Patents Examined by James Pontius
  • Patent number: 9998695
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an automotive imaging system including an electronic image sensor having a sparse color filter array (CFA). The use of a sparse CFA results in: (1) improved image quality; and/or (2) cost savings by enabling use of a less complex, cheaper lens without any or any substantial reduction in image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Adil Nizam Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 9992455
    Abstract: Input video frames are encoded into a sequence of output video frames arranged in groups of pictures (GOP). Each input video frame is encoded into an output video frame using a respective compression value. Each GOP in the sequence of output video frames has a GOP length defined by a number of frames contained in the GOP. A level of motion and a level of light in a first input video frame are determined. If level of light is below a predetermined threshold value, encode the first input video frame using a predetermined constant GOP length and a compression value which is a decreasing function of the level of light. If level of light is above, encode the first input video frame using a GOP length which is a decreasing function of the level of motion, and a compression value which is a decreasing function of the level of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventor: Björn Östby
  • Patent number: 9976665
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a background pattern disposed behind a drip chamber, an image sensor, and a processor. The image sensor has a field of view and is configured to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The processor is coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and captures, using the image sensor, an image of the drip chamber and at least a portion of the background pattern, examines the image, and adjusts a flow rate of fluid flowing through a fluid line in accordance with the examination of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Bob D. Peret, Derek G. Kane, Dean Kamen, Colin H. Murphy, John M. Kerwin
  • Patent number: 9973662
    Abstract: Particular embodiments detect a solid color frame, such as a black frame, that may include visible content other than the solid color in a portion of the frame. These frames may conventionally not be detected as a solid color frame because of the visible content in the portion of the frame. However, these solid color frames may be “functional” black or white frames, in that the solid color frames are performing the function of the solid color frame even though the frames include the visible content. The visible content may be content that may always be displayed on the screen even if the video content is transitioning to an advertisement. Particular embodiments use techniques to detect the functional solid color frames even when visible content appears in the solid color frames. Particular embodiments use color layout information and edge distribution information to detect solid color frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Faisal Ishtiaq, Alfonso Martinez Smith
  • Patent number: 9967561
    Abstract: A digital media encoder/decoder uses a flexible quantization technique that provides the ability to vary quantization along various dimensions of the encoded digital media data, including spatial, frequency sub bands and color channels. The codec utilizes a signaling scheme to signal various permutations of flexible quantization combinations efficiently for primary usage scenarios. When a choice of quantizer is available, the codec efficiently encodes the current quantizer by defining a subset of quantizers and indexes the current quantizer from the set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Chengjie Tu, Sridhar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9952047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a measuring instrument and a method implemented in such a measuring instrument. The measuring instrument includes an image sensor, an actuator, a control unit and a processor. The actuator is arranged to move a field of view of the image sensor. The control unit is configured to cause the image sensor to capture at least one digital image during motion of the field of view of the image sensor by the actuator. The exposure time for capturing the digital image is longer than an identifiable section of a regulating pattern for modulation of an optical radiation either emitted or reflected by at least one target. The processor is configured to process at least a portion of the captured image for detecting in the at least one portion the identifiable section of the regulating pattern. Such a measuring instrument is advantageous for detecting and/or identifying a target in the vicinity of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventors: Mikael Nordenfelt, Mikael Hertzman
  • Patent number: 9933252
    Abstract: The self-position calculating apparatus includes: a patterned light beam extractor extracting a position of the patterned light beam an image of an area onto which the patterned light beam is projected. The apparatus calculates an orientation angle of the vehicle relative to the road surface from the position of calculates an amount of change in orientation of the vehicle based on temporal changes in multiple feature points on the road surface; and calculates a current position and a current orientation angle of the vehicle by adding the amount of change in the orientation to an initial position and an initial orientation angle of the vehicle. If a detected condition of the patterned light beam is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the patterned light beam extractor extracts the position from a superimposed image by superimposing images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Hidekazu Nishiuchi, Norihisa Hiraizumi, Jun Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9930232
