Patents by Inventor Steve Webb

Steve Webb 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: 10298846
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield
  • Patent number: 9900511
    Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh Bell, Tabb Firchau, Shane Colton, David Bloomfield, John Ellison, Steve Webb
  • Publication number: 20160301845
    Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: HUGH BELL, TABB FIRCHAU, SHANE COLTON, DAVID BLOOMFIELD, JOHN ELLISON, STEVE WEBB
  • Publication number: 20160028956
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steve WEBB, John ELLISON, Tabb FIRCHAU, David BLOOMFIELD
  • Publication number: 20150203995
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a woven fabric comprising filament yarns. The filament yarns may be comprised of a polyetherimide polymer. The woven fabric may provide flame resistance as well as static/anti-static control. The woven fabric can be employed to provide garments, such as protective garments for a cleanroom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Edward Keith Adams, Dale Arnold, Steve Webb, Richard Simonson
  • Patent number: 8938161
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield
  • Patent number: 8934023
    Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau
  • Patent number: 8908090
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing direction of a camera housed by an active stabilization system is disclosed. The active stabilization system executes a stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera. The method comprises: detecting an externally applied force, disabling the stabilization process upon detecting a manual adjustment condition, adjusting the pointing angle of the camera in a direction of the externally applied force, measuring a current pointing angle of the camera; and re-enabling the stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera based on the measured pointing angle of the camera in response to detecting that the detected manual adjustment condition failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Webb
  • Patent number: 8861947
    Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau
  • Publication number: 20140267810
    Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU
  • Publication number: 20140270743
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU, DAVID BLOOMFIELD
  • Publication number: 20140267778
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling a gimbal and other displacement systems are disclosed herein. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a pointing angle of a camera attached to a gimbal may be controlled based, at least in part, on one or more control signals provided by a controller. The control signals may be used to compensate for displacement of the camera, to add perceived displacement of the camera, to selectively align a pointing angle of the camera and/or to allow a pointing angle to be manually determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU, DAVID BLOOMFIELD
  • Publication number: 20140270744
    Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU
  • Publication number: 20140267805
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing direction of a camera housed by an active stabilization system is disclosed. The active stabilization system executes a stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera. The method comprises: detecting an externally applied force, disabling the stabilization process upon detecting a manual adjustment condition, adjusting the pointing angle of the camera in a direction of the externally applied force, measuring a current pointing angle of the camera; and re-enabling the stabilization process to stabilize the pointing direction of the camera based on the measured pointing angle of the camera in response to detecting that the detected manual adjustment condition failed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Steve Webb
  • Publication number: 20070041493
    Abstract: A method of intensity-modulating a beam of radiation from a radiation source is provided, the method including the steps of: a) providing a collimator having a window which allows the passage of radiation from the radiation source and which defines when viewed from the radiation source a two-dimensional array of bixels, the collimator further having a plurality of independently movable radiation attenuators which are constrained to move along columns or rows of the array to block selected bixels thereof, whereby, within each column or row along which the attenuators are movable, at least one arrangement of the respective attenuator(s) results in a pair of open bixels sandwiching a blocked bixel or line of blocked bixels; b) positioning the collimator in the path of the radiation source; and c) repeatedly: positioning the radiation attenuators within the window to form at each repeat a different pattern of bixels; and irradiating the collimator, until a predetermined pattern of radiation intensities for the be
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Steve Webb, Wolfgang Schlegel, Gernot Echner, Gunther Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030058508
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting optical data in an RZ modulation format is provided, which comprises passing a chirped NRZ encoded optical signal through a dispersive element to cause the light to bunch into packets centered on a respective clock cycle. An optical NRZ signal is transformed into a chirped RZ format by applying optical phase or frequency modulation at the data clock rate, and subsequently passing it through linear chromatic dispersion. The architecture required to perform this function can be implemented using a single Lithium Niobate substrate incorporating two modulation functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Ditech Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Webb, Steve Desbruslais
  • Publication number: 20030058509
    Abstract: A VSB generation control system is provided that uses received signal quality (detected error rate) as a measure of correct VSB filter or signal wavelength adjustment. The use of VSB will offer spectral efficiency improvements for optical transmission and the margins gained may be used either to increase span length or reduce wavelength spacing. The control loops proposed offer minimal complexity and implementation whilst providing reliable and understandable performance improvement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Ditech Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Webb, Damian Cowell
  • Patent number: 4769829
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprises a rotatable gantry 1 carrying an X-ray source 3 which provides a fan-shaped beam of X-rays and an X-ray detector 10 which scans the X-ray intensity along a line in the plain of the beam. The gantry is rotatable about an axis A relative to a couch 2 which supports the patient under investigation. The X-ray detector 10 comprises two concentric X-ray masks exposed around a scintillator tube; the two masks having helical X-ray transmissive apertures, the helices being of opposed orientation so that rotation of the masks in opposite directions causes the exposed area of the scintillator tube to move along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: The Institute of Cancer Research
    Inventors: Steve Webb, Martin O. Leach, Peter Newbury