Patents Examined by Kim Vu
  • Patent number: 9734560
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively enhancing regions in an image. In one embodiment, a digital image is read from an image source and is converted into a desired image model. One or more regions in the image having intensity values of pixels falling outside a pre-determined optimal intensity range are determined. The one or more regions in the image are then enhanced using a modeled light source of an optimal intensity such that the intensity value of pixels corresponding to the one or more regions in the image fall within the pre-determined optimal intensity range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KPIT TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Vinay Govind Vaidya, Sanjyot Gindi
  • Patent number: 9729865
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a primary user to be identified and tracked using stereo association and multiple tracking algorithms. For example, a face detection algorithm can be run on each image captured by a respective camera independently. Stereo association can be performed to match faces between cameras. If the faces are matched and a primary user is determined, a face pair is created and used as the first data point in memory for initializing object tracking. Further, features of a user's face can be extracted and the change in position of these features between images can determine what tracking method will be used for that particular frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hao Kuo, Jim Oommen Thomas, Tianyang Ma, Stephen Vincent Mangiat, Sisil Sanjeev Mehta, Ambrish Tyagi, Amit Kumar Agrawal, Kah Kuen Fu, Sharadh Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9721143
    Abstract: Modifying a visual depiction is provided. A processor identifies a first depiction of a first member of an online social network. The processor determines a first date value representing a date corresponding to the first depiction. The processor determines a relationship between the first member and a second member of the online social network. The processor identifies a second date value based, at least in part, on the relationship between the first member and the second member. The processor determines a region of the first depiction by performing facial recognition based, at least in part, on the first depiction. The processor generates a second depiction by applying one or more operations to the region of the first depiction based, at least in part, on the second date value, wherein the second depiction allows identification of the first member based, at least in part, on the second date value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Lydia M. Do
  • Patent number: 9713450
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the iterative reconstruction of projection data. In certain embodiments, the iterative reconstruction is a multi-stage iterative reconstruction in which different feature are selectively emphasized at different stages. Selective emphasis at different stages may be accomplished by differentially handling two or more decompositions of an input image at certain iterations and/or by differently processing certain features with respect to each stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, David Allen Langan, Omar Al Assad
  • Patent number: 9715616
    Abstract: A sequence of biometric data images is received, such as, for example, a sequence of fingerprint images, and a set of biometric data images is selected from the sequence of images. The set of images can include one or more segments of at least one image in the sequence of images. One or more portions of at least one image of biometric data in the set of images can be selected to be included in the unified image of biometric data. The unified image of biometric data can be constructed using the one or more portions of the at least one image of biometric data. If the unified image of biometric data is not complete, a user can be prompted for one or more additional images of biometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Byron B. Han, Craig A. Marciniak, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 9710921
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hansen Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Serena Wong, Sean Walker, Jason Hsu, June Park, Neal Tanner, Kiran Murthy
  • Patent number: 9710721
    Abstract: Methods are provided for automatically performing atmospheric compensation of a multi or hyper spectral image. One method comprises transforming at least two endmembers extracted from an image into at-ground reflectance. The transformation may be approximate and/or only in certain spectral bands in order to reduce processing time. A matching component is then located in a spectral library for each of the at least two extracted endmembers. Gain and offset values are then calculated using the at least two matched extracted endmember and spectral library component pairs. At least part of the image is then compensated using the calculated gain and offset values. Another method uses at least one endmember extracted from the image and a black level. Methods for atmospheric compensation using water vapor content of pixels are also provided. In addition, methods for shadow correction of hyper and multi spectral images are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Ardouin, Vincent Ross
  • Patent number: 9706916
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring one or more surgical parameters of the eye over multiple sessions which are temporally spaced apart and between which the eye of the patient can have moved, said apparatus comprising: a camera for taking one or more images of the eye; a module for determining during a first session said at least one surgical parameter of the eye and its coordinates based on the image taken by said camera in a first coordinate system; a module for determining during a second session temporally spaced apart from said first session said at least one surgical parameter of the eye and its coordinates based on the image taken by said camera in a second coordinate system; a module for determining the eye motion in six degrees of freedom between said first and said second session and for determining a coordinate transformation based thereon; a module for transforming based on said determined eye motion said at least one surgical parameter of the eye and its coordinates from said first coordinate system int
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Oliver Kersting, Martin Grunding
  • Patent number: 9704237
    Abstract: A measuring unit (301) acquires measurement data for a plurality of lines by repeatedly executing, on a reference tire, a measurement process to acquire measurement data for one line. A first acquisition unit (311) generates height data for one line for each of the plurality of sets of measurement data measured by the measuring unit (301), arranges the generated plurality of values of one-dimensional height data into a matrix form, generates two-dimensional height data for the measured face, and generates reference shape data. A second acquisition unit (314) acquires object one-dimensional height data from one-line shape data measured by the measuring unit (301) for the object tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Araki, Eiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9704028
    Abstract: An information processing system that acquires image data corresponding to a target object that is a target for gesture recognition captured by an imaging device; determines whether a distance between the target object and the imaging device is inadequate for recognition of a gesture made by the target object; and outputs a notification when the determining determines that the distance between the target object and the imaging device is inadequate for recognition of a gesture made by the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Kimura
  • Patent number: 9704268
