Patents by Inventor Thomas Solignac
Thomas Solignac 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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METHOD FOR DEPTH MEASUREMENT WITH A TIME-OF-FLIGHT CAMERA USING AMPLITUDE-MODULATED CONTINUOUS LIGHT
Publication number: 20220128692Abstract: A method for depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera using amplitude-modulated continuous light by acquiring for each of a plurality of pixels of a sensor array of the camera at least one sample sequence having at least four amplitude samples (A0, A1, A2, A3) at a sampling frequency higher than a modulation frequency of the amplitude-modulated continuous light. The method further includes: determining for each sample sequence of each pixel a confidence value (C) indicating a degree of correspondence of the amplitude samples (A0, A1, A2, A3) with a sinusoidal time evolution of the amplitude; and determining for each of a plurality of binning areas, each of which comprises a plurality of pixels, a binned depth value (Db) based on the amplitude samples (A0, A1, A2, A3) of sample sequence of pixels from the binning area, wherein the contribution of a sample sequence to the binned depth value (Db) depends on its confidence value (C).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Bruno MIRBACH, Martin BOGUSLAWSKI, Thomas SOLIGNAC -
Patent number: 11263765Abstract: A method for corrected depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera using amplitude-modulated continuous light. In order to enable an accurate and efficient depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera, the method includes, for each of a plurality of pixels of a sensor array of the camera: acquiring with the camera a raw depth value rm for the pixel; and automatically calculating a ground truth value rt according to: rt=g(rm?cm)+ct, to correct a systematic depth error of the raw depth value rm, wherein cm is a pixel-dependent first offset, g is a pixel-independent first function and ct is a pixel-independent second offset.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Bruno Mirbach, Harald Clos, Martin Boguslawski, Thomas Solignac
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Publication number: 20210358148Abstract: A method for corrected depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera using amplitude-modulated continuous light. In order to enable an accurate and efficient depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera, the method includes, for each of a plurality of pixels of a sensor array of the camera: acquiring with the camera a raw depth value rm for the pixel; and automatically calculating a ground truth value rt according to: rt=g(rm?cm)+ct, to correct a systematic depth error of the raw depth value rm, wherein cm is a pixel-dependent first offset, g is a pixel-independent first function and ct is a pixel-independent second offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2019Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Bruno MIRBACH, Harald CLOS, Martin BOGUSLAWSKI, Thomas SOLIGNAC
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Patent number: 10795006Abstract: A camera system comprises a 3D TOF camera for acquiring a camera-perspective range image of a scene and an image processor for processing the range image. The image processor contains a position and orientation calibration routine implemented therein in hardware and/or software, which position and orientation calibration routine, when executed by the image processor, detects one or more planes within a range image acquired by the 3D TOF camera, selects a reference plane among the at least one or more planes detected and computes position and orientation parameters of the 3D TOF camera with respect to the reference plane, such as, e.g., elevation above the reference plane and/or camera roll angle and/or camera pitch angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Frederic Garcia, Frederic Grandidier, Bruno Mirbach, Roberto Orsello, Thomas Solignac
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Patent number: 10275857Abstract: A method for enhancing a depth image of a scene, comprises calculating an enhanced depth image by blending a first filtered depth image with a second filtered depth image or with the original depth image. The blending is achieved by application of a blending map, which defines, for each pixel, a contribution to the enhanced depth image of the corresponding pixel of the first filtered depth image and of the corresponding pixel of either the second filtered depth image or the original depth image. For pixels in the depth image containing no depth value or an invalid depth value, the blending map defines a zero contribution of the corresponding pixel of the second filtered depth image and a 100% contribution of the corresponding pixel of the first filtered image.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Bruno Mirbach, Thomas Solignac, Frederic Garcia Becerro, Djamila Aouada
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Patent number: 9400917Abstract: A dynamic reference range image generation method comprises providing a reference range image, to be dynamically updated, composed of pixels, each of which contains a reference range value. An acquired range image is provided, the pixels of which contain each a measured range value, the measured range values being updated at a predetermined rate. Pixels of the acquired range image containing an invalid measured range value are accordingly marked. The measured range value of each pixel of the acquired range image not marked as containing an invalid measured range value is compared with the reference range value of the corresponding pixel of the reference range image. The reference range value of that pixel of the reference range image is updated e.g.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.Inventors: Frédéric Grandidier, Bruno Mirbach, Thomas Solignac
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Publication number: 20150235351Abstract: A method for enhancing a depth image of a scene, comprises calculating an enhanced depth image by blending a first filtered depth image with a second filtered depth image or with the original depth image. The blending is achieved by application of a blending map, which defines, for each pixel, a contribution to the enhanced depth image of the corresponding pixel of the first filtered depth image and of the corresponding pixel of either the second filtered depth image or the original depth image. For pixels in the depth image containing no depth value or an invalid depth value, the blending map defines a zero contribution of the corresponding pixel of the second filtered depth image and a 100% contribution of the corresponding pixel of the first filtered image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2013Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Bruno Mirbach, Thomas Solignac, Frederic Garcia Becerro, Djamila Aouada
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Patent number: 8723924Abstract: A method of recording 3D images of a scene based on the time-of-flight principle is described. The method includes illuminating a scene by emitting light carrying an intensity modulation, imaging the scene onto a pixel array using an optical system, detecting, in each pixel, intensity-modulated light reflected from the scene onto the pixel and determining, for each pixel, a distance value based on the phase of light detected in the pixel. The determination of the distance values includes a phase-sensitive de-convolution of the scene imaged onto the pixel array such that phase errors induced by light spreading in the optical system are compensated for.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.Inventors: Bruno Mirbach, Marta Castillo Franco, Thomas Solignac, Frédéric Grandidier
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Publication number: 20120229646Abstract: A dynamic reference range image generation method comprises providing a reference range image, to be dynamically updated, composed of pixels, each of which contains a reference range value. An acquired range image is provided, the pixels of which contain each a measured range value, the measured range values being updated at a predetermined rate. Pixels of the acquired range image containing an invalid measured range value are accordingly marked. The measured range value of each pixel of the acquired range image not marked as containing an invalid measured range value is compared with the reference range value of the corresponding pixel of the reference range image. The reference range value of that pixel of the reference range image is updated e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Frédéric Grandidier, Bruno Mirbach, Thomas Solignac
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Publication number: 20110205340Abstract: A camera system comprises a 3D TOF camera for acquiring a camera-perspective range image of a scene and an image processor for processing the range image. The image processor contains a position and orientation calibration routine implemented therein in hardware and/or software, which position and orientation calibration routine, when executed by the image processor, detects one or more planes within a range image acquired by the 3D TOF camera, selects a reference plane among the at least one or more planes detected and computes position and orientation parameters of the 3D TOF camera with respect to the reference plane, such as, e.g., elevation above the reference plane and/or camera roll angle and/or camera pitch angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2009Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Frederic Garcia, Frederic Grandidier, Bruno Mirbach, Roberto Orsello, Thomas Solignac
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Publication number: 20110018967Abstract: A method of recording 3D images of a scene based on the time-of-flight principle comprises illuminating a scene by emitting light carrying an intensity modulation, imaging the scene onto a pixel array using an optical system, detecting, in each pixel, intensity-modulated light reflected from the scene onto the pixel and determining, for each pixel, a distance value based on the phase of light detected in the pixel. The determination of the distance values comprises a phase-sensitive de-convolution of the scene imaged onto the pixel array such that phase errors induced by light spreading in the optical system are compensated for.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.Inventors: Bruno Mirbach, Marta Castillo Franco, Thomas Solignac, Frederic Grandidier