Patents by Inventor Mark Alan Zimmer

Mark Alan Zimmer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9619471
    Abstract: A presentation application for masking portions of an object, such as the background of an image, is provided. The presentation application may provide a background removal tool that allows a user to define an initial point in the background of the object. The presentation application may establish an initial background color based on the initial point, and may compute and automatically adjust a color tolerance of the background color based on the distance that a user-controlled cursor is from the initial point. Using a seed-fill algorithm, the presentation application can select a contiguous portion of the object for masking that includes the initial point and surrounding pixels that are within the background color tolerance. To smoothen the edges of the contiguous portion, the presentation application can convert the portion to a vector graphic before making the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Flider, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9600857
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for resampling a digital image. According to an implementation, a source image can be presharpened and upsampled to a first upsampled image having a specified image size and a first level of presharpening. The source image is also presharpened and upsampled to a second upsampled image having the specified image size and second level of presharpening that is less than the first level of presharpening. The first and second upsampled images are deblurred. A binary edge mask image is generated from the deblurred, upsampled images. The binary edge mask image is dilated and blurred to generate a deep mask image. The first and second, deblurred upsampled images are blended together using the deep mask image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Crandall, Jason Alexis Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20140300630
    Abstract: A presentation application for masking portions of an object, such as the background of an image, is provided. The presentation application may provide a background removal tool that allows a user to define an initial point in the background of the object. The presentation application may establish an initial background color based on the initial point, and may compute and automatically adjust a color tolerance of the background color based on the distance that a user-controlled cursor is from the initial point. Using a seed-fill algorithm, the presentation application can select a contiguous portion of the object for masking that includes the initial point and surrounding pixels that are within the background color tolerance. To smoothen the edges of the contiguous portion, the presentation application can convert the portion to a vector graphic before making the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Flider, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20140010475
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for resampling a digital image. According to an implementation, a source image can be presharpened and upsampled to a first upsampled image having a specified image size and a first level of presharpening. The source image is also presharpened and upsampled to a second upsampled image having the specified image size and second level of presharpening that is less than the first level of presharpening. The first and second upsampled images are deblurred. A binary edge mask image is generated from the deblurred, upsampled images. The binary edge mask image is dilated and blurred to generate a deep mask image. The first and second, deblurred upsampled images are blended together using the deep mask image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Crandall, Jason Alexis Klivington, Rudolph van Merwe, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8520971
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for resampling a digital image. According to an implementation, a source image can be presharpened and upsampled to a first upsampled image having a specified image size and a first level of presharpening. The source image is also presharpened and upsampled to a second upsampled image having the specified image size and second level of presharpening that is less than the first level of presharpening. The first and second upsampled images are deblurred. A binary edge mask image is generated from the deblurred, upsampled images. The binary edge mask image is dilated and blurred to generate a deep mask image. The first and second, deblurred upsampled images are blended together using the deep mask image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Crandall, Jason Alexis Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8355025
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20120082396
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for resampling a digital image. According to an implementation, a source image can be presharpened and upsampled to a first upsampled image having a specified image size and a first level of presharpening. The source image is also presharpened and upsampled to a second upsampled image having the specified image size and second level of presharpening that is less than the first level of presharpening. The first and second upsampled images are deblurred. A binary edge mask image is generated from the deblurred, upsampled images. The binary edge mask image is dilated and blurred to generate a deep mask image. The first and second, deblurred upsampled images are blended together using the deep mask image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Richard E. Crandall, Jason Alexis Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe, Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20110273454
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7940272
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7271805
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 5767860
    Abstract: A method to accurately create a multi-image mark-making tool so as to simulate digitally the rendering of a printed articulation, stroke, or mark of a donor natural medium used in graphic arts, such paints, pencils, erasers, or other implements. Using a computer or other hardware the method provides a digital representation of multiple-image elements to simulate an implement tip, receptor grain and variable grain penetration, and smooth and continuous brush stroke without visible artifacts. The method allows for isolating a plurality of image elements, masking the image elements, creating a grid of image elements to function as an index of an array of the image elements, creating a file of such image elements for the purpose of accurately simulating brushes and other donor-receptor articulations common to natural media, and for rendering a brush stroke in multiple-images to accurately simulate digitally paint brushes and other implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: MetaCreations, Corp.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Zimmer, John Derry