Abstract: A system and method for extracting structure from stereo that represents the scene as a collection of planar layers. Each layer optimally has an explicit 3D plane equation, a colored image with per-pixel opacity, and a per-pixel depth value relative to the plane. Initial estimates of the layers are recovered using techniques from parametric motion estimation. The combination of a global model (the plane) with a local correction to it (the per-pixel relative depth value) imposes enough local consistency to allow the recovery of shape in both textured and untextured regions.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for fast computation of a spatial transform of an input signal. The computation system includes a window processor having a window function and an operator having a first set of weights. The window processor receives the input signal as sample blocks and the operator is adapted to apply butterfly coefficients determined by the window function to produce resulting vectors. Also, the window processor maps the input signal to a cascade of butterflies using the first set of weights and reorders the cascade of butterflies. A transform processor having a transform module computes a spatial transform from the reordered cascade of butterflies to produce transform coefficient. A coefficient combination operator combines the transform coefficients to produce an encoded output corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting structure from stereo that represents the scene as a collection of planar layers. Each layer optimally has an explicit 3D plane equation, a colored image with per-pixel opacity, and a per-pixel depth value relative to the plane. Initial estimates of the layers are made and then refined using a re-synthesis step which takes into account both occlusions and mixed pixels. Reasoning about these effects allows the recovery of depth and color information with high accuracy, even in partially occluded regions. Moreover, the combination of a global model (the plane) with a local correction to it (the per-pixel relative depth value) imposes enough local consistency to allow the recovery of shape in both textured and untextured regions.

Abstract: A drainpipe test plug device according to the present invention is capable of being easily inserted through an opening such as a drain clean-out or other side opening to effectively seal a pressurized drainpipe. Further, the drainpipe test plug device is capable of maintaining a seal against fluid pressure in a piping system for any desired length of time without bleeding or leakage past the drainpipe test plug device. In addition, the drainpipe test plug device is adapted for use with a range of sizes of pipes by using a plug sized to fit the pipe under test. The drainpipe test plug device has a plug or seal that is rotatably coupled to a pivot arm, which is in turn rotatably coupled to a lever arm for positioning the drainpipe test plug device within a drainpipe. Consequently, the plug is capable of rotating about two axes simultaneously to effect a seal within the drainpipe.

Abstract: An interactive system and process for constructing a model of a 3D scene from a panoramic view of the scene. In the constructed model, the 3D scene is represented by sets of connected planes. The modeling begins by providing the user with a display of an image of the panoramic view. The user is then required to specify information concerning certain geometric features of the scene. A computer program recovers a camera orientation matrix of the panoramic view based on the features specified by the user. Plane normals and line directions for planes in the 3D scene are estimated using this matrix as well as the user-specified information. A camera translation is also recovered, as are plane distances and vertex point locations for planes in the 3D scene, using the user-supplied information, camera orientation matrix, and the estimated plane normals and line directions.

Abstract: A system and method for creating weight maps capable of indicating how much each pixel in an image should contribute to a blended image. One such map is a view-dependent weight map created by inputting an image that has been characterized as a collection of regions. A 2D perspective transform is computed for each region that is to be part of the weight map. The transforms are used to warp the associated regions to prescribed coordinates to create a warped image. Once the warped image is created, a Jacobian matrix is computed for each pixel. The determinant of each Jacobian matrix is then computed to establish a weight factor for that pixel. The weight map for the inputted image is created using these computed determinants. Another advantageous weight map is a combination weight map. The process for creating type of weight map is identical to the view-dependant map up to the point the warped image has been created.

Abstract: The coder/decoder (codec) system of the present invention includes a coder and a decoder. The coder includes a multi-resolution transform processor, such as a modulated lapped transform (MLT) transform processor, a weighting processor, a uniform quantizer, a masking threshold spectrum processor, an entropy encoder, and a communication device, such as a multiplexor (MUX) for multiplexing (combining) signals received from the above components for transmission over a single medium. The decoder comprises inverse components of the encoder, such as an inverse multi-resolution transform processor, an inverse weighting processor, an inverse uniform quantizer, an inverse masking threshold spectrum processor, an inverse entropy encoder, and an inverse MUX. With these components, the present invention is capable of performing resolution switching, spectral weighting, digital encoding, and parametric modeling.

