Patents by Inventor John Charles Curlander

John Charles Curlander 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: 11477374
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20200344414
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Patent number: 10715724
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20150326783
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Patent number: 9091755
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Patent number: 8675122
    Abstract: A digital camera described herein includes an analyzer component that analyzes a histogram of a first image, wherein the first image has a first resolution. The digital camera also includes a setter component that sets an exposure time for capturing a second image based at least in part upon the analysis of the histogram of the first image, wherein the second image has a second resolution, and wherein the first resolution of the first image is less than the second resolution of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Patent number: 8644113
    Abstract: A receiving device captures sounds signals (e.g., ultrasonic) from multiple sound signal sources, selects the sound signals satisfying a reliability condition for use in determining an initial position of the receiving device relative to the corresponding sound signal sources, determines the initial position of the receiving device using multilateration of the selected sound signals, and updates the current position of the receiving device as the reliability of individual sound signals varies in the presence of dynamically changing environmental interference, multipathing, and movement between the receiving device and the sound signal sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Riley Harrell, William Hayden Connor, Marzban R. Palsetia, John Charles Curlander, Heinrich Frick, Jesse Wright, Mark Joseph Barkmeier
  • Patent number: 8565783
    Abstract: A path progression matching system and method that uses path progression to find a current position of a mobile device in an indoor environment and a path history to find the path of the mobile device to get to the current position. Embodiments of the system and method use path history information, constraints, and optimization measures such as the use of received signal strength indicator (RSSI) weighted correlation coefficients. Embodiments of the system and method include a unified probabilistic model that uses path history and allows multiple constraints to be applied simultaneously. Embodiments of the system and method also include a path progression module having a first-stage progression module, which finds a starting location for the path progression matching, a second-stage module, which begins building a path history, and a third-stage progression module, which uses the path history to find the current position and path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Zongxiang Yang, Henry Frick, John Charles Curlander, William B. Gail, Sharad Agarwal, Janani C. Sriram
  • Patent number: 8428088
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernögger, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Joachim Pehserl, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20130083631
    Abstract: A receiving device captures sounds signals (e.g., ultrasonic) from multiple sound signal sources, selects the sound signals satisfying a reliability condition for use in determining an initial position of the receiving device relative to the corresponding sound signal sources, determines the initial position of the receiving device using multilateration of the selected sound signals, and updates the current position of the receiving device as the reliability of individual sound signals varies in the presence of dynamically changing environmental interference, multipathing, and movement between the receiving device and the sound signal sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Riley Harrell, William Hayden Connor, Marzban R. Palsetia, John Charles Curlander, Heinrich Frick, Jesse Wright, Mark Joseph Barkmeier
  • Patent number: 8284250
    Abstract: A system that facilitates determining a trigger rate for a digital camera to provide a threshold forward overlap for consecutively captured images is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives first data pertaining to a distance between the digital camera and a surface. The system additionally includes a rate determiner component that is in communication with the receiver component, wherein the rate determiner component determines the trigger rate for the digital camera based at least in part upon the first data, wherein the trigger rate is indicative of an amount of time between consecutive images captured by the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Joachim Bauer, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernögger, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20120129546
    Abstract: A path progression matching system and method that uses path progression to find a current position of a mobile device in an indoor environment and a path history to find the path of the mobile device to get to the current position. Embodiments of the system and method use path history information, constraints, and optimization measures such as the use of received signal strength indicator (RSSI) weighted correlation coefficients. Embodiments of the system and method include a unified probabilistic model that uses path history and allows multiple constraints to be applied simultaneously. Embodiments of the system and method also include a path progression module having a first-stage progression module, which finds a starting location for the path progression matching, a second-stage module, which begins building a path history, and a third-stage progression module, which uses the path history to find the current position and path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Zongxiang Yang, Henry Frick, John Charles Curlander, William B. Gail, Sharad Agarwal, Janani C. Sriram
  • Publication number: 20110228091
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernögger, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Joachim Pehserl, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Patent number: 7974314
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernögger, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Joachim Pehserl, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20100182444
    Abstract: A digital camera described herein includes an analyzer component that analyzes a histogram of a first image, wherein the first image has a first resolution. The digital camera also includes a setter component that sets an exposure time for capturing a second image based at least in part upon the analysis of the histogram of the first image, wherein the second image has a second resolution, and wherein the first resolution of the first image is less than the second resolution of the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20100182430
    Abstract: A system that facilitates determining a trigger rate for a digital camera to provide a threshold forward overlap for consecutively captured images is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives first data pertaining to a distance between the digital camera and a surface. The system additionally includes a rate determiner component that is in communication with the receiver component, wherein the rate determiner component determines the trigger rate for the digital camera based at least in part upon the first data, wherein the trigger rate is indicative of an amount of time between consecutive images captured by the digital camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Joachim Bauer, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernogger, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20100183034
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Gerhard Neuhold, Stefan Bernogger, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Joachim Pehserl, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander
  • Publication number: 20100182396
    Abstract: A system that facilitates collecting data is described herein. The system includes a digital camera that is configured to capture images in a visible light spectrum and a near-infrared camera that is configured to capture near infrared images, wherein a field of view of the digital camera and the field of view of the near-infrared camera are substantially similar. The system further includes a trigger component that is configured to cause the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to capture images at a substantially similar point in time, and also includes a mounting mechanism that facilitates mounting the digital camera and the near-infrared camera to an automobile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Kroepfl, Michael Gruber, Martin Josef Ponticelli, Stephen Lawler, Joachim Bauer, Franz W. Leberl, Konrad Karner, Zanin Cosic, Hannes Hegenbarth, Gur Kimchi, John Charles Curlander