Patents by Inventor Christopher Douglas Edmonds
Christopher Douglas Edmonds 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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Patent number: 11611689Abstract: An image capture module configured for improved heat dissipation includes an image sensor, a first heat spreading element positioned to direct heat from the image sensor along a first heat dissipation path toward a first portion of the image capture module, a processing board in data communication with the image sensor, and a second heat spreading element positioned to dissipate heat from the processing board along a second heat dissipation path toward a second portion of the image capture module. Thermal isolation is used to isolate the different heat paths. The first heat dissipation path does not overlap the second heat dissipation path, the first portion of the image capture module is separate from the second portion of the image capture module.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Patent number: 11605153Abstract: Techniques for generating a high resolution full color output image from lower resolution sparse color input images are disclosed. A camera generates images. The camera's sensor has a sparse Bayer pattern. While the camera is generating the images, IMU data for each image is acquired. The IMU data indicates a corresponding pose the camera was in while the camera generated each image. The images and IMU data are fed into a motion model, which performs temporal filtering on the images and uses the IMU data to generate a red-only image, a green-only image, a blue-only image, and a monochrome image. The color images are up-sampled to match the resolution of the monochrome image. A high resolution output color image is generated by combining the up-sampled images and the monochrome image.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Patent number: 11604098Abstract: A method for estimating human body temperature includes receiving, via a thermal camera, a thermal image captured of a real-world environment, the thermal image including thermal intensity values for each of a plurality of pixels of the thermal image. A position of a human face is identified within the thermal image, the human face corresponding to a human subject. An indication of a distance between the human subject and the thermal camera is received. Based on the distance, a distance correction factor is applied to one or more thermal intensity values of one or more pixels corresponding to the human face to give one or more distance-corrected thermal intensity values. Based on the one or more distance-corrected thermal intensity values an indication of a body temperature of the human subject is reported.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Michael Bleyer
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Publication number: 20230076331Abstract: Techniques for updating a position of overlaid image content using IMU data to reflect subsequent changes in camera positions to minimize latency effects are disclosed. A “system camera” refers to an integrated camera that is a part of an HMD. An “external camera” is a camera that is separated from the HMD. The system camera and the external camera generate images. These images are overlaid on one another and aligned to form an overlaid image. Content from the external camera image is surrounded by a bounding element in the overlaid image. IMU data associated with both the system camera and the external camera is obtained. Based on that IMU data, an amount of movement that the system camera and/or the external camera have moved since the images were originally generated is determined. Based on that movement, the bounding element is shifted to a new position in the overlaid image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Michael BLEYER, Sudipta Narayan SINHA, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS, Raymond Kirk PRICE
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Patent number: 11598671Abstract: A method for estimating human body temperature includes receiving, via a thermal camera, one or more thermal images captured of a real-world environment, the one or more thermal images including thermal intensity values for each of a plurality of pixels. Positions of a plurality of human faces are identified in the one or more thermal images. A distribution of thermal intensity values of the plurality of human faces is determined. A position of a test human face of a test human subject is identified within a subsequent thermal image. One or more test thermal intensity values of one or more pixels corresponding to the test human face are identified. An indication of a body temperature of the test human subject is reported based on a comparison of the one or more test thermal intensity values and the distribution of thermal intensity values of the plurality of human faces.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Patent number: 11592674Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for providing an illumination system that emits illumination into an environment while also enabling that system to be undetectable to certain types of external light detection systems. The system includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) low light (LL) detection device and a light emitting device. The light emitting device provides illumination having a wavelength of at least 950 nanometers (nm). An intensity of the illumination is set to a level that causes the illumination to be undetectable from a determined distance away based on the roll off rate of the light. While the light emitting device is providing the illumination, the SPAD LL detection device generates an image of an environment in which the illumination is being provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Michael Bleyer
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Patent number: 11579449Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating computer vision tasks (e.g., simultaneous location and mapping) and pass-through imaging include a head-mounted display (HMD) that includes a first set of one or more cameras configured for performing computer vision tasks and a second set of one or more cameras configured for capturing image data of an environment for projection to a user of the HMD. The first set of one or more cameras is configured to detect at least a visible spectrum light and at least a particular band of wavelengths of infrared (IR) light. The second set of one or more cameras includes one or more detachable IR filters configured to attenuate IR light, including at least a portion of the particular band of wavelengths of IR light.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Michael Bleyer
