Patents by Inventor Steven Maxwell

Steven Maxwell 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: 8818081
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lookingbill, Steven Maxwell Seitz
  • Publication number: 20140177969
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating sequences of face and expression aligned images are presented. An embodiment includes determining a plurality of candidate images, computing a similarity distance between an input image and each of the candidate images based on facial features in the input image and the candidate images, comparing the computed similarity distances, selecting a candidate image based on the comparing, and adding the selected candidate image to an image sequence for real-time display. Embodiments select images from the image sequence as they are being added to the image sequence and scale, rotate and translate each image so that a face appearing in a selected image is aligned with a face appearing in a subsequently selected image from the image sequence. In this way, embodiments are able to render arbitrarily large image collections efficiently and in real time to display a face and expression aligned movie.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Maxwell SEITZ, Rahul GARG, Irena KEMELMAHER
  • Patent number: 8760500
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating depth data from a video. As an example, one or more computing devices may receive an initialization request for a still image capture mode. After receiving the request to initialize the still image capture mode, the one or more computing devices may automatically begin to capture a video including a plurality of image frames. The one or more computing devices track features between a first image frame of the video and each of the other image frames of the video. Points corresponding to the tracked features may be generated by the one or more computing devices using a set of assumptions. The assumptions may include a first assumption that there is no rotation and a second assumption that there is no translation. The one or more computing devices then generate a depth map based at least in part on the points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: David Gallup, Fu Yu, Steven Maxwell Seitz
  • Patent number: 8761457
    Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning ground based images of a geographic area taken from a perspective at or near ground level and a set of aerial images taken from, for instance, an oblique perspective, are provided. More specifically, candidate aerial imagery can be identified for alignment with the ground based image. Geometric data associated with the ground based image can be obtained and used to warp the ground based image to a perspective associated with the candidate aerial imagery. One or more feature matches between the warped image and the candidate aerial imagery can then be identified using a feature matching technique. The matched features can be used to align the ground based image with the candidate aerial imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Maxwell Seitz, Carlos Hernandez Esteban, Qi Shan
  • Patent number: 8744214
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, University of Washington
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski
  • Publication number: 20140104280
    Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating an imagery graph are provided. In some aspects, a first image is provided for display, where the first image corresponds to a first image node within an imagery graph, where the imagery graph comprises image nodes corresponding to images from a plurality of different imagery types, and where each image node in the imagery graph is associated with geospatial data. An indication of a selection of a predetermined region within the first image is received, where the predetermined region is associated with a position in the first image that corresponds to geospatial data associated a second image node within the imagery graph. A second image corresponding to the second image node is provided for display in response to the indication of the selection of the predetermined region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew OFSTAD, Steven Maxwell SEITZ
  • Patent number: 8693789
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating sequences of face and expression aligned images are presented. An embodiment includes determining a plurality of candidate images, computing a similarity distance between an input image and each of the candidate images based on facial features in the input image and the candidate images, comparing the computed similarity distances, selecting a candidate image based on the comparing, and adding the selected candidate image to an image sequence for real-time display. Embodiments select images from the image sequence as they are being added to the image sequence and scale, rotate and translate each image so that a face appearing in a selected image is aligned with a face appearing in a subsequently selected image from the image sequence. In this way, embodiments are able to render arbitrarily large image collections efficiently and in real time to display a face and expression aligned movie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Maxwell Seitz, Rahul Garg, Irena Kemelmaher
  • Publication number: 20130254666
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .scas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: University of Washington, Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski
  • Patent number: 8515159
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, University of Washington
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski
  • Patent number: 8463071
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: Microsoft Corporation, University of Washington
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski
  • Patent number: 8445385
    Abstract: Memory cells, and methods of forming such memory cells are provided that include a steering element coupled to a carbon-based reversible resistivity-switching material. In particular embodiments, methods in accordance with this invention etch a carbon nano-tube (“CNT”) film formed over a substrate, the methods including coating the substrate with a masking layer, patterning the masking layer, and etching the CNT film through the patterned masking layer using a non-oxygen based chemistry. Other aspects are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: April D. Schricker, Andy Fu, Michael Konevecki, Steven Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8428390
