Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image comparing unit that compares a shot image shot by a photographer with a sample image selected by the photographer; an operation comparing unit that compares an operation performed when the shot image was shot with an operation performed when the sample image was shot; and an advising unit that gives the photographer advice on an image shooting method to make the shot image close to the sample image according to comparison results provided by the image comparing unit and the operation comparing unit.

Abstract: An assembly (100) for the illumination of a wellbore, pipeline, tank, vessel or other environment wherein light is diffused and transmitted through an optically transparent material and projected in and around a field of view of a camera lens (10). A light source is disposed within a cavity at the proximal end (102) of a cylindrical shaped, optically transparent material. Light from the source is received into the transparent material, diffused, and transmitted to the distal end of the light tube (30), where it is projected in front of and around a field of view of a camera. Control of light intensity may be variable, pre-set before operations, or fixed by component design.

Abstract: An imaging system (CM, 100) is provided with: an imaging device (CM) configured to selectively image a first imaging area and a second imaging area, which is larger than the first imaging area, the first imaging area being used to detect eyes of a user (1), the second imaging area being used to detect a body of the user; a detecting device (110, 120, 160) configured to detect trigger operation of the user; and a selecting device (13) configured to select the first imaging area or the second imaging area on the basis of a detection result of the trigger operation.

Abstract: An electronic medical record apparatus is connected to an image generation apparatus which performs photographing to generate a medical image. The electronic medical record apparatus includes: a storage member; a patient specifying member to receive an input of specifying a patient to be examined; a display member to display a medical record screen for displaying electronic medical record information pertaining to the specified patient; a fetch instruction member, provided on the medical record screen, to receive an instruction to fetch the generated medical image; a control member to cause the storage member to store the medical image transmitted from the image generation apparatus so that the medical image is correlated with patient information of the patient whose medical record screen is currently displayed in the display member, when the fetch instruction member receives the instruction to fetch the medical image.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of an apparatus including a first digital camera with an image sensor optically coupled to a first lens, the first lens having a first magnification and a second digital camera including an image sensor optically coupled to a second lens. The second lens the second lens has a magnification that is greater than the magnification of the first lens and the second lens is a non-rectilinear lens having a magnification gradient in which magnification is highest at the center of the second lens and lowest at the edges. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In at least one example embodiment, a content reproducing apparatus includes a display, a memory configured to store at least one program and a processor. The processor is configured to reproduce first moving image content of a plurality of moving image content selected by a user, on a first region of a screen of the display, according to a user input, display a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of moving image content, on a second region of the screen, buffer a second moving image content corresponding to one of the plurality of thumbnail images, the first moving image content being continuously reproduced while the second moving image content is being buffered, and reproduce the second moving image content instead of the first moving image content when the buffering of the second moving image content is completed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image pickup apparatus includes, an image pickup control unit which drives shutter unit and picks up a still image by image pickup device, captures a first through image by the image pickup device when the shutter unit is opened, and picks up a second through image including a light-shielded area by the image pickup device, the light-shielded area being formed by shielding part of light incident upon the imaging plane by the shutter unit when the shutter unit is half light-shielded, and an image pickup auxiliary control unit which performs image pickup auxiliary control to pick up the still image based on one of the first through image and the second through image.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a photographing optical system having a diaphragm and a photographing lens; an image sensor; a driver which drives a shake-correction member in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis to make the object-emanating light rays incident on pixels of the image sensor that have different in detection colors to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect, wherein the image sensor and/or a lens element-constitutes the shake-correction member; a retriever which retrieves information on an aperture diameter of the diaphragm and on a resolving power of the photographing lens; and a drive controller which varies a range of the pixels, having different detection colors and on which the object-emanating light rays are incident, in accordance with the information on the aperture diameter of the diaphragm and/or on the resolving power of the photographing lens to vary the optical low-pass filter effect.

