Patents Examined by Deirdre Beasley
  • Patent number: 9188663
    Abstract: An improved solution for generating depth maps using time-of-flight measurements is described, more specifically a time-of-flight imager and a time-of-flight imaging method with an improved accuracy. A depth correction profile is applied to the measured depth maps, which takes into account propagation delays within an array of pixels of a sensor of the time-of-flight imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Peter Centen, Klaas Jan Damstra, Jeroen Rotte, Juul Van Den Heijkant
  • Patent number: 9172963
    Abstract: In one example, a video decoder is configured to determine whether a component of a transform unit of a coding unit of video data includes at least one non-zero coefficient based on a codeword for the transform unit, determine whether the transform unit is split into sub-transform units based on the codeword, and decode the transform unit based on the determinations. In another example, a video encoder is configured to determine whether a component of a transform unit of a coding unit of video data includes at least one non-zero coefficient, determine whether the transform unit is split into sub-transform units, select a codeword from a variable length code table, wherein the variable length code table provides an indication that the codeword corresponds to the determinations, and provide the codeword for the transform unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Xianglin Wang, Marta Karczewicz, Wei-Jung Chien, Peisong Chen
  • Patent number: 9160979
    Abstract: An image depicting an object has a center that is not on an optical axis of a camera used to capture the image. The image is on an image plane, and the object is in an object space. A method implemented for automatically determining the position of the camera relative to the object includes displaying the image via a user interface, receiving vanishing point information from the user interface, such that the vanishing point data indicates a respective location on the image plane of each of a first vanishing point, a second vanishing point, and a third vanishing point, and automatically determining the position of the camera based on the first vanishing point, the second vanishing point, and the third vanishing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: John E. Ulmer
  • Patent number: 9131219
    Abstract: A method for determining a centerline for a triangulation-based optical profilometry system, compensating for the spatial variations of the reflectance of an object's surface. The method comprises providing a luminous line on the object, the luminous line being a triangulation line superposed with a compensation line; capturing an image of the triangulation line and of the compensation line; for each position along the imaged triangulation line, determining a transverse triangulation profile from the imaged triangulation line and a transverse compensation profile from the imaged compensation line; determining a transverse correction profile given by the reciprocal of the transverse compensation profile; multiplying the transverse triangulation profile with the transverse correction profile to obtain a corrected transverse triangulation profile; computing a center of the corrected transverse triangulation profile. The centers determined at positions along the triangulation line form the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventors: Michel Doucet, Michel Robert, Daniel Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 9129400
    Abstract: A camera of a computing device can capture two or more images of a region including an object of interest, in order to allow for separation of the object from a background of the images through a process such as image subtraction. In order to compensate for rotations of the device between image captures, an element such as an electronic gyroscope can be used to monitor changes in orientation and predict an amount of shift of objects between images. The predicted shift can be used to attempt to align images captured around the time of the rotation, in order to enable subtraction or similar processes by effectively removing the shifting effect of the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Volodymyr V. Ivanchenko, Gunnar Hovden
  • Patent number: 9121760
    Abstract: A device, for imaging infrared radiation from a scene, includes a detector of the infrared radiation, an enclosure for keeping the detector at an operating temperature thereof, an optical system, outside the enclosure, for focusing the infrared radiation onto the detector via a window of the enclosure, and a filter. In one embodiment, the filter is positioned at an intermediate focal plane of the optical system. In another embodiment, the filter is on a surface of an optical element of the optical system and has a defocusing relationship to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: CI SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Dario Cabib, Moshe Lavi, Ziv Attar
  • Patent number: 9113158
