Patents Examined by Anner Holder
  • Patent number: 9172991
    Abstract: The disclosure is disclosed an apparatus of processing an image and a method thereof. According to the present invention, the method of transmitting a broadcast signal for a 3-dimensional, 3D, service, the method may include encoding video data for a 3D service into a stream and transmitting a broadcast signal including the encoded stream and service information for signaling the 3D service, wherein the service information comprises a first descriptor includes first information for specifying that a type of the stream is a video stream and second information for specifying a type of a component included in the video stream is a 3D video component, and wherein the first and second information including values for indicating presence and attribute of subtitles of the 3D service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jong Yeul Suh, Jin Pil Kim, Jee Hyun Choe, Ho Tack Hong, Kwan Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 9172964
    Abstract: Methods for changing a rate-control (RC) setting during video encoding, performed by an RC controller and a video encoder, are provided. An embodiment of the method comprises determining whether change in the RC setting is allowed for encoding a next portion of a video sequence, detecting a request for changing the RC setting before encoding the next portion of the video sequence if the RC setting is allowed to be changed; and executing video encoding for the next portion of the video sequence ceaselessly utilizing the changed RC setting when detecting the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Chih-Hui Kuo
  • Patent number: 9157865
    Abstract: A calibration artifact for an inspection system is provided. The calibration artifact comprises a base adapted for placement within a holding fixture of an inspection system during calibration, a sphere operatively connected to the base, and a light source operatively connected to the base. The base, the sphere, and the light source are removable from the inspection system after calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph D. Drescher, Erik M. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9152875
    Abstract: A video encoder receives a macro-block of an image frame, and determines whether the macro-block contains text. The video encoder computes a quantization parameter for quantizing the macro-block, with the quantization parameter computed to be smaller if the macro-block is determined to contain text. The video encoder encodes the macro-block using the quantization parameter. Text quality in the encoded macro-block is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Manu Mathew, Soyeb Nagori
  • Patent number: 9153111
    Abstract: Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Scott Trundle, Robert J. McCarthy, Jr., Jean-Paul Martin, Alison Jane Slavin, David James Hutz
  • Patent number: 9146312
    Abstract: Pre-processing is applied to a raw VideoSAR (or similar near-video rate) product to transform the image frame sequence into a product that resembles more closely the type of product for which conventional video codecs are designed, while sufficiently maintaining utility and visual quality of the product delivered by the codec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby G. Rush, Robert Riley
  • Patent number: 9148673
    Abstract: Various implementations relate to depth map coding. In one method, a depth coding rate and depth distortion are determined for a coding mode. Based on the value of depth distortion, a correlation coefficient is determined between at least a portion of a video picture and a translated version of the video picture. The video picture is one or more of a video picture corresponding to the depth being coded, or a rendered video picture for a different view. A video distortion is determined based on the correlation coefficient, and is used to evaluate the coding mode. Another implementation determines a multiplier, to be used in a rate-distortion cost, based on pixel values from one or more of a video picture from a particular view or a rendered video picture for a different view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Woo-Shik Kim, Po-Lin Lai, Dong Tian
  • Patent number: 9148648
    Abstract: A mobile communication system for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image is provided. The mobile communication system includes an image providing apparatus to generate a first two-dimensional (2D) image Transport Stream (TS), and a second 2D image TS by capturing the same target in different directions, a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) server to control at least two base stations included in an MBS area to individually transmit the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS, and a portable display apparatus to receive the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS, to divide the first 2D image TS and the second 2D image TS into first 2D image data and second 2D image data, respectively, and to display a 2D image or a 3D image based on an image quality of each of the first 2D image data and the second 2D image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Young Il Kim
  • Patent number: 9143740
    Abstract: A camera based sewer evaluation vehicle has an electro-scan pipe defect detection system integrated therein. A cable and winch of the camera based system are utilized to support either a camera or an electro-scan probe. A signal transmitted through the cable is passed along for processing of signals received through the cable for final output and analysis, such as on a common computer. To facilitate electro-scan probe based pipe defect detection, a ground rod is utilized. The system can include a funnel plug downstream of the electro-scan probe for interconnection to a haul line and to assist in maintaining a liquid filled status in the pipe adjacent the electro-scan probe. A downstream bypass funnel plug or a blockade of some form can operate within and past a downstream manhole adjacent the pipe to keep the pipe filled with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Electro Scan, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Hansen, Robert Jackson Harris
  • Patent number: 9143788
    Abstract: A method of encoding video wherein multiple threads of GOPs are encoding in parallel from a buffer in a single pass. In the buffer GOPs having fewer frames than a low frame threshold at the end of a scene are merged with a preceding GOP. Hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) information is stored in the buffer for each GOP and HRD information for neighboring GOPs are merged in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventor: Hua Yang
  • Patent number: 9134523
    Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus for achieving predictive focusing in an image scanning system. The apparatus comprises an optical path-length changing plate and an image sensor. In one embodiment, the plate comprises a plurality of path-length changing members. The plate further includes a central region configured to provide a substantially constant change in optical path length across the central region, allowing an image passing therethrough to be in-focus captured. Having a light receiving surface, each path-length changing member is configured to provide a substantially non-uniform change in optical path length across the light receiving surface, allowing a focus plane of the image to be tilted such that the image projected onto the imaging sensor can be used for predicting an amount of optical adjustment required to achieve focusing. By using more than one path-length changing member, predictive focusing is achievable with more than one direction of focus-plane tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Xiaohua Wu
  • Patent number: 9123504
