Patents by Inventor Paul Dietz

Paul Dietz 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: 20110113905
    Abstract: A lubricating unit (20) for use with a threaded unit drive (10), composed of a spindle (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (11) and a nut (14) enclosing the spindle (12), includes a hollow-cylindrical housing (30) that has a base body (31) with an annular cavity (32) closed on the end face using a separate cover (36). A storage slab (70) composed of foam material is accommodated in the cavity (32) and is bent to form a ring. At least one oil-filling recess (79) extends through the storage slab (70). Fastening means (23) are provided on the longitudinal end face of the housing (30) opposite the cover (36) for fastening the housing (30) to the nut (14). The cover (36) is connected in an adhesive manner to the base body (31). At least one oil-filling opening (37) open toward the oil-filling recess (79) is provided in the housing (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Andre Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20090223290
    Abstract: A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Benjamin David Eidelson
  • Patent number: 7581442
    Abstract: A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Benjamin David Eidelson
  • Publication number: 20070282682
    Abstract: A method determines an amount of time consumers are viewing an advertising display. A sequence of images is acquired by a camera of a scene in front of an advertising display. Faces are detected in the sequence of images. For each detected face, determine an orientation of the face with respect to the advertising display and an amount of time each face is oriented towards the advertising display. The times for each of the faces are summed to determine a total face time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Kent Wittenburg
  • Publication number: 20070197184
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing harmonic interference in a radio receiver is presented. A received radio signal is periodically switched to an integrator as a positive signal, periodically switched to the integrator as a negative signal, and the integrator is periodically switched to ground to block the received signal from the integrator to minimize the harmonic interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: William Yerazunis, Darren Leigh, Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20070188178
    Abstract: An apparatus senses an object proximate to a laminar fluid flow by using the fluid as part of the sensing system. For more distant objects, an electrical system detects the capacitance between the proximate object and the flowing fluid via an impedance measurement. For objects touching the flow, an optical system detects the loss of total internal reflection. Together, the two systems allow the proximity to be determined over a wide range. A fluid flow is produced through a nozzle. An electrode is placed in the fluid. A complex impedance is measured between the electrode and an object due to capacitive coupling between the object and the fluid flow. The complex impedance is inversely proportional to a distance between the object and the fluid flow and proportional to an area of proximity of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Jonathan Westhues, Darren Leigh
  • Publication number: 20070165881
    Abstract: A method and system enhances an acoustic signal acquired by a microphone from an acoustic source while concurrently acquiring a Doppler signal from moving parts of the acoustic source. The acoustic signal and the Doppler signal are then analyzed according to a model to generate an enhanced acoustic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Bhiksha Ramakrishnan, Paul Dietz, Bent Schmidt-Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20070053201
    Abstract: A display system includes display elements embedded in a playing surface. The display elements are configured to display images or video in the playing surface. The playing surface can be a soccer field, a football field, a rugby field, a baseball field, a track field, a horse racing track, a tennis court, a basketball court, a performance stage, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, William Yerazunis, Ramesh Raskar
  • Publication number: 20060284971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus acquires images of a scene with an omni-directional imager and a pan-tilt-zoom imager. A relationship between pixels in the input image and locations in the scene is expressed in terms of polar coordinates. An event is detected in the input images and the omni-directional pan-tilt-zoom camera is directed at the event in the scene using the relationship expressed in the polar coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Wren, Ali Azarbayejani, Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20060220788
    Abstract: A system differentiates user controls by arranging a conductive surface in a close approximation to each control. A transmitter is connected to the conductive surfaces. The transmitter emits a unique signal to each conductive surface. Electrodes are arranged in close proximity to users of the controls, and a receiver is connected to each corresponding electrode. A particular user is associated with a particular control when the particular user is capacitively coupled to a particular conductive surface via the electrode, the receiver and the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Bret Harsham, Samuel Shipman, Clifton Forlines, Darren Leigh, William Yerazunis, Bent Schmidt-Nielsen, Kathleen Ryall
  • Publication number: 20060170871
    Abstract: A method for projecting an image projects, optically, an image on a display surface. A presence of a person in a region of projection is detected and a brightness of the image is reduced in response to detecting the presence of the person in the region of projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Johnny Lee
  • Publication number: 20060166702
