Patents by Inventor Tormod Njolstad

Tormod Njolstad 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: 10534448
    Abstract: Detection accuracy of a distance between a tip of a pointing element and a screen is to be improved. An interactive projector includes a projection unit, a plurality of cameras, and a position detection unit that detects a three-dimensional position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured by the plurality of cameras. When a direction separated from the projected screen is defined as a Z direction, the second camera is arranged at a position nearer the projected screen than that of the first camera in the Z direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tormod Njolstad, Gudmund Ake Slettemoen, Oystein Damhaug, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 10429994
    Abstract: A projector includes an imaging unit which images a screen SC, and a position detection unit which detects an indication position of an indicator based on a captured image of the imaging unit. The position detection unit detects reflected light of detection light reflected by the indicator from the captured image of the imaging unit and obtains the indication position of the indicator based on the position of the reflected light detected from the captured image and the distance between the screen SC and the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hieu Nguyen, Tormod Njolstad, Babak Moussakhani, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Kenji Tanaka, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 10416787
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection unit, a plurality of cameras, a position detection unit that detects a position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured, a function calculation unit that calculates a curved-surface function representing a three-dimensional shape of the projected screen based on a captured image including a specific image captured when the specific image is projected, and a contact detection unit that detects contact of the pointing element with the projected screen using the position of the pointing element detected by the position detection unit and the curved-surface function calculated by the function calculation unit, and the function calculation unit detects three-dimensional positions of a plurality of reference points, on the projected screen based on the captured image including the specific image and calculates the curved-surface function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Babak Moussakhani, Tormod Njolstad
  • Patent number: 10296078
    Abstract: A visual system includes one or more units, where each unit is a displaying unit or a video camera, or a combination of both, and each unit has a receiver. The unit has a transmitter which starts transmitting infrequent, short repetitive bursts if no bursts are received by the receiver; and otherwise transmits a delayed short burst synchronized to the infrequent, short repetitive bursts by the transmitter, in order to synchronize all units in the visual system to each other, while the infrequent, short repetitive bursts will not interfere nor will be interfered by the general use of remote controllers for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tormod Njolstad, Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Sverre Dale Moen
  • Patent number: 10275097
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection unit that projects the projected screen on a screen surface, a plurality of cameras that include a first camera and a second camera capturing an image of an area of the projected screen, a position detection unit that detects a three-dimensional position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured by the plurality of cameras, and a contact detection unit that detects contact with the projected screen of a pointing element, and the contact detection unit detects contact of the self-light emitting pointing element with the projected screen based on the light emitting pattern and detects contact of the non-light-emitting pointing element with the projected screen based on the three-dimensional position detected by the position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Tanaka, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Tormod Njolstad
  • Patent number: 10133366
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection section, a first detection light irradiation section and a second detection light irradiation section, an imaging section, and a position detection section adapted to detect a position of the pointing element based on an image, which is taken by the imaging section and includes the pointing element. The first and second detection light irradiation sections are disposed so that at least one of the following (i) and (ii) becomes higher than a threshold value: (i) a first contrast between the pointing element in a first image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the first detection light irradiation section and the projected screen, and (ii) a second contrast between the pointing element in a second image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the second detection light irradiation section and the projected screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Svein Henninen, Tormod Njolstad, Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10114475
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light emitting apparatus that emits detection light to a detection area for detecting indication positions of indicators, and a projector that detects the indication positions of the indicators in the detection area. The projector includes an imaging portion that captures an image of the detection area, and a position detection portion that detects at least one of an image of light generated by the indicator and an image of the detection light reflected on the indicator from data of a captured image of the imaging portion, and discriminates and detects the indication positions of the indicator and the indicator based on light emission timings of the indicator and the light emitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad, Sverre Dale Moen, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 10055026
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection section adapted to project a projected screen on a screen surface, an imaging section adapted to take an image of an area of the projected screen, and a pointing element detection section adapted to perform a detection process for detecting the pointing element based on the taken image, which is taken by the imaging section, and includes the pointing element, and the pointing element detection section sections the taken image into a plurality of small areas, and performs the detection process in at least one of the small areas using a parameter different from parameters in the rest of the small areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tormod Njolstad
  • Patent number: 9996197
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for controlling and interacting within an interaction volume and/or surface of a computer. The method, apparatus and system is optionally employed together with, or even be integrated into, data projectors of all types and its fixtures/stands, and used together with flat screens (LCD, plasma, OLED, rear-projection screen and so forth) to render such display systems interactive. The apparatus incorporates a camera covering the interaction area from either a very short distance or from a larger distance to determine the lateral positions (X, Y) and even capturing the pose of the finger(s), hand(s) or other interacting object(s), which optionally include the determination of “touch” and “hovering”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad
  • Publication number: 20180101246
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection unit, a plurality of cameras, a position detection unit that detects a position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured, a function calculation unit that calculates a curved-surface function representing a three-dimensional shape of the projected screen based on a captured image including a specific image captured when the specific image is projected, and a contact detection unit that detects contact of the pointing element with the projected screen using the position of the pointing element detected by the position detection unit and the curved-surface function calculated by the function calculation unit, and the function calculation unit detects three-dimensional positions of a plurality of reference points, on the projected screen based on the captured image including the specific image and calculates the curved-surface function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Babak MOUSSAKHANI, Tormod NJOLSTAD
  • Publication number: 20180074654