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor inspection device and a semiconductor inspection method such that in a specimen image in a single field of view obtained by an electron microscope, it is possible to suppress variations in the edge position measurement error attributable to the materials and structures of the lower layers of measured patterns by a first method, wherein the area in the field of view obtained by electron beam scanning is divided into a plurality of regions on the basis of information regarding the structures and materials of the object to be observed and the electron beam scanning conditions are changed for individual regions (805, 806), a second method, wherein, the image processing conditions are changed for individual regions resulting from division of the obtained images, or a third method, wherein the edge detection conditions are changed for individual regions resulting from the division within the edge inspection regions of the obtained images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Yoshinori Momonoi, Junichi Tanaka, Hiroki Kawada
  • Patent number: 9115999
    Abstract: A digital video camera is placed on a vehicle. The video camera is attached to the vehicle and is directed to a surface at a certain angle to the surface. The camera angle can change while vehicle is in motion. The camera angle is constantly measured by angular sensor (i.e., inclinometer). Images of the surface are projected onto a video matrix and transformed into a sequence of digital frames that are formed at a pre-set time interval. A speed of the video camera relative to the surface is calculated as a ratio of an off-set between the adjacent frames and the time interval between the frames. Then a known relative speed of the vehicle can be corrected by multiplication of the height of the camera (above the surface) by a coefficient that equals a ratio of the known vehicle speed and the measured camera speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Y. Vorobiev
  • Patent number: 9100038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of transmitting at least one current image portion, wherein the method comprises selecting a coding function from a finite set of coding functions by applying at least one choice function of a first type, said choice function or functions of said first type using already-decoded image data, coding the current image portion using the selected coding function, sending the coded image portion to a decoder, and sending to said decoder information describing the choice function or functions of said first type. The invention also relates to the corresponding decoding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Joël Jung, Guillaume Laroche
  • Patent number: 9088784
    Abstract: An encoding apparatus and an encoding method, a decoding apparatus and a decoding method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for encoding image signals with a higher compression ratio for transmission or accumulation. In an arithmetic coding section, from among the syntax elements of input image compression information, the frame/field flag is first encoded by a frame/field flag context model. When the macroblock to be processed is subjected to frame-based encoding, a frame-based context model, specified in the current H.26L standard, is applied. On the other hand, when the macroblock to be processed is subjected to field-based encoding, a field-based context model is applied for the syntax elements described below. The present invention is applied to an encoder for encoding image information and a decoder for decoding image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushi Sato, Teruhiko Suzuki, Osamu Sunohara, Yoichi Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 9088799
    Abstract: An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a co-located motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting the motion vector predictor from the list; and coding a current block and coding a current motion vector, wherein the deriving includes: deriving the candidate by a first derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of a current reference picture and a co-located reference picture is a long-term reference picture; and deriving the candidate by a second derivation scheme in the case of determining that each of the current reference picture and the co-located reference picture is a short-term reference picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Viktor Wahadaniah, Chong Soon Lim, Sue Mon Thet Naing, Hai Wei Sun, Toshiyasu Sugio, Takahiro Nishi, Hisao Sasai, Youji Shibahara, Kyoko Tanikawa, Toru Matsunobu, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 9083949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high speed scalable video coding device and method using a multi-track video, and the scalable video encoding device comprises: a video array unit for arraying a multi-track video in a plurality of layers according to a set standard; a bit stream analyzing unit for analyzing each layer of a bit stream and extracting encoding information including an encoding mode and prediction information; a layer for carrying out scalable video encoding; and a scalable video coding (SVC) encoding unit for determining the encoding mode using the encoding information of an upper or a lower layer of a layer carrying out the scalable video encoding, and for encoding in the determined encoding mode. The scalable video encoding device and method of the present invention enhance the speed of encoding a multi-track video into a scalable video by using the encoding information of a standard multi-track video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SK PLANET CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Meon Bae
  • Patent number: 9083884
    Abstract: An image photographing device displays a preview panoramic image and data regarding moving velocity and direction of the image photographing device during panorama photographing in real time. The image photographing device includes a photographing unit to photograph a plurality of images, an image processing unit to convert the images photographed by the photographing unit into preview image data and to generate preview panorama data using the preview image data, and a display unit to simultaneously output a screen to display the preview image data, a screen to display a process of synthesizing the preview panorama data, a moving direction display screen indicating a relative difference between the moving direction of the image photographing device and a predetermined reference direction, and a moving velocity display screen indicating a relative difference between the moving velocity of the image photographing device and a predetermined reference velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 9077882
    Abstract: The filtering tasks that are conventionally applied in a video monitoring application, to distinguish images that may be relevant to the application, are distributed to the image source, or near-source devices. Source devices, such as cameras and playback devices, and near-source devices, such as video concentrators and streaming devices, are configured to include video processing tools that can be used to pre-filter the image data to identify frames or segments of frames that include image information that is likely to be relevant to the receiving video monitoring application. In this manner, the receiving processor need not spend time and resources processing images that are pre-determined to be irrelevant to the receiving application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Tomas Brodsky, Mi-Suen Lee, Carolyn Christine Ramsey, Yun-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 9078004
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter, in one embodiment, provides techniques to signal inter-layer texture and motion prediction from different direct dependent reference layers. In certain exemplary arrangements, techniques are provided which include one or more syntax elements in a high level syntax structure, e.g., the slice segment header, indicating such different direct dependent reference layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: VIDYO, INC.
    Inventors: Jill Boyce, Danny Hong, Wonkap Jang