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).
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Patent number: 10534448Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tormod Njolstad, Gudmund Ake Slettemoen, Oystein Damhaug, Shinji Kubota
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Patent number: 10429994Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hieu Nguyen, Tormod Njolstad, Babak Moussakhani, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Kenji Tanaka, Shinji Kubota
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Patent number: 10416787Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Babak Moussakhani, Tormod Njolstad
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Patent number: 10296078Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tormod Njolstad, Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Sverre Dale Moen
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Patent number: 10275097Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Tanaka, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Tormod Njolstad
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Patent number: 10133366Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Svein Henninen, Tormod Njolstad, Kenji Tanaka
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Patent number: 10114475Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad, Sverre Dale Moen, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Shinji Kubota
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Patent number: 10055026Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Tormod Njolstad
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Patent number: 9996197Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad
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Publication number: 20180101246Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: April 12, 2018Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Babak MOUSSAKHANI, Tormod NJOLSTAD
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Publication number: 20180074654Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji TANAKA, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Tormod NJOLSTAD
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Publication number: 20180067567Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Gudmund Ake SLETTEMOEN, Oystein DAMHAUG, Shinji KUBOTA
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Publication number: 20170351324Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicant: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASInventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Hallvard NAESS, Oystein DAMHAUG
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Publication number: 20170205906Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASInventors: Tormod NJOLSTAD, Oystein DAMHAUG, Hallvard NAESS, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Sverre Dale MOEN
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Publication number: 20170192528Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hallvard NAESS, Tormod NJOLSTAD, Sverre Dale MOEN, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Shinji KUBOTA
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Patent number: 9652029Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: EPSON NORWAY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ASInventors: Tormod Njolstad, Oystein Damhaug, Hallvard Naess, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Sverre Dale Moen
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Patent number: 9639165Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad, Sverre Dale Moen, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Shinji Kubota
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Publication number: 20160328089Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Hieu NGUYEN, Tormod NJOLSTAD, Babak MOUSSAKHANI, Karol Marcin PAWLAK, Kenji TANAKA, Shinji KUBOTA
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Publication number: 20160282968Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Svein Henninen, Tormod Njolstad, Kenji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20160282959Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventor: Tormod Njolstad