Abstract: In an optical device, a lens assembly includes a lens for receiving light and a holder for holding the lens. A circuit board performs at least one process based on the received light. A housing has an opening and is configured to house the lens assembly and the circuit board therein such that at least part of the circuit board faces the lens assembly, and the lens assembly is exposed via the opening. A mechanism for defining a passage located around the lens assembly to communicate with the opening. The passage guides air, entering an inside of the housing via the opening, so as not to be directed toward the circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of image modules and a plurality of processors. The image modules may each comprise (i) a sensor configured to generate images and (ii) a lens mounted to the sensor. The processors may each be configured to (A) receive the images from a subset of the plurality of image modules and (B) generate a plurality of video streams. Each one of the video streams may be generated by one of the processors in response to the images received from one of the image modules. The subset of the plurality of image modules may comprise at least two distinct image modules of the plurality of image modules. The lenses may be arranged to allow the images to provide coverage for a spherical field of view of a scene surrounding the apparatus.

Abstract: A method, system, and processor-executable software for processing images or video captured by a smartphone or other digital image capture device for subsequent validation and authentication captures not only the image, but also metadata relevant to the authenticity of validity of the image, such as position, time, camera movement and orientation, image parameters, and so forth. The image is watermarked and both the watermarked image and the metadata, as well as a symmetric key used in the watermarking, are digitally signed and transmitted or uploaded to a web server or authentication centric entity for authentication and storage. When a third party submits an image to the web server or authentication centric entity, the submitted image is compared with the stored watermarked image for authentication and validation of the submitted image, and the metadata is then retrieved to enable analysis of the contents of authenticated and validated image.

Abstract: A lens carrier for a camera system of a surroundings detection system of a motor vehicle including a printed circuit foil, tracks being applied as conductors or resistors to a first side of the printed circuit foil, and a plastic material being injection-molded onto a second side of the printed circuit foil situated opposite the first side. A corresponding method for manufacturing a lens carrier, device for manufacturing a lens carrier, and a camera system for a surroundings detection system of a motor vehicle, are also described.

Abstract: A method, system, and processor-executable software for processing images or video captured by a smartphone or other digital image capture device for subsequent validation and authentication captures not only the image, but also metadata relevant to the authenticity of validity of the image, such as position, time, camera movement and orientation, image parameters, and so forth. The image is watermarked and both the watermarked image and the metadata, as well as a symmetric key used in the watermarking, are digitally signed and transmitted or uploaded to a web server or authentication centric entity for authentication and storage. When a third party submits an image to the web server or authentication centric entity, the submitted image is compared with the stored watermarked image for authentication and validation of the submitted image, and the metadata is then retrieved to enable analysis of the contents of authenticated and validated image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first frequency image generating circuitry, a second frequency image generating circuitry, a signal detecting circuitry, and a display image generating circuitry. The first frequency image generating circuitry performs, on an object pixel of processing, processing based on a pixel value of a neighboring pixel positioned close to the pixel to generate first frequency image data including a specific contrast component and a first frequency component on image data. The second frequency image generating circuitry performs processing of subtracting the first frequency image data from the image data to generate second frequency image data including a second frequency component. The signal detecting circuitry detects a linear signal derived from a linear structural object from the second frequency image data. The display image generating circuitry generates a display image according to the linear signal detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method and a program, and a reproduction apparatus according to which an image sensor is divided into a plurality of areas and exposure control may be performed for each area according to the amount of camera shake. An imaging apparatus which is an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image sensor unit for generating pixel data of a pixel constituting a frame by photoelectric conversion, a calculation unit for calculating an amount of camera shake in each of areas obtained by dividing the frame, and a control unit for controlling exposure time of the image sensor for each of the areas according to the amount of camera shake calculated for each of the areas. The present disclosure is applicable to an electronic device such as a camera including an area ADC type image sensor, for example.

Abstract: An optical emitting circuit includes an array of M optical sources distributed in N groups, where N is lower than M. A controller is configured to generate N periodic square wave control signals that are successively mutually phase shifted by pi/N and that all have the same period, and to cyclically activate/deactivate all the optical sources of the N groups using the control signals. The optical emitting circuit is configured so that each group is activated when a corresponding control signal is in its first state and deactivated when the corresponding control signal is in its second state. The number of optical sources in each group and the order of the groups in the sequence of activations/deactivations are chosen so as to generate an optical signal having an amplitude that sinusoidally varies in steps.

