With Camera And Object Moved Relative To Each Other Patents (Class 348/142)
  • Publication number: 20110007155
    Abstract: In a position measurement apparatus and a positioning measuring method, an image capturing element having an imaging region of a dimension smaller than that of a workpiece is moved relatively over a surface of the workpiece while an image on the surface of the workpiece is captured. In addition, a pattern on the surface of the workpiece is extracted from an image (I(t)) inside the imaging region, and a displacement amount of the pattern occurring in the image (I(t+1)) inside the imaging region is detected. A position on the surface of the workpiece is measured based on the detected displacement amount and the dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko AKI
  • Publication number: 20110007154
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining coordinates of a target in relation to a surveying instrument wherein a first image is captured using a camera in a first camera position and orientation, a target is selected by identifying an object point in the first image, and first image coordinates of the object point in the first image are measured. The surveying instrument is then rotated around the rotation center so that the camera is moved from the first camera position and orientation to a second camera position and orientation, while retaining the rotation center of the surveying instrument in a fixed position. A second image is captured using the camera in the second camera position and orientation, the object point identified in the first image is identified in the second image, and second image coordinates of the object point in the second image are measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Vogel, Set Svanholm, Christian Grässer
  • Publication number: 20110001822
    Abstract: The image pickup system includes a lens apparatus (1) and a camera (2) configured to perform image pickup of objects in an image pickup area using the lens apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a ranging sensor (120) configured to simultaneously detect object distances in plural ranging areas set in the image pickup area. The image pickup system includes an output image generator (203) configured to generate an output image containing (a) a captured image captured by the camera and (b) distance information showing at least one of the object distance detected by the ranging sensor in each of the plural ranging areas and a difference between the detected object distances. The image pickup system is capable of displaying the object distances to plural objects or a difference therebetween without performing focusing for the respective objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaomi Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20100302366
    Abstract: The calibration device 1 is set up in a machine tool 50 and provides: a image capture subject material 10 having a calibration pattern 14 that includes one feature point and being attached to the spindle 55, two-dimensional coordinate calculation parts 22, 23 that calculate the two-dimensional coordinates of feature points based on the two-dimensional image data that is created from the images of the calibration pattern 14 that were captured at multiple movement positions of the spindle 55 by the CCD camera 58; a three-dimensional coordinate calculation part 24 that calculates the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points that correspond to each movement position of the spindle 55; and a parameter calculation part 26 that calculates the intrinsic parameters and extrinsic parameters of the CCD camera 58 based on the two-dimensional coordinates and three-dimensional coordinates at each movement position of the spindle 55.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Bingyan Zhao, Xiaodong Tian, Zhe Jin, Vijay Srivatsan
  • Publication number: 20100302365
    Abstract: A depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. The depth image may then be analyzed to determine whether the depth image includes noise. For example, the depth image may include one or more holes having one or more empty pixels or pixels without a depth value. Depth values for the one or more empty pixels may be estimated and a depth image that includes the estimated depth values for the one or empty more pixels may be rendered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Finocchio, Ryan Michael Geiss
  • Publication number: 20100283847
    Abstract: The present invention includes a camera which takes an image of a camera or an inspection target; a device which estimates the movement of the inspection target; a device which generates a high resolution image having a higher resolution than the pixel resolution of a video image taken by the camera from the video image taken by the camera; a device which evaluates the quality of the high resolution image generated by the generation device; and a device which presents an inspector who visually inspects the inspection target with the high resolution image together with the quality evaluation result of the high resolution image. The present invention can improve the reliability of inspection by use of the high resolution image as well as can reduce the inspection time, and further can guarantee the reliability of the inspection using a high resolution image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuro Aikawa, Yoshinori Satoh, Makoto Ochiai, Tatsuya Oodake, Hiroyuki Adachi, Yasuhiro Yuguchi, Junichi Takabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100283846
    Abstract: An excellent rotary body measuring device is provided which is capable of properly observing and measuring a desired position of a rotary body in a rotating state from a required direction with use of a simplified device structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Kou Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20100278393