Abstract: The coder/decoder (codec) system of the present invention includes a coder and a decoder. The coder includes a multi-resolution transform processor, such as a modulated lapped transform (MLT) transform processor, a weighting processor, a uniform quantizer, a masking threshold spectrum processor, an entropy encoder, and a communication device, such as a multiplexor (MUX) for multiplexing (combining) signals received from the above components for transmission over a single medium. The decoder comprises inverse components of the encoder, such as an inverse multi-resolution transform processor, an inverse weighting processor, an inverse uniform quantizer, an inverse masking threshold spectrum processor, an inverse entropy encoder, and an inverse MUX. With these components, the present invention is capable of performing resolution switching, spectral weighting, digital encoding, and parametric modeling.

Abstract: A fin assembly for securing a fin to a water craft in a desired angular position relative to a longitudinally oriented axis of the water craft, i.e. the roll angle, is provided in the form of a fin mounting mechanism incorporated in the bottom surface of the water craft and a detachable fin. The attachment mechanism includes a fin mounting box with an elongated channel defined in part by a pair of spaced longitudinal extending side walls. A rotating bar is inserted within the elongated channel of the mounting box and two end caps are affixed to the fin mounting box to hold the rotating bar into the fin mounting box. The end caps when loosened allow the rotating bar to rotate freely and when tightened hold the rotating bar fixedly in place. In this way the detachable fin's roll angle can be easily and accurately selected, fixed and adjusted.

Abstract: A system and process for refining a model of a 3D scene using one or more panoramic views of the scene. An image of a panoramic view is displayed on a screen and a previously constructed model of the 3D scene is projected onto the screen image. Once the model is projected, any portion thereof that is not aligned with its corresponding feature in the screen image is moved so as to be in alignment. Plane normals and line directions for previously modeled planes in the 3D scene are then estimated using, inter alia, the newly aligned lines of the previous model. There may also be new, unmodeled features appearing in the screen image. These features can also be modeled, if desired. Next, plane distances and vertex point locations of each plane in the 3D scene that is to be modeled are estimated.

Abstract: The coder/decoder (codec) system of the present invention includes a coder and a decoder. The coder includes a multi-resolution transform processor, such as a modulated lapped transform (MLT) transform processor, a weighting processor, a uniform quantizer, a masking threshold spectrum processor, an entropy encoder, and a communication device, such as a multiplexor (MUX) for multiplexing (combining) signals received from the above components for transmission over a single medium. The decoder comprises inverse components of the encoder, such as an inverse multi-resolution transform processor, an inverse weighting processor, an inverse uniform quantizer, an inverse masking threshold spectrum processor, an inverse entropy encoder, and an inverse MUX. With these components, the present invention is capable of performing resolution switching, spectral weighting, digital encoding, and parametric modeling.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for automatically detecting desired clusters within a data space with a radial spanning device. The radial spanning system and method finds, within a data space, connected clusters or “blobs” defined by a cluster of data points. Given a probability density on data points for class inclusion and a seed point in the data space, the radial spanning system and method of the present invention finds an approximately, strongly connected cluster of data points of that class. Exploratory spokes are traversed radially outward from the seed point. Each spoke has a start point (seed point) and a final endpoint and is governed by forces based on underlying data space data points, class probability densities, internal expansion, and interspoke springs. The final endpoints of the spokes are connected to form a polygon that circumscribes the cluster of data points found.