Abstract: In order that color information for enabling accurate detection of a specific color, such as a skin color, can be registered without requiring time and effort, in various embodiments, an image processing unit generates a synthesized image to be displayed by synthesizing an image representing a target area in which a target object is arranged with a captured image of a physical space, and a registration unit, in a case where it is determined that the target object is included in a distance range set as a distance from an imaging reference plane when the physical space is captured, extracts color information from the target area, and registers the extracted color information.

Abstract: A system of controlling a vision device based on motion commands may include: a movable body; a vision device driven by being connected to the body and receiving image information; a driving unit driving the body in accordance with a motion command; and a control unit which calculates motion information of the body using the motion command and drives the vision device so as to compensate an influence caused by the motion of the body using the calculated motion information. By using the system, reliable image information may be obtained in a manner such that a vision device included in a subject such as a locomobile robot is controlled to watch a predetermined target even when the subject moves.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates intermediate volume data from a plurality of volume data segments obtained as time passes so as to implement high-speed volume data. A medical imaging apparatus that includes the image processing apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, an image processing method, and a medical image generation method are disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes a displacement vector generator configured to detect corresponding voxels between reference volume data and target volume data that has been acquired at intervals of a predetermined time period, and to generate a displacement vector between the corresponding voxels; and an intermediate volume data generator configured to generate at least one piece of intermediate volume data between the reference volume data and the target volume data by using the generated displacement vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a large-range-first cross-camera visual target re-identification method. The method comprises: step S1, obtaining initial single-camera tracks of targets; step S2, calculating a piecewise major color spectrum histogram feature of each track, and obtaining a track feature representation; step S3, obtaining a calculation formula of the similarity between any two tracks by using a minimum uncertainty method, so as to obtain the similarity between any two tracks; and step S4, performing global data association on all the tracks by using a maximum posterior probability method, so as to obtain a cross-camera tracking result. The target re-identification method of the present invention achieves high correct identification accuracy.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a processor, a display accessible to the processor, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to present a first portion of a user interface (UI) on the display and receive user input to present an expanded view of the UI and/or to pan within the UI. The instructions are also executable to, in response to receipt of the user input present the expanded view of the UI and present, in the expanded view, an indication of a location of the first portion.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying books located on a bookshelf. Photographs of the bookshelf are captured and processed to identify individual books. Processing involves segmenting the photograph into individual book spines and extracting and analyzing features of the book spines. Analysis may include database matching and/or optical character recognition. Book spines for which a match is not found are human labeled, and the label information is added to the database. User feedback is also used to update the database.

Abstract: An information processing system that detects that a first user input is received at a user interface corresponding to a display configured to display an image captured by an image capturing unit; determines a status of a timer corresponding to the user interface upon detecting the first user input; controls an image capture operation of the image capturing unit upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a first predetermined condition; and controls the display to display an image condition settings menu upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a second predetermined condition.

Abstract: A shake correction method for a camera satisfies 1<f tan ?/Y and includes, when recording an image: driving, by a first shake corrector, a shake correction lens group so that a movement amount thereof with respect to a rotational shake around an axis passing through the optical axis and parallel to a short side of the image is larger than that with respect to a rotational shake around an axis passing through the optical axis and parallel to a long side of the image; and driving, by a second shake corrector, an imaging element so that a movement amount thereof with respect to the rotational shake around the axis passing through the optical axis and parallel to the short side of the image is smaller than that with respect to the rotational shake around the axis passing through the optical axis and parallel to the long side of the image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a distortion rectification method, comprising: taking a wide-angle photograph using a camera of a terminal; determining distortion regions and non-distortion regions in the wide-angle photograph; obtaining a target distortion region selected by a user; dividing the target distortion region into M grid regions of a first pre-set size, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one; and respectively preforming distortion rectification on the M-grid regions of the first pre-set size. Also disclosed is a terminal.

