Registering Or Aligning Multiple Images To One Another Patents (Class 382/294)
  • Patent number: 9311709
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image captured by imaging a subject using a first imaging device is acquired. A two-dimensional image captured by imaging a surface of the subject using a second imaging device is acquired. Information representing the surface position of the subject is acquired from the three-dimensional image. A projection image in a case where seeing the three-dimensional image from the viewpoint of the second imaging device is generated based on the information representing the surface position. The three-dimensional image is aligned with the two-dimensional image with respect to the subject using the projection image and the two-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miyasa, Takuro Miyasato
  • Patent number: 9305251
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus (1) according to the present invention includes a layer combining unit (11a) that generates a print image based on print data including a plurality of layers, a determining unit (11b) that determines whether objects included in different layers overlap each other in a single pixel constituting the print image, and a selecting unit (11c) that selects image processing to be performed with respect to the single pixel according to a combination of attribute information for each of the layers assigned to the single pixel, when the objects overlap each other in the corresponding single pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yaginuma, Tetsuhiro Kodera, Kazuto Yamamoto, Takeshi Ikusawa, Tomoko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9307160
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are provided. First, frames are continuously captured, wherein the respective frames are captured with a same exposure time. At least one intermediary frame is then generated according to at least one of the frames. The at least one intermediary frame is composed using a HDR composition algorithm to generate a HDR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Ta Lin
  • Patent number: 9305339
    Abstract: Multi-feature image haze removal is described. In one or more implementations, feature maps are extracted from a hazy image of a scene. The feature maps convey information about visual characteristics of the scene captured in the hazy image. Based on the feature maps, portions of light that are not scattered by the atmosphere and are captured to produce the hazy image are computed. Additionally, airlight of the hazy image is ascertained based on at least one of the feature maps. The calculated airlight represents constant light of the scene. Using the computed portions of light and the ascertained airlight, a dehazed image is generated from the hazy image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Jianchao Yang, Jue Wang, Ketan Tang
  • Patent number: 9299146
    Abstract: A first image and a second image obtained by imaging the same subject with different types of modalities are obtained. The first image is deformed, and similarity between the deformed first image and the second image is evaluated by an evaluation function that evaluates correlation between distributions of corresponding pixel values of the two images to estimate an image deformation amount of the first image. Based on the estimated image deformation amount, a deformed image of the first image is generated. The evaluation function includes a term representing a measure of correlation between a pixel value of the deformed first image and a corresponding pixel value of the second image, wherein the term evaluates the correlation based on probability information that indicates a probability of each combination of corresponding pixel values of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Caihua Wang
  • Patent number: 9270885
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums are provided to generate a number of targets for a panoramic image, each of the targets defining a portion of the panoramic image, monitor a position of a user device with respect to a current target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the current target, capture a first image for the current target using a camera of the user device, monitor the position of the user device with respect to a next target, responsive to determining that the user device is properly positioned with respect to the next target, capture a second image for the next target using the camera of the user device; and generate the panoramic image using the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Rapoport, Scott Ettinger
  • Patent number: 9262991
    Abstract: According to an example, in a method for displaying visual analytics of entity data, geographic locations of entities may be plotted as first pixel cells on a first region and as second pixel cells on a second region of a geographic map. A determination may be made that the first pixel cells have a higher degree of overlap with each other in the first region compared to the second pixel cells in the second region. The geographic map may be distorted to enlarge the first region and the first pixel cells may be arranged in the first region in a manner that prevents the first pixel cells from overlapping each other. A color value for each of the pixel cells may be determined from a multi-paired color map that represents two variables corresponding to the entities by color and the pixel cells may be caused to be displayed on the distorted geographic map according to the determined respective color values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Ming C. Hao, Michael Hund, Wei-Nchih Lee, Halldor Janetzko, Nelson L. Chang, Daniel Keim, Sebastian Mittelstaedt
  • Patent number: 9256981