Abstract: A toilet bowl plunger for use with a new narrow throat 1.6 gallon toilet that can be used equally well with older toilets. The head portion of the plunger is a pleated bellows consisting of two sections, a conically tapering section and a constant average diameter section. The conically tapering section has larger diameter at the rear end of the head and tapers down to a narrower diameter in a direction away from the rear end of the head. The bellows then continues into the constant diameter section in a direction away from the rear end and towards the front end of the head. The constant diameter section resembles an elephant-like trunk or nose. When inserted into the toilet bowl, the constant diameter section of the bellows head penetrates into the throat, while a forward end of the tapered section seats over the outer perimeter of the mouth of the throat. The constant diameter section or nose of the head curves to follow the path of the throat.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for automatically selecting viable seedlings or plants from a nursery tray for transplant into a field by an automatic transplant device. An automatic plant selector according to the present invention functions as an attachment to an automatic transplant device such as a rotary cup transplant machine. The plant selector eliminates the requirement of human labor while significantly reducing the percentage of non-viable or “blank” transplants when using an automatic transplant device to plant seedlings. This reduction is accomplished through use of primary and secondary nursery trays that are addressed by primary and secondary plant removal devices, or “plant pullers,” respectively, which automatically provide viable seedlings to the automatic transplant device.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved household drain plunger for use with household drains of various shapes and sizes. The head section of the plunger is a pleated bellows consisting of a conical upper section of increasing diameter from top to bottom, and a smaller lower section, also conical, of decreasing diameter from top to bottom. A handle extends from the top of the head section. The bottom end of the plunger consists of three levels of seals depending from the bottom of the head section. The first and bottommost seal is a dual-function seal designed both to fit snugly into a typical kitchen sink drain opening, thereby providing a mechanical seal. This first seal also has a flat bottom comprising an annular ring that can be placed around a small drain hole opening, such as that in a bathroom sink or tub, to provide a pressure/suction seal with the drain opening. The annular ring has a center void which opens to the interior of the bellows.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for generating and validating reference handles for consumers requiring access to resources in a multi-threaded environment of a computer system. The system of the present invention includes a resource manager having a handle administrator, a plurality of consumers, and a plurality of resources. The handle administrator includes an assignment routine, a release routine, a dereference routine, and multi-threading sub-routines enabling operation of the present invention in multi-threaded environments.

Abstract: The coder/decoder (codec) system of the present invention includes a coder and a decoder. The coder includes a multi-resolution transform processor, such as a modulated lapped transform (MLT) transform processor, a weighting processor, a uniform quantizer, a masking threshold spectrum processor, an entropy encoder, and a communication device, such as a multiplexor (MUX) for multiplexing (combining) signals received from the above components for transmission over a single medium. The decoder comprises inverse components of the encoder, such as an inverse multi-resolution transform processor, an inverse weighting processor, an inverse uniform quantizer, an inverse masking threshold spectrum processor, an inverse entropy encoder, and an inverse MUX. With these components, the present invention is capable of performing resolution switching, spectral weighting, digital encoding, and parametric modeling.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for generating and validating reference handles for consumers requiring access to resources in a computer system. The system of the present invention includes a resource manager having a handle administrator, a plurality of consumers, and a plurality of resources. The handle administrator includes an assignment routine, a release routine, and a dereference routine. The assignment routine issues new handles, the release routine releases handles that are no longer required (thus rendering the handle invalid), and the dereference routine dereferences handles into a pointer to a resource, which entails verifying that the handle is valid.

Abstract: A system and method for incorporating graphic and text elements on a surface of an article by employing an ablative etching device, such as a laser etcher, that is capable of etching the elements into a coating on the article's surface having at least two layers of material. The ablative etching device etches into the coating layers to a depth that removes the material of the outermost, exposed layer, but which leaves intact at least a portion of the depth of an underlying layer. As a result the graphics and text take on the color of the particular underlying layer exposed by the etching process. By making the colors of the underlying layer or layers contrast the color of the outermost, exposed layer, the graphics and text elements become readily readable against the background color of the outermost layer. Further, the graphic and text elements can be formed as an array having individual holes etched into the coating layers, as well as un-etched locations.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for reducing the likelihood of the location conflicts in a system with a database of records having an initial size. A logical location of each record is dependent upon data contained in each record and the database size and wherein a change in the database size by a resizing factor creates a likelihood of a location conflict between two records. The present invention reduces the likelihood of the location conflict by maintaining a first list of unused records, wherein the first list contains unused records that, if used, would not have location conflicts with any record currently used and would not have location conflicts with any other records contained in the first list. Also, a second list of unused records is maintained, wherein the second list contains unused records that are not contained in the first list.