Patents by Inventor Kevin Gross
Kevin Gross 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).
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Publication number: 20250043364Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a genetic determination based on a hair root sample, a kit adapted for carrying out said method, and to a use of a hair root sample from a test individual for making a genetic determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: Kevin Achberger, Stefan Liebau, Stephan Ossowski, Elena Buena Atienza, Jakob Admard, Caspar Gross
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Patent number: 12066623Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 12063441Abstract: Various embodiments include implementing optical image stabilization (OIS) in a camera module. For example, a controller may control an actuator of the camera module to move a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module to provide OIS movement. In various embodiments, OIS movement control is implemented according to a region-based blur reduction model that effects a greater reduction in blur associated with a target region of an image sensor, relative to one or more other regions of the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Jianping Zhou, Kevin A Gross, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11863868Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing a camera system on a mobile device are disclosed. Characterization of the camera system may be implemented by providing a diffraction pattern of dots at controlled, defined angles to the camera system. Images of the diffraction pattern may be captured during a focus sweep through predetermined focus positions and/or while changing the relative locations between the lens and image sensor at the predetermined focus positions. The captured images may be analyzed to determine calibration data that provides physical measurement of properties of the camera system. The calibration data may then be implemented by the camera system to produce enhanced imaging on the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin A Gross, Wei Luo, Ronan S. Kerviche, Shaun M. Pacheco
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Publication number: 20230100182Abstract: A radar measurement method includes aligning a radar antenna with a test target by comparing a pre-defined reference image of the test target with an image capture device image of the test target and moving a radar antenna that illuminates the test target to a radar antenna position relative to the test target based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Ron Miller, Kevin Gross, Christopher Rice, Jeremy Micah North
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Publication number: 20220260831Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 11327300Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 10962788Abstract: A pass-through camera in a head-mounted device may capture image data for displaying on a display in the head-mounted device. However, only low-resolution image data may be needed to display low-resolution images in the periphery of the user's field of view on the display. Therefore, the pass-through camera may only capture high-resolution images that correspond to the portion of the user's field-of-view that is being directly viewed and may capture lower resolution image data that corresponds to the real-world objects in the user's peripheral vision. To enable the camera module to selectively capture high-resolution images, the pass-through camera may include an image sensor with two or more pixel densities, a distortion lens, and/or one or more planar or curved mirrors. Any of the components in the camera module may be adjusted to change which portion of a scene is captured with high-resolution image data.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward S. Huo, David A. Schmuck, Jason C. Sauers, Kevin A. Gross
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Publication number: 20210003842Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 10775614Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
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Publication number: 20200225489Abstract: A pass-through camera in a head-mounted device may capture image data for displaying on a display in the head-mounted device. However, only low-resolution image data may be needed to display low-resolution images in the periphery of the user's field of view on the display. Therefore, the pass-through camera may only capture high-resolution images that correspond to the portion of the user's field-of-view that is being directly viewed and may capture lower resolution image data that corresponds to the real-world objects in the user's peripheral vision. To enable the camera module to selectively capture high-resolution images, the pass-through camera may include an image sensor with two or more pixel densities, a distortion lens, and/or one or more planar or curved mirrors. Any of the components in the camera module may be adjusted to change which portion of a scene is captured with high-resolution image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward S. Huo, David A. Schmuck, Jason C. Sauers, Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 10642049Abstract: A pass-through camera in a head-mounted device may capture image data for displaying on a display in the head-mounted device. However, only low-resolution image data may be needed to display low-resolution images in the periphery of the user's field of view on the display. Therefore, the pass-through camera may only capture high-resolution images that correspond to the portion of the user's field-of-view that is being directly viewed and may capture lower resolution image data that corresponds to the real-world objects in the user's peripheral vision. To enable the camera module to selectively capture high-resolution images, the pass-through camera may include an image sensor with two or more pixel densities, a distortion lens, and/or one or more planar or curved mirrors. Any of the components in the camera module may be adjusted to change which portion of a scene is captured with high-resolution image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward S. Huo, David A. Schmuck, Jason C. Sauers, Kevin A. Gross