Abstract: In the present invention, a control section distinctly displays, as indexes for indicating that data (image) switching can be performed from a starting point that is the arrayed position of data selected as a display target from among a plurality of data arrayed in virtual and multiple dimensions based on plural types of imaging parameters, information regarding the array status of the plurality of data on a display section, in association with plural directions in which data switching can be performed. As a result of this configuration, when instructing to perform data switching in a direction arbitrarily selected from among a plurality of data switching directions, the user can instruct to perform data switching while visually checking information regarding the array status of data for each data switching direction. That is, by this configuration, data in each data switching direction becomes more recognizable visually.

Abstract: A preview image presentation method includes acquiring, by a terminal, an image captured by a camera; and presenting, on a screen of the terminal, a first preview image and a second preview image that are generated according to the image, where a size of the second preview image is less than a size of the first preview image. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, on an existing basis of displaying a first preview image in a full screen manner, a second preview image that is smaller than the first preview image may be presented additionally, so that a user can adjust photographic composition according to the second preview image, thereby enhancing a photography effect and improving user photography experience.

Abstract: An approach is provided for acquiring both depth and surface normal of an object using a time-of-flight sensor with multiple distributed light sources. The approach involves causing, at least in part, at least one sequential illumination of at least one object by a plurality of distributed light sources associated with a time-of-flight sensor. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a capturing of reflected light intensity data using the time-of-flight sensor during the at least one sequential illumination. The approach further involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of the reflected light intensity data to determine at least one depth, at least one surface normal, or a combination thereof of the at least one object.

Abstract: A camera device without an image displaying function which is adapted to assemble with a portable electronic device with a vision displaying module is disclosed in the present invention. The camera device is electrically connected to the portable electronic device via wire/wireless connection. The camera device includes a base, a lens module and at least one touch navigation module. The base includes a surrounding component whereinside the lens module is disposed. The lens module includes a lens assembly and a digital processing unit. The touch navigation module is disposed on an outer surface of the surrounding component and electrically connected to the lens module. The touch navigation module detects an input command to trigger the lens assembly to capture an image, or controls parameters of an adjustable mode of the lens assembly via the digital processing unit.

Abstract: A head mounted device control method includes capturing situation data, using the situation data to determine whether a wearer of a head mounted device is inside a moving vehicle, and when it is determined that the wearer is inside a moving vehicle, controlling an image capture apparatus in the head mounted device to capture an environmental image, using the captured environmental image to determine whether a seat taken by the wearer is a driver's seat, and when it is determined that the seat taken by the wearer is the driver's seat, disabling a preset service, where the preset service includes a screen display service of a near-eye display. The method may reduce diversion of attention of the wearer, and improve driving safety.

Abstract: A method for image processing. The method includes: reading an image of a flowchart; identifying, within the image, a plurality of paths corresponding to the flowchart; classifying a first path of the plurality of paths as a flowchart element by: calculating, during a solo evaluation phase, a plurality of established likelihood scores for the first path based on a plurality of properties of the first path; calculating, during a neighbor-based evaluation phase, a first plurality of provisional likelihood scores for the first path based on the plurality of established likelihood scores for the first path and a plurality of established likelihood scores for a second path of the plurality of paths; and updating, during the neighbor-based evaluation phase, the plurality of established likelihood scores for the first path based on the first plurality of provisional likelihood scores; and generating a flowchart object based on the classified first path.

Abstract: A digital widescreen camera has an anamorphic lens focusing a field of view nearly twice as wide as tall on a photosensor array having nearly square aspect ratio. In embodiments, the photosensor array has an 8-pixel tiling unit organized as four pairs of adjacent left and right pixels, a first pair having two red-responsive pixels, a second pair having two blue-responsive pixels, and a third pair having two green-responsive pixels. In embodiments, signals from the 8-pixel tiling unit are processed into signals equivalent to signals from two adjacent Bayer-pattern 4-pixel tiling units. The corresponding method of digital photography includes receiving light through an anamorphic lens onto a photosensor array. In embodiments, the photosensor array has an eight-pixel tiling with four pairs of adjacent left and right pixels, a first pair with two red-responsive pixels, a second pair with two blue-responsive pixels, and a third pair with two green-responsive pixels.