    Abstract: A computerized toilet seat having an image capture system includes a toilet seat body; a positioning auxiliary device, disposed on the toilet seat body and having a main body and a connecting member; an image capture unit, coupled to the connecting member and having an optical positioning element, a first space being defined between the optical positioning element and the buttocks; and a manipulator, electrically connected to the image capture unit for operating the positioning auxiliary device. The manipulator controls the image capture unit to capture an image of the buttocks. After capturing the image, the manipulator calculates and adjusts a relative position of the buttocks and the connecting member through the optical positioning element, and the image of the buttocks is displayed on the manipulator according to a relative position of the first space and the buttocks, and operation information of the positioning auxiliary device is provided to the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Shao-Yu Peng
  • Patent number: 9930348
    Abstract: A device for coding video data includes a memory configured to store video data, and at least one processor configured to: determine a maximum number of bits to be used when coding a syntax element indicating absolute values of transform coefficients of a coding unit of the video data, determine a maximum number of suffix bits to be used when coding a Golomb-Rice/Exponential-Golomb coding suffix codeword of the syntax element, determine a maximum number of prefix bits to be used when coding a unary Golomb-Rice/Exponential-Golomb coding prefix codeword of the syntax element, determine the absolute values of transform coefficients for the coding unit, code a prefix codeword for one of the absolute values, and code a suffix codeword for the one of the absolute values, and code the coding unit based on the prefix codeword and the suffix codeword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajan Laxman Joshi, Marta Karczewicz
  • Patent number: 9921396
    Abstract: Selected embodiments include an imager providing wide field (WFOV) and foveated images. The imager includes a frontend optic receiving light. Corrective optics reduces distortions, and transmits the light to a splitter. One portion of the light exiting the splitter is focused on a WFOV image detector. A second portion falls on a scanning mirror targeting a selected field position. The light is corrected by an adaptive corrector, which may be configured for field position-dependent correction. The light from the corrector is focused on a foveated image detector. An eye tracker may be employed to select the foveated position corresponding to user gaze direction. Another imager includes a configurable corrector in the imager's optical stop. Free space optical (FSO) communication laser may be combined with a foveated/WFOV imager, with a corrector of the imager correcting the FSO light and a scanning component selecting transmission direction for the FSO light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ZIVA CORP.
    Inventors: Eliseo Ranalli, Anis Husain, Aaron Birkbeck
  • Patent number: 9911061
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to rapidly identify and track an arbitrary sized object through a temporal sequence of frames is described. The object being tracked may initially be identified via a specified or otherwise known region-of-interest (ROI). A portion of that ROI can be used to generate an initial or reference histogram and luminosity measure, metrics that may be used to identify the ROI in a subsequent frame. For a frame subsequent to the initial or reference frame, a series of putative ROIs (each having its own location and size) may be identified and the “best” of the identified ROIs selected. As used here, the term “best” simply means that the more similar two frames' histograms and luminosity measures are, the better one is with respect to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Zhou, Geoffrey T. Anneheim, Xiaoxing Li, Benjamin M. Olson
  • Patent number: 9912954
    Abstract: A method of decoding video, the method including receiving and parsing a bitstream which includes encoded video; extracting encoded image data relating to a current picture, which image data is assigned to at least one maximum coding unit, information relating to a coded depth and an encoding mode for each of the at least one maximum coding unit, and filter coefficient information for performing loop filtering on the current picture, from the bitstream; decoding the encoded image data in units of the at least one maximum coding unit, based on the information relating to the coded depth and the encoding mode for each of the at least one maximum coding unit; and performing deblocking on the decoded image data relating to the current picture, and performing loop filtering on the deblocked data, based on continuous one-dimensional (1D) filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tammy Lee, Woo-Jin Han, Il-Koo Kim
  • Patent number: 9911225
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for live capturing of light map image sequences for image-based lighting of medical data. Patient volume scan data for a target area is received over time by a processor. Lighting environment data for the target area is captured over time by a camera. The camera transmits the lighting environment data to the processor over time. The processor lights the patient volume scan data with the lighting environment data into lighted volume data over time. The processor renders an image of the lighted volume data over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Engel, Daphne Yu, Gianluca Paladini
  • Patent number: 9912935