    Abstract: A method and a device for processing geological information is disclosed. The method for processing the geological information includes acquiring multiple geological image graphs, determining the relation between the image coordinate and the ground coordinate of each of the multiple geological image graphs by an imaging mode of geological images, and joining the multiple geological image graphs together according to the relation between the image coordinate and the ground coordinate of each of the multiple geological image graphs. Accordingly, large-scale ground images can be acquired by processing the geological images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: BEIJING ELECTRIC POWER ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, STATE GRID BEIJING ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, BEIJING FOREVER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bin Shu, Chao Yang, Kai Zhang, Youjun Wang, Yong Wang, Zhishan Ren, Xinwei Luo, Congyun Li, Kai Chen, Chunhua Jiang, Guoyong Li, Jinglei Zhou, Tong Zhou, Xiaopeng Han
  • Patent number: 9251576
    Abstract: A system for generating a digital subtraction image of at least two input images. The system comprises a registration subsystem (1) for generating a plurality of different registrations of the input images (7, 8), based on different values of a registration parameter (6). The system further comprises a subtraction subsystem (2) for generating a plurality of subtracted images by subtracting the input images in accordance with respective ones of the plurality of registrations. The system further comprises a combining subsystem (3) for combining the plurality of subtracted images into a combined subtracted image (9). The registration parameter (6) represents an assumed depth of an object which is visible in the input images (7, 8). The combining subsystem (3) is arranged for assigning a combined pixel value to a pixel position of the combined subtracted image, based on pixel values of or around corresponding pixel positions in the plurality of subtracted images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Jens Von Berg
  • Patent number: 9247098
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile device captures images at a rate different than playback speed. The mobile device receives a user input to initiate a collection of image data by a mobile device. A timer is incremented in response to the collection of image data or in response to the user input. The mobile device compares an elapsed time of the timer to a threshold. The image data is captured at a first frame rate until the elapsed time reaches the threshold and at a second frame rate when the timer exceeds the threshold. A series of thresholds may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Hartford
  • Patent number: 9224229
    Abstract: A process of bringing first and second data sets into registration/conformity with each other. A plurality of candidate data sets are provided, each being a differently shifted or distorted form of a reference data set. Each of the first and second data sets and the reference data set being a representation of a particular physical object. The process compares respectively the first and second data sets with each of the candidate data sets and in dependence on the comparisons to determine respective first and second transformations that bring into registration or conformity with each other the reference data set and a particular candidate data set out of the plurality of candidate data sets which provides a best match with the respective first and second data sets, and brings the first and second data sets into registration/conformity with each other in dependence on the first and second transformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: BLACKFORD ANALYSIS LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin David Panter, Robert John Tweedie, Paul Henderson
  • Patent number: 9224192
    Abstract: The processing of remote sensing data, wherein first image data are processed with the use of second digital image data which, compared with the first image data, have a finer local resolution. The local resolution of the first digital image data is refined temporarily. The local resolution and every pixel of the temporarily refined first image data corresponds to the local resolution and each pixel of the second digital image data. Determining a weighting value for the pixels of the second digital image data which corresponds to a weighting of a image value of the pixel in the ratio of the image value of the pixel to image values of surrounding pixels. A smoothing of the local plot of the image values in the area of the pixel and its environment is implemented such that the weighting value of larger values is based on additional smoothing of image values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft—und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventor: Hans-Hermann Vajen
  • Patent number: 9224364
    Abstract: Improved techniques for interacting with one or more handheld carriers hosting media content are disclosed. The handheld carrier hosting media content may be sensed, and at least a portion of the media content may be integrated into operation of a media activity provided by a computing device, upon recognizing the media activity and the media content. The media activity provided by the computing device may involve creating or editing an electronic document. The integration of the media content into operation of the media activity may involve insertion or importation of the media content into the electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Weber
  • Patent number: 9215453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating a measurement system having at least one image recording apparatus (12) having at least two measurement cameras (31, 32) that form a stereo camera system, and having an analysis unit (13), wherein the measurement system is calibrated by means of a calibration device (22) having reference features (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Adriano Macchia, Volker Uffenkamp
  • Patent number: 9208576
