Patents by Inventor Santiago Alban
Santiago Alban 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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Patent number: 11953755Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11871098Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Andrew D. Fernandez, Arathi S. Bale, David C. Beard, Santiago Alban
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Publication number: 20230288664Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11693209Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11616899Abstract: A camera system may include one or more controllers to perform in-field monitoring of autofocus performance and instability mitigation. The controllers may monitor one or more parameters associated with adjustment of a relative position between a lens group and an image sensor and/or one or more images. The controllers may analyze the parameters and/or images to calculate various metrics. The controllers may evaluate the metrics with respect to corresponding thresholds. The controllers may detect, based at least in part of the evaluation the metrics, one or more instability events associated with controller performance degradation. In response to detecting the instability events, the controllers may perform one or more remedial actions to mitigate the controller performance degradation.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Yunfeng Li, Santiago Alban, Andrew D. Fernandez
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Publication number: 20220260806Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11327273Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11202007Abstract: Various embodiments include camera movement control for reduced power consumption. Some embodiments, for example, may include operating a camera module in a power saving mode, in which focus movement control may be synchronized with frame capture. According to some examples, such synchronization may include holding a position (e.g., a focus position) of a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module during some integration time periods. Furthermore, such synchronization may include enabling power saving movement (e.g., between a focus position and a neutral position) of the lens group and/or the image sensor during some other time periods, such as during intervals (e.g., blanking intervals) between integration time periods, and/or during integration time periods for image frames that are expendable.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Santiago Alban
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Publication number: 20210281726Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Andrew D. Fernandez, Arathi S. Bale, David C. Beard, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 11019241Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Abhishek Dhanda, Andrew D. Fernandez, Arathi S. Bale, David C. Beard, Santiago Alban
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Publication number: 20210055506Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 10830990Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Publication number: 20200026030Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 10429608Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
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Patent number: 10382687Abstract: At a processor of a camera-equipped electronic device, a first data set generated at a sensor incorporated within a camera module is obtained, and a second data set generated at one or more sensors external to the camera module is obtained. Based on the first set and second data sets, a first set of control signals is transmitted to the camera module. At a disturbance rejection controller integrated within the camera module, a second set of control signals is generated, based on the first set of control signals and on a third set of data obtained from the sensor incorporated within the camera module. The second set of control signals is transmitted to an actuator, which causes a displacement of a camera lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Parin Patel, Santiago Alban, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 7656352Abstract: Troposphere corrections are provided in a land based transmitter-positioning system. Troposphere delays correct ranges based on X- or ISM-band carrier ranging signals with a modulation rate of the code of at least about 30 MHz. Ground based transmitters transmit non-GPS type ranging signals, and the receivers correct for troposphere delays. Troposphere delay corrections are applied to range estimates on each iteration of an iterative position-fix algorithm. Different models of troposphere corrections in a ground based ranging system may be used.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Novariant, Inc.Inventors: Santiago Alban, David G. Lawrence
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Patent number: 7454290Abstract: Systems are provided to increase the robustness of a low-cost GPS system by coupling it with an INS system, and by using one-satellite attitude determination in conjunction with the traditional multiple-satellite method. The system has demonstrated accuracy and robustness approaching needed standards for automobile control systems. The applications of this system are abundant, including real-time vehicle system ID, slip angle estimation, position estimation by GPS and dead reckoning, as well as sophisticated control systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Santiago Alban, Stephen M. Rock, J. David Powell
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Publication number: 20070063896Abstract: Troposphere corrections are provided in a land based transmitter-positioning system. Troposphere delays correct ranges based on X- or ISM-band carrier ranging signals with a modulation rate of the code of at least about 30 MHz. Ground based transmitters transmit non-GPS type ranging signals, and the receivers correct for troposphere delays. Troposphere delay corrections are applied to range estimates on each iteration of an iterative position-fix algorithm. Different models of troposphere corrections in a ground based ranging system may be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2005Publication date: March 22, 2007Inventors: Santiago Alban, David Lawrence
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Publication number: 20050137799Abstract: Systems are provided to increase the robustness of a low-cost GPS system by coupling it with an INS system, and by using one-satellite attitude determination in conjunction with the traditional multiple-satellite method. The system has demonstrated accuracy and robustness approaching needed standards for automobile control systems. The applications of this system are abundant, including real-time vehicle system ID, slip angle estimation, position estimation by GPS and dead reckoning, as well as sophisticated control systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2004Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Santiago Alban, Stephen Rock, J. David Powell