Patents by Inventor Michael S. Fenton

Michael S. Fenton 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: 11513231
    Abstract: The technology described herein recalibrates a structured light sensor in the field using time-of-flight sensor data. Structured light sensors are sensitive to mechanical changes that result in decreased accuracy. A structured light system calculates the range to an object by comparing a reference image to the actual image of the scene. The reference image is what the projected light pattern would look like on a flat object at a known distance. When the projected image changes, the reference image no longer matches the projected pattern. The calibration technology described herein captures a new reference image based on the current sensor characteristics using a time-of-flight capable sensor as the structured light imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Fenton, John Peter Godbaz
  • Publication number: 20200319322
    Abstract: The technology described herein recalibrates a structured light sensor in the field using time-of-flight sensor data. Structured light sensors are sensitive to mechanical changes that result in decreased accuracy. A structured light system calculates the range to an object by comparing a reference image to the actual image of the scene. The reference image is what the projected light pattern would look like on a flat object at a known distance. When the projected image changes, the reference image no longer matches the projected pattern. The calibration technology described herein captures a new reference image based on the current sensor characteristics using a time-of-flight capable sensor as the structured light imaging sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Michael S. FENTON, John Peter GODBAZ
  • Patent number: 10663567
    Abstract: The technology described herein recalibrates a structured light sensor in the field using time-of-flight sensor data. Structured light sensors are sensitive to mechanical changes that result in decreased accuracy. A structured light system calculates the range to an object by comparing a reference image to the actual image of the scene. The reference image is what the projected light pattern would look like on a flat object at a known distance. When the projected image changes, the reference image no longer matches the projected pattern. The calibration technology described herein captures a new reference image based on the current sensor characteristics using a time-of-flight capable sensor as the structured light imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Fenton, John Peter Godbaz
  • Patent number: 10613228
    Abstract: The technology described herein is a depth camera that uses structured light and modulated light to produce a depth image. The modulated and structured light allows a time-of-flight depth to be calculated for each unit (e.g., a single dot) of the reflected structured light image captured by the depth camera's image sensor. The time-of-flight depth can be used to accurately identify each unit of the reflected structured light image. Once each unit of the reflected structured light image is identified, a structured light triangulation algorithm can be used to calculate a depth for each unit of the reflected structured light image. The present technology also allows a confidence score to be generated for the assigned depths within the depth image by comparing the structured light depth for each unit to the TOF depth for each unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Techology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Fenton, John P. Godbaz
  • Publication number: 20190339369
    Abstract: The technology described herein recalibrates a structured light sensor in the field using time-of-flight sensor data. Structured light sensors are sensitive to mechanical changes that result in decreased accuracy. A structured light system calculates the range to an object by comparing a reference image to the actual image of the scene. The reference image is what the projected light pattern would look like on a flat object at a known distance. When the projected image changes, the reference image no longer matches the projected pattern. The calibration technology described herein captures a new reference image based on the current sensor characteristics using a time-of-flight capable sensor as the structured light imaging sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael S. FENTON, John Peter GODBAZ
  • Patent number: 10412280
    Abstract: A camera includes a sensor array including a plurality of individually addressable sensor elements, each of the plurality of sensor elements responsive to incident light over a broad wavelength band. Covering the sensor array is a light valve switchable electronically between closed and open states. The light valve is configured to, in the closed state, block light of a stopband and transmit light outside the stopband, and, in the open state, transmit the light of the stopband. An electronic controller of the camera is configured to switch the light valve from the closed to the open state and, synchronously with switching the light valve, address the sensor elements of the sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Onur Can Akkaya, Cyrus Bamji, Arrigo Benedetti, Michael S. Fenton, Jayachandra Gullapalli
  • Patent number: 10241958
    Abstract: A system includes operational circuit blocks associated with configurable counter circuits. A configurable counter circuit is configured to control event signal when counting expires and includes a mode input configured to receive a setting of a programmable control event asynchronous mode and a programmable control event synchronous mode. Depending on the programmed mode and whether a control event has occurred in a previous synchronization period, the configurable counter circuit processes an associated operation responsive to issuance of a synchronization instruction or to issuance of a subsequent control event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Avdhesh Chhodavdia, Michael S. Fenton, Sheethal Somesh Nayak
  • Publication number: 20190079192
    Abstract: The technology described herein is a depth camera that uses structured light and modulated light to produce a depth image. The modulated and structured light allows a time-of-flight depth to be calculated for each unit (e.g., a single dot) of the reflected structured light image captured by the depth camera's image sensor. The time-of-flight depth can be used to accurately identify each unit of the reflected structured light image. Once each unit of the reflected structured light image is identified, a structured light triangulation algorithm can be used to calculate a depth for each unit of the reflected structured light image. The present technology also allows a confidence score to be generated for the assigned depths within the depth image by comparing the structured light depth for each unit to the TOF depth for each unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: MICHAEL S. FENTON, JOHN P. GODBAZ
  • Publication number: 20170230551
    Abstract: A camera includes a sensor array including a plurality of individually addressable sensor elements, each of the plurality of sensor elements responsive to incident light over a broad wavelength band. Covering the sensor array is a light valve switchable electronically between closed and open states. The light valve is configured to, in the closed state, block light of a stopband and transmit light outside the stopband, and, in the open state, transmit the light of the stopband. An electronic controller of the camera is configured to switch the light valve from the closed to the open state and, synchronously with switching the light valve, address the sensor elements of the sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Onur Can Akkaya, Cyrus Bamji, Arrigo Benedetti, Michael S. Fenton, Jayachandra Gullapalli
  • Publication number: 20160062945
    Abstract: A system includes operational circuit blocks associated with configurable counter circuits. A configurable counter circuit is configured to control event signal when counting expires and includes a mode input configured to receive a setting of a programmable control event asynchronous mode and a programmable control event synchronous mode. Depending on the programmed mode and whether a control event has occurred in a previous synchronization period, the configurable counter circuit processes an associated operation responsive to issuance of a synchronization instruction or to issuance of a subsequent control event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Avdhesh Chhodavdia, Michael S. Fenton, Sheethal Somesh Nayak
  • Patent number: 9106216
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a configurable pulse generator configured to generate a programmable master pulse train. One or more functional circuits of the electronic device includes a programming interface to receive one or more a programmable slave pulse parameters for the one or more functional circuits. The programmable slave pulse parameters are dependent upon the programmable master pulse train. A slave pulse generator generates a slave pulse for one of the functional circuits based on the one or more programmable slave pulse parameters corresponding to the functional circuits relative to the programmable master pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Avdhesh Chhodavdia, Michael S. Fenton, Sheethal Somesh Nayak