    Abstract: A system may receive image data and capture motion with respect to a target in a physical space and recognize a gesture from the captured motion. It may be desirable to isolate aspects of captured motion to differentiate random and extraneous motions. For example, a gesture may comprise motion of a user's right arm, and it may be desirable to isolate the motion of the user's right arm and exclude an interpretation of any other motion. Thus, the isolated aspect may be the focus of the received data for gesture recognition. Alternately, the isolated aspects may be an aspect of the captured motion that is removed from consideration when identifying a gesture from the captured motion. For example, gesture filters may be modified to correspond to the user's natural lean to eliminate the effect the lean has on the registry of a motion with a gesture filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Nelson Snook, Relja Markovic, Stephen Gilchrist Latta, Kevin Geisner
  • Publication number: 20100259610
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise devices and methods of displaying images on a display (e.g., viewing screen) and changing the image based on a position of an object. This may be done on an advertising display, such as on a vending machine, or to enable a viewer to “look around” an object on a two-dimensional screen by moving his head. The image displayed may appear to move with the person. A first image is exhibited on the display and a position of an object, such as a person within the view of a camera is detected. When the object moves, the display changes (e.g., a second image is displayed) corresponding to the second position of the object in the viewing plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: CELSIA, LLC
    Inventor: Barry Lee Petersen
  • Patent number: 7809158
    Abstract: A system for detection of doubles in a stream of flat items such as mail pieces being conveyed on a conveyor includes an electronic imaging camera positioned to receive an image of a side face of conveyed items over a first portion of its field of view, a reflector positioned to reflect an edge view of the items to the imaging camera, which edge view is received by the imaging camera over a second portion of its field of view, and a computer that receives image data from the camera. Program logic used by the computer determines whether the image shows one item, or more than one item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Carpenter, Morgan Dunn, John J. Mampe
  • Publication number: 20100245566
    Abstract: Method and inspection system. The inspection system includes: (i) a stage, for supporting an inspected object and for moving the inspected object by a movement that is characterized by speed variations; (ii) a signal generator, for generating triggering pulses at a fixed frequency regardless of the speed variations; (iii) a stage location generator, for providing location information indicative of a location of the stage at points of time that are determined by the triggering pulses; (iv) a strobe illuminator for illuminating areas of the inspected object in response to the triggering pulses; (v) a camera for acquiring images of areas of the inspected object in response to the triggering pulses; wherein overlaps between the images of the areas of the inspected object are characterized by overlap variations; and (vi) a processor for associating location information to the acquired images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: CAMTEK LTD
    Inventors: MICHAEL LEV, Menachem Regensburger, Gilad Golan, Yacov Manilovich
  • Patent number: 7782361
    Abstract: A position and an orientation of an image capturing device or an object to which an inclination sensor is mounted are obtained without performing iterative calculation. A position and orientation measuring method includes the steps of: inputting a measured inclination value of an inclination sensor mounted to one of an object and an image capturing device; inputting a captured image from the image capturing device; detecting an index on the object from the captured image; and calculating a position and an orientation of one of the object and the image capturing device to which the inclination sensor is mounted on the basis of the measured inclination value, an image coordinate of the detected index, and already-known positional information on the detected index without performing iterative calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Kotake, Kiyohide Satoh
  • Publication number: 20100188504
    Abstract: A system and method for imaging a three-dimensional scene having one or more objects. The system includes a light source, a detector array, a timing circuit, an inertial guidance system and a processor connected to the timing circuit and the inertial guidance system. The light source generates an optical pulse and projects the optical pulse on an object so that it is reflected as a reflected pulse. The detector array includes a plurality of detectors, wherein the detectors are oriented to receive the reflected pulse. The timing circuit determines when the reflected pulse reached detectors on the detector array. The inertial guidance system measures angular velocity and acceleration. The processor forms a composite image of the three-dimensional scene as a function of camera position and range to objects in the three-dimensional scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Dimsdale Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Dimsdale, Andrew Lewis, William Chen
  • Publication number: 20100188503
    Abstract: Systems and methods are providing for navigating a three-dimensional model using deterministic movement of an electronic device. An electronic device can load and provide an initial display of a three dimensional model (e.g., of an environment or of an object). As the user moves the electronic device, motion sensing components, positioning circuitry, and other components can detect the device movement and adjust the displayed portion of the three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device. By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Tsai, Andrew Just, Brandon Harris
  • Publication number: 20100134807
    Abstract: A method of forming an image on recording media includes providing a rotatable imaging drum adapted for supporting the recording media; providing an imaging head adapted for forming the image on the supported recording media; providing an encoder adapted for detecting incremental rotational positions of the imaging drum; positioning the imaging drum at a non-incremental rotational position; detecting one or more points on an edge of the supported recording media while the imaging drum is positioned at the non-incremental rotational position; determining a position of each of the detected one or more points; and operating the imaging head to form the image on the supported recording media in alignment with at least the determined position of each of the detected one or more points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter J. Hawes
