Patents Examined by James Pontius
  • Patent number: 9521401
    Abstract: Every frame regarding an input video signal is changed into a sequence of subframes. Subframe data is generated from the input video signal while first and second tables are alternately used. The first and second tables are designed so that a number of subframes assigned a pixel activated state increases each time a drive gradation related to the input video signal increases by 1. According to the first table, a subframe newly assigned the pixel activated state is one following the subframe or subframes which have already been assigned the pixel activated state when the drive gradation increases from an odd number to a next even number. According to the second table, a subframe newly assigned the pixel activated state is one preceding the pixel-activated-state subframe or subframes in that case. A display device is driven in response to the generated subframe data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9521399
    Abstract: Dynamic projection of at least first and second patterns contributes detectable disparity onto a scene that includes a target object. The scene is imaged with two-dimensional cameras whose acquired imagery includes disparity contributions whose presence enable a three-dimensional reconstruction depth map to be rapidly and accurately generated. In one embodiment coherent light is input to a first DOE within whose near range output is disposed a second DOE, whose far range output projects an image. Electronically varying effective optical distance between the two DOEs varies the pattern projected from the second DOE. A processor system and algorithms enable dynamic intelligent selection of projected patterns to more readily discern target object characteristics: shape, size, velocity. Patterns can implement spatio-temporal depth reconstruction, spatio-temporal depth reconstruction, and even single-camera spatio-temporal light coding reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AQUIFI, INC.
    Inventors: Aryan Hazeghi, Carlo Dal Mutto, Abbas Rafii, David Demirdjian
  • Patent number: 9518937
    Abstract: A method of inspecting articles of transparent/translucent material with a vision system comprises illuminating the articles with a light source having an angular spectrum that is adapted to the contrast selected for refractive items presented by the articles. An image sensor picks up the light that has passed through the articles to make images of the articles. During a stage of referencing the vision system, a reference standard is in the field of view of the image sensor, the standard including at least one standard item that refracts light in a known range of angles. An image of the standard is taken to measure at least the contrast in the image produced by at least one standard item. During at least one stage of qualifying the vision system, the standard is placed once more in front of the light source and in the field of view of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MSC & SGCC
    Inventors: Marc Leconte, Bernard Lopez
  • Patent number: 9516274
    Abstract: The present invention presents a sensing system 1 and a corresponding method for detecting moving objects 11 in the surroundings of a vehicle 10. The sensing system 1 comprises an imaging unit 2 for obtaining an image stream 2a, a computing unit 3 for analyzing the image stream 2a, and a control unit 4 for controlling the vehicle 10 based on the analysis result of the computing unit 3. The sensing system 1 particularly employs a background-model-free estimation. The sensing system 1 is configured to perform a local analysis of two neighboring motion vectors 6, which are computed from points 7a in images 5a, 5b of the image stream 2a, and to determine, whether the points 7a corresponding to these motion vectors 6 belong to a particularly moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Deigmoeller, Julian Eggert, Nils Einecke
  • Patent number: 9500526
    Abstract: The color uniformity of a light spot is measured by providing an image of the light spot by means of a camera or camera sensor with sensor elements, each of the sensor elements capturing a set of three or more color component values that together define a set of pixel values at such sensor element, wherein the image includes a plurality of sets of pixel values. The method also derives for each of the plurality of sets of pixel values at a corresponding sensor element a first ratio between a first pair of the pixel values or of values obtained therefrom in such set. Preferably a second ratio is also derived between a second pair of the pixel values or of values obtained therefrom in such set, where the second pair is different from the first pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DiCon Fiberoptics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee
  • Patent number: 9497383
    Abstract: A geodetic surveying device has a sighting unit pivotable about two axes. The sighting unit defines a target direction in a coordinate system and has a camera for capturing a camera image substantially in the target direction. The device can display object data that is stored in a database with a respective position reference indicating a position in the coordinate system. The device includes a graphical output unit that displays the camera image and the object data. The device has a filter functionality for the object data, with dynamic filtering based on the current range of view and static filtering based on a user selectable or specifiable selection criterion. The filtered object data is displayed on the output unit with markings representing the object data conjointly with the camera image. The markings are displayed at a respective point in the camera image referenced by the position reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Werner Lienhart
  • Patent number: 9491474
    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 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tammy Lee, Woo-Jin Han, Il-Koo Kim
  • Patent number: 9491446
    Abstract: An image processing device for receiving input image data in which multiple images displayed in mutually differing directions from a display are combined includes: a crosstalk correction processor for performing a crosstalk correction; and a response speed improvement correction processor for performing a response speed improvement correction. The crosstalk correction processor has an optical crosstalk correction processor for performing an optical crosstalk correction, and an electrical crosstalk correction processor for performing an electrical crosstalk correction. The optical crosstalk correction processor performs the correction based on the input image data and outputs optical crosstalk correction processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Inoue, Hidetsugu Suginohara, Satoshi Yamanaka, Kazuhiro Ishiguchi
  • Patent number: 9485523
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for entropy-encoding/entropy-decoding video data. The method of entropy-encoding video data includes binarizing coefficients of the frequency domain, which are generated by transforming a residual block of a current block into the frequency domain, using different binarization methods and performing binary arithmetic coding on the binarized coefficients. In this way, the coefficients are binarized adaptively according to whether the frequencies of the coefficients are high or low, thereby improving the compression efficiency of the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA COOPERATION GROUP OF SEJONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yung-Lyul Lee, Dae-Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 9473681
    Abstract: A housing for an infrared camera module may be implemented with a substantially non-metal cover configured to substantially or completely enclose various components of an infrared imaging device. A metal layer may be disposed on various interior and/or exterior surfaces of the cover. Such implementations may be used to reduce the effects of various environmental conditions which may otherwise adversely affect the performance of the infrared imaging device. In addition, one or more conductive traces may be built into the housing and/or on interior surfaces of the housing to facilitate the passing of signals from components of the infrared imaging device such as infrared sensors, read out circuitry, a temperature measurement component, and/or other components. One or more fiducial markers may be provided to align various components of the infrared camera module during manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore R. Hoelter, Joseph Kostrzewa, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp, Eric A. Kurth
