Patents by Inventor Francis MacDougall

Francis MacDougall 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: 20080056536
    Abstract: A multiple camera tracking system for interfacing with an application program running on a computer is provided. The tracking system includes two or more video cameras arranged to provide different viewpoints of a region of interest, and are operable to produce a series of video images. A processor is operable to receive the series of video images and detect objects appearing in the region of interest. The processor executes a process to generate a background data set from the video images, generate an image data set for each received video image, compare each image data set to the background-data set to produce a difference map for each image data set, detect a relative position of an object of interest within each difference map, and produce an absolute position of the object of interest from the relative positions of the object of interest and map the absolute position to a position indicator associated with the application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: GestureTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20080030460
    Abstract: A method of using stereo vision to interface with computer is provided. The method includes capturing a stereo image, and processing the stereo image to determine position information of an object in the stereo image. The object is controlled by a user. The method also includes communicating the position information to the computer to allow the user to interact with a computer application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20080018595
    Abstract: A method of using stereo vision to interface with a computer is provided. The method includes capturing a stereo image, and processing the stereo image to determine position information of an object in the stereo image. The object is controlled by a user. The method also includes communicating the position information to the computer to allow the user to interact with a computer application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: GESTURETEK, INC.
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Patent number: 7227526
    Abstract: A method of using stereo vision to interface with a computer is provided. The method includes capturing a stereo image, and processing the stereo image to determine position information of an object in the stereo image. The object is controlled by a user. The method also includes communicating the position information to the computer to allow the user to interact with a computer application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: GestureTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20060281453
    Abstract: The selection and output of a signal, such as an alphanumeric character, is provided depending upon the orientation of a device, such as a mobile telephone. In particular, a neutral position of a device is determined in relation to at least a first axis, the device including at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals, and an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis. A selection of the first control is also received, and one of the first plurality of output signals is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: GESTURETEK, INC.
    Inventors: Riten Jaiswal, Francis MacDougall
  • Patent number: 7058204
    Abstract: A multiple camera tracking system for interfacing with an application program running on a computer is provided. The tracking system includes two or more video cameras arranged to provide different viewpoints of a region of interest, and are operable to produce a series of video images. A processor is operable to receive the series of video images and detect objects appearing in the region of interest. The processor executes a process to generate a background data set from the video images, generate an image data set for each received video image, compare each image data set to the background data set to produce a difference map for each image data set, detect a relative position of an object of interest within each difference map, and produce an absolute position of the object of interest from the relative positions of the object of interest and map the absolute position to a position indicator associated with the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: GestureTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20060098873
    Abstract: A multiple camera tracking system for interfacing with an application program running on a computer is provided. The tracking system includes two or more video cameras arranged to provide different viewpoints of a region of interest, and are operable to produce a series of video images. A processor is operable to receive the series of video images and detect objects appearing in the region of interest. The processor executes a process to generate a background data set from the video images, generate an image data set for each received video image, compare each image data set to the background data set to produce a difference map for each image data set, detect a relative position of an object of interest within each difference map, and produce an absolute position of the object of interest from the relative positions of the object of interest and map the absolute position to a position indicator associated with the application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20020064382
    Abstract: A multiple camera tracking system for interfacing with an application program running on a computer is provided. The tracking system includes two or more video cameras arranged to provide different viewpoints of a region of interest, and are operable to produce a series of video images. A processor is operable to receive the series of video images and detect objects appearing in the region of interest. The processor executes a process to generate a background data set from the video images, generate an image data set for each received video image, compare each image data set to the background data set to produce a difference map for each image data set, detect a relative position of an object of interest within each difference map, and produce an absolute position of the object of interest from the relative positions of the object of interest and map the absolute position to a position indicator associated with the application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20020041327
    Abstract: A method of using stereo vision to interface with a computer is provided. The method includes capturing a stereo image, and processing the stereo image to determine position information of an object in the stereo image. The object is controlled by a user. The method also includes communicating the position information to the computer to allow the user to interact with a computer application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Evan Hildreth, Francis MacDougall
  • Patent number: 5534917
    Abstract: A video image based control system including a video camera scans a field of view and generates video signals representing the captured image of the field of view. The video signals are applied to a digitizer which converts the video signal into digital information. The digital information is conveyed to a computer and stored. The computer then performs an AND function on the stored digital information and on bitmaps stored in the computer memory associated with predefined areas of interest in the field of view of the video camera to determine whether a participant in the field of view is positioned so that at least a portion of the participant is located in an area of interest. If the participant is detected as being within an area of interest, the computer determines the proportion of the area of interest obscured by the participant and generates a control signal having a value dependant on the proportion of the area of interest obscured by the participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Very Vivid, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis MacDougall