  • Publication number: 20100110003
    Abstract: A system and method for simulating a computer mouse uses a camera to capture images of a user's palm on a plane, transfers the images to a computer, analyzes the images to determine movement information of the user's palm, and determines a corresponding mouse operation according to preset associations between movements of the user's palm and operations on mouse buttons. The system and method further execute a computer command corresponding to the mouse operation associated with the movement information of the user's palm, so as to activate a action of a cursor displayed on a display screen of the computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: MENG-CHIEH CHOU
  • Publication number: 20100111354
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for assessment, evaluation and grading of gemstones has a stage (11) upon which a gemstone may be supported, the stage being enclosed in a housing (15) that is impervious to light. At least one light source (14) located in the housing is adapted to project incident light onto the gemstone. There are means for rotating and tilting the stage so as to vary the orientation of the gemstone to the incident light. A digital camera (16) is located in the housing adjacent the or each light source and is adapted to take images of the gemstone based on reflection and/or refraction of the incident light. There are also information processing means for calibrating and analysing the images, with the information processing means being programmed with an instruction set for colour calibrating the images and then analysing the colour calibrated images by segmentation and histogram measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: OPAL PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA LIMITED
    Inventors: Graham Alfred Hornabrook, Stuart Norman Marchant, Rodney Herbert Lummis, Kathryn Elizabeth Primmer, Peter Bruce Sutton, Angus Nelson Hornabrook, Leanne Bischof, Ryan Lagerstrom, Volker Hilsenstein, Robert George Imrie
  • Patent number: 7679643
    Abstract: A remote instruction system includes a control portion. The control portion transmits a first image to a remote terminal and controls a projection portion to project a first annotation image onto a subject according to an instruction issued from the remote terminal on the basis of the first image, and the control portion transmits a second image to the remote terminal and controls the projection portion to project a second annotation image onto the subject according to the instruction issued from the remote terminal on the basis of the second image, the first image being captured by a first image capturing portion provided for capturing the first image of the subject, the second image being captured by a second image capturing portion provided for zooming a given area of the subject to capture the second image, when the given area in the first image is selected from the remote terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Shingu
  • Publication number: 20100053324
    Abstract: Linear and rotational speeds of a mobile device are calculated using distance estimates between imaging sensors in the device and objects or scenes in front of the sensors. The distance estimates are used to modify optical flow vectors from the sensors. Shifting and rotational speeds of the mobile device may then be calculated using the modified optical flow vector values. For example, given a configuration where the first imaging sensor and the second imaging sensor face opposite directions on a single axis, a shifting speed is calculated in the following way: multiplying a first optical flow vector and a first distance estimate, thereby deriving a first modified optical flow vector value; multiplying a second optical flow vector and a second distance estimate, thereby deriving a second modified optical flow vector value; the second modified optical flow vector value may then be subtracted from the first modified optical flow vector value, resulting in a measurement of the shifting speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Wook Kim, Stefan Marti, Francisco Imai
  • Patent number: 7671916
    Abstract: Motion sensing of a portable device using two cameras. A first camera is directed along a first viewing axis and a second camera is directed along a second viewing axis, different from the first viewing axis. The second viewing axis can be substantially opposite the first viewing axis. A motion processing module determines changes in images from the first camera and changes in images from the second camera. The motion processing module compares the direction of change determined from the first camera images relative to the direction of change determined from the second camera images. The motion processing module determines the motion of the portable device based in part on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7671887
    Abstract: A system for navigating an image-guided object through an imaged subject supported on table in relation to an image acquired by an image detector is provided. The system includes a first tracking element attached to the patient, and a second tracking element attached at the table. The first and second tracking elements define first and second coordinate systems. A controller is operable to register the second coordinate system with a third coordinate system defined by the image detector, measure a spatial relation between the first tracking element and the second tracking element, register the first coordinate system with the third local coordinate system defined by the image detector based on the spatial relation between the first and second tracking elements, and generating a composite image comprising a virtual image of the object in spatial relation to the image of the imaged subject acquired by the image detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeremie Pescatore, Yves Trousset, Michel F. Grimaud, Daniel E. Groszmann
