Patents by Inventor Rudolph van der Merwe

Rudolph van der Merwe 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: 9661228
    Abstract: A method of removing unwanted camera motion from a video sequence is provided. The method matches a group of feature points between each pair of consecutive video frames in the video sequence. The method calculates the motion of each matched feature point between the corresponding pair of consecutive video frames. The method calculates a set of historical metrics for each feature point. The method, for each pair of consecutive video frames, identifies a homography that defines a dominant motion between the pair of consecutive frames. The homography is identified by performing a geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC on the calculated motion of the feature points. The geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC gives a weight to the calculated motion of each feature point based on the historical metrics calculated for the feature point. The method removes the unwanted camera motion from the video sequence by using the identified homographies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe
  • Patent number: 9661495
    Abstract: A method of activating a first device is disclosed. The method includes: the first device pairing with a second device; receiving a connection request from a second device; connecting to the second device; opening a communication channel to the second device; transmitting an activation package to the second device; receiving an activation payload from the second device; and performing an activation using information from the activation payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Hawkins, Christopher Wilson, Conrad Sauerwald, Gregory Novick, Neil G. Crane, Rudolph Van Der Merwe, Samuel Noble, Paul William Chinn
  • Publication number: 20170126977
    Abstract: A method of removing unwanted camera motion from a video sequence is provided. The method matches a group of feature points between each pair of consecutive video frames in the video sequence. The method calculates the motion of each matched feature point between the corresponding pair of consecutive video frames. The method calculates a set of historical metrics for each feature point. The method, for each pair of consecutive video frames, identifies a homography that defines a dominant motion between the pair of consecutive frames. The homography is identified by performing a geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC on the calculated motion of the feature points. The geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC gives a weight to the calculated motion of each feature point based on the historical metrics calculated for the feature point. The method removes the unwanted camera motion from the video sequence using the identified homographies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9582932
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a roof analysis tool for constructing a parameter set, where the parameter set is derived from mapping data for a map region, and where the parameter set describes the roofs for the buildings within the map region. In some cases, the parameter set includes a list of roof type identification values and the respective buildings in the map region for which a given roof type identification value corresponds. The roof analysis tool may operate on a server and work in conjunction with a mobile device, where the mobile device may display map views of a map region such that the map view is based on a three-dimensional model of the map region, and where a portion of the three-dimensional model is based on data generated on the mobile device and a portion of the three-dimensional model is based on data generated on the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Jan Erik Solem, Jaron I. Waldman, John W. Kassebaum, Samuel G. Noble, Xiaqing Wu, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 9542585
    Abstract: A method to improve the efficiency of the detection and tracking of machine-readable objects is disclosed. The properties of image frames may be pre-evaluated to determine whether a machine-readable object, even if present in the image frames, would be likely to be detected. After it is determined that one or more image frames have properties that may enable the detection of a machine-readable object, image data may be evaluated to detect the machine-readable object. When a machine-readable object is detected, the location of the machine-readable object in a subsequent frame may be determined based on a translation metric between the image frame in which the object was identified and the subsequent frame rather than a detection of the object in the subsequent frame. The translation metric may be identified based on an evaluation of image data and/or motion sensor data associated with the image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: George Williams, Benjamin Olson, Sebastien Beysserie, Ethan Tira-Thompson, Jianping Zhou, Claus Molgaard, Todd Sachs, Rudolph van der Merwe, Marco Zuliani
  • Publication number: 20160337589
    Abstract: Techniques to permit a digital image capture device to stabilize a video stream in real-time (during video capture operations) are presented. In general, techniques are disclosed for stabilizing video images using an overscan region and a look-ahead technique enabled by buffering a number of video input frames before generating a first stabilized video output frame. (Capturing a larger image than is displayed creates a buffer of pixels around the edge of an image; overscan is the term given to this buffer of pixels.) More particularly, techniques are disclosed for buffering an initial number of input frames so that a “current” frame can use motion data from both “past” and “future” frames to adjust the strength of a stabilization metric value so as to keep the current frame within its overscan. This look-ahead and look-behind capability permits a smoother stabilizing regime with fewer abrupt adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Sebastien X. Beysserie, Damien J. Thivent, Jianping Zhou, Rudolph van der Merwe, Jason Klivington, Xiaoxing Li, Anders Holtsberg, Martin Lindberg, George E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9413963
    Abstract: Techniques to permit a digital image capture device to stabilize a video stream in real-time (during video capture operations) are presented. In general, techniques are disclosed for stabilizing video images using an overscan region and a look-ahead technique enabled by buffering a number of video input frames before generating a first stabilized video output frame. (Capturing a larger image than is displayed creates a buffer of pixels around the edge of an image; overscan is the term given to this buffer of pixels.) More particularly, techniques are disclosed for buffering an initial number of input frames so that a “current” frame can use motion data from both “past” and “future” frames to adjust the strength of a stabilization metric value so as to keep the current frame within its overscan. This look-ahead and look-behind capability permits a smoother stabilizing regime with fewer abrupt adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien X. Beysserie, Damien J. Thivent, Jianping Zhou, Rudolph van der Merwe, Jason Klivington, Xiaoxing Li, Anders Holtsberg, Martin Lindberg, George E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9396377