    Abstract: To provide a stereo camera device capable of maintaining performance and reliability, while realizing thickness reduction, provided are a first image pickup device, a first communication connection unit to output a first image captured with the first image pickup device, a first image pickup substrate where the first image pickup device and the first communication connection unit are provided, a second image pickup device, a second communication connection unit to output a second image captured with the second image pickup device, a second image pickup substrate where the second image pickup device and the second communication connection unit are provided, and a housing where the first image pickup substrate is provided at one end and the second image pickup substrate is provided at another end. In the first image pickup substrate, the first image pickup device and the first communication connection unit are provided in parallel with each other in a lengthwise direction of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sasada, Satoshi Yamazaki, Ken Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 9906791
    Abstract: An image coding method for coding an input image per block to generate a coded image signal includes: predicting for each prediction unit which is an area obtained by partitioning a target block to generate a prediction image of the target block; comparing a transform unit which is an area obtained by partitioning the target block and is a processing unit for frequency transform with the prediction unit, to detect part of a boundary of the prediction unit, the boundary being located within the transform unit; performing boundary filtering on the detected part of the boundary in the generated prediction image; calculating a difference between a filtered prediction image and the input image to generate a difference image of the target block; and performing frequency transform on the difference image for each transform unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara
  • Patent number: 9888246
    Abstract: A scalable video encoding method includes splitting a lower-layer image into a maximum coding unit, and encoding the lower-layer image based on coding units having a tree structure obtained by hierarchically splitting the maximum coding unit; splitting a maximum coding unit of an upper-layer image corresponding to the maximum coding unit of the lower-layer image into coding units having the tree structure, based on a split structure of the maximum coding unit of the lower-layer image; determining a structure of a prediction unit included in the coding units of the upper-layer image corresponding to the coding units of the lower-layer image, based on structure information indicating a structure of the prediction unit included in the coding units of the lower-layer image; and determining whether to split the prediction unit included in the coding units of the upper-layer image by comparing a first cost to a second cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yin-ji Piao
  • Patent number: 9874308
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic gimbal with camera and mounting configuration. The gimbal can include an inertial measurement unit which can sense the orientation of the camera and three electronic motors which can manipulate the orientation of the camera. The gimbal can be removably coupled to a variety of mount platforms, such as an aerial vehicle, a handheld grip, or a rotating platform. Moreover, a camera can be removably coupled to the gimbal and can be held in a removable camera frame. Also disclosed is a system for allowing the platform, to which the gimbal is mounted, to control settings of the camera or to trigger actions on the camera, such as taking a picture, or initiating the recording of a video. The gimbal can also provide a connection between the camera and the mount platform, such that the mount platform receives images and video content from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriaki Saika, Ryan Harrison, Joshua Todd Druker, Himay Rashmikant Shukla, Nenad Uzunovic, Edward Gordon Russell, Gary Fong
  • Patent number: 9868060
    Abstract: Rendering processing is performed such that a distribution screen is rendered in rendering processing of a subsequent stage by referring to a Depth map generated by rendering processing of a preceding stage. A moving image distribution server selects the Depth map for coding determination during execution of rendering processing of the subsequent stage for a first screen, and determines for each set block whether to perform inter-frame coding by referring to a Depth map generated for a second screen rendered before the first screen. After rendering processing of the subsequent stage has ended for the first screen, the server performs coding in accordance with the determination result and sends the coded moving image data to an external device. The determination result is sent to the external device before generation of the coded moving image data of the first screen is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9866861
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for deriving a temporal motion vector predictor are described. A method for deriving a temporal motion vector predictor according to the present invention includes selecting a reference picture for a current block, determining a prediction block that corresponds to a predetermined storage unit block in the reference picture as a reference prediction unit for the current block, and deriving a temporal motion vector predictor from motion information of the determined reference prediction unit. According to the present invention, image compression efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joonyoung Park, Sangchul Kim, Seungwook Park, Jaehyun Lim, Yongjoon Jeon, Byeongmoon Jeon, Younghee Choi, Jaewon Sung, Jungsun Kim, Jingyeong Kim, Taeil Chung
  • Patent number: 9860551
    Abstract: A method for deriving a temporal motion vector predictor includes the steps of: selecting a reference picture for a current block; deciding a predictor block corresponding to a predetermined storage unit block, as a reference prediction unit for the current block, in the reference picture; and deriving the temporal motion vector predictor from motion information of the decided reference prediction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joonyoung Park, Sangchul Kim, Seungwook Park, Jaehyun Lim, Yongjoon Jeon, Byeongmoon Jeon, Younghee Choi, Jaewon Sung, Jungsun Kim, Jingyeong Kim, Taeil Chung