  • Publication number: 20090322872
    Abstract: A vehicle-based image acquisition system having an image sensor that has a characteristic curve assembled from linear segments. The system includes an arrangement for determining the distance of luminous objects imaged by the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Karsten Muehlmann, Alexander Wuerz-Wessel
  • Patent number: 7616886
    Abstract: This invention introduces, as one aspect, an apparatus for creating three-dimensional object model, comprising photographing means for photographing an object to be modeled for obtaining images to be used for creating the three-dimensional object model, setting means for longitudinally and latitudinally setting a relative position between the object and said photographing means, said setting means being capable of setting the object and said photographing means a plurality of different relative longitudinal and latitudinal positions, and control means for controlling said photographing means and said setting means so that a number of photographs taken from different relative longitudinal positions at a first relative latitudinal position is larger than that taken from different relative longitudinal positions at a second relative latitudinal position, the first relative latitudinal position being closer to a lateral position than the second relative latitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Europa, NV
    Inventors: Koichi Matsumura, Adam Michael Baumberg, Alexander Ralph Lyons, Kenichi Nagasawa, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 7599957
    Abstract: A metadata database adaptor for use with a surveillance and/or sensor system is capable of adapting metadata messages of varying formats according to needs of metadata databases. In other aspects, a metadata data model template can allow a user to define a data definition that is used to map user defined data with the metadata data model template to form XML data schema. Template mapping knowledge can then be applied for fast XML data schema to non-XML database schema generation without translation processing. In yet other aspects, an application domain template can allow a user to define a query definition that can then be processed with a mapping of the application domain template to translate Xpath, Xquery, or others to a database query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Lipin Liu, Kuo Chu Lee, Juan Yu
  • Patent number: 7595817
    Abstract: The present invention features a qualitative method to detect independent motion revealed in successive frames of a compressed surveillance MPEG video stream using linear system consistency analysis without decompression of the stream, identifying the segments containing independent motion in a real-time or faster manner, for the retrieval of these segments. The linear system is constructed using the macroblocks of MPEG compressed video frames. The normal flow value of the macroblock is obtained by taking the dot product between the macroblock gradient vector, computed by averaging the four block gradient vectors, and the motion vector of this macroblock. The normal flow value is filtered for inclusion in the linear system, and the statistic of the matrices of the resulting linear system is determined, filtered to screen out false negatives and outliers, and used to determine the presence or absence of independent motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventor: Zhongfei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7593033
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a central server to manage remote monitoring tasks performed by users of a data network. An exemplary method comprises: receiving a request from a user of a user device to monitor a remote location; determining a remote location to be monitored; enabling communication between a sensor at the remote location and the user device; and crediting value to the user in accordance with an amount of time the user device has been in communication with the remote sensor for remote monitoring purposes. An alternate exemplary method includes measuring user attentiveness while the user device is in communication with the remote sensor. Thus, the disclosed system and method provide a way for users of a data network such as the Internet to log on at any time and perform remote monitoring tasks for value. Idle time can now be turned into value using the disclosed system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Daniel E. Tedesco, Dean P. Alderucci, Magdalena M. Fincham
  • Publication number: 20090231425
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. The method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. In another operation the image and depth data is analyzed to find one or more of the group of recognized fixed points. In one embodiment, the previous two operations are repeated and changes of position of the controller are determined based on a change in position of the found ones of the group of recognized fixed points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA
    Inventor: GARY ZALEWSKI
  • Patent number: 7590276
    Abstract: Methods and systems of part programming for machine vision inspection systems are provided, which permit a user to readily define multiple image acquisition operations interspersed with associated image analysis and/or inspection operations during learn mode operations and in the resulting part program image acquisition operations for at least some of the images are arranged into a continuous motion image acquisition sequence that acquires images and stores images in a “non-interspersed” manner in order to increase the throughput of the machine vision inspection system. Image analysis/inspection operations associated with the stored images are performed subsequently by recalling the store images. The programming systems and methods disclosed herein may operate automatically to facilitate rapid programming for a variety of workpieces by relatively unskilled users, wherein the resulting programs include continuous motion image acquisition sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Mark L. Delaney
  • Patent number: 7585224