    Abstract: The invention presents a method for comparing the similarity between image patches comprising the steps of receiving form at least two sources at least two image patches, wherein each source supplies an image patch, comparing the received image patches by extracting a number of corresponding subpart pairs from each image patch, calculating a normalized local similarity score between all corresponding subpart pairs, calculating a total matching score by integrating the local similarity scores of all corresponding subpart pairs, and using the total matching score as an indicator for an image patch similarity, determining corresponding similar image patches based on the total matching score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Julian Eggert, Nils Einecke
  • Patent number: 9210417
    Abstract: Real-time registration of a camera array in an image capture device may be implemented in the field by adjusting a selected subset of independent parameters in a mapping function, termed registration coefficients, which have been determined to have the largest contribution to registration errors so that the array can be maintained in its initial factory-optimized calibrated state. By having to adjust only a relatively small subset of registration coefficients from within a larger set of coefficients (which are typically determined using a specialized calibration target in a factory setting), far fewer matching patterns need to be identified in respective images captured by cameras in the array in order to correct for registration errors. Such simplified pattern matching may be performed using images that are captured during normal camera array usage so that registration may be performed in real-time in the field without the need for specialized calibration targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Hall
  • Patent number: 9196071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image splicing method and apparatus. The image splicing method includes: acquiring a first image and a second image; determining a to-be-processed region within the overlapping region, where a region within the overlapping region except the to-be-processed region is a remaining region; obtaining a weight value of each adjacent pixel pair of the remaining region; setting a weight value of an adjacent pixel pair within the to-be-processed region; determining a splicing path having the least seam line intensity of all splicing paths; and performing image splicing on the first image and the second image along the optimal seam line. According to the image splicing method and apparatus of the present invention, a seam line can be excluded from a to-be-processed region, so as to ensure that the to-be-processed region is spliced naturally and to improve subjective perception of a user in viewing an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yifan Zhang, Cheng Du, Min Chen
  • Patent number: 9194941
    Abstract: Techniques to improve resolution in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a portable ultrasound probe having transducer elements and supporting electronics within the probe. The beam is shaped to split the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy. Super resolution sample technique based on interpolation can be used to further increase resolution. In one embodiment the ultrasound system supports ½ crystal physical resolution and ¼ crystal digital resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eagleyemed Inc.
    Inventor: Harish P. Hiriyannaiah
  • Patent number: 9188664
    Abstract: Techniques to improve resolution in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a portable ultrasound probe having transducer elements and supporting electronics within the probe. The beam is shaped to split the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy. Super resolution sample technique based on interpolation can be used to further increase resolution. In one embodiment the ultrasound system supports ½ crystal physical resolution and ¼ crystal digital resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eagleyemed, Inc.
    Inventor: Harish P. Hiriyannaiah
  • Patent number: 9191536
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: a processor; and a memory storing instructions, the instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the processing apparatus to perform: receiving read image data, which is image data generated by reading an object with an image reading apparatus; extracting a target image, which is an image having a part indicating the object, from a read image that is an image indicated by the read image data; and generating output data, which indicates a synthesis image in which the target image and a template image are synthesized, wherein the template image has an assignment area to which the target image is assigned, and wherein the generating comprises arranging two or more of the same target images on the assignment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryohei Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9183215
    Abstract: A computer image search system for rapid retrieval of media files images configured to determine a grid width attribute, and a height attribute, a width attribute and an aspect ratio attribute for each media file. The system configured to iteratively process each media file by determining a next media file, an average height and average width of the media files, reconfiguring the media files such that each of the reconfigured media files has the average height and the average width attribute, determining a total image width attribute of the media files by adding the average width attribute for each of the media files, and configured to assign a designated position to a next media file on the grid while the total image width attribute is less than the grid width attribute, and to dynamically display each processed media file at a corresponding designated position on the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SHUTTERSTOCK, INC.