    Abstract: A cell phone includes illuminated components and a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor detects when the cell phone is coupled to the ear of a user. Therefore, the proximity detector is placed, in part, near the loudspeaker of the cell phone. The proximity sensor controls the illumination of the illuminated components according to the coupling. The illumination is off when coupled, an on when not coupled. The amount of illumination can depend to the intensity of ambient light as measured by a photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Darren Leigh, William Yerazunis
  • Publication number: 20060001543
    Abstract: A wireless location and identification system includes a controller and a tag. The controller has a projector configured to generate a unique temporal sequence of light intensities for each pixel in an output image of the projector and a wireless transceiver configured to emit an output signal and receive an input signal. The tag includes a photo-sensor configured to sense the unique temporal sequence of light intensities of a particular pixel, a transducer configured to receive the output signal from the transceiver, and a means for modulating, according to the unique temporal sequence of light intensities, the input signal for the transceiver in response to receiving the output signal and sensing the unique temporal sequence of light intensities of the particular pixel to indicate a location of the tag to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Ramesh Raskar, Paul Beardsley, Jeroen Baar, Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20050254720
    Abstract: A method enhances an output image of a 3D object. A set of input images are acquired of a 3D object. Each one of the input images is illuminated by a different one of a set of lights placed at different positions with respect to the 3D object. Boundaries of shadows are detected in the set of input images by comparing the set of input images. The boundaries of shadows that are closer to a direction of the set of lights are marked as depth edge pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kar-Han Tan, Ramesh Raskar, Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20050248549
    Abstract: Touch screen interfaces suffer from a visual-motor conflict when the user attempt to interact with a virtual object but experiences no physical sensations resulting from that interaction. This can result in uncertainly and decrease performance as well as overall satisfaction with the interface. We introduce a method and device that resolves these issues in stylus-based interfaces for both single and multi-user environments by providing individualized haptic and acoustic feedback. This is achieved by adding a mechanical actuator and acoustic generator to each stylus. These are controlled to respond appropriately to virtual objects and are capable of simulating a variety of physical sensations. Because the feedback is generated by the stylus rather than the screen or touch surface, the current invention can operate at the individual level even in the presence of multiple simultaneous users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Darren Leigh, William Yerazunis, Johnny Lee
  • Publication number: 20050099405
    Abstract: An interactive display system includes a pixel-based display surface and a light pen. A sequence of patterns is projected onto the display surface. The sequence of patterns has a unique sequence of light intensities for each location of the display surface. Intensities of light at an arbitrary location are sensed by the light pen while projecting the sequence of patterns. The intensifies of light are decoded to determine coordinates of the arbitrary location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Darren Leigh, Ramesh Raskar, Johnny Lee
  • Publication number: 20050068466
    Abstract: In a rear projection television, cathode ray tubes are mounted inside an enclosure so that each cathode ray tube projects output images onto a rear projection screen using a corresponding electron beam. Calibration images are generated for each cathode ray tube. A camera, also mounted inside the enclosure, acquires an input image of each calibration image. A distortion in each input image is measured, and the output images of the cathode ray tubes are corrected by adjusting the signals controlling the corresponding electron beams according to the distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Waters, Jay Thornton, Ramesh Raskar, Mamoru Kato, Paul Dietz
  • Publication number: 20050034468
    Abstract: Certain electrical systems, such as projectors, contain components, which get very hot and require active cooling systems. During normal operation, a switch operates a cooling fan from a primary power supply. Upon detecting a failure in the primary power supply, the switch connects the cooling fan to a secondary power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dietz, Darren Leigh
  • Publication number: 20050030486
    Abstract: A system determines correspondence between locations on a display surface and pixels in an output image of a projector. The display surface can have an arbitrary shape and pose. Locations with know coordinates are identified on the display surface. Each location is optically coupled to a photo sensor by an optical fiber installed in a throughhole in the surface. Known calibration patterns are projected, while sensing directly an intensity of light at each location for each calibration pattern. The intensities are used to determine correspondences between the of locations and pixels in an output image of the projector so that projected images can warped to conform to the display surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Johnny Lee, Daniel Maynes-Aminzade, Paul Dietz, Ramesh Raskar
  • Publication number: 20040126107
    Abstract: A multi-level control system for optical components is disclosed herein. The control of optical components uses the representation of an optical component as an optical function, and the ability to represent a plurality of optical functions as a compound optical function that can be controlled by a higher level controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Intelligent Photonics Control Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Jay, Robert Andrews, Paul Dietz, Zeljko Ribaric