Patents by Inventor Gerard Dirk Smits

Gerard Dirk Smits 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: 9810913
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a system for enabling a user to view an image on a surface. The system may include projector(s), sensor, projection surface or screen, and processor. The projectors may project light for an image onto the surface. The sensor may detect light reflected off the surface. The surface may include multiple types of surface elements, such as multiple first elements positioned as border of a display area on the surface to provide feedback regarding the surface and multiple second elements positioned within the border of the display area to reflect the image to the user. The processor may determine characteristics of the border of the display area based on light reflected to the sensor from first elements. And it may modify parameters of the image based on the characteristics of the border of the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 9753126
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward measuring a three dimensional range to a target. A transmitter emits light toward the target. An aperture may receive light reflections from the target. The aperture may direct the reflections toward a sensor that comprises rows of pixels that have columns. The sensor is offset a predetermined distance from the transmitter. Anticipated arrival times of the reflections on the sensor are based on the departure times and the predetermined offset distance. A portion of the pixels are sequentially activated based on the anticipated arrival times. The target's three dimensional range measurement is based on the reflections detected by the portion of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20170208292
    Abstract: The invention is directed to recording, transmitting, and displaying a three-dimensional image of a face of a user in a video stream. Reflected light from a curved or geometrically shaped screen is employed to provide multiple perspective views of the user's face that are transformed into the image, which is communicated to remotely located other users. A head mounted projection display system is employed to capture the reflective light. The system includes a frame, that when worn by a user, wraps around and grips the user's head. Also, at least two separate image capture modules are included on the frame and generally positioned relatively adjacent to the left and right eyes of a user when the system is worn. Each module includes one or more sensor components, such as cameras, that are arranged to detect at least reflected non-visible light from a screen positioned in front of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20170176575
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward measuring a three dimensional range to a target. A transmitter emits light toward the target. An aperture may receive light reflections from the target. The aperture may direct the reflections toward a sensor that comprises rows of pixels that have columns. The sensor is offset a predetermined distance from the transmitter. Anticipated arrival times of the reflections on the sensor are based on the departure times and the predetermined offset distance. A portion of the pixels are sequentially activated based on the anticipated arrival times. The target's three dimensional range measurement is based on the reflections detected by the portion of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 9581883
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 9501176
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and manufacture for writing and annotation is provided. An image is provided on a surface. In one embodiment, each time invisible ink is deposited on the surface, the location of the invisible ink deposited on the surface is detected before the invisible ink vanishes from the surface. In another embodiment, when a tip of a stylus is in contact with a location of an image on the surface, employing three or more light detectors to detect light at the location. The detected light is employed to determine a position and an orientation of the tip of the stylus and the location on the surface, and modifying the image based on the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20160335778
    Abstract: Systems and methods for machine vision are presented. Such machine vision includes ego-motion, as well as the segmentation and/or classification of image data of one or more targets of interest. The projection and detection of scanning light beams that generate a pattern are employed. Real-time continuous and accurate spatial-temporal 3D sensing is achieved. The relative motion between an observer and a projection surface is determined. A combination of visible and non-visible patterns, as well as a combination of visible and non-visible sensor arrays is employed to sense 3D coordinates of target features, as well as acquire color image data to generate 3D color images of targets. Stereoscopic pairs of cameras are employed to generate 3D image data. Such cameras are dynamically aligned and calibrated. Information may be encoded in the transmitted patterns. The information is decoded upon detection of the pattern and employed to determine features of the reflecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20160306044
    Abstract: A three-dimension position tracking system is presented. The system includes transmitters and receivers. A transmitter scans continuous or pulsed coherent light beams across a target. The receiver detects the reflected beams. The system recursively determines the location of the target, as a function of time, via triangulation and observation of the time-of-flight of the incoming and outgoing beams. The transmitter includes ultra-fast scanning optics to scan the receiver's field-of-view. The receiver includes arrays of ultra-fast photosensitive pixels. The system determines the angles of the incoming beams based on the line-of-sight of the triggered pixels. By observing the incoming angles and correlating timestamps associated with the outgoing and incoming beams, the system accurately, and in near real-time, determines the location of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 9377533
    Abstract: A three-dimension position tracking system is presented. The system includes transmitters and receivers. A transmitter scans continuous or pulsed coherent light beams across a target. The receiver detects the reflected beams. The system recursively determines the location of the target, as a function of time, via triangulation and observation of the time-of-flight of the incoming and outgoing beams. The transmitter includes ultra-fast scanning optics to scan the receiver's field-of-view. The receiver includes arrays of ultra-fast photosensitive pixels. The system determines the angles of the incoming beams based on the line-of-sight of the triggered pixels. By observing the incoming angles and correlating timestamps associated with the outgoing and incoming beams, the system accurately, and in near real-time, determines the location of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20160041266
