavelengths onto an environment and at least one sensor assembly. The range of wavelengths emitted by the light emitter may be of wavelengths that are above or below wavelengths used by a night vision imaging system. The sensor assembly may include an image sensor and conversion layer. The image sensor may capture images of the environment illuminated by the light emitters and sense light in a given range of wavelengths. The conversion layer may receive the emitted light and convert the emitted light to converted light with a wavelength within the given range of wavelengths associated with the image sensor. The image sensor may be further configured to receive the converted light from the conversion layer, capture an image of the light emitter and output image data associated with the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Keith, Brandon E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 12078907
    Abstract: An optical display system includes a first display, a plurality of electronic drivers, a controller, and a combiner. Light from a scene is combined with image light from the first display, and the combined light presented to an observer. The combiner includes an electrochromic layer comprising one or more electrochromic regions disposed between the scene and the combiner. The electronic drivers are arranged to electrically connect with and drive respective of the electrochromic regions. The controller is configured to control the plurality of electronic drivers to individually address each of the electrochromic regions to selectively drive some of the electrochromic regions to change light transmission of the selectively driven electrochromic regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith, Robert D. Brown, Robert W. Wood
  • Patent number: 12016420
    Abstract: A visor for a helmet is disclosed. The visor includes a first lens member, which includes a first transparent shield configured with a photochromic layer. The photochromic layer is configured to adjust a first transmission state of a first viewing area of the first lens member based on the transmission of ambient light through the first viewing area. The visor also includes a second lens member that includes an electrochromic layer. The electrochromic layer is configured to adjust the transmission of ambient light through a second viewing area upon an application of a voltage to the electrochromic layer. The visor also includes a controller configured to adjust a voltage applied to the electrochromic layer, and an attachment element coupled to the first lens member configured to attach to a headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11946798
    Abstract: A system includes a vibration detector to detect a location of vibration and identify a frequency of the vibration. The system also includes a controller to generate audio corresponding to the frequency of vibration detected by the vibration detector and one or more speakers configured to provide the audio as directional sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jake Rohrig, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11910864
    Abstract: A helmet assembly for a spacesuit or other protective suit is disclosed. In embodiments, the helmet assembly includes an external face shield attachable to the spacesuit and providing the spacesuit user with a forward field of view. The helmet assembly includes suit status displays hard-mounted to the external face shield at a periphery or edge of the forward field of view (e.g., upper, lower, left, right). Each suit status display includes a linear or one-dimensional array of individual light emitting diodes (LED) in communication with a suit controller of the spacesuit. Each LED array receives from the suit controller suit status data (e.g., consumables levels, suit performance, position data) communicated to the user by illuminating one or more of the individual LED units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Keith
  • Publication number: 20240027866
    Abstract: An optical display system includes a first display, a plurality of electronic drivers, a controller, and a combiner. Light from a scene is combined with image light from the first display, and the combined light presented to an observer. The combiner includes an electrochromic layer comprising one or more electrochromic regions disposed between the scene and the combiner. The electronic drivers are arranged to electrically connect with and drive respective of the electrochromic regions. The controller is configured to control the plurality of electronic drivers to individually address each of the electrochromic regions to selectively drive some of the electrochromic regions to change light transmission of the selectively driven electrochromic regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith, Robert D. Brown, Robert W. Wood
  • Publication number: 20230418055
    Abstract: A system includes a head wearable display (HWD) device and a processor. The HWD device includes a waveguide display and an image monitor sensor. The waveguide display includes a waveguide and an optical system, the optical system configured to: receive image data corresponding to an image; and project the image at least through the waveguide to be displayed to a user. The image monitor sensor is optically coupled to the waveguide or the optical system. The image monitor sensor is configured to: capture at least a portion of the image as a monitored image; and output monitored image data. The processor is configured to: receive the monitored image data from the image monitor sensor; and based at least on the monitored image data, determine whether the waveguide display displayed the image correctly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Brandon E. Wilson, Christopher M. Boggs, William T. Kirchner, Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11841503
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed. The optical system includes collimating optics, including a polarization beam splitter, which includes one or more polarizations selection reflection surfaces configured to split image light into (s)-polarized light and (p)-polarized light. The collimating optics further include a first mirror configured to receive and reflect (p)-polarized light emitted from the one or more polarization selective reflection surfaces, a second mirror configured to receive and reflect (s)-polarized light emitted from the one or more polarization selective reflection surface, and a corrector lens configured to receive (p)-polarized light reflected from the first mirror and receive (s)-polarized light reflected from the second mirror, wherein a light path of the (s)-polarized light and a light path of the (p)-polarized light are substantially equal, wherein the (p)-polarized light and the (s)-polarized light are configured to combine to form a user image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11809054
