Patents by Inventor Ronen Akerman
Ronen Akerman 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: 11994694Abstract: An optical device includes a first array of emitters disposed on a substrate and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. A second array of microlenses is positioned on the substrate in alignment with the respective beams of the emitters, having respective sag profiles that vary over an area of the substrate. The second array includes at least first microlenses in a central region of the substrate and second microlenses in a peripheral region of the substrate, such that the first microlenses have respective first focal powers, while the second microlenses have respective second focal powers, which are less than the first focal powers.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Roei Remez, Keith Lyon, Niv Gilboa, Ronen Akerman, Scott T. Smith
-
Publication number: 20220364849Abstract: Depth mapping apparatus includes an illumination assembly, which directs modulated optical radiation toward a target scene, and a camera, which captures a two-dimensional image of the target scene. A range sensor senses respective times of flight of photons reflected from a matrix of locations disposed across the target scene. A processor derives first depth coordinates of the matrix of locations responsively to the respective times of flight, derives second depth coordinates of the matrix of locations responsively to a transverse disparity between features in the two-dimensional image and corresponding reference features in a reference image, computes a disparity correction function based on a difference between the first and the second depth coordinates at the matrix of locations, corrects the transverse disparity between the two-dimensional image and the reference image using the disparity correction function, and generates a depth map of the target scene based on the corrected transverse disparity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Shay Yosub, Assaf Avraham, Jawad Nawasra, Jonathan Pokrass, Moshe Laifenfeld, Nir Ben Zadok, Niv Gilboa, Tal Kaitz, Ronen Akerman, Naveh Levanon
-
Publication number: 20220229210Abstract: An optical device includes a first array of emitters disposed on a substrate and configured to emit respective beams of optical radiation in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. A second array of microlenses is positioned on the substrate in alignment with the respective beams of the emitters, having respective sag profiles that vary over an area of the substrate. The second array includes at least first microlenses in a central region of the substrate and second microlenses in a peripheral region of the substrate, such that the first microlenses have respective first focal powers, while the second microlenses have respective second focal powers, which are less than the first focal powers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2021Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Roei Remez, Keith Lyon, Niv Gilboa, Ronen Akerman, Scott T. Smith
-
Patent number: 10775507Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser, which is configured to emit toward a scene pulses of optical radiation. An array of detectors are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. A controller is coupled to drive the laser to emit a sequence of pulses of the optical radiation toward each of a plurality of points in the scene and to find respective times of flight for the points responsively to the output signals, while controlling a power of the pulses emitted by the laser by counting a number of the detectors outputting the signals in response to each pulse, and reducing the power of a subsequent pulse in the sequence when the number is greater than a predefined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Shingo Mandai, Cristiano L Niclass, Richard E Bills, Moshe Laifenfeld, Mina A. Rezk, Alexander Shpunt, Ron Sokolovsky, Tal Kaitz, Ronen Akerman, Jason D. Mudge, Andrew J Sutton
-
Patent number: 10721459Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit at least one beam of radiation, and a detector and optics, which define a sensing area of the detector. A scanner is configured to receive and scan the at least one beam over a selected angular range within a region of interest while scanning the sensing area over the selected angular range in synchronization with the at least one beam from the radiation source. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Patent number: 10333269Abstract: A laser system includes a master oscillator, which emits a train of optical seed pulses with variable intervals between the pulses. An optical power amplifier includes an optical gain medium, which receives and amplifies the optical seed pulses from the master oscillator, and a pump, which applies pump radiation to the optical gain medium. A pulse generator applies a control input to the master oscillator, which causes the intervals between the optical seed pulses to vary by at least 50% at a rate of change that is greater than a response frequency of the optical gain medium. A control unit drives the pump responsively to predicted intervals between the optical seed pulses, at a variable pump power selected so that the pulse amplitudes of the output pulses vary by no more than 20% irrespective of the varying intervals between the optical seed pulses.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Ido Luft, Andrew J. Sutton, Ronen Akerman
-
Publication number: 20190149805Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit at least one beam of radiation, and a detector and optics, which define a sensing area of the detector. A scanner is configured to receive and scan the at least one beam over a selected angular range within a region of interest while scanning the sensing area over the selected angular range in synchronization with the at least one beam from the radiation source. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Publication number: 20190097380Abstract: A laser system includes a master oscillator, which emits a train of optical seed pulses with variable intervals between the pulses. An optical power amplifier includes an optical gain medium, which receives and amplifies the optical seed pulses from the master oscillator, and a pump, which applies pump radiation to the optical gain medium. A pulse generator applies a control input to the master oscillator, which causes the intervals between the optical seed pulses to vary by at least 50% at a rate of change that is greater than a response frequency of the optical gain medium. A control unit drives the pump responsively to predicted intervals between the optical seed pulses, at a variable pump power selected so that the pulse amplitudes of the output pulses vary by no more than 20% irrespective of the varying intervals between the optical seed pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Ido Luft, Andrew J. Sutton, Ronen Akerman
-
Patent number: 10218963Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of radiation, and a detector and optics, which define a sensing area of the detector. A scanning mirror assembly is configured to receive and scan the emitted beam over a selected angular range within a region of interest while scanning the sensing area over the selected angular range in synchronization with the scanned beam from the radiation source. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Publication number: 20180081061Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a laser, which is configured to emit toward a scene pulses of optical radiation. An array of detectors are configured to receive the optical radiation that is reflected from points in the scene and to output signals indicative of respective times of arrival of the received radiation. A controller is coupled to drive the laser to emit a sequence of pulses of the optical radiation toward each of a plurality of points in the scene and to find respective times of flight for the points responsively to the output signals, while controlling a power of the pulses emitted by the laser by counting a number of the detectors outputting the signals in response to each pulse, and reducing the power of a subsequent pulse in the sequence when the number is greater than a predefined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Shingo Mandai, Cristiano L. Niclass, Richard E. Bills, Moshe Laifenfeld, Mina A. Rezk, Alexander Shpunt, Ron Sokolovsky, Tal Kaitz, Ronen Akerman, Jason D. Mudge, Andrew J. Sutton
