Patents Assigned to Nethra Imaging Inc.
  • Patent number: 8223229
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising: determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts; if a focal length associated with the captured image is less than a focal length associated with, the function L(x, y) then cropping the function L(x, y) based on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped function L(x, y) to a size of the tin-cropped Junction L(x, y).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc
    Inventor: Hugh Phu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8203620
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sharpening a digital image captured by a digital imaging device, the method comprising, for each pixel Xm,n of the digital image: a) at an edge detector determining an edge parameter E, the edge parameter E providing an indication of whether the pixel Xm,n is at an edge of the digital image; b) at a noose detector determining a noise parameter ?, the noise parameter ? providing an indication of whether the pixel Xm,n is a noise in the digital image; c) at a scaling module determining a scaling factor ?m,n based on a combination of the edge parameter E and the noise parameter ?; and d) at an image sharpening module applying the scaling factor ?m,n on a pixel by pixel basis to sharpen the digital image to get a sharpened pixel Ym,n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20120019677
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing a digital image, the method comprising: selecting a set of frames from a plurality of frames captured by a digital imaging device: identifying a set of pixel blocks from the set of frames; and integrating the set of pixel blocks to process the digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: NETHRA IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Weihua Xiong
  • Patent number: 8103866
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for reconfiguring a processor array while it is currently operating. The reconfiguration system uses configuration chains streamed down communication channels that are set for the re-configuration process, then re-set after the reconfiguration process has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Butts
  • Publication number: 20110267484
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sharpening a digital image captured by a digital imaging device, the method comprising, for each pixel Xm,n of the digital image: a) at an edge detector determining an edge parameter E, the edge parameter E providing an indication of whether the pixel Xm,n is at an edge of the digital image; b) at a noose detector determining a noise parameter ?, the noise parameter ? providing an indication of whether the pixel Xm,n is a noise in the digital image; c) at a scaling module determining a scaling factor ?m,n based on a combination of the edge parameter E and the noise parameter ?; and d) at an image sharpening module applying the scaling factor ?m,n on a pixel by pixel basis to sharpen the digital image to get a sharpened pixel Ym,n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Hong Chen
  • Patent number: 7945803
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to generating clock signals that drive data passing circuitry for various clock domains. Each individual clock domain can adjust its operating frequency from one generated by a central clock to an appropriate frequency. By using embodiments of the invention, clock crossing circuitry between domains need not run at the highest clock frequency of the entire circuit, but rather the clock crossing circuitry need only operate at the highest frequency of the two domains sharing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Jones, Kevin M. Koschoreck
  • Patent number: 7865637
    Abstract: Elements of the inventive development system include hardware and software objects. These objects can be instanced, ordered, parameterized, and connected in a software environment to implement different functions. Once in software, the description defines the topology and the properties of a set of objects and hence the overall function. These objects are hierarchically composed from a set of primitive objects. By using a piece of hardware that can model any primitive object set as pre-established encapsulated hardware objects, the topology and properties define a piece of hardware that can perform the desired, implemented, functions. Using embodiments of the invention, circuit designers can design hardware systems with little or no knowledge of hardware or hardware design, requiring only a high-level software description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Jones, Paul M. Wasson
  • Patent number: 7805638
    Abstract: A debug network on a multiprocessor array having multiple clock domains includes a backbone communication channel which communicates with information nodes on the channel. The information nodes store and access information about an attached processor. The nodes are also coupled to registers within the attached processor, which operate at the speed of the processor. A master controller solicits information from the information nodes by sending messages along the backbone. If a message requires interaction with a processor register, the node performs the action by synchronizing to the local processor clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Jones, Paul M. Wasson, Edmund H. White
  • Patent number: 7801033
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system of communicating, data within an integrated circuit. Multiple components, or channels, can share common physical communication lines between elements within the system. In some aspect, only one component can access the physical lines at a given time and a selection device chooses which component is active on the physical lines and makes the appropriate connection to the lines. The selection and connection can be completed without requiring or reporting information to the components, and is thus transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Jones, Paul M. Wasson, Michael R. Butts
  • Patent number: 7746934
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for reducing motion artifacts in an output image is provided. The method comprises capturing multiple frames of a scene; determining local motion vectors between each pixel in a current frame and a corresponding pixel in the a previous frame; and performing a temporal filtering operation based on the local motion vectors wherein pixels from a plurality frames are integrated to form the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Chen, Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 7742636
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided. The method, comprises scaling down a Bayer domain image made up of a number of 2×2 basic units, each having a Red (R) pixel, a Blue (B) pixel, and two green (G) pixels arranged in a fixed configuration and replicated throughout the image, the method comprising (a) partitioning the image into 2M×2N input blocks, where M and N are integers greater than or equal to 1; (b) for each 2M×2N input block, averaging a selection of R pixels in the block to produce a R pixel in a scaled down image corresponding to the Bayer domain image; (c) averaging a selection of B pixels in the block to produce a B pixel in the scaled down image; and (d) partitioning the 2M×2N input block into first and second triangular regions, and averaging a selection of pixels in the first triangular region to produce a first G pixel in the scaled down image, and averaging a selection of pixels in the second triangular region to produce a second G pixel in the scaled down image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 7673275
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system for integrated circuit development. Elements of the development system include hardware and software objects. These objects can be instanced, ordered, parameterized, and connected in a software environment to implement different functions. Once in software, the description defines the topology and the properties of a set of objects and hence the overall function. These objects are hierarchically composed from a set of primitive objects. By using a piece of hardware that can model any primitive object set as pre-established encapsulated hardware objects, the topology and properties define a piece of hardware that can perform the desired, implemented, functions. Using embodiments of the invention, circuit designers can design hardware systems with little or no knowledge of hardware or hardware design, requiring only a high-level software description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Mark Jones
  • Patent number: 7586521
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided. The method, comprises (a) determining a white balance correction parameter for a white balance correction processing block for an image sensor, and including the white balance correction parameter in the white balance correction processing block; (b) determining a gamma correction parameter for a gamma correction processing block for the image sensor, and including the gamma correction parameter in the gamma correction processing block; and (c) determining a color correction parameter for a color correction processing block for the image sensor, and including the color correction parameter in the color correction processing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 7577874
    Abstract: A debug network on a multiprocessor array includes communication channels, a master controller, and one or more individual debug units in communication with one or more of the processors. The master controller solicits information from the debug units by sending messages along the communication channels. The debug units can control some aspects of the processors, and can simply report on other aspects. By using commands to invoke processor action, then accessing the result, interactive debugging of a multiprocessor array is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Jones, Paul M. Wasson, Edmund H. White
  • Patent number: 7561306
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for correcting image data for a captured image for lens shading artifacts is provided. The method comprises determining a plurality of one dimensional correction curves that can be applied to the image data to correct for lens shading artifacts therein; and correcting the image data for lens shading artifacts based on the one dimensional curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Phu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7561190
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling artifacts in an image due to a presence of flicker in ambient light is provided. The method comprises determining a power frequency for the ambient light; determining a magnitude and phase of flicker fluctuation in the image due to the flicker; and adjusting the image for the flicker fluctuation based on the power frequency, magnitude, and phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Nethra Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Yining Deng, Ping Wah Wong, Hugh Phu Nguyen