Patents by Inventor Eric F Aas

Eric F Aas 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: 20180149826
    Abstract: Described are examples of a computing device that includes a camera with a lens configured to capture a real world scene for storing as a digital image. The computing device also includes at least one processor configured to determine a temperature related to the lens of the camera, apply, based on the temperature, an offset to at least one of a lens position or range of lens positions defined for the lens, and perform a focus of the lens based on at least one of the lens position or range of lens positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Maria C. LEI, Hang LI, Vishal JAIN, Eric F. AAS, Kevin J. MATHERSON
  • Patent number: 9473695
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for focusing a digital camera to capture a scene. It is first detected that a change in a scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused. The camera focus is automatically scanned from a closest settable distance to farther distances until a first closest object in the scene is detected. Once the first closest object in the scene is detected, the camera focus is set at the distance of the first closest object and a finer scan is executed. In an embodiment, a dynamic movement threshold is calculated and used to determine that the change in scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventors: Denis Shchepetov, Eric F Aas
  • Publication number: 20160028941
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for focusing a digital camera to capture a scene. It is first detected that a change in a scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused. The camera focus is automatically scanned from a closest settable distance to farther distances until a first closest object in the scene is detected. Once the first closest object in the scene is detected, the camera focus is set at the distance of the first closest object and a finer scan is executed. In an embodiment, a dynamic movement threshold is calculated and used to determine that the change in scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Denis Shchepetov, Eric F Aas
  • Patent number: 9154686
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for focusing a digital camera to capture a scene. It is first detected that a change in a scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused. The camera focus is automatically scanned from a closest settable distance to farther distances until a first closest object in the scene is detected. Once the first closest object in the scene is detected, the camera focus is set at the distance of the first closest object and a finer scan is executed. In an embodiment, a dynamic movement threshold is calculated and used to determine that the change in scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Denis S Shchepetov, Eric F Aas
  • Publication number: 20150085176
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for focusing a digital camera to capture a scene. It is first detected that a change in a scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused. The camera focus is automatically scanned from a closest settable distance to farther distances until a first closest object in the scene is detected. Once the first closest object in the scene is detected, the camera focus is set at the distance of the first closest object and a finer scan is executed. In an embodiment, a dynamic movement threshold is calculated and used to determine that the change in scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Denis S Shchepetov, Eric F Aas
  • Publication number: 20150022679
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for determining when to focus a digital camera to capture a scene. A current frame and a prior frame are differenced to determine a frame difference. The current frame is also differenced with a jittered version of the current frame to produce a jitter difference. If the frame difference exceeds the jitter difference, the scene is deemed to have moved and the camera is autofocused, and otherwise the camera focus is not altered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Denis S. Shchepetov, Eric F. Aas
  • Patent number: 8890457
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling motors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes memory, a motor controller, and a motor. The memory is configured to store sequence information and the motor controller is configured to: receive instructions from a processing device of the system, receive the stored sequence information based on the received instructions, generate at least one drive signal based on the received sequence information, and transmit the at least one drive signal. The motor is configured to be operated based on the transmitted drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric F. Aas, Justin Forrester, Jeffrey D. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8018607
    Abstract: A power management system for a scanner device comprises an onboard power source and an interface port adapted to receive power from a remote host. The system also comprises a power manager accessible by a processor and adapted to automatically determine whether to draw power for an operating-mode from the onboard power source or the remote host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Nuttall, Jr., Eric F. Aas
  • Patent number: 7843495
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for building up a database of known faces, the database of known faces allows the names of the people captured in an image to be added to the meta-data of the image file. The digital imaging device will ask the user to identify unknown people captured in an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric F. Aas, Larry S. Chapman, Charles E. Schinner, Robert Cazier, Theodore B. Ziemkowski
  • Publication number: 20100072935
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling motors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes memory, a motor controller, and a motor. The memory is configured to store sequence information and the motor controller is configured to: receive instructions from a processing device of the system, receive the stored sequence information based on the received instructions, generate at least one drive signal based on the received sequence information, and transmit the at least one drive signal. The motor is configured to be operated based on the transmitted drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Eric F. Aas, Justin Forrester, Jeffrey D. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20080316221