    Abstract: An optical display system includes a first display, a plurality of electronic drivers, a controller, and a combiner. Light from a scene is combined with image light from the first display, and the combined light presented to an observer. The combiner includes an electrochromic layer comprising one or more electrochromic regions separated from each other. The electronic drivers are arranged to electrically connect with and drive respective of the electrochromic regions. The controller is configured to control the plurality of electronic drivers to individually address each of the electrochromic regions to selectively drive some of the electrochromic regions to change light transmission of the selectively driven electrochromic regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith, Robert D. Brown, Robert W. Wood
  • Patent number: 11768374
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle cockpit and a processor. The vehicle cockpit includes imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials and a head wearable display (HWD) device. The imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials are imperceptible to a naked eye of a user in the vehicle cockpit. The HWD device includes a display and an optical sensor configured to: capture images of the imperceptible cockpit reference fiducials; and output optical sensor image data. The processor is configured to: receive the optical sensor image data; and based at least on the optical sensor image data, determine a position and orientation of the head wearable display device. The display is configured to display the images aligned with the field of view of the user based at least on the determined position and the determined orientation of the head wearable display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith, Brandon E. Wilson, Weston J. Lahr, Carlo L. Tiana
  • Patent number: 11733522
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that display configured to transmit a signal that includes a first light configured as a display image and a second light configured as a reference image. The system also includes a beam splitter, a selectively transmissive mirror and a sensor configured to detect the second light. The beam splitter is configured to receive the signal from the display and reflect the signal to the selectively transmissive mirror. The selectively transmissive mirror is configured to receive the reflected signal, transmit the second light toward a sensor, and reflect the first light, wherein the first light is configured with a first bandwidth, wherein the second light is configured with a second bandwidth. The system further includes a corrector lens configured to receive the first light and transmit the first light to an exit pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Brandon E. Wilson, David I. Han, Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11611692
    Abstract: A method for identifying and correcting fixed pattern noise includes capturing a focused image and an unfocused image via a variable focus lens. Fixed pattern noise represented in the unfocused image is filtered from the focused image. The unfocused image represents a low-pass filtered component of the focused image; subtracting the unfocused image from the focused image results in a high-pass and fixed pattern noise filtered focused image. Image capture and focus of the variable focus lens are synchronized to remove transitional frames from the image stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Keith, Ming Yu
  • Patent number: 11610290
    Abstract: A system and method. The system may include a display, a lens having distortion, an image generator, and a processor. The lens may be configured to focus light received from an environment. The image generator may be configured to receive the light from the lens and output a stream of images as image data, wherein each of the stream of images is distorted. The processor may be configured to: receive the image data from the image generator; detect a point source object in the stream of images of the image data; enhance the point source object in the stream of images of the image data; undistort the stream of images of the image data having an enhanced point source object; and output a stream of undistorted images as undistorted image data to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Yu, Christopher A. Keith, Gary B. Kingsley
  • Patent number: 11528953
    Abstract: A helmet mounted display is embedded in a visor assembly. The visor assembly comprises two molded sections that define portions for receiving waveguides. The optical components are disposed in a portion of the visor assembly and the entire assembly is attached by a hinge to the helmet. The visor assembly includes lateral clips to secure the visor assembly to the helmet, and a night-vision goggle attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Keith, Andrew M. Jarrett, Ryan Chenevert, Garrett Graham
  • Patent number: 11504554
    Abstract: A facemask-mounted augmented reality (AR) display device is disclosed. In embodiments, the display device is hard-mounted to a breathing apparatus (e.g., oxygen mask, smoke mask) fitted to a user's nose and mouth behind a partially or fully covering external face shield. The AR display system includes display surfaces aligned with the eyes of the user and capable of providing the user with a forward field of view that moves with the user's head. The AR display system synthesizes streaming images with additional overlay sources (e.g., mission data, position data) to generate augmented reality content presented to the user within the field of view of the display surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Keith
  • Patent number: 11493771
    Abstract: A system and method. The system may include a head-up display (HUD). The HUD may include a positionable combiner optical element (COE) and a combiner alignment detector (CAD) configured to conform images displayed on the positionable COE with a view through the positionable COE. The CAD may include a mirror that moves with the positionable COE, an infrared (IR) emitter configured to emit IR pulses onto the mirror with a duty cycle of less than 1% such that an average time-based radiance of the IR pulses is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS), and an IR detector configured to receive the IR pulses reflected off of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Gerdes, Carl Bycraft, Kurt A. Stahl, Christopher A. Keith, Donald Graham
  • Publication number: 20220346489
    Abstract: A visor for a helmet is disclosed. The visor includes a first lens member, which includes a first transparent shield configured with a photochromic layer. The photochromic layer is configured to adjust a first transmission state of a first viewing area of the first lens member based on the transmission of ambient light through the first viewing area. The visor also includes a second lens member that includes an electrochromic layer. The electrochromic layer is configured to adjust the transmission of ambient light through a second viewing area upon an application of a voltage to the electrochromic layer. The visor also includes a controller configured to adjust a voltage applied to the electrochromic layer, and an attachment element coupled to the first lens member configured to attach to a headgear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Eric P. Stratton, Christopher A. Keith