    Abstract: A method of driving a display panel includes outputting a data voltage of a first-eye data frame to a plurality of data lines of the display panel in a first normal frame, and outputting a partial line data voltage of the first-eye data frame to a first partial line of the plurality of data lines of the display panel in a first partial frame, where a polarity of the partial line data voltage of the first-eye data frame in the first partial frame is substantially the same as a polarity of the data voltage of the first-eye data frame outputted to the first partial line of the plurality of data lines in the first normal frame, and where an interval of the first partial frame is less than an interval of the first normal frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jang-Hyun Yeo, Jae-Wan Park, Jung-Hwan Cho
  • Patent number: 9092900
    Abstract: Embodiments alter the swoop trajectory depending on the terrain within the view of the virtual camera. To swoop into a target, a virtual camera may be positioned at an angle relative to the upward normal vector from the target. That angle may be referred to as a tilt angle. According to embodiments, the tilt angle may increase more quickly in areas of high terrain variance (e.g., mountains or cities with tall buildings) than in areas with less terrain variance (e.g., flat plains). To determine the level of terrain variance in an area, embodiments may weigh terrain data having higher detail more heavily than terrain data having less detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Coombe
  • Patent number: 9080855
    Abstract: A method utilizing image correlation to determine position measurements in a machine vision system. In a first operating state, the machine vision system utilizes traditional scale-based techniques to determine position measurements, while in a second operating state, image correlation displacement sensing techniques are utilized to determine position measurements. The image correlation techniques provide for higher accuracy for measuring distances between features that are separated by more than one field of view. The user may toggle between the operating states through a selection on the user interface, and guidance may be provided regarding when the image correlation mode is likely to provide higher accuracy, depending on factors such as the distance to be measured and the characteristics of the surface being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Nahum, Mark Lawrence Delaney
  • Patent number: 9064406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring vehicles. The vehicles are monitored using a sensor unit. The sensor unit comprises a housing, a camera system, a wireless communications system, and a controller associated with the housing. The camera system has a field of view and is configured to generate images. The wireless communications system is configured to transmit wireless signals. The controller is configured to detect a number of vehicles in the images, generate information for the number of vehicles, and send the information in the wireless signals. The information for the number of vehicles is sent to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Patricia W. Stevens, Karol Grabczewski, Kenneth Leonard Bernier, Neil F. Ruggieri, Robert G. Becnel, Joe B. Russek
  • Patent number: 9063000
    Abstract: A thermal imaging camera monitors the temperature different zones in a pharmaceutical process such as ribbon compaction, coating, spray drying, fluid bed drying, high shear wet granulation, crystallization, lyophilization, precipitation, fermentation, and low dosage dispensing of a pharmaceutically active liquid. The thermal imaging camera can be used to produce a visual display of a temperature profile, or a spray pattern. In addition, feedback from the thermal imaging camera is used to control one or more processing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GlaxoSmithKline LLC
    Inventor: Zane A. Arp
  • Patent number: 9013553
    Abstract: In embodiments, a virtual advertising platform may use a three-dimensional mapping algorithm to insert a virtual image within a digital video stream. The virtual advertising platform may apply a three-dimensional mapping algorithm to the virtual digital image, wherein the three-dimensional mapping algorithm causes the virtual digital image to be recomposited within a plurality of frames within a received two-dimensional digital data feed in place of a spatial region within the two-dimensional data feed. The mapping algorithm may enable application of analogous geometric changes to the virtual digital image that are present in the spatial region within the plurality of video frames within the two-dimensional digital video data feed, and may send the recomposited digital data feed for display to a user, wherein the recomposited digital data feed is a virtualized digital data feed that includes the virtual digital image in place of the spatial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rocks International Group Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Karel Paul Stephan
  • Patent number: 9014269
    Abstract: A crawl motion vector is determined based on a speed and direction of the crawling text to be displayed in a text crawl area. A determination whether to re-encode macroblocks in the plurality of pictures is made. The macroblocks in the plurality of pictures that are to be re-encoded are either macroblocks having motion vectors pointing to the text crawl area or macroblocks within the text crawl area. A lowest bit rate coding option for each macroblock to be re-encoded is determined, and each macroblock is re-encoded using the lowest bit rate coding option for the macroblock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Perera, Joseph D. Young