    Inventor: Eric J. Smiling
  • Patent number: 9183618
    Abstract: In an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes accessing feature points in a first frame of a content, and aligning a second frame to the first frame based on determining a transformation matrix between the second frame and the first frame based on matching the feature points in the first frame with a corresponding feature points in the second frame. The method further includes aligning at least one subsequent frame from the second frame to the first frame by generating a modified first frame based on a transformation matrix between a preceding frame of a subsequent frame and the first frame, and determining a transformation matrix between the subsequent frame and the first frame based on matching a set of feature points in the modified feature points with corresponding feature points in the subsequent frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Soumik Ukil, Krishna Annasagar Govindarao
  • Patent number: 9179099
    Abstract: A method and system for implementing a video conference and a broadband mobile hotspot device are disclosed in the present document. The method includes: each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference sending a local panorama video image and voice signals to a multipoint conference server; the multipoint conference server sending the received panorama video images and voice signals to other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference except a sender; and after receiving panorama video images and voice signals of the other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference, each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference mosaicking the local panorama video image and the received panorama video images as a conference panorama video image, and synchronizing the conference panorama video image with the received voice signals to send to a terminal device participating in the conference under the broadband mobile hotspot device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventor: Jianning Wu
  • Patent number: 9177378
    Abstract: The coregistration of digital images of tissue slices is improved by updating landmarks based on the manual outlining of regions of interest on the images. A first image of a first slice is coarsely coregistered with a second image of a second slice using a first landmark on the first image and a second landmark on the second image. A user manually outlines a first region of interest on the first image. The outline is positioned over a second region of interest on the second image using the second landmark. The user manually moves a contour point of the outline on the second image to form a corrected outline. The second landmark is moved based on how the contour point was manually moved so that the first and second images are more finely coregistered after the second landmark is moved. Each state of corrected contour points and landmarks is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Definiens AG
    Inventors: Ralf Schoenmeyer, Mehmet Yigitsoy, Nicolas Brieu
  • Patent number: 9165341
    Abstract: In the case of a measuring device for recording a sequence of individual images (6, 7, 8) in a non-visible spectral range, a method for generating an SR image (11) having an image resolution that is higher than an image resolution of the individual images (6, 7, 8) is provided, wherein, for the individual images (6, 7, 8), a displacement vector field (11, 12) is determined with a calculation of the optical flow and the individual images (6, 7, 8) are segmented into segments (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) with regard to the values of the displacement vector field (11, 12), and an optimization method is carried out for calculating the SR image (11) from the individual images (6, 7, 8) with variation parameters individually assigned to the segments (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Testo AG
    Inventors: Jan-Friso Evers-Senne, Martin Stratmann, Matthias Schmieder, Jorg Lange
  • Patent number: 9160936
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for performing high dynamic range mixing on a pixel stream. In use, the system receives a pixel stream including at least two exposures per pixel from a plurality of pixels of an image sensor. The system then generates a high dynamic range (HDR) pixel stream by performing HDR mixing on the received pixel stream. Finally, the system outputs the HDR pixel stream. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Duelight LLC
    Inventors: William Rivard, Adam Feder, Brian Kindle
  • Patent number: 9159131
    Abstract: Data matching includes receiving a piece of first relational data and a piece of second relational data. The piece of first relational data is associated with a plurality of pieces of first data, and the piece of second relational data is associated with a plurality of pieces of second data. An approximate value of the piece of second relational data is calculated. A similarity is calculated based on the piece of first relational data and the approximate value of the piece of second relational data. A correspondence between a piece of the first data and a piece of the second data is determined based on the calculated similarity. An alignment parameter is calculated based on the determined correspondence, and a first data group including the piece of the first data is matched with a second data group including the piece of the second data based on the alignment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Yong Park, Kyung Shik Roh
  • Patent number: 9148618
    Abstract: Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content and reviewing previously stored image content using an electronic device are provided. The previously stored image content may include an individual distinct image or at least two consecutive video frame images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Matas, Mallory Paine
  • Patent number: 9147118