    Abstract: A device for determining information from images using sensor data may include at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit may be configured to receive a series of images from an image capture device, where each image of the series of images includes a representation of a physical object. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to receive a series of sensor data items from at least one sensor device, where each of the series of sensor data items corresponds to one of the sequence of images. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to determine a physical length of the physical object based at least in part on the series of images and the corresponding series of sensor data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Walter Glenn Soto, Frank Van Diggelen, Robert Americo Rango
  • Patent number: 9694497
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robot, which is designed to be operated in a working mode, in which a part of the robot is moved at a speed at which there is a risk of injury to a person. The working mode is deactivated if a safety device detects that the person has entered an action region of the displaceable part. The aim is to make close cooperation possible between the person and the robot. A sensor unit determines a position and a posture of the person while the person is outside the action region of the part. A prediction unit determines an action region of the person. A collision monitoring unit monitors whether the two action regions overlap. The robot can optionally be switched from the working mode into a safety mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sören Burmeister, Matthias Dürr
  • Patent number: 9692959
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor including at least one phase detection pixel, and a control unit operatively coupled to the image sensor. The control unit is configured to obtain image information and phase difference information about at least one subject through the image sensor, to identify a plurality of pieces of distance information corresponding to a plurality of regions associated with the image information, based on the phase difference information, and to process the image information, based on the distance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youngkwon Yoon, Hwayong Kang, Moonsoo Kim, Taeho Kim, Jeongjin Hong
  • Patent number: 9691132
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for inferring a facial composite, whereby user's designation regarding at least one point of a facial image is received, facial feature information are extracted based on the received user's designation, a facial type that coincides with the extracted facial feature information is searched from a facial composite database to generate a face shape model based on the searched facial type and an initial facial composite model having a facial type similar to a face of the facial image from a low-resolution facial image through which face recognition or identification cannot be accurately performed is provided, so that the face shape model contributes to criminal arrest and a low-resolution facial image captured by a surveillance camera can be more efficiently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ig Jae Kim, Young Ju Choi
  • Patent number: 9692932
    Abstract: An information conveying method is implemented by an information conveying system coupled to a first electronic device associated with a service provider and a second electronic device associated with a user. The system is programmed to: receive a reference image; create a data packet based, on to-be-conveyed information associated with the service provider, and link the data packet to the reference image; upon receiving a captured image from the second electronic device, generate a characteristic code of the captured image; determine whether the captured image matches the reference image; and when the determination made is affirmative, transmit the data packet to the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Shih-Wei Tang
  • Patent number: 9692937
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for: identifying perimeter lines in an image, e.g., document border lines forming a non-rectangular quadrilateral corresponding to a scanned document, determining document corner points, and correcting the input image based on determined corner points are described. Lines are identified in the input image and a line weight is generated for each identified line. The identified lines are classified into two different groups based on direction, e.g., predominately vertical or predominately horizontal. For each group at least two, and sometimes more, candidate perimeter lines are determined to be kept, based on line weight and line length, and other lines in the group are eliminated. Two best candidate perimeter lines are identified from each group, e.g., based on distance between the remaining lines in the group. Four document corner points are determined based on the remaining lines in the two groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Accusoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen A. Martucci, William Douglas Withers
  • Patent number: 9684849
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image sequence acquisition section that acquires an image sequence that includes a plurality of constituent images; and a processing section that performs an image summarization process that deletes some of the plurality of constituent images included in the image sequence to generate a summary image sequence, the processing section detecting an observation target area from each of the plurality of constituent images, selecting a reference image and a determination target image from the plurality of constituent images, calculating deformation information about a deformation estimation target area included in the reference image and the deformation estimation target area included in the determination target image, and determining whether or not the determination target image can be deleted based on the observation target area included in the reference image, the observation target area included in the determination target image, and the deformation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 9684769
    Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and method for diagnosis using a medical image. The apparatus includes: an analyzing unit configured to detect a lesion area, and generate a group of candidate lesion areas with respect to the detected lesion area; and an interface unit configured to arrange one or more candidate lesion areas selected among the group of candidate lesion areas with information about each of the one or more selected candidate lesion areas in a first region of an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Man Park, Kyoung-Gu Woo
  • Patent number: 9672447
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for changing the appearance of an original image comprising N>1 classes of image elements, the method comprising the step of: for each pixel and for at least one subset of the original image: calculating N probability values, each probability value defining a probability for the pixel of belonging to a corresponding one of the N classes of image elements, transforming a color of the pixel by using predetermined color transforms for each of the N classes of image elements and the N probability values for the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CELLAVISION AB
    Inventors: Sven Hedlund, Adam Morell
  • Patent number: 9665794
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an inventory management method and system. The present invention addresses the foregoing need of an inventory management system through which all size and shape of components can tracked before and after an assembly process in a manufacturing facility. The invention address the challenges faced by store keeping clerks in locating the position of excess components returned from assembly floor, which are taken in excess but not being utilized during assembly process. Since basic spare parts which are smaller in size but taken in large quantity from store room due to their frequent usage, excess components needs to be kept back in store keeping units for effective inventory management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Infosys Limited
    Inventors: Harikrishna Gandhinagara Narayana Rai, Krishnamurthy Sai Deepak, Radha Krishna Pisipati