  • Patent number: 8976236
    Abstract: A system for illuminating and recording an image of an operative field during a medical procedure is presented. The system includes a first light source assembly, a second light source assembly, and a controller. The first and second light source assemblies include a light source operable to illuminate the operative field, a camera operable to record the image of the operative field, and a sensor operable to detect motion from the light source assemblies. The controller is in communication with the first and second light source assemblies. The controller is configured to send operational commands to the light source assemblies based on feedback from the sensors. One of the operational commands is a recording command. The controller is configured to send the recording command to either the camera in the first or second light source assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Mary Maitland DeLand
  • Patent number: 8964010
    Abstract: A display device receives first data for an object to be displayed at a first point in time and second data for the object to be displayed at a second point in time, the second point in time being after the first point in time. A controller determines a difference between the first and second data and controls output of an audio signal based on the difference. The difference is indicative of a change in perceived depth by a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Heejin Kim, Sungkoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8933992
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image recording device, an image reproduction device and a system with such a recording and reproduction device. The recording device comprises an optical axis (1) and a concave mirror (10), whereas through the use of said concave mirror (10) an image of an object (12) can be generated through reflection, the object being located at or projected onto the optical axis (1) near the focal point (11) of the concave mirror (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
    Inventor: Stefanus Roemer
  • Patent number: 8848037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a data structure, a recording medium, a playing device and a playing method, and a program, which enable providing of a video format for 3D display, suitable for 3D display of subtitles and menu buttons. Subtitle data for the left eye and subtitle data for the right eye which are used for 3D display of subtitles is recorded in a disc 501 in increments of epochs. The structures of epochs of subtitle data for the left eye and subtitle data for the right eye to be played simultaneously are the same. That is to say, the number of display sets making up an epoch of subtitle data for the left eye, and the number of display sets making up an epoch of subtitle data for the right eye, that are to be played simultaneously, are the same. The present invention can be applied to a disc for 3D display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Uchimura
  • Patent number: 8817069
    Abstract: A method of filling occluded areas of a depth or disparity map estimated from at least two images and consisting of a matrix of pixels forming a set of lines and columns, each pixel of the map being associated with a depth or disparity value (pixel value) and any pixel of an occluded area (invalid pixel) being associated with a pixel value identifiable as being invalid. This method comprises a step of processing each line of the map pixel by pixel in a predefined direction and assigning each invalid pixel Pi encountered on a current line a value determined as a function of the values associated with the pixels in a predefined vicinity around the first valid pixel P1, if any, that follows the invalid pixel Pi on the current line and the value V(P1) of which corresponds to a greater depth or a lesser disparity relative to the value V(P0) of the last valid pixel P0, if any, that precedes the invalid pixel Pi on the current line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: David Alessandrini, Raphaèle Balter, Stéphane Pateux
  • Patent number: 8803963
    Abstract: Individual authentication techniques are disclosed, which relate to a vein recognition based to biometric authentication system. Systems and methods to capture the subcutaneous vein pattern at the back of the palm and use it as the biometric identity of an individual are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Kranthi Kiran Pulluru, Govind Agrawal, Arti Agrawal
  • Patent number: 8791986
    Abstract: Disclosed are a display apparatus and a control method thereof. The display apparatus may include a signal receiving unit which receives a three-dimensional (3D) image signal, the 3D image signal including a left eye image and a right eye image; a converter which converts a format of the 3D image signal into a second transmission format if the format of the 3D image signal is of a first transmission format; a 3D processor which processes the converted 3D image signal for 3D display; and a display unit which performs the 3D display with regard to the processed 3D image signal. With this configuration, it is possible to convert a 3D image signal of a new standard into a format which can be processed by a system which processes a 3D image signal according to a previously existing standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-rae Kang, Jong-whan Lee, You-young Jung