    Abstract: A memory controller of an apparatus repeatedly retrieves a down-sampled file of a digitally captured image from a non-volatile memory for refresh of a raster display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Eric F. Aas
  • Publication number: 20080219656
    Abstract: Camera systems and methods for implementing an auxiliary viewfinder are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise providing a connection on a body of an electronic device for optionally attaching an auxiliary viewfinder. The method may also comprise positioning the auxiliary viewfinder when the auxiliary viewfinder is connected to the body of the electronic device so that a field-of-view for the auxiliary viewfinder is substantially the same as a field-of-view for an onboard lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: David Staudacher, Jeffrey S. Tiffan, Eric F. Aas
  • Publication number: 20080091552
    Abstract: A method of providing product information to a user includes obtaining a product identifier from the user that identifies a product, wherein the product identifier is transmitted with a user's mobile device to a server configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding the product; conducting the electronic search for product information regarding the product with the server; and reporting the product information to the user's mobile device. A system for providing product information to a user includes a server configured to receive a product identifier transmitted to the server by a user using a mobile device; and a connection between the server and one or more networks on which product information is stored, where the server is configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding a product identified by the product identifier and report the product information to the user's mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: Eric F. Aas
  • Patent number: 7343047
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting edges in at least a region of a captured focus image, using adjacent pixels of the region to obtain first edge detection results and filtering the first edge detection results. The first filtering comprises comparing differences in pixel contrast in the first edge detection results with a first threshold value and removing the differences in pixel contrast that are less than the first threshold value from the first edge detection results. The method further comprises detecting edges in at least the region, using non-adjacent pixels of the region to obtain second edge detection results and filtering the second edge detection results. The second filtering comprising comparing differences in pixel contrast in the second edge detection results with a second threshold value and removing the differences in pixel contrast that are less than the second threshold value from the second edge detection results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric F. Aas, Gregory V. Hofer, Casey L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7317479
    Abstract: Automated zoom control and/or automated wide angle capture for digital camera systems and related methods. The camera is configured to have imaging apparatus that selectively couples images from an image scene to an image sensing apparatus that senses the coupled images. A processor implements an automated zoom control function that automatically records a plurality of closely related images having different zoom levels sensed by the image apparatus, and from which a user selects images for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert P. Cazier, Eric F. Aas
  • Patent number: 7298414
    Abstract: Viewfinder apparatus, methods, and digital cameras that provide autofocus using retroreflected eye focus measurements. When a user looks at a part of a scene that is the intended subject of the image, his or her eye is correctly focused. The present invention measures the focus distance of the eye when the eye is focused on the desired location in the scene, and then uses the measured distance to set the focus of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, David K. Campbell, Eric F. Aas, Gregory V. Hofer, Scott A. Woods, Dan L. Dalton, Kurt E. Spears
  • Patent number: 7079709
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for automatically scaling an image, comprising initially scanning an original image at an initial scanning resolution, detecting the relative positions of lateral edges of the original image, determining the width of the original image based upon the positions of the lateral edges, making an initial size presumption of the original image based upon the determined width, making a first scanning resolution determination based upon the initial size presumption, and continuing scanning of the original image based upon the first scanning resolution determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Eric F Aas
  • Patent number: 7016604
    Abstract: Autofocus methods and digital cameras employing a holographic element or hologram. The holographic element generates one or more displaced images that are processed to generate a bipolar contrast signal that provides for improved autofocus performance of the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, David K. Campbell, Eric F. Aas, Gregory V. Hofer, Scott A. Woods, Dan L. Dalton, Kurt E. Spears
  • Publication number: 20040165099
    Abstract: Viewfinder apparatus, methods, and digital cameras that provide autofocus using retroreflected eye focus measurements. When a user looks at a part of a scene that is the intended subject of the image, his or her eye is correctly focused. The present invention measures the focus distance of the eye when the eye is focused on the desired location in the scene, and then uses the measured distance to set the focus of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, David K. Campbell, Eric F. Aas, Gregory V. Hofer, Scott A. Woods, Dan L. Dalton, Kurt E. Spears
  • Publication number: 20040109192
    Abstract: A power management system for a scanner device comprises an onboard power source and an interface port adapted to receive power from a remote host. The system also comprises a power manager accessible by a processor and adapted to automatically determine whether to draw power for an operating-mode from the onboard power source or the remote host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Gordon R. Nuttall, Eric F. Aas