    Abstract: An image alignment method includes steps of receiving a first image and a second image; scaling the first image and the second image by a ratio to generate a first downsized image and a second downsized image respectively; determining a first offset between the first downsized image and the second downsized image; selecting a first saliency region and a second saliency region from the first downsized image and the second downsized image; determining a second offset between a first sub-region within the first image and a second sub-region within the second image, the first sub-region and the second sub-region corresponding to the first saliency region and the second saliency region respectively; determining a final offset according to the ratio, the first offset and the second offset; and aligning the first image and the second image by the final offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Fu Lin, Chia-Wei Chiu, Kuo-Hsien Liang
  • Patent number: 9147287
    Abstract: A statistical point pattern matching technique is used to match corresponding points selected from two or more views of a roof of a building. The technique statistically selecting points from each of orthogonal and oblique aerial views of a roof. generating radial point patterns for each aerial view, calculating the origin of each point pattern, representing the shape of the point pattern as a radial function, and Fourier-transforming the radial function to produce a feature space plot. A feature profile correlation function can then be computed to relate the point match sets. From the correlation results, a vote occupancy table can be generated to help evaluate the variance of the point match sets, indicating, with high probability, which sets of points are most likely to match one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Eagle View Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Albert Ciarcia
  • Patent number: 9129372
    Abstract: A method that includes receiving an input image of a region of interest (ROI) of an individual. The input image is a medical image acquired by a first imaging modality. The method also includes generating a first feature image based on the input image. The first feature image includes a designated anatomical feature of the ROI. The method also includes obtaining an anatomical atlas. The atlas has a reference image of the ROI of at least one other individual and an organ model. The reference image is a medical image that is acquired by a second imaging modality that is different from the first imaging modality. The method also includes determining a transformation function by registering the first feature image with a second feature image that is based on the reference image and includes the designated anatomical feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andras Kriston, Ferenc Kovacs, Tamas Blaskovics
  • Patent number: 9131216
    Abstract: A method for temporally synchronizing an input bit stream of a video decoder with a processed video sequence decoded by an external video decoder includes the steps of: capturing the input bit stream and supplying it to a bit stream analyzer; parsing and analyzing the captured input bit stream by the bit stream analyzer; decoding the input bit stream and providing reconstructed images Nrec therefrom; storing the reconstructed images Nrec in a buffer; and comparing a processed video sequence received from the output side of the video decoder with each of the stored reconstructed images, to find a matching frame n* from the reconstructed images in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
    Inventors: Savvas Argyropoulos, Bernhard Feiten, Marie-Neige Garcia, Peter List, Alexander Raake
  • Patent number: 9111344
    Abstract: An image processing method for image alignment, includes sequentially receiving a plurality of images; generating at least one threshold corresponding to each image according to a plurality of intensities of each image of the plurality of images; converting each image according to the thresholds of each image, for generating a plurality of binary images; acquiring a plurality of characteristic pixels of each binary image according to the plurality of binary images; and aligning the plurality of images according to the plurality of characteristic pixels of each binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp., Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Pin-Ching Su, Hwann-Tzong Chen, Ming-Feng Chiang
  • Patent number: 9101270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for capturing an image of the anterior part of an iris, and a medical monitoring system using a smart phone. According to the apparatus for capturing an image of the anterior part of an iris, the present invention can contribute to the health of the eyes by accurately examining or capturing images of healthy states to diseased states of an iris by precisely capturing an image without reflecting light to the iris while easily opening the eyes through a more effective and simple method, and proceeding with follow-up treatment thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Ha-Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 9100537
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for motion estimation in a sequence of images. One or more motion vectors representing movement of a camera or viewer position or direction are determined between each pair of fields or frames in the sequence of images. A set of candidate motion vectors is then determined for deriving positions of objects in a field or frame from the positions of objects in a previous field or frame. This set of candidate motion vectors is adjusted using the motion vectors representing movement of camera or viewer position and thus a set of motion vectors is derived for a sequence of images using the adjusted set of candidate motion vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Morphet, Steven J. Fishwick
  • Patent number: 9092883
    Abstract: Among a plurality of CFA images obtained by shooting the same subject, one image is a standard image, and another image is a reference image, and the displacement amount calculation portion calculates the displacement amount of the reference image with respect to the standard image. A synthesis processing portion performs a synthesis processing based on the displacement amount calculated by the displacement amount calculation portion, according to the pixel values of a standard image pixel and a reference image pixel that are corresponding pixels between the standard image and the reference image, so as to generate a combination CFA image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Yano
  • Patent number: 9064170
