Patents by Inventor Kirk Sigel

Kirk Sigel 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: 20240357246
    Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of a time-delay integration (TDI) image includes assigning a value N to a line-number setting and generating each line of the TDI image by (i) selecting N lines from N corresponding images of an image sequence, and (ii) integrating the N lines. The brightness of the TDI image is evaluated, after which the line-number setting is updated to a new value. In another method, the value of a TDI pixel is initialized to the value of a corresponding pixel in a first image of the image sequence. While the TDI pixel value is less than a ceiling, a contribution is added to the TDI pixel value, the contribution being based on the value of an additional corresponding pixel in an additional image of the image sequence. After adding, the resulting TDI pixel value may be scaled based on the number of contributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Patent number: 12028624
    Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of a time-delay integration (TDI) image includes assigning a value N to a line-number setting and generating each line of the TDI image by (i) selecting N lines from N corresponding images of an image sequence, and (ii) integrating the N lines. The brightness of the TDI image is evaluated, after which the line-number setting is updated to a new value. In another method, the value of a TDI pixel is initialized to the value of a corresponding pixel in a first image of the image sequence. While the TDI pixel value is less than a ceiling, a contribution is added to the TDI pixel value, the contribution being based on the value of an additional corresponding pixel in an additional image of the image sequence. After adding, the resulting TDI pixel value may be scaled based on the number of contributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Patent number: 11683452
    Abstract: An image-stream windowing method includes capturing, with a camera located at a fixed position and having a fixed field of view, a high-resolution image stream of an object that moves during said capturing. The high-resolution image stream includes a sequence of high-resolution frames. The method also includes determining, for each high-resolution frame of the sequence of high-resolution frames, a respective window, of a sequence of windows corresponding to the sequence of high-resolution frames, that encloses the object within said each high-resolution frame. The size and location of the respective window are determined based at least on the fixed position, the fixed field of view, and a position of the object. The method also includes generating a low-resolution image stream from the high-resolution image stream by cropping said each high-resolution frame with its respective window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Isolynx, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Publication number: 20220256120
    Abstract: An image-stream windowing method includes capturing, with a camera located at a fixed position and having a fixed field of view, a high-resolution image stream of an object that moves during said capturing. The high-resolution image stream includes a sequence of high-resolution frames. The method also includes determining, for each high-resolution frame of the sequence of high-resolution frames, a respective window, of a sequence of windows corresponding to the sequence of high-resolution frames, that encloses the object within said each high-resolution frame. The size and location of the respective window are determined based at least on the fixed position, the fixed field of view, and a position of the object. The method also includes generating a low-resolution image stream from the high-resolution image stream by cropping said each high-resolution frame with its respective window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 11317062
    Abstract: A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production includes an imager for capturing an image stream, a signal processor for processing the image stream into a plurality of image data paths, at least one image stream output, and a memory for cyclically buffering images of at least two of the plurality of image data paths, into separate circular buffers, respectively, and for buffering one or more output image streams of the camera. A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production produces a standard resolution and rate image stream and a slow-motion image stream of an action of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Isolynx, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Publication number: 20210218886
    Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of a time-delay integration (TDI) image includes assigning a value N to a line-number setting and generating each line of the TDI image by (i) selecting N lines from N corresponding images of an image sequence, and (ii) integrating the N lines. The brightness of the TDI image is evaluated, after which the line-number setting is updated to a new value. In another method, the value of a TDI pixel is initialized to the value of a corresponding pixel in a first image of the image sequence. While the TDI pixel value is less than a ceiling, a contribution is added to the TDI pixel value, the contribution being based on the value of an additional corresponding pixel in an additional image of the image sequence. After adding, the resulting TDI pixel value may be scaled based on the number of contributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Patent number: 10986267
    Abstract: A method for generating time delay integration color images at increased resolution includes (a) capturing sequential digital two-dimensional color images of a scene using an area scan color image sensor including lines of color sensor pixels, wherein each color sensor pixel including a Bayer-type array of photosites, and (b) processing the sequential digital two-dimensional color images to generate a time delay integration color image of an object moving in the scene, wherein the processing includes increasing resolution of the time delay integration color image by including crossover pixels formed by combining photosites from sequentially captured two-dimensional color images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Publication number: 20200288088
    Abstract: A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production includes an imager for capturing an image stream, a signal processor for processing the image stream into a plurality of image data paths, at least one image stream output, and a memory for cyclically buffering images of at least two of the plurality of image data paths, into separate circular buffers, respectively, and for buffering one or more output image streams of the camera. A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production produces a standard resolution and rate image stream and a slow-motion image stream of an action of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 10742934