    Abstract: A three-dimension position tracking system is presented. The system includes transmitters and receivers. A transmitter scans continuous or pulsed coherent light beams across a target. The receiver detects the reflected beams. The system recursively determines the location of the target, as a function of time, via triangulation and observation of the time-of-flight of the incoming and outgoing beams. The transmitter includes ultra-fast scanning optics to scan the receiver's field-of-view. The receiver includes arrays of ultra-fast photosensitive pixels. The system determines the angles of the incoming beams based on the line-of-sight of the triggered pixels. By observing the incoming angles and correlating timestamps associated with the outgoing and incoming beams, the system accurately, and in near real-time, determines the location of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20150348055
    Abstract: Disclosed are an architecture and related systems, devices, and methods that can be used for content sharing and distribution. For example, a device such as a smartphone includes memory that stores items of content to which access is denied until a respective condition is satisfied. The items of content are downloaded and stored on the device at a point in time that is before the point in time at which the condition is satisfied. Once the condition for an item of content has been satisfied, access to the item of content is permitted, and the item of content can be presented (e.g., displayed or audibilized).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk SMITS
  • Publication number: 20150304535
    Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a user of a device. A multi-band biometric iris scan camera system is capable of obtaining an iris image using near-infrared (NIR) light and/or visible wavelength (VW) light. The camera system can initially image a user to detect the iris color of the user and, based on the iris color, determine whether to use the NIR iris scan or the VW iris scan. Additionally, NIR and VW systems can be operated as integrated camera systems. The iris scan camera system can take a series of images and compare against a database of anonymous iris images captured at different illumination conditions, for selecting a preferred illumination condition for capturing the iris and performing authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Gerard Dirk SMITS, Steven David OLIVER
  • Publication number: 20150278992
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a system for enabling a user to view an image on a surface. The system may include projector(s), sensor, projection surface or screen, and processor. The projectors may project light for an image onto the surface. The sensor may detect light reflected off the surface. The surface may include multiple types of surface elements, such as multiple first elements positioned as border of a display area on the surface to provide feedback regarding the surface and multiple second elements positioned within the border of the display area to reflect the image to the user. The processor may determine characteristics of the border of the display area based on light reflected to the sensor from first elements. And it may modify parameters of the image based on the characteristics of the border of the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20150227790
    Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a user of a device. A biometric camera system includes a light source having a variable illumination wavelength output, and a camera including an imaging sensor and a bandpass filter for filtering ambient illumination received at the imaging sensor. An optical image of a user, for example an image of an iris, is generated by illumination from the light source, filtered by the bandpass filter, and received at the imaging sensor. An authentication status of the user can be determined using the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk SMITS
  • Patent number: 8971568
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and manufacture for writing and annotation is provided. An image is provided on a surface. Each time invisible ink is deposited on the surface, the location of the invisible ink deposited on the surface is detected before the invisible ink vanishes from the surface. The invisible ink automatically vanishes from the surface in less than one minute from the time that the invisible ink is deposited on the surface. Location information is stored based on each detected location. The projected image is modified based, at least in part, on the stored location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20140284457
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 8711370
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards detecting the three dimensional position of a position sensing device (PSD) utilizing a spot scanned across a remote surface. A trajectory map may be determined for a projection system. The trajectory map may identify a location of the spot at various times during the scan. A PSD may be arranged with a clear view of the remote surface. The PSD may observe at least three spots projected onto the remote surface utilizing three lines of sight that enable moment-in-time linear alignment between the spot and a sensor. Observation angles between each of the lines of sight may be determined. For each observed spot, a transition time may be determined and a location of the observed spot may be determined based on the trajectory map. A position of the PSD may be determined based on determined observed locations and the observation angles of the PSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 8696141
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20140098379
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards detecting the three dimensional position of a position sensing device (PSD) utilizing a spot scanned across a remote surface. A trajectory map may be determined for a projection system. The trajectory map may identify a location of the spot at various times during the scan. A PSD may be arranged with a clear view of the remote surface. The PSD may observe at least three spots projected onto the remote surface utilizing three lines of sight that enable moment-in-time linear alignment between the spot and a sensor. Observation angles between each of the lines of sight may be determined. For each observed spot, a transition time may be determined and a location of the observed spot may be determined based on the trajectory map. A position of the PSD may be determined based on determined observed locations and the observation angles of the PSD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20130300637
    Abstract: A system projects a user-viewable, computer-generated or -fed image, wherein a head-mounted projector is used to project an image onto a retro-reflective surface, so only the viewer can see the image. The projector is connected to a computer that contains software to create virtual 2-D and or 3-D images for viewing by the user! Further, on projector each is mounted on either side of the user's head, and, by choosing for example a retro angle of less than about 10 degrees, each eye can only see the image of one of the projectors at a give distance up to 3 meters, in this example, from the retro-reflective screen. The retro angle used may be reduced with larger viewing distance desired. These projectors use lasers to avoid the need for focusing, and in some cases there projectors use instead of lasers highly collimated LEO light sources to avoid the need for focusing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: G DIRK SMITS
    Inventors: Gerard Dirk Smits, Dan Kikinis