    Abstract: A game apparatus selects one of a plurality of characters as a selected character. The game apparatus also sets a position of a virtual camera in accordance with the position of the selected character and thus causes a display apparatus to display an image of a game space, and also causes the display apparatus to display a cursor for designating a predetermined position in the game space. When a predetermined operation by the player is performed in the state where one of the non-selected characters is designated by the cursor, the game apparatus sets the non-selected character designated by the cursor as a newly selected character. When the selected character is changed in a first change step, the position of the virtual camera is moved in accordance with the position of the newly selected character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tancred Dyke-Wells
  • Publication number: 20090213216
    Abstract: Features such as holes 10 in a component which may be an aerofoil component of a gas turbine engine are re-drilled after initial formation, for example to remove blockages created in a coating process. In order to ensure that re-drilling occurs at the precise location of the initial holes, a selected number of the holes A-F are selected, and their exact positions identified, for example by camera imaging and image processing. The actual positions of the selected features are compared with the nominal positions, and an algorithm is generated and then used to calculate the actual positions of the non-selected holes of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Neil K. Hastilow
  • Patent number: 7571051
    Abstract: A method of detecting a changed condition within a geographical space from a moving vehicle. Images of that geographic space are memorialized in conjunction with GPS coordinates together with its GPS coordinates. The same geographic space is traversed from the moving vehicle while accessing the route's GPS coordinates. The memorialized images are played back by coordinating the GPS data on a memorialized images with that of the traversed geographic space such that the memorialized images are viewed simultaneously with the geographic space being traversed. An observer traveling within the moving vehicle can compare the memorialized images with those being traversed in order to identify changed conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Doubleshot, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Shulman
  • Publication number: 20090179987
    Abstract: A motion sickness reduction device includes an image capture device for capturing an image device environment and an image display device for displaying image related to the captured image. In order to effectively prevent or reduce motion sickness, the right amount of motion must be displayed on the image display device when the vehicle accelerates or turns. Various methods are disclosed for adjusting the image on the display device and/or the angle of the environment subtended to make the motion sickness reduction device effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Samuel Kim
  • Publication number: 20090136125
    Abstract: An image corresponding to image data obtained by imaging by a camera is divided into a plurality of image pieces and each of the image pieces is subjected to a color analysis process, a fractal dimension analysis process, and an artificial object amount recognition process. According to a combination of the results obtained by the three processes, a part of a landscape contained in each of the image pieces is classified and the entire characteristic of the landscape contained in the image is judged according to the classification result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryujiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 7535486
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display control method and a display control device capable of detecting a position and an orientation of an apparatus by a simple structure and controlling a display of a displayed image based on the detected position and orientation of the apparatus with ease. Two cameras are mounted on the apparatus. A user holds the apparatus in the hand, captures, by a first camera, a first image including the face of the user, and captures, by a second camera, a second image including a scene opposite to the user. A display control unit extracts features of the face from the first image and extracts scene feature points from the second image. Then, the display control unit compares the extracted results with reference graphics and the like, and calculates a user-to-apparatus distance ro and angles ?o, ?o which indicate a direction to the apparatus, and controls the display of the displayed image based on the calculated distance ro and angles ?o, ?o.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideto Motomura, Hiroyoshi Komobuchi, Katsuhiro Kanamori
  • Patent number: 7529646
    Abstract: A video processing and analysis system is coupled to a building management and control system. The video processing system provides traffic, occupancy, and other information derived from video images of sections of the building and its environs to the building management and control systems. The building systems use this information in a variety of business management applications, including maintenance scheduling, asset replacement, elevator dispatching, HVAC and lighting control, and so on, to reduce operational or maintenance costs, expedite emergency procedures, improve service levels of building facilities, and regulate the building's environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Ting Lin, Tomas Brodsky, Mi-Suen Lee, Carolyn Ramsey
  • Publication number: 20090096868
    Abstract: Method for determining a distance between two external stores on an aircraft or aerial vehicle and aircraft with at least two external stores. The method includes separating one of the two stores from the aircraft or aerial vehicle in flight, and determining a chronological course of a distance during the separation operation with at least one magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Donauer, Ronald Deslandes
  • Patent number: 7511607