  • Patent number: 9473789
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for decoding a moving picture. An entropy decoding unit restores a quantization coefficient sequence from a bitstream. An inverse quantization/transform unit generates a residual block. An inter prediction unit generates a prediction block of a current block based on motion vector information. When the prediction block is encoded in skip mode, motion information of the current block is restored using an available spatial or temporal skip candidate and the prediction block of the current block is generated using the motion information. The temporal skip candidate includes a reference picture index and a motion vector, the reference picture index of the temporal skip candidate is set to 0, and a motion vector of the temporal skip candidate is a motion vector of the temporal skip candidate in a temporal skip candidate picture. A scan pattern for inversely scanning the plurality of subsets is the same as a scan pattern for inversely scanning coefficients of each subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: M&K HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Soo Mi Oh, Moonock Yang
  • Patent number: 9467713
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for decoding a moving picture. An entropy decoding unit restores a quantization coefficient sequence from a bitstream. An inverse quantization/transform unit generates a quantized block by inversely scanning the quantization coefficient sequence in a unit of subset when a size of a transform unit is larger than 4×4 and generates a residual block. An inter prediction unit generates a prediction block of a current block based on motion vector information. When the prediction block is encoded in merge mode, motion information is restored using an available spatial or temporal merge candidate and the prediction block is generated using the motion information. The temporal merge candidate includes a reference picture index and a motion vector, the reference picture index of the temporal merge candidate is set to 0, and a motion vector of the temporal merge candidate is a motion vector of the temporal merge candidate in a temporal merge candidate picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: M&K HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Soo Mi Oh, Moonock Yang
  • Patent number: 9453991
    Abstract: A wide-angle lens having a field angle larger than 180 degrees includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front group, a reflection surface, and a back group, wherein the front group includes three lenses having a negative refractive power, the reflection surface is configured to curve an optical axis of the front group at 90 degrees toward the back group, the back group includes four lenses having a positive refractive power, a front principle point is set between a second lens and a third lens from the object side in the front group, and a focal length of an entire system f and a distance between an intersection of the reflection surface and the optical axis of the front group and the front principle point d satisfy the following condition (1). 7.0<d/f<9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Satoh, Noriyuki Terao, Yoshiaki Irino, Tomonori Tanaka, Nozomi Imae, Toru Harada, Hirokazu Takenaka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Kensuke Masuda, Satoshi Sawaguchi, Daisuke Bessho
  • Patent number: 9456114
    Abstract: A video surveillance component includes a base and a camera. The camera includes a case and a camera lens module. The case is detachably assembled to the base. The camera lens module is installed on the case. Moreover, a video surveillance assembly includes two video surveillance components. Each of the two video surveillance components includes a camera and a base having a back plate. The camera includes a case and a camera lens module installed on the case. The two back plates of the two bases are attached to each other, so as to expand the field of view of the video surveillance assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventor: Chung-Yon Huang
  • Patent number: 9451279
    Abstract: Provided is a method for decoding a moving picture. The method has the steps of generating a prediction block of a current block and generating a residual block of the current block. To generate the prediction block, a reference picture index and motion vector difference of the current block are obtained from a received bit stream, and spatial and temporal motion vector candidates are derived to construct a motion vector candidate list. A motion vector candidate corresponding to a motion vector index is determined as a motion vector predictor, and a motion vector of the current prediction unit is restored to generate a prediction block or the current block. Therefore, the motion vector encoded effectively using spatial and temporal motion vector candidates is correctly recovered and the complexity of a decoder is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: M & K HOLDINGS INC
    Inventor: Soo Mi Oh
  • Patent number: 9442296
    Abstract: An integrated image sensor capable of determining the distance to objects contained in a scene, including a pixel array, each pixel in the array being associated with a microlens and being formed of an assembly of sub-pixels, each including a photosensitive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Jérôme Vaillant
  • Patent number: 9445060
    Abstract: A system for transcoding locally cached content may include a memory configured to store at least a video stream. A controller communicatively coupled to the memory may be configured to determine a video definition format of a requested video stream and compare the requested video stream with a video definition format of a cached version of the requested video stream. A transcoder coupled to the controller may be configured to convert the cached version of the requested video stream to a lower video definition format if the video definition format of the cached version is determined to be higher than the video definition format of the requested video stream. If the video definition format of the requested video stream is same as the video definition format of the cached version, the controller may supply the requested video stream using the cached version stored in the memory without transcoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Li, Xuemin Chen
  • Patent number: 9444977
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of adaptive noise measurement of a video signal comprising a sequence of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Moesle, Paul Springer, Gregor Schewior
  • Patent number: 9445129
    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: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara
  • Patent number: 9445103
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products that can be used to determine a search range (SR) when performing motion estimation at, for example, a video encoder or decoder. Determining a motion vector for a current block during motion estimation may involve searching within a search window that may reside in a reference frame, or in a previously decoded block that spatially or temporally neighbors the current block. Such a search seeks a motion vector that minimizes a metric, such as a sum of absolute differences between corresponding blocks of reference frames. A motion vector that minimizes such a metric may be a good candidate for use in motion estimation. The search may become more efficient if a search range is determined such that the extent of the search is bounded. A search range may be determined at the block level or at the picture level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Lidong Xu, Yi-Jen Chiu