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises determining at least one first 1-D curve and at least one second 1-D curve. The method also comprises computing alignment parameters indicative of alignment adjustment between the at least one first 1-D curve and the at least one second 1-D curve. A scaling parameter and at least one translation parameter may be computed between the at least one first 1-D curve and the at least one second 1-D curve based at least on the alignment parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Veldandi Muninder
  • Patent number: 9052277
    Abstract: Provided is an image capturing apparatus comprising a light emitting section that emits light to a subject; a light receiving section that receives light in a first wavelength region and light in a second wavelength region from the subject, the second wavelength region being different from the first wavelength region; a reflectance calculating section that calculates a first reflectance of light in the first wavelength region from the subject and a second reflectance of light in the second wavelength region from the subject, based on the light emitted by the light emitting section and the light received by the light receiving section; and a depth identifying section that calculates a depth, from a surface of the subject, of an object inside the subject that is included in an image resulting from the light received by the light receiving section, based on the first reflectance and the second reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Maeda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9047653
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of blending stitched document image portions. The method identifies background pixels and foreground pixels on each boundary of the image portions. Pixels of the image portions are then modified based on a pixel value difference between corresponding background pixels on the respective boundary of the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Hui-Man Hou, Jian-Ming Jin, Yuhong Xiong
  • Patent number: 9044863
    Abstract: A system for selectively controlling visibility of information and for reducing or eliminating light energy in a robotic telepresence environment is provided. The system includes a robotic device in a work environment that is occupied or operated by a pilot at a station in a workspace remote from location of the robot in the work environment, a camera operably attached to the robotic device, a primary polarizing filter adjustably attached to the camera, a viewing area, at least one light source remote from the camera, and at least one secondary polarizing filter. The primary and at least one secondary polarizing filter can be adjusted to vary the lighting and artifacts seen by the pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Mead, Paul Noll, Lisa Mead, Joel Stanfield, Rémi Marcel Louis Casal
  • Publication number: 20150147002
    Abstract: System (100) for registering an image sequence, comprising:—an input (120) for obtaining the image sequence (200), the image sequence comprising a plurality of images (201 -205) arranged sequentially within an image range;—a transformation processor (140) for establishing transformations between pairs of consecutive images in the image sequence (200) to obtain a plurality of transformations (211-214);—an alignment processor (160) for, based on the plurality of transformations (211-214), aligning the image sequence (200) to a reference image (203) to obtain a registered image sequence (230);—wherein the alignment processor (160) is arranged for establishing the reference image (203) from the plurality of images (201-205) based on a transformation metric, the transformation metric quantifying a degree of transformation required for aligning the image sequence (200) to the reference image (203).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Guillaume Leopold Theodorus Frederik Hautvast
  • Patent number: 9042679
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to register images in real-time and that are capable of producing reliable registrations even when the number of high frequency image features is small. The disclosed techniques may also provide a quantitative measure of a registration's quality. The latter may be used to inform the user and/or to automatically determine when visual registration techniques may be less accurate than motion sensor-based approaches. When such a case is detected, an image capture device may be automatically switched from visual-based to sensor-based registration. Disclosed techniques quickly determine indicators of an image's overall composition (row and column projections) which may be used to determine the translation of a first image, relative to a second image. The translation so determined may be used to align/register the two images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Zuliani, Kevin L. Hunter, Jianping Zhou, Todd Sachs, Frank Doepke
  • Patent number: 9042512
    Abstract: An approach is disclosed for acquiring multi-sector computed tomography scan data. The approach includes activating an X-ray source during heartbeats of a patient to acquire projection data over a limited angular range for each heartbeat. The projection data acquired over the different is combined. An image having good temporal resolution is reconstructed using the combined projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhye Yin, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jed Douglas Pack, Kyle Morgan Champley, Kai Zeng
  • Patent number: 9042680
    Abstract: A direction of regularity, which minimizes a directional energy computed from pixel values of consecutive first and second frames of an input video sequence, is respectively associated with each pixel of the first frame and with each pixel of the second frame. Another direction of regularity (vz), which minimizes a directional energy computed from pixel values of the first and second frames, is also associated with an output pixel (z) of a frame of an output video sequence, located in time between the first and second frames. For processing such output pixel, the respective minimized directional energies for the output pixel, at least one pixel (z?) of the first frame and at least one pixel (z?) of the second frame are compared to control an interpolation performed to determine a value of the output pixel. The interpolation uses pixel values from at least one of the first and second frames of the input video sequence depending on the comparison of the minimized directional energies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ZORAN (FRANCE) S.A.