    Abstract: A barcode decoding system and method are disclosed that use a data-driven classifier for transforming a potentially degraded barcode signal into a digit sequence. The disclosed implementations are robust to signal degradation through incorporation of a noise model into the classifier construction phase. The run-time computational cost is low, allowing for efficient implementations on portable devices. Implementations are disclosed for intelligent preview scaling, barcode-aware autofocus augmentation and multi-scale signal feature extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel Gordon Noble, Ralph Brunner
  • Publication number: 20160066178
    Abstract: A method of activating a first device is disclosed. The method includes: the first device pairing with a second device; receiving a connection request from a second device; connecting to the second device; opening a communication channel to the second device; transmitting an activation package to the second device; receiving an activation payload from the second device; and performing an activation using information from the activation payload.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Tyler HAWKINS, Christopher WILSON, Conrad SAUERWALD, Gregory NOVICK, Neil G. CRANE, Rudolph VAN DER MERWE, Samuel NOBLE, Paul William CHINN
  • Patent number: 9277129
    Abstract: A method of removing unwanted camera motion from a video sequence is provided. The method matches a group of feature points between each pair of consecutive video frames in the video sequence. The method calculates the motion of each matched feature point between the corresponding pair of consecutive video frames. The method calculates a set of historical metrics for each feature point. The method, for each pair of consecutive video frames, identifies a homography that defines a dominant motion between the pair of consecutive frames. The homography is identified by performing a geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC on the calculated motion of the feature points. The geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC gives a weight to the calculated motion of each feature point based on the historical metrics calculated for the feature point. The method removes the unwanted camera motion from the video sequence using the identified homographies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jason Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe
  • Patent number: 9268985
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel G. Noble
  • Publication number: 20160026908
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel G. Noble
  • Publication number: 20150350548
    Abstract: Techniques to permit a digital image capture device to stabilize a video stream in real-time (during video capture operations) are presented. In general, techniques are disclosed for stabilizing video images using an overscan region and a look-ahead technique enabled by buffering a number of video input frames before generating a first stabilized video output frame. (Capturing a larger image than is displayed creates a buffer of pixels around the edge of an image; overscan is the term given to this buffer of pixels.) More particularly, techniques are disclosed for buffering an initial number of input frames so that a “current” frame can use motion data from both “past” and “future” frames to adjust the strength of a stabilization metric value so as to keep the current frame within its overscan. This look-ahead and look-behind capability permits a smoother stabilizing regime with fewer abrupt adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastien X. Beysserie, Damien J. Thivent, Jianping Zhou, Rudolph van der Merwe, Jason Klivington, Xiaoxing Li, Anders Holtsberg, Martin Lindberg, George E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9022291
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel G. Noble
  • Patent number: 9022292
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel G. Noble
  • Publication number: 20150090797
    Abstract: A barcode decoding system and method are disclosed that use a data-driven classifier for transforming a potentially degraded barcode signal into a digit sequence. The disclosed implementations are robust to signal degradation through incorporation of a noise model into the classifier construction phase. The run-time computational cost is low, allowing for efficient implementations on portable devices. Implementations are disclosed for intelligent preview scaling, barcode-aware autofocus augmentation and multi-scale signal feature extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Samuel Gordon Noble, Ralph Brunner
  • Patent number: 8948513
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying regions of interest in an image and identifying a barcode in a degraded image are provided. A region of interest is identified by pre-processing an image, generating a binary image based on a metric calculated on the pre-processed image, and analyzing regions of the image identified using connected components and other analysis. A barcode is identified by searching a population of barcodes, degrading ideal image intensity profiles of candidate barcodes, and comparing the degraded ideal image intensity profiles to an image intensity profile of the degraded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Richard Eugene Crandall, Samuel Gordon Noble, Bertrand Serlet, Stanislav Kounitski
  • Patent number: 8929676
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying regions of interest in an image and identifying a barcode in a degraded image are provided. A region of interest is identified by pre-processing an image, generating a binary image based on a metric calculated on the pre-processed image, and analyzing regions of the image identified using connected components and other analysis. A barcode is identified by searching a population of barcodes, degrading ideal image intensity profiles of candidate barcodes, and comparing the degraded ideal image intensity profiles to an image intensity profile of the degraded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph van der Merwe, Richard Eugene Crandall, Samuel Gordon Noble, Bertrand Serlet, Stanislav Kounitski
  • Publication number: 20140362240
    Abstract: A method of removing unwanted camera motion from a video sequence is provided. The method matches a group of feature points between each pair of consecutive video frames in the video sequence. The method calculates the motion of each matched feature point between the corresponding pair of consecutive video frames. The method calculates a set of historical metrics for each feature point. The method, for each pair of consecutive video frames, identifies a homography that defines a dominant motion between the pair of consecutive frames. The homography is identified by performing a geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC on the calculated motion of the feature points. The geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC gives a weight to the calculated motion of each feature point based on the historical metrics calculated for the feature point. The method removes he unwanted camera motion from the video sequence using the identified homographies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Klivington, Rudolph van der Merwe