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Patent number: 11580713Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to motion compensation on a single photon avalanche detector (SPAD) array camera. One example provides a method enacted on an imaging device comprising a SPAD array camera and a motion sensor, the SPAD array camera comprising a plurality of pixels. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of subframes of image data. Each subframe of image data comprises a binary value for each pixel. Based upon motion data from the motion sensor, the method further comprises determining a change in pose of the imaging device between adjacent subframes, applying a positional offset to a current subframe based upon the motion data to align a location of a stationary imaged feature in the current subframe with a location of the stationary imaged feature in a prior subframe to create aligned subframes, summing the aligned subframes to form an image, and outputting the image.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Patent number: 11568555Abstract: A system for dense depth computation aided by sparse feature matching generates a first image using a first camera, a second image using a second camera, and a third image using a third camera. The system generates a sparse disparity map using the first image and the third image by (1) identifying a set of feature points within the first image and a set of corresponding feature points within the third image, and (2) identifying feature disparity values based on the set of feature points and the set of corresponding feature points. The system also applies the first image, the second image, and the sparse disparity map as inputs for generating a dense disparity map.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Michael Bleyer, Raymond Kirk Price, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Publication number: 20230022734Abstract: Systems and methods are provided performing for low compute depth map generation by implementing acts of obtaining a stereo pair of images of a scene, downsampling the stereo pair of images, generating a depth map by stereo matching the downsampled stereo pair of images, and generating an upsampled depth map based on the depth map using an edge-preserving filter for obtaining at least some data of at least one image of the stereo pair of images.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS
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Patent number: 11563908Abstract: A system for image acquisition with reduced noise using SPADs is configured to perform a plurality of sequential exposure and readout operations. Each exposure and readout operation includes (i) applying a set of shutter operations to configure each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array to enable photon detection, and (ii) for each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array, reading out a number of photons detected during the set of shutter operations. The system is also configured to generate an image based on the number of photons detected for each SPAD pixel during each of the plurality of sequential exposure and readout operations.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds
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Publication number: 20230005179Abstract: Techniques for aligning images generated by an integrated camera physically mounted to an HMD with images generated by a detached camera physically unmounted from the HMD are disclosed. A 3D feature map is generated and shared with the detached camera. Both the integrated camera and the detached camera use the 3D feature map to relocalize themselves and to determine their respective 6 DOF poses. The HMD receives the detached camera's image of the environment and the 6 DOF pose of the detached camera. A depth map of the environment is accessed. An overlaid image is generated by reprojecting a perspective of the detached camera's image to align with a perspective of the integrated camera and by overlaying the reprojected detached camera's image onto the integrated camera's image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS
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Patent number: 11543665Abstract: Techniques for updating a position of overlaid image content using IMU data to reflect subsequent changes in camera positions to minimize latency effects are disclosed. A “system camera” refers to an integrated camera that is a part of an HMD. An “external camera” is a camera that is separated from the HMD. The system camera and the external camera generate images. These images are overlaid on one another and aligned to form an overlaid image. Content from the external camera image is surrounded by a bounding element in the overlaid image. IMU data associated with both the system camera and the external camera is obtained. Based on that IMU data, an amount of movement that the system camera and/or the external camera have moved since the images were originally generated is determined. Based on that movement, the bounding element is shifted to a new position in the overlaid image.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael Bleyer, Sudipta Narayan Sinha, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Raymond Kirk Price
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Publication number: 20220413291Abstract: A near-eye display device comprises a pupil-expansion optic, a laser, a drive circuit coupled operatively to the first and second lasers, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and a computer. The SLM has a matrix of electronically controllable pixel elements and is configured to receive emission from the laser and to direct the emission in spatially modulated form to the pupil-expansion optic. Coupled operatively to the drive circuit and to the SLM, the computer is configured to parse a digital image, trigger the emission from the laser by causing the drive circuit to drive a periodic current through a gain structure of the laser, and control the matrix of pixel elements such that the spatially modulated form of the emission projects an optical image corresponding to the digital image, wherein the periodic current includes plural cycles of modulation driven through the gain structure while the optical image is projected.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS
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Publication number: 20220413290Abstract: A near-eye display device comprises a pupil-expansion optic, first and second lasers, a drive circuit coupled operatively to the first and second lasers, a beam combiner, a spatial light modulator (SLM), and a computer. The first and second lasers are configured to emit in respective first and second wavelength bands. The beam combiner is configured to geometrically combine emission from the first and second lasers into a collimated beam. The SLM is configured to receive the collimated beam and to direct the emission in spatially modulated form to the pupil-expansion optic. The computer is configured to parse a digital image, trigger the emission from the first and second lasers by causing the drive circuit to drive current through the first and second lasers, and control the SLM such that the spatially modulated form of the emission projects an optical image corresponding to the digital image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS, Michael BLEYER
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Patent number: 11539931Abstract: Improved techniques for generating images are disclosed herein. A first image is generated by an integrated camera. The pose of the computer system is determined based on the image, and a timestamp is determined. A detached camera generates a second image. The second image is aligned with the first image. An overlaid image is generated by overlaying the second image onto the first image based on the alignment. A pose difference is then identified between a current pose of the computer and the initial pose. Consequently, late stage reprojection (LSR) is performed on the overlaid image to account for the pose difference. The LSR-corrected overlaid image is then displayed.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael Bleyer, Christopher Douglas Edmonds, Raymond Kirk Price
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Publication number: 20220385843Abstract: A system for obtaining color imagery using SPADs includes a SPAD array that has a plurality of SPAD pixels. Each of the plurality of SPAD pixels includes a respective color filter positioned thereover. The system is configurable to capture an image frame using the SPAD array and generate a filtered image by performing a temporal filtering operation using the image frame and at least one preceding image frame. The at least one preceding image frame is captured by the SPAD array at a timepoint that temporally precedes a timepoint associated with the image frame. The system is also configurable to, after performing the temporal filtering operation, generate a color image by demosaicing the filtered image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS
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Publication number: 20220382056Abstract: A system for power efficient image acquisition is configurable to capture, using an image sensor, a plurality of partial image frames including at least a first partial image frame and a second partial image frame. The first partial image frame is captured at a first timepoint using a first subset of image sensing pixels of the plurality of image sensing pixels of the image sensor. The second partial image frame is captured at a second timepoint using a second subset of image sensing pixels of the plurality of image sensing pixels of the image sensor. The second subset of image sensing pixels includes different image sensing pixels than the first subset of image sensing pixels, and the second timepoint is temporally subsequent to the first timepoint. The system is configurable to generate a composite image frame based on the plurality of partial image frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS, William Chao-Hui HWANG
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Publication number: 20220385842Abstract: A system for dark current compensation in SPAD imagery is configurable to capture an image frame with the SPAD array and generate a temporally filtered image by performing a temporal filtering operation using the image frame and at least one preceding image frame. The at least one preceding image frame is captured by the SPAD array at a timepoint that temporally precedes a timepoint associated with the image frame. The system is also configurable to obtain a dark current image frame. The dark current image frame includes data indicating one or more SPAD pixels of the plurality of SPAD pixels that detect an avalanche event without detecting a corresponding photon. The system is also configurable to generate a dark current compensated image by performing a subtraction operation on the temporally filtered image or the image frame based on the dark current image frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Raymond Kirk PRICE, Michael BLEYER, Christopher Douglas EDMONDS
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Patent number: 11516385Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to blending different types of images captured by different types of cameras employing different sensing modalities based on a dynamic weighting. The dynamic weighting is calculated based on a dynamic quality proxy that serves as an approximation of image quality that may change from image to image. In one example, a first image of a scene is received from a first camera. A dynamic quality proxy is received. A second image of the scene is received from a second camera with a different sensing modality than the first camera. A composite image blended from the first and second images in proportion to a dynamic weighting that is based on the dynamic quality proxy is output.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Michael Bleyer, Raymond Kirk Price, Christopher Douglas Edmonds