    Inventor: Joan Bruna Estrach
  • Patent number: 9036219
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an image-modification processing unit and an adjustment unit. The image-modification processing unit executes first image-modification processing wherein pixels are inserted to or deleted from a subject image in a first direction or pixels in the subject image are shifted in the first direction and second image modification processing wherein pixels in the subject image are shifted in a second direction. The adjustment unit adjusts a position of a shift-border along which the pixels are shifted in the second image-modification processing on the basis of a position of each step in an image caused in the first image-modification processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Shoichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 9036909
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment involves receiving an image with a set of undefined pixels and a set of defined pixels and recursively modifying the image to generate a seamless composition comprising only defined pixels. Disclosed are embodiments for recursively modifying the image by recursively down sampling the image by a factor to generate a plurality of down sampled images until the down sampled image generated at each recursive down sampling lacks undefined pixels and then recursively up sampling each one of the down sampled images by the factor to generate an up sampled image from the respective down sampled image. Additionally, at each recursive up sampling instance, pasting the next recursively occurring down sampled image on the up sampled image to generate the next recursively occurring image for up sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Adove Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Sylvain Paris, James McCann
  • Patent number: 9037599
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to displaying and navigating within photo placemarks in a geographic information system. In an embodiment, a method registers a photographic image in a geographic information system. A location of the photographic image within geographic information of the geographic information system is determined based on the geographic information and a metadata of the photographic image. The location of the photographic image is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Francois Bailly, Brian McClendon, John Rohlf, Andrew Timothy Szybalski
  • Patent number: 9022939
    Abstract: Method and system for ultrasound imaging of body tissue in which a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer (20) is oriented relative to the body such that ultrasonic waves generated by the FUS transducer (20) are directed toward the tissue being imaged. The FUS transducer (20) is operated to cause the formation of microbubbles (28) in the tissue and an ultrasound image of the tissue with the microbubbles (28) is acquired. Phase aberration in the acquired ultrasound image may be corrected, if necessary, using each microbubble (28) as a point source or point-like scatterer. Microbubble (28) formation can therefore be obtained in a non-invasive manner since FUS-induced microbubble (28) formation does not require the insertion of interventional tools into the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Shunmugavelu Sokka, David Louis Marie Savery, Chien-Ting Chin
  • Patent number: 9025908
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for aligning multiple video sequences of a similar scene. It is determined which video sequences should be aligned with each other using linear dynamic system (LDS) modeling. The video sequences are then spatially aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The John Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rene Esteban Vidal, Avinash Aghoram Ravichandran
  • Patent number: 9025810
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to geographical image applications. A user may transition between nadir and street level imagery using unstitched oblique imagery. Oblique images offer a rich set of views of a target location and provide a smooth transition to or from other images such as nadir photographs taken by satellites or street level photographs taken by ground level users. Using unstitched oblique images avoids artifacts that may be introduced when stitching together one or more images. This allows an application to display images to a user and create the illusion of three dimensional motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Tilman Reinhardt, Stephane Lafon, Andrew Szybalski