Patents by Inventor Itai Afek

Itai Afek 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: 20240036325
    Abstract: A display may include an optical emitter that emits infrared light, a first coupler that couples the infrared light into a waveguide, and a second optical coupler that couples the infrared light out of the waveguide and towards the eye box. The infrared light may reflect off an eye as reflected light. The second optical coupler may couple the reflected light into the waveguide and the first optical coupler may couple the reflected light out of the waveguide and towards a camera for performing gaze tracking operations based on the sensor data. The display may sequentially illuminate different regions of the eye with the infrared light at different times using a scanning mirror, an array of light sources, or a wavelength-adjustable light source and gratings. This may minimize infrared light scattering, which minimizes background generation and maximizes signal-to-noise ratio for gaze tracking operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Itai Afek, Ariel Lipson, Eran Tal, Mark R. Ayres, Ken Anderson, Maria I. Campana, Daniel Ott, Roei Remez, Sagee Rosen
  • Patent number: 11852852
    Abstract: A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Jonathan Hauser, Roei Remez, Moshe Kriman, Zafrir Mor
  • Publication number: 20230367117
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that capture images of an illuminated retina and perform eye tracking using the images. For example, a newly capture image may be compared with a previously-captured image or model of the retina to determine a three dimensional (3D) position or orientation of the eye, relative to the camera/tracking system. Diffuse light is directed towards the retina to produce reflections that are captured by the camera. The diffuse light is directed from positions that better aligned with the camera than prior retinal-imaging techniques. For example, at least some of the diffuse light may be directed towards the retina from one or more positions that are less than the camera lens' aperture radius distance from the camera lens' optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Itai Afek, Roei Remez, Ariel Lipson
  • Publication number: 20230324587
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that determines an eye characteristic (e.g., gaze direction, eye orientation, etc.) based on the determined location of the glint. For example, an example process may include producing a glint by producing light that reflects off a portion of an eye, receiving the reflected light at a sensor wherein the reflected light is received after passing through a multi-zone lens having a first zone and a second zone, the first zone and second zone having different energy-spreading characteristics, determining a location of the glint based on the reflected light received at the sensor, and determining an eye characteristic based on the determined location of the glint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Roei REMEZ, Ariel LIPSON, Itai AFEK, Jonathan HAUSER
  • Publication number: 20230309824
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that track an eye characteristic (e.g., gaze direction, eye orientation, etc.). For example, an example process may include producing light that reflects off a retina of an eye, receiving an image of a portion of the retina from an image sensor, the image corresponding to a plurality of reflections of the light scattered from the retina of the eye, obtaining a representation of the eye corresponding to a first accommodative state, the representation representing at least some of the portion of the retina, and tracking an eye characteristic based on a comparison of the image of the portion of the retina with the representation of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Itai AFEK, Ariel LIPSON, Roei REMEZ
  • Publication number: 20230047955
    Abstract: A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Jonathan Hauser, Roei Remez, Moshe Kriman, Zafrir Mor
  • Patent number: 11513267
    Abstract: A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Jonathan Hauser, Roei Remez, Moshe Kriman, Zafrir Mor
  • Patent number: 10605924
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers in an array and resolving angular ambiguities using a plurality of horizontal detectors and a plurality of vertical detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Slutsky, Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek
  • Patent number: 10591923
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers in an array and resolving angular ambiguities using angle sensitive detection techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Michael Slutsky, Itai Afek
  • Publication number: 20190377068
    Abstract: A method for optical sensing includes providing a mirror comprising a central reflective region surrounded by a peripheral glare-suppressing region. A beam of light from a laser light source is directed to reflect from the central region so as to pass through an output optic along an axis toward a target scene. The light returned from the target scene through the output optic is focused onto an optical sensor, via collection optics having a collection aperture surrounding the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Jonathan Hauser, Roei Remez, Moshe Kriman, Zafrir Mor
  • Publication number: 20190086513
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simutaneously transmitting mutliple lasers in an array in response to a previously determined reception time, such that detection of light pulses from each laser are received in nonoverlapping time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Michael Slutsky, Itai Afek
  • Publication number: 20190041522
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers in an array and resolving angular ambiguities using a plurality of horizontal detectors and a plurality of vertical detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Slutsky, Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek
  • Publication number: 20190041865
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers at different wavelengths. The multiple lasers are detected and separated by wavelength in order to decrease acquisition time and/or increase point density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Michael Slutsky, Itai Afek
  • Publication number: 20180373253
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by simultaneously transmitting multiple lasers in an array and resolving angular ambiguities using angle sensitive detection techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Michael Slutsky, Itai Afek
  • Patent number: 10066986
    Abstract: A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control structure to move the control structure relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Michael Slutsky
  • Publication number: 20180058923
    Abstract: A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control device to move the control device relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Michael Slutsky