Abstract: Image data for an image frame are allocated among three groups. In one group are image data which are part of a derived motion boundary, along with image data which differ by at least a threshold amount from a corresponding point among normalized background data. In another group are image data which closely correspond to the normalized background image data. A third group includes the remaining pixels. An initial estimate for the object boundary is adjusted iteratively based on the groupings, followed by application of an active contour model.

Abstract: Multi-ported pipelined memory is located on a processor die serving as an addressable on-chip memory for efficiently processing streaming data. The memory sustains multiple wide memory accesses per cycle, clocks synchronously with the rest of the processor, and stores a significant portion of an image. Such memory bypasses the register file directly providing data to the processor's functional units. The memory includes multiple memory banks which permit multiple memory accesses per cycle. The memory banks are connected in pipelined fashion to pipeline registers placed at regular intervals on a global bus. The memory sustains multiple transactions per cycle, at a larger memory density than that of a multi-ported static memory, such as a register file.

Abstract: A display device is achieved using a simplified optical system which generates an expanded exit pupil without compromising magnification or resolution. Modulated light from a source is converged toward a focal point by an optics subsystem. A scanning subsystem deflects the converging light, and thus the focal point, along a raster pattern to define a curved intermediate image plane. An exit pupil expanding apparatus defines a curved surface which coincides with the curved image plane. Impinging light rays at a given instant in time span a given incidence angle. Exiting light rays span a larger angle. As a result, the exiting light spans a larger surface area of an ensuing eyepiece. In turn an expanded exit pupil occurs beyond the eyepiece. Embodiments of the expanding apparatus include a curved diffractive optical element, fiber optic face plate, lens array and diffuser. The diffractive optical element generates multiple exit pupils, while the other embodiments generate enlarged exit pupils.

Abstract: A video processing environment includes a user interface and processing shell from which various video processing ‘plug-in’ programs are accessed. The shell insulates the plug-ins from the intricacies of reading various file formats. The user interface allows an operator to load a video sequence, define and view one or more video objects on any one or more frames of the video sequence, edit existing video object segmentations, view video objects across a series of video frames, and encode video objects among a video sequence in a desired format. Various encoding parameters can be adjusted allowing the operator to view the video sequence encoded at the various parameter settings. The user interface includes a video window, a time-line window, a zoom window, a set of menus including a menu of plug-in programs, and a set of dialogue boxes, including encoding parameter dialogue boxes.

Abstract: A coarsely estimated object boundary is formed by a sequence of edge boundary points. A local affine transformation along the estimated object boundary is identified by analyzing edge energy of a current image frame. A sequence of edge boundary points which have edge energy change ratios exceeding a threshold value is identified as a local affine transformation. A refined estimate of the object boundary is determined for the local affine transformation using a local segmentation process based on a key contour point search strategy. End points of the contour are assumed to be known. An initial key contour point is derived from the coarsely estimate object boundary. Candidate key points then are derived and corresponding curves analyzed to select a curve as the improved estimated boundary for the local affine transformation. The curve having a minimum average edge energy change ratio is selected.

Abstract: An object mask and a set of control points defined for a given frame are subjected to morphological processing to remove false edge points and provide a more robust mask for use in tracking the object in a next frame. The morphological processing is performed on a frame by frame basis corresponding to object tracking so that errors added in by the object tracker do not accumulate, and instead are filtered out. Rapidly moving objects which are troublesome for edge-based object trackers are more readily tracked. Also, regions of low contrast or regions locked onto in the background when trying to identify the object are more readily distinguished and eliminated from the object mask.

Abstract: Partitioned sigma instructions are provided in which processor capacity is effectively distributed among multiple sigma operations which are executed concurrently. Special registers are included for aligning data on memory word boundaries to reduce packing overhead in providing long data words for multimedia instructions which implement shifting data sequences over multiple iterations. Extended partitioned arithmetic instructions are provided to improve precision and avoid accumulated carry over errors. Partitioned formatting instructions, including partitioned interleave, partitioned compress, and partitioned interleave and compress pack subwords in an effective order for other partitioned operations.

Abstract: A scanning display produces an image having a plurality of image sectors for viewing by an eye. A first beam set is directed along a first beam path and modulated according to a first of the image sectors. A second beam set is directed along a second beam path and modulated according to a second of the image sectors. A biaxial scanning device receives the first beam set and the second beam set, and scans light from the first beam set along two axes toward a first region of a display field to produce the first image sector, and concurrently scans light from the second beam set along two axes toward a second region of the display field to produce the second image sector. The first region and second region are adjacent, substantially non-overlapping regions of the display field. The image is scanned within the display field.

Abstract: A video processing environment includes a user interface and processing shell from which various video processing ‘plug-in’ programs are accessed. The shell insulates the plug-ins from the intricacies of reading various file formats. The user interface allows an operator to load a video sequence, define and view one or more video objects on any one or more frames of the video sequence, edit existing video object segmentations, view video objects across a series of video frames, and encode video objects among a video sequence in a desired format. Various encoding parameters can be adjusted allowing the operator to view the video sequence encoded at the various parameter settings. The user interface includes a video window, a time-line window, a zoom window, a set of menus including a menu of plug-in programs, and a set of dialogue boxes, including encoding parameter dialogue boxes.

Abstract: A method for filtering an angular signal which avoids errors in averaging and differencing operations. Components of a hue signal are separated into groups based upon the sign of a corresponding filter coefficient ai for the respective component and the range of the hue component value vi. A weighted mean is computed for each of the groups. The weighted mean of the resulting values having positive filter coefficients and the weighted mean of the resulting values having negative filter coefficients then are derived. The computed value is redefined if needed to be in modulus 2&pgr;. The weighted distance of the two values then is derived. The result is the filtered hue value for a given image data pixel. A filtered hue value is obtained in the same manner for each image pixel of a desired image object or of a given image frame.