Abstract: In multilevel clustering for a face recognition process, the first stage clustering is performed on each computing node, using the first x vector coefficients. From the resulting k clusters created in the first stage, a limited number of clusters are selected on which the second stage clustering is performed, using the next y vector coefficients. The search for a matching image is then limited to these selected clusters. Computational costs are reduced at the first stage clustering by using just the first x vector coefficients. Computational costs for the second stage clustering are also reduced by performing the second stage only with the limited number of clusters on a limited number of computing nodes. In this manner, the overall computational costs in the face recognition process is significantly reduced while maintaining a desired level of accuracy.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to switching between cameras of an electronic device. A method, system and computer storage medium are provided for switching between cameras of an electronic device. In an embodiment, the method comprises detecting at least a partial obstruction of a camera of the electronic device; and upon detection, switching between the at least partially obstructed camera and another camera of the electronic device. In such a way, it enables a user to switch between two different cameras by simply at least partially obstructing one of the cameras using, for example, a finger, which improves the accuracy of user operations and enhances usability of the electronic device, thereby providing a better user experience.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a camera configured to obtain an image of at least one user; a display configured to display the image obtained by the camera; and a controller configured to extract a gaze direction of the at least one user from the captured image, and display a guide image for guiding the gaze direction based on the extracted gaze direction on the display unit in proximate relationship with the camera.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for feeding source images from image stores of client systems into an image processing system using image feeding servers (“the technology”). The technology includes multiple image feeding servers that can feed a source image to the image processing system, using which the image processing system can generate processed images to be served to end users. The image feeding servers can be installed at various locations, e.g., geographically spread, and more proximate to where the source images are stored. An image feeding server obtains the source image from the image store in original size, downsizes the source image, and transmits the downsized source image to the image processing system. The technology selects an image feeding server based on a score of the image feeding server. The score can be determined as a function of one or more image feeding server parameters, e.g., latency, workload, or computing resource.

Abstract: Flash light-generating methods and systems are provided, which, in one aspect, include: obtaining one or more measurements of existing light on or around an illumination target; ascertaining a desired color attribute(s) for a combined light to be provided on the illumination target, the combined light including the existing light and a flash light to be generated; determining a flash light spectral power distribution of illumination which achieves a combined light spectral power distribution of illumination on the illumination target having the desired color attribute(s), the determining using, in part, the measurement(s) of existing light, and the desired color attribute(s) for the combined light; and generating the flash light with the determined flash light spectral power distribution of illumination to provide the combined light on the illumination target having the combined light spectral power distribution of illumination with the desired color attribute(s).

Abstract: In the present invention, when a user operation (shutter button depression) for instructing to start still image recording or a user operation (REC button depression) for instructing to start moving image recording is performed and detected at recording timing in interval shooting, a CPU records a still image or a moving image by an imaging section based on the user operation, without temporarily stopping the recording for the interval shooting. In addition, the CPU stores, in an external memory, a still image or a moving image recorded by the interval shooting and the still image or the moving image recorded by the detection of the user's instruction operation such that they can be managed to be usable as material for the interval shooting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to resolve a technical problem of a “ghost”. The method is applied to a terminal that includes a first camera lens and a second camera lens, where the both lenses are located on a same side of the terminal. The method includes: obtaining a first image that is captured by the first camera lens and is about a first area, and a second image that is captured at a same moment by the second camera lens and is about a second area; performing translation compensation on the second image by using the first image as a reference image; and fusing the first image and the second image that is obtained after translation compensation is performed, to generate a third image, where a resolution of the third image is higher than a resolution of the first image and a resolution of the second image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of imaging elements, an exposure time and a sensitivity value, a memory that stores correction information used to correct the exposure time and the sensitivity value, a correction circuit that corrects, when the exposure time corresponds to the predetermined exposure time, the exposure time and the sensitivity value according to the correction information to generate a corrected exposure time and a corrected sensitivity value, a setting circuit that sets setting values to control each imaging element, a control circuit that controls, when the exposure time calculated by the calculation circuit does not correspond to the predetermined exposure time, simultaneous exposure of each imaging element by using the setting value, and an image generating circuit that generates separate images acquired by each of the imaging elements.