    Abstract: A system for displaying an external view of a vehicle is provided. The system may comprise a video camera for capturing images external to the vehicle and a display for displaying the images for the vehicle operator. The camera is powered by electrically connecting it to the reverse lamp power line and is operable to continuously capture images when powered. The camera may be mounted in a license plate frame to further simplify installation. The camera may communicate with the display through a wireless connection. The receiver and display may be mounted in the field of view of the vehicle operator, such as on the dashboard of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventors: D. Larry Hubbard, Richard Smolenski
  • Patent number: 7499090
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a rolling-reset imager that forms an electronic image of an object, a light source illuminating the object with pulsed light, and a bandpass optical filter disposed between the object and the rolling-reset imager. The pulsed light has an illumination frequency spectrum and an illumination pulse width defining an effective exposure time for forming the image of the object. The bandpass optical filter has a frequency pass band permitting transmission of a significant portion of the illumination frequency spectrum while at least approximately inhibiting transmission of at least some light having frequencies outside the illumination frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan L. Olmstead, Alan Shearin
  • Publication number: 20090021580
    Abstract: One objective of the invention is to simplify a calibration correction operation. According to the present invention, a camera calibration apparatus, which obtains camera parameters based on a correlation between world coordinates, in real space, and image coordinates, in an image recorded by a camera, includes: a calibration unit A113, for obtaining camera parameters by employing a set of coordinates for an index point, for which a coordinate value on the world coordinates is previously known, and a corresponding point on the image coordinates, which is correlated with the index point; a calibration correction unit A114, for detecting a correlation error for a correlation between the world coordinate value of the index point and an image coordinate value of the corresponding point; and a display controller A112, for displaying the detected correlation error on an image display device, by correlating the index point with the corresponding point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Ishigami, Kensuke Maruya, Susumu Okada
  • Publication number: 20090015669
    Abstract: With an x-ray imaging system with a moveable part, obstacles can stand in the way of the movement of the moveable part. In accordance with the invention, video cameras capture the occupation of the space by objects using volume elements. It is possible to determine at a target movement of the moveable part which volume elements are passed through during this. If one of these volume elements proves to be a volume element occupied by an object, the movement of the moveable part is prevented, otherwise it is enabled or actively implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: KLAUS KLINGENBECK-REGN
  • Patent number: 7468739
    Abstract: Provided is an image display system in which image data of a commercial product as an article (8) is freely selected and given to a purchaser by using two-way communication such as Internet and the article (8) can be observed from a view point desired by the purchaser. In this system, the article (8) is placed on a turn table (16) which rotates around a rotational axis (15), an image is taken by a camera (9) installed on a wrist (19) of a robot (18) of plural axes while keeping camera posture Nv so that an optical axis (21) of the camera (9) passes through an observation point of the article (8), for example, a flower, and image data for respective plural imaging positions are stored in the memory (31). An operator specifies the imaging position continuously so that the image data corresponding to the specified imaging position is read out from the memory (31) and displayed by a display means (28) with a control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Fusama
  • Patent number: 7433496
    Abstract: An in-vehicle image correcting device for correcting an image picked up by a near-infrared camera ahead of one's own vehicle in which an obstacle is difficult for a driver to visually recognize captures the image picked up by the near-infrared camera; and corrects the image captured by the image capturing means so that a density of a pixel having a higher density than an obstacle density representative of the density of a pixel corresponding to the obstacle becomes lower than the obstacle density. In this configuration, the image picked up by the near-infrared camera is corrected so that the obstacle can be easily recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corportion
    Inventors: Koji Ishii, Masayuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7432799
    Abstract: By applying an observing-point conversion and s synthesis to images captured by respective cameras capturing the surroundings of a vehicle and by placing a figure representing the vehicle on the synthesized image, an overhead-image generating unit generates an image to be obtained when captured at an observing point above the vehicle, a figure representing the vehicle, and an overhead image showing the surroundings of the vehicle in an overhead viewing manner, and displays the overhead image on a display device via a display processing unit. When an obstacle is detected by obstacle sensors, the caution-image generating unit extracts an image of those stored in an image memory, in an area including a part of the vehicle and the obstacle, generate a caution image, and displays the caution image at a position on the overhead image via the display processing unit corresponding to the position of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shoichi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 7425982