Abstract: A template is analyzed to determine a step size for searching within a search area. First, the template is padded with pixels to increase its size. Cross-correlation between the padded template and the original template leads to identification of an effective step size. Step sizes for each of horizontal and vertical axes are derived. Windows of the search area, selected based on the step size, then are tested in a fast search stage by correlating the template to the window. Any tested window which has a correlation coefficient exceeding a specific value is a local match. A full search of the vicinity of the local match then is performed for all potential windows within an area bounded by one step to either side of the local match along either axis. The location(s) corresponding to the highest correlation(s) exceeding the threshold value are matches.

Abstract: A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector. Depth enhancement is determined by correlating images detected by the respective detectors, or alternatively by a range finding method based on phase difference, time of flight, frequency or interferometry.

Abstract: Light emitted from a virtual retinal display light source passes through a beamsplitter to a scanning subsystem and on to an eyepiece and the viewer's eye. Some of the light is reflected from the viewer's eye passing back along the same path. Such light however is deflected at the beamsplitter toward a photodetector. The reflected light is detected and correlated to the display scanner's position. The content of the reflected light and the scanner position for such sample is used to generate a map of the viewer's retina. Such map includes ‘landmarks’ such as the viewer's optic nerve, fovea, and blood vessels. The map of the viewer's retina is stored and used for purposes of viewer identification. The viewer's fovea position is monitored to track where the viewer is looking.

Abstract: A system for image object tracking and segmentation, includes (i) a modified adaptive resonance theory-2 (M-ART2) model for detecting changes of scenes, (ii) a two-dimensional correlative autopredicitve search (2D CAPS) method for object tracking, (iii) a derivation of contour energy for use in modelling an object edge, and (iv) an active contour model with global relaxation for defining optimal image object boundaries. The modelled object boundary is derived from an edge potential energy calculation and a set of current edge points. For each edge point, several candidate data points are also selected. Rather than calculate an energy value for each potential contours, a solution is achieved by comparing energy differences along a travel path. The selected contour is built in steps. An optimal path is selected from the potential paths.

Abstract: In a scanning display apparatus an image signal source produces an image signal. A light emitter is coupled to the image signal source and responsive to the image signal to emit light. A lens receives light from the light emitter and passes exiting light, the exiting light having a focal distance. A controller alters the index of refraction of lens to alter the focal distance of the exiting light.

Abstract: A scanned beam tracking system is included in a virtual retinal display. An infrared light source generates light for scanning the viewer's environment in the direction the viewer is looking. A visible light source generates visible light which is scanned on a viewer's retina to generate a virtual image. A common scanning system is used to scan both the non-visible light and the visible light. The visible light is directed into the viewer's eye. The non-visible light is directed away from the viewer's eye into the environment. Infrared reflectors are positioned in the environment. When the infrared light from the virtual retinal display scans over a reflector the reflector directs the infrared light back toward the virtual retinal display. The current pixel of the scanning cycle when the infrared return light is detected corresponds to the position of the reflector.

Abstract: Adaptive noise filtering is applied to an image frame of HSI data to reduce and more uniformly distribute noise while preserving image feature edges. An adaptive spatial filter includes a plurality of averaging kernels. An appropriate kernel is selected for each pixel for each of the hue and saturation components. A set of thresholds are defined for selecting the kernel for the hue component. Another set of thresholds are defined for selecting the kernel for the saturation component. The kernel for the saturation component is selected by comparing the intensity component to the saturation component thresholds. The kernel for the hue component is selected by comparing the product of intensity component and the saturation component to the hue component thresholds. A color gradient operation is applied to the filtered HSI data to aid in detecting image object boundaries. Object segmentation and other image processing techniques may be performed on the filtered HSI data.

Abstract: A computerized interactive language reference tool is provided which associates one or more connotative meanings with a denotative context of a given term. A data base stores the denotative context and connotative meanings of a plurality of terms. Connotative meaning, along with the intensity of such meaning are identified using a statistical model of sampled responses from select panels of evaluators. Areas of human interest also are associated with a given term and its denotative meaning. Scaled ratings of the power, activity and abstract/concrete qualities of the term also are maintained. Connotative meanings for any given term are determined from predefined emotional descriptors organized into a plurality of predefined categories. The data base content is updated over time to accommodate changing and new connotations occurring over time.

Abstract: A video processing environment includes a user interface and processing shell from which various video processing ‘plug-in’ programs are accessed. The shell insulates the plug-ins from the intricacies of reading various file formats. The user interface allows an operator to load a video sequence, define and view one or more video objects on any one or more frames of the video sequence, edit existing video object segmentations, view video objects across a series of video frames, and encode video objects among a video sequence in a desired format. Various encoding parameters can be adjusted allowing the operator to view the video sequence encoded at the various parameter settings. The user interface includes a video window, a time-line window, a zoom window, a set of menus including a menu of plug-in programs, and a set of dialogue boxes, including encoding parameter dialogue boxes.

Abstract: A computerized interactive thesaurus reference tool is provided which retrieves connotative synonyms from a data base. Connotative synonyms are words or phrases which have the same or a similar emotional or related connotative meaning. Typically connotative synonyms have different denotative meanings. The interactive reference tool is similar to a thesaurus, but instead of relating words of similar denotative meaning, it relates terms of similar connotative meaning. The data base stores denotative context and connotative meanings of a plurality of words and phrases. Connotative meaning, along with the intensity of such meaning, are identified using a statistical model of sampled responses from select panels of evaluators. In addition, areas of human interest also are associated with a given word or phrase and its denotative meaning. Scaled ratings of the power, activity and abstract/concrete qualities of the word or phrase also are maintained.