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection unit that projects the projected screen on a screen surface, a plurality of cameras that include a first camera and a second camera capturing an image of an area of the projected screen, a position detection unit that detects a three-dimensional position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured by the plurality of cameras, and a contact detection unit that detects contact with the projected screen of a pointing element, and the contact detection unit detects contact of the self-light emitting pointing element with the projected screen based on the light emitting pattern and detects contact of the non-light-emitting pointing element with the projected screen based on the three-dimensional position detected by the position detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji TANAKA, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Tormod NJOLSTAD
  • Publication number: 20180067567
    Abstract: Detection accuracy of a distance between a tip of a pointing element and a screen is to be improved. An interactive projector includes a projection unit, a plurality of cameras, and a position detection unit that detects a three-dimensional position of the pointing element with respect to the projected screen based on a plurality of images including the pointing element of which the image is captured by the plurality of cameras. When a direction separated from the projected screen is defined as a Z direction, the second camera is arranged at a position nearer the projected screen than that of the first camera in the Z direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Gudmund Ake SLETTEMOEN, Oystein DAMHAUG, Shinji KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20170351324
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method controls and interacts within an interaction volume within a height over the coordinate plane of a computer such as a computer screen, interactive whiteboard, horizontal interaction surface, video/web-conference system, document camera, rear-projection screen, digital signage surface, television screen or gaming device, to provide pointing, hovering, selecting, tapping, gesturing, scaling, drawing, writing and erasing, using one or more interacting objects, for example, fingers, hands, feet, and other objects, for example, pens, brushes, wipers and even more specialized tools. The apparatus and method be used together with, or even be integrated into, data projectors of all types and its fixtures/stands, and used together with flat screens to render display systems interactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS
    Inventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Hallvard NAESS, Oystein DAMHAUG
  • Publication number: 20170205906
    Abstract: A visual system includes one or more units, where each unit is a displaying unit or a video camera, or a combination of both, and each unit has a receiver. The unit has a transmitter which starts transmitting infrequent, short repetitive bursts if no bursts are received by the receiver; and otherwise transmits a delayed short burst synchronized to the infrequent, short repetitive bursts by the transmitter, in order to synchronize all units in the visual system to each other, while the infrequent, short repetitive bursts will not interfere nor will be interfered by the general use of remote controllers for other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS
    Inventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Oystein DAMHAUG, Hallvard NAESS, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Sverre Dale MOEN
  • Publication number: 20170192528
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light emitting apparatus that emits detection light to a detection area for detecting indication positions of indicators, and a projector that detects the indication positions of the indicators in the detection area. The projector includes an imaging portion that captures an image of the detection area, and a position detection portion that detects at least one of an image of light generated by the indicator and an image of the detection light reflected on the indicator from data of a captured image of the imaging portion, and discriminates and detects the indication positions of the indicator and the indicator based on light emission timings of the indicator and the light emitting apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hallvard NAESS, Tormod NJOLSTAD, Sverre Dale MOEN, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Shinji KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 9652029
    Abstract: A visual system includes one or more units, where each unit is a displaying unit or a video camera, or a combination of both, and each unit has a receiver. The unit has a transmitter which starts transmitting infrequent, short repetitive bursts if no bursts are received by the receiver; and otherwise transmits a delayed short burst synchronized to the infrequent, short repetitive bursts by the transmitter, in order to synchronize all units in the visual system to each other, while the infrequent, short repetitive bursts will not interfere nor will be interfered by the general use of remote controllers for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AS
    Inventors: Tormod Njolstad, Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Sverre Dale Moen
  • Patent number: 9639165
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light emitting apparatus that emits detection light to a detection area for detecting indication positions of indicators, and a projector that detects the indication positions of the indicators in the detection area. The projector includes an imaging portion that captures an image of the detection area, and a position detection portion that detects at least one of an image of light generated by the indicator and an image of the detection light reflected on the indicator from data of a captured image of the imaging portion, and discriminates and detects the indication positions of the indicator and the indicator based on light emission timings of the indicator and the light emitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad, Sverre Dale Moen, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Shinji Kubota
  • Publication number: 20160328089
    Abstract: A projector includes an imaging unit which images a screen SC, and a position detection unit which detects an indication position of an indicator based on a captured image of the imaging unit. The position detection unit detects reflected light of detection light reflected by the indicator from the captured image of the imaging unit and obtains the indication position of the indicator based on the position of the reflected light detected from the captured image and the distance between the screen SC and the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hieu NGUYEN, Tormod NJOLSTAD, Babak MOUSSAKHANI, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Kenji TANAKA, Shinji KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20160282968
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection section, a first detection light irradiation section and a second detection light irradiation section, an imaging section, and a position detection section adapted to detect a position of the pointing element based on an image, which is taken by the imaging section and includes the pointing element. The first and second detection light irradiation sections are disposed so that at least one of the following (i) and (ii) becomes higher than a threshold value: (i) a first contrast between the pointing element in a first image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the first detection light irradiation section and the projected screen, and (ii) a second contrast between the pointing element in a second image in a case in which the detection light is emitted only from the second detection light irradiation section and the projected screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Svein Henninen, Tormod Njolstad, Kenji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160282959
    Abstract: An interactive projector includes a projection section adapted to project a projected screen on a screen surface, an imaging section adapted to take an image of an area of the projected screen, and a pointing element detection section adapted to perform a detection process for detecting the pointing element based on the taken image, which is taken by the imaging section, and includes the pointing element, and the pointing element detection section sections the taken image into a plurality of small areas, and performs the detection process in at least one of the small areas using a parameter different from parameters in the rest of the small areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Tormod Njolstad