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus to accept line-scan data sets at a camera rate from a line-scan camera and resample the line-scan data sets to produce resampled line image data sets at a desired sampling distance. Each line-scan data set is of an object imaged for a fixed exposure time and moving at a relative speed in relation to the line-scan camera. The method includes accepting the line-scan data sets at the camera rate from the line-scan camera, accepting a measure of the relative speed between the line-scan camera and the object being imaged by the line-scan camera, and resampling the line-scan data sets to produce resampled line image data sets at the desired sampling distance. The resampling is a function of the camera rate, the measure of relative speed and the desired sampling distance. The resampling adjusts for the variations in relative speed to produce faithfully exposed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Euresys SA
    Inventors: Yves R. Joskin, Firmin J. Louis
  • Patent number: 7409074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device enabling detection of a mixture ratio indicating the state of mixture between multiple objects. A contour region information generating unit 421 and a normal equation generating unit 422 extracts contour region pixel data within a frame of interest positioned at a contour region with approximately a same mixture ratio, extracts corresponding pixel data from a frame different to the frame of interest, extracting background pixel data corresponding to the contour region pixel data or the corresponding pixel data, and generating an equation wherein the mixture ratio is an unknown number, based on region specifying information specifying a non-mixed region made up of a foreground region and background region and a mixed region. A least square approximation unit 423 detects the mixture ratio by solving the equation. The present invention can be applied to signals processing devices for processing image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Junichi Ishibashi, Takashi Sawao, Takahiro Nagano, Naoki Fujiwara, Toru Miyake, Seiji Wada
  • Patent number: 7405746
    Abstract: An estimate image is generated from a position and an angle of a camera and the estimate image is stored. A collating unit collates an estimate image with a scenery image, and corrects estimate values of a position and angles of the camera according to a result of the collation. An indication image generating unit generates an indication image by processing indication information stored in an indication information storing unit, based on position information that shows a position of the camera and angle information that shows angles of the camera after the correction processing stored in a position and angle information storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Wakimoto, Shoji Tanaka, Hiroaki Masuoka
  • Patent number: 7400746
    Abstract: A method for detecting an obstacle by using two cameras of three or more cameras, the obstacle being on a reference plane in a field of view common to the two cameras, the method inputting a first image and a second image from the two cameras, respectively, transforming the first image to a transformed image, obtaining a degree of similarity D indicating a similarity between an image in a processing region established in the second image and an image in a corresponding processing region established in the first image, obtaining a degree of similarity P indicating a similarity between an image in the processing region established in the second image and an image in a corresponding processing region established in the transformed image, detecting the obstacle based on the degree of similarity D and the degree of similarity P on a reference plane region, and selecting and outputting either a result of detection of a plurality of the obstacles or a position of an obstacle detected as being the closest to the thre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Takeda, Hiroshi Hattori, Kazunori Onoguchi
  • Patent number: 7394916
    Abstract: A method and system is configured to characterize regions of an environment by the likelihoods of transition of a target from each region to another. The likelihoods of transition between regions is preferably used in combination with conventional object-tracking algorithms to determine the likelihood that a newly-appearing object in a scene corresponds to a recently-disappeared target. The likelihoods of transition may be predefined based on the particular environment, or may be determined based on prior appearances and disappearances in the environment, or a combination of both. The likelihoods of transition may also vary as a function of the time of day, day of the week, and other factors that may affect the likelihoods of transitions between regions in the particular surveillance environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: ActivEye, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomas Brodsky, Yun-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 7382397
    Abstract: Methods and systems that include providing at least one controlled region, at least one controlled region device associated with the controlled region(s), and a processor-controlled user device, the user device having an interface by which a user can select one of controlled region devices, and provide variable speed control commands over a network to the selected controlled region device. The controlled region device can be a device that can be controlled at least in part, based on pan and tilt commands, including devices mounted on a pan/tilt head. Example devices include a camera, an antenna, and a spotlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Smiths Detection, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter A. Mottur
  • Patent number: 7356408
    Abstract: A recognizing unit recognizes targets located in front of the own vehicle based upon a detection result obtained from a preview sensor, and then, classifies the recognized targets by sorts to which these targets belong. A control unit determines information to be displayed based upon both the targets recognized by the recognizing unit and navigation information. A display device is controlled by the control unit so as to display thereon the determined information. The control unit controls the display device so that symbols indicative of the recognized targets are displayed to be superimposed on the navigation information, and also, controls the display device so that the symbols are displayed by employing a plurality of different display colors corresponding to the sorts to which the respective targets belong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Tsuchiya, Tsutomu Tanzawa