    Abstract: A “Blur Remover” provides various techniques for constructing deblurred images from a sequence of motion-blurred images such as a video sequence of a scene. Significantly, this deblurring is accomplished without requiring specialized side information or camera setups. In fact, the Blur Remover receives sequential images, such as a typical video stream captured using conventional digital video capture devices, and directly processes those images to generate or construct deblurred images for use in a variety of applications. No other input beyond the video stream is required for a variety of the embodiments enabled by the Blur Remover. More specifically, the Blur Remover uses joint global motion estimation and multi-frame deblurring with optional automatic video “duty cycle” estimation to construct deblurred images from video sequences for use in a variety of applications. Further, the automatically estimated video duty cycle is also separately usable in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yunpeng Li, Sing Bing Kang, Neel Suresh Joshi, Steven Maxwell Seitz
  • Patent number: 8410582
    Abstract: A semiconductor p-i-n diode and method for forming the same are described herein. In one aspect, a SiGe region is formed between a region doped to have one conductivity (either p+ or n+) and an electrical contact to the p-i-n diode. The SiGe region may serve to lower the contact resistance, which may increase the forward bias current. The doped region extends below the SiGe region such that it is between the SiGe region and an intrinsic region of the diode. The p-i-n diode may be formed from silicon. The doped region below the SiGe region may serve to keep the reverse bias current from increasing as result of the added SiGe region. In one embodiment, the SiGe is formed such that the forward bias current of an up-pointing p-i-n diode in a memory array substantially matches the forward bias current of a down-pointing p-i-n diode which may achieve better switching results when these diodes are used with the R/W material in a 3D memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, Kun Hou, Steven Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8389375
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a method of forming a memory cell is provided, the method including: (1) forming a pillar above a substrate, the pillar comprising a steering element and a metal hardmask layer; (2) selectively removing the metal hardmask layer to create a void; and (3) forming a carbon-based switching material within the void. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventor: Steven Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8389971
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a memory cell is provided that includes a storage element formed from an MIM stack including (1) a first conductive layer; (2) an RRS layer formed above the first conductive layer; and (3) a second conductive layer formed above the RRS layer, at least one of the first and second conductive layers comprising a first semiconductor material layer. The memory cell includes a steering element coupled to the storage element, the steering element formed from the first semiconductor material layer of the MIM stack and one or more additional material layers. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Yung-Tin Chen, Chuanbin Pan, Andrei Mihnea, Steven Maxwell, Kun Hou
  • Patent number: 8268678
    Abstract: A method of making a non-volatile memory device includes providing a substrate having a substrate surface, and forming a non-volatile memory array over the substrate surface. The non-volatile memory array includes an array of semiconductor diodes, and each semiconductor diode of the array of semiconductor diodes is disposed substantially parallel to the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventors: Steven Maxwell, Michael Konevecki, Mark H. Clark, Usha Raghuram
  • Publication number: 20120228579
    Abstract: A semiconductor p-i-n diode and method for forming the same are described herein. In one aspect, a SiGe region is formed between a region doped to have one conductivity (either p+ or n+) and an electrical contact to the p-i-n diode. The SiGe region may serve to lower the contact resistance, which may increase the forward bias current. The doped region extends below the SiGe region such that it is between the SiGe region and an intrinsic region of the diode. The p-i-n diode may be formed from silicon. The doped region below the SiGe region may serve to keep the reverse bias current from increasing as result of the added SiGe region. In one embodiment, the SiGe is formed such that the forward bias current of an up-pointing p-i-n diode in a memory array substantially matches the forward bias current of a down-pointing p-i-n diode which may achieve better switching results when these diodes are used with the R/W material in a 3D memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, Kun Hou, Steven Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20120193756
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a vertical semiconductor diode is provided that includes (1) a first semiconductor layer formed above a substrate; (2) a second semiconductor layer formed above the first semiconductor layer; (3) a first native oxide layer formed above the first semiconductor layer; and (4) a third semiconductor layer formed above the first semiconductor layer, second semiconductor layer and first native oxide layer so as to form the vertical semiconductor diode that includes the first native oxide layer. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Maxwell, Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, Kun Hou, Er-Xuan Ping, Yung-Tin Chen, Li Xiao
  • Publication number: 20120169770
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: University of Washington, Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski
  • Publication number: 20120169734
    Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: University of Washington, Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Noah Snavely, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Richard Szeliski