Abstract: An imaging system may embed encrypted data into image data. The imaging system may generate image data in response to light received at a pixel array. The imaging system may include encryption circuitry that accesses an encryption key. The encryption circuitry may receive data related to the imaging system and/or to an environment in which an image is captured and encrypt the data using the encryption key. The imaging system may include data embedding circuitry that embeds the encrypted data into the image data to generate an output image. The components of the imaging system may be formed on a single imaging system chip. The encrypted data embedded in the output image may be extracted using an extraction engine and decrypted using a decryption engine and decryption key such that the data may be accessed by a user with access to the decryption key.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a camera. While in a first media acquisition mode for the camera the device displays a live preview on the display. While displaying the live preview, the device detects activation of a shutter button. In response to detecting activation of the shutter button, the device groups a plurality of images acquired by the camera in temporal proximity to the activation of the shutter button into a sequence of images. The sequence of images includes: a plurality of images acquired by the camera prior to detecting activation of the shutter button; a representative image that represents the first sequence of images and was acquired by the camera after one or more of the other images in the first sequence of images; and a plurality of images acquired by the camera after acquiring the representative image.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of image modules and a plurality of processors. The image modules may each comprise (i) a sensor configured to generate images and (ii) a lens mounted to the sensor. The processors may each be configured to (A) receive the images from a subset of the plurality of image modules and (B) generate a plurality of video streams. Each one of the video streams may be generated by one of the processors in response to the images received from one of the image modules. The subset of the plurality of image modules may comprise at least two distinct image modules of the plurality of image modules. The lenses may be arranged to allow the images to provide coverage for a spherical field of view of a scene surrounding the apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image comparing unit that compares a shot image shot by a photographer with a sample image selected by the photographer; an operation comparing unit that compares an operation performed when the shot image was shot with an operation performed when the sample image was shot; and an advising unit that gives the photographer advice on an image shooting method to make the shot image close to the sample image according to comparison results provided by the image comparing unit and the operation comparing unit.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for providing viewers of a digital image with information about identifiable and scenes within the image. In an embodiment, digital images, uploaded to a host website, are customized through the incorporation of some number of selectable informational links and other text based information to provide viewers of the image real-time access to social and advertising related information regarding certain identifiable objects and scenes in the image. The selectable information links are incorporated within and around the digital image in a process referred to herein as image tagging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a head-mounted display including a pair of headphones having a built-in speaker for outputting sound, a first arm rotatably coupled to the pair of headphones to display an image, a second arm coupled to the pair of headphones so as to relatively rotate with the first arm to cover or uncover a front surface of the first arm, and a control unit controlling the image output to the first arm and the sound output to the headphones according to positions of the first arm and the second arm.

Abstract: An exemplary method implements fixed pattern noise compensation for captured visual images of a moving scene. A current X-by-Y frame of image values captured by a camera is stored in memory where the magnitude of each image value represents a light level associated with a respective X-by-Y position in the frame. A moving average value for each image value over a number of X-by-Y frames is determined where the moving average value for each X-by-Y image value represents a level of fixed pattern noise for the moving scene. X-by-Y frames with fixed pattern noise compensated image values are generated based on subtracting from each image value of the current X-by-Y frame the corresponding moving average value.

Abstract: There is provided with an image shake correction device that controls an image correction unit and corrects an image shake of a captured image. The image shake correction device calculates a first correction amount to be used for correcting the image shake while shooting moving images and a second correction amount to be used for correcting the image shake while shooting still images based on a shake detection signal. The image shake correction device selects the correction amount to be used for correcting the image shake from either the first correction amount or the second correction amount and executes a control that updates an intermediate calculation value of the calculation unit corresponding to the correction amount that has not been selected from either the first calculation unit or the second calculation unit, with a value of the correction amount that has been selected.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to establish a secure communication session between an electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device. The system can confirm that a communication session is secure by displaying pre-selected content unique to the portable electronic device. The content can be continuously displayed on the EGM during the active communication session to indicate that the session is secure.

Abstract: Sonde devices for providing magnetic field signals for use with utility locators or other devices are disclosed. In one embodiment a sonde device includes a housing, a core comprising a plurality of core sections, and one or more support structures, which may include windings. Circuit and/or power supply elements may be disposed fully or partially within the core to control generation of predefined magnetic field frequencies and waveforms.