-
Patent number: 9772720Abstract: Control apparatus includes an optical subsystem, which is configured to direct first light toward a scene that includes a hand of a user in proximity to a wall of a room and to receive the first light that is reflected from the scene, and to direct second light toward the wall so as to project an image of a control device onto the wall. A processor is configured to control the optical subsystem so as to generate, responsively to the received first light, a depth map of the scene, to process the depth map so as to detect a proximity of the hand to the wall in a location of the projected image, and to control electrical equipment in the room responsively to the proximity.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Raviv Erlich, Ronen Akerman, Ran Halutz
-
Publication number: 20170244955Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of radiation, and a detector and optics, which define a sensing area of the detector. A scanning mirror assembly is configured to receive and scan the emitted beam over a selected angular range within a region of interest while scanning the sensing area over the selected angular range in synchronization with the scanned beam from the radiation source. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Patent number: 9677878Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A first scanning mirror is configured to receive and scan the emitted beam in a first direction over a selected angular range within a region of interest. A detector and optics define a sensing area of the detector. A second scanning mirror is configured to scan the sensing area over the selected angular range in the first direction in synchronization with the scanned beam from the radiation source. A scanner is configured to scan both the emitted beam and the sensing area over the region of interest in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Publication number: 20160291801Abstract: Control apparatus includes an optical subsystem, which is configured to direct first light toward a scene that includes a hand of a user in proximity to a wall of a room and to receive the first light that is reflected from the scene, and to direct second light toward the wall so as to project an image of a control device onto the wall. A processor is configured to control the optical subsystem so as to generate, responsively to the received first light, a depth map of the scene, to process the depth map so as to detect a proximity of the hand to the wall in a location of the projected image, and to control electrical equipment in the room responsively to the proximity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Raviv Erlich, Ronen Akerman, Ran Halutz
-
Patent number: 9430138Abstract: Control apparatus includes an optical subsystem, which is configured to direct first light toward a scene that includes a hand of a user in proximity to a wall of a room and to receive the first light that is reflected from the scene, and to direct second light toward the wall so as to project an image of a control device onto the wall. A processor is configured to control the optical subsystem so as to generate, responsively to the received first light, a depth map of the scene, to process the depth map so as to detect a proximity of the hand to the wall in a location of the projected image, and to control electrical equipment in the room responsively to the proximity.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Raviv Erlich, Ronen Akerman, Ran Halutz
-
Publication number: 20150292874Abstract: Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A first scanning mirror is configured to receive and scan the emitted beam in a first direction over a selected angular range within a region of interest. A detector and optics define a sensing area of the detector. A second scanning mirror is configured to scan the sensing area over the selected angular range in the first direction in synchronization with the scanned beam from the radiation source. A scanner is configured to scan both the emitted beam and the sensing area over the region of interest in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Patent number: 9098931Abstract: Apparatus (20) for mapping includes an illumination module (30), which includes a radiation source (32), which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A scanner (34) receives and scans the beam over a selected angular range. Illumination optics (35) project the scanned beam so as to create a pattern of spots extending over a region of interest. An imaging module (38) captures an image of the pattern that is projected onto an object (28) in the region of interest. A processor (46) processes the age in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach, Ronen Akerman
-
Patent number: 8829406Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a device package, with a radiation source contained in the package and configured to emit a beam of coherent radiation. A diffractive optical element (DOE) is mounted in the package so as to receive and diffract the radiation from the radiation source into a predefined pattern comprising multiple diffraction orders. An optical detector is positioned in the package so as to receive and sense an intensity of a selected diffraction order of the DOE.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Primesense Ltd.Inventors: Ronen Akerman, Dudu Voschina, Niv Galezer, Yoed Arieli, Tomer Segev, Zafrir Mor, Alexander Shpunt
-
Publication number: 20140225824Abstract: Control apparatus includes an optical subsystem, which is configured to direct first light toward a scene that includes a hand of a user in proximity to a wall of a room and to receive the first light that is reflected from the scene, and to direct second light toward the wall so as to project an image of a control device onto the wall. A processor is configured to control the optical subsystem so as to generate, responsively to the received first light, a depth map of the scene, to process the depth map so as to detect a proximity of the hand to the wall in a location of the projected image, and to control electrical equipment in the room responsively to the proximity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: PrimeSense Ltd.Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Raviv Erlich, Ronen Akerman, Ran Halutz
-
Patent number: 8653430Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a device package, with a radiation source contained in the package and configured to emit a beam of coherent radiation. A diffractive optical element (DOE) is mounted in the package so as to receive and diffract the radiation from the radiation source into a predefined pattern comprising multiple diffraction orders. An optical detector is positioned in the package so as to receive and sense an intensity of a selected diffraction order of the DOE.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Primesense Ltd.Inventors: Ronen Akerman, Dudu Voschina, Niv Galezer, Yoed Arieli, Tomer Segev, Zafrir Mor, Alexander Shpunt