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Publication number: 20190331919Abstract: A pass-through camera in a head-mounted device may capture image data for displaying on a display in the head-mounted device. However, only low-resolution image data may be needed to display low-resolution images in the periphery of the user's field of view on the display. Therefore, the pass-through camera may only capture high-resolution images that correspond to the portion of the user's field-of-view that is being directly viewed and may capture lower resolution image data that corresponds to the real-world objects in the user's peripheral vision. To enable the camera module to selectively capture high-resolution images, the pass-through camera may include an image sensor with two or more pixel densities, a distortion lens, and/or one or more planar or curved mirrors. Any of the components in the camera module may be adjusted to change which portion of a scene is captured with high-resolution image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Edward S. Huo, David A. Schmuck, Jason C. Sauers, Kevin A. Gross
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Patent number: 10031312Abstract: A small format factor camera system for mobile devices that provides improved image quality when using accessory lenses. The system may detect an accessory lens attached to the camera, either via sensing technology or by analyzing captured images. The system may analyze image data to determine current alignment (e.g., optical axis alignment, spacing, and/or tilt) of the accessory lens relative to the camera lens, and may shift the camera lens on one or more axes using a mechanical or optical actuator, for example to align the camera lens optical axis with the accessory lens optical axis. The system may also determine optical characteristics of the accessory lens, either via sensing technology or by analyzing captured images, and may apply one or more image processing functions to images captured using the accessory lens according to the determined optical characteristics of the accessory lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin A. Gross, Richard L. Baer
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Publication number: 20180048793Abstract: A small format factor camera system for mobile devices that provides improved image quality when using accessory lenses. The system may detect an accessory lens attached to the camera, either via sensing technology or by analyzing captured images. The system may analyze image data to determine current alignment (e.g., optical axis alignment, spacing, and/or tilt) of the accessory lens relative to the camera lens, and may shift the camera lens on one or more axes using a mechanical or optical actuator, for example to align the camera lens optical axis with the accessory lens optical axis. The system may also determine optical characteristics of the accessory lens, either via sensing technology or by analyzing captured images, and may apply one or more image processing functions to images captured using the accessory lens according to the determined optical characteristics of the accessory lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin A. Gross, Richard L. Baer
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Publication number: 20170358101Abstract: Depth determination includes obtaining a first image of a scene captured by a camera at a first position, obtaining a second image of the scene captured by the camera at a second position directed by an optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator, determining a virtual baseline between the camera at the first position and the second position, and determining a depth of the scene based on the first image, the second image, and the virtual baseline.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Thomas E. Bishop, Benjamin A. Darling, Kevin A. Gross, Marius Tico, Paul M. Hubel, Todd S. Sachs
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Publication number: 20170070731Abstract: Camera calibration includes capturing a first image of an object by a first camera, determining spatial parameters between the first camera and the object using the first image, obtaining a first estimate for an optical center, iteratively calculating a best set of optical characteristics and test setup parameters based on the first estimate for the optical center until the difference in a most recent calculated set of optical characteristics and previously calculated set of optical characteristics satisfies a predetermined threshold, and calibrating the first camera based on the best set of optical characteristics. Multi-camera system calibration may include calibrating, based on a detected misalignment of features in multiple images, the multi-camera system using a context of the multi-camera system and one or more prior stored contexts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Benjamin A. Darling, Thomas E. Bishop, Kevin A. Gross, Paul M. Hubel, Todd S. Sachs, Guangzhi Cao, Alexander Lindskog, Stefan Weber, Jianping Zhou
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Publication number: 20150235408Abstract: A pseudo-three dimensional image may be created from a two dimensional image by segmenting the two dimensional image, adjusting the scale of individual segments of the two dimensional image, then superimposing the scaled segment as layers of the pseudo-three dimensional image. By detecting changes in relative orientation of an observer and a programmable device displaying the pseudo-three dimensional image, then translating the scaled segments according to the orientation change, parallax effects may be simulated, enhancing the view of the pseudo-three dimensional image.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin A. Gross, Richard L. Baer, Damien J. Thivent
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Patent number: 8761594Abstract: Systems and methods for providing spatially dynamic illumination in camera systems. A spatially dynamic illumination source enables the illumination of only desired objects in the field of view of the camera, thereby reducing the amount of light required from the illumination source. The spatially dynamic illumination source may include an array of illumination elements and a control component. Each illumination element in the illumination array may include a light-emitting element combined with an optical element. A camera and the spatially dynamic illumination source may be combined in a camera and illumination system. The camera and illumination system may dynamically detect, track, and selectively illuminate only desired objects in the camera field of view.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kevin A. Gross, Scott T. Smith
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Patent number: D765737Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: K&W FAMILY TRUSTInventor: Kevin Gross