    Abstract: An autonomous picture production system for automatically capturing an image of a location within a spectator seating area of a stadium upon request of a spectator includes one or more motorized cameras, an external interaction device for receiving an external request from the spectator, a camera control device for determining an optimal camera from the one or more motorized cameras for capturing the image, the camera control device controlling the optimal camera to capture the image, and a database for storing the image, wherein the external interaction device informs the spectator how to retrieve the image from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ISOLYNX, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 10701322
    Abstract: A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production includes an imager for capturing an image stream, a signal processor for processing the image stream into a plurality of image data paths, at least one image stream output, and a memory for cyclically buffering images of at least two of the plurality of image data paths, into separate circular buffers, respectively, and for buffering one or more output image streams of the camera. A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production produces a standard resolution and rate image stream and a slow-motion image stream of an action of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ISOLYNX, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Publication number: 20200036891
    Abstract: A method for generating time delay integration color images at increased resolution includes (a) capturing sequential digital two-dimensional color images of a scene using an area scan color image sensor including lines of color sensor pixels, wherein each color sensor pixel including a Bayer-type array of photosites, and (b) processing the sequential digital two-dimensional color images to generate a time delay integration color image of an object moving in the scene, wherein the processing includes increasing resolution of the time delay integration color image by including crossover pixels formed by combining photosites from sequentially captured two-dimensional color images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Patent number: 10375300
    Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of input images associated with a respective plurality of input times, the input images and input times being provided by an event timing system, comprises: selecting an output frame rate; generating a plurality of output images, corresponding to the output frame rate, from the plurality of input images; and assigning to each output image a final output time provided by the event timing system, the final output time being the input time associated with an input image contributing to the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas
  • Publication number: 20180070056
    Abstract: A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production includes an imager for capturing an image stream, a signal processor for processing the image stream into a plurality of image data paths, at least one image stream output, and a memory for cyclically buffering images of at least two of the plurality of image data paths, into separate circular buffers, respectively, and for buffering one or more output image streams of the camera. A camera for facilitating autonomous picture production produces a standard resolution and rate image stream and a slow-motion image stream of an action of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Publication number: 20180070057
    Abstract: An autonomous picture production system for automatically capturing an image of a location within a spectator seating area of a stadium upon request of a spectator includes one or more motorized cameras, an external interaction device for receiving an external request from the spectator, a camera control device for determining an optimal camera from the one or more motorized cameras for capturing the image, the camera control device controlling the optimal camera to capture the image, and a database for storing the image, wherein the external interaction device informs the spectator how to retrieve the image from the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 9848172
    Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate autonomous image capture and/or picture production. A location unit is attached to each tracked object. An object tracking device receives location information from each location unit. A camera control device controls, based upon the location information, at least one motorized camera to capture image data of at least one tracked object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ISOLYNX, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 9413926
    Abstract: A system for processing event timing images includes: area scan image sensor for generating sequential digital two-dimensional images of a scene; and time delay integration module for processing the sequential digital two-dimensional images to generate a time delay integration image of a moving object in the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas, Evan A. Hallam
  • Patent number: 9398196
    Abstract: A method for processing event timing images includes: capturing sequential digital two-dimensional images of a scene using an area scan image sensor; and processing the sequential digital two-dimensional images to generate a time delay integration image of an object moving in the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: LYNX SYSTEM DEVELOPERS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas, Herb A. Hollinger
  • Publication number: 20150312493
    Abstract: A method for processing event timing images includes: capturing sequential digital two-dimensional images of a scene using an area scan image sensor; and processing the sequential digital two-dimensional images to generate a time delay integration image of an object moving in the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas, Herb A. Hollinger
  • Publication number: 20150312494
    Abstract: A system for processing event timing images includes: area scan image sensor for generating sequential digital two-dimensional images of a scene; and time delay integration module for processing the sequential digital two-dimensional images to generate a time delay integration image of a moving object in the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas, Evan A. Hallam
  • Publication number: 20150312504
    Abstract: A system is provided for recording and timing of events, and includes: a camera system for capturing images of the events and comprising a clock; an event recorder for detecting the events and being communicatively coupled with the clock; and a data processing system capable of assigning times provided by the clock to the images captured by the camera system and events detected by the event recorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Isolynx, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Aldridge, Kirk Sigel, Douglas DeAngelis, Mike E. Ciholas, Paul R. Blaylock