Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, calculating processing scale parameter information as a function of width dimension information for penumbrae depicted in the image; and generating intrinsic illumination and material reflectance images corresponding to the image using the processing scale parameter information.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method for processing a video is provided. The method includes providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; scale separating the video file by applying an edge-preserving blurring filter to generate a detail scale-separated video and a level scale-separated video corresponding to the video; temporally blurring the detail scale-separated video and spatially blurring the level scale-separated video; combining the filtered detailed scale-separated video and the filtered level scale-separated video to provide an output video; and outputting the output video for use in a data compression operation.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, generating an intrinsic image corresponding to the image, and compressing the intrinsic image to provide a compressed intrinsic image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, determining log chromaticity representations for the image, clustering the log chromaticity representations as a function of an index, to provide clusters of similar log chromaticity representations and identifying regions of uniform reflectance in the image as a function of the clusters of similar log chromaticity representations.

Abstract: A composite ophthalmic device comprising an ophthalmic structure, means or lens having a photo-shifting material deployed thereon or therewithin so as to up-shift or down-shift the amplitude, wavelength (or both) of incident radiation into the visible wavelength range.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attaching and forming enclosed inflatable members on an endoscope assembly with a disposable sheath are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a flexible and resilient cuff member that is positioned on the outer surface of the disposable sheath and sealably and fixedly bonded to the sheath cover material at the cuff edges to form an annular space capable of being inflated. The inflatable member formed thereby is inflated through a lumen internal to the sheath that has an opening into the interior annular space. The inflatable member may be inflated to exert a longitudinal force on the insertion tube, thereby moving the endoscope assembly along a body passage. Alternately, a sheath may include a plurality of inflatable cuffs that may be inflated to create an isolated space therebetween within the body passage.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for the orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating an orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for the orientation.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, calculating a set of log-chromaticity cluster maps, each based upon an estimate for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane selected from a set of estimates and including a cluster for each one of the image locations, and merging the set of log-chromaticity cluster maps to obtain a single, merged log-chromaticity cluster map.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating a single orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for an orientation.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method for processing a video is provided. The method includes providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; generating an intrinsic video corresponding to the video; filtering the intrinsic video to provide a filtered intrinsic video; and compressing the filtered intrinsic video to provide a compressed filtered intrinsic video.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method for processing a video is provided. The method includes providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; providing a video file depicting a video, in a computer memory; scale separating the video file by applying an edge-preserving blurring filter to generate a detail scale-separated video and a level scale-separated video corresponding to the video; temporally blurring the detail scale-separated video and spatially blurring the level scale-separated video; combining the filtered detailed scale-separated video and the filtered level scale-separated video to provide an output video; and outputting the output video for use in a data compression operation.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing an estimate for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and optimizing the estimate of an orientation as a function of a minimization of a weighted entropy.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, performing an image segregation operation on the image file to generate a set of intrinsic images corresponding to the image, modifying a preselected one of the set of intrinsic images according to a set of preselected operations and merging the modified one of the set of intrinsic images relative to the set of intrinsic images to provide a modified output image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, generating an intrinsic image corresponding to the image, and compressing the intrinsic image to provide a compressed intrinsic image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, organizing information relevant to the image according to a smooth-illumination constraint enforcing a Laplacian filter response such that ?2ƒ(x, y)=0 and utilizing the smooth-illumination constraint to generate an intrinsic image from the image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, determining intrinsic component information as a function of spatio-spectral information for the image, and calculating analytical information, as a function of the intrinsic component information.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying token regions in the image as a function pixel color comparisons relative to threshold values and varying the threshold values in selected areas of the image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, generating an intrinsic image corresponding to the image, and compressing the intrinsic image to provide a compressed intrinsic image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image represented in a spatial plane, organizing spatio-spectral information for the image in a matrix equation expressed by normal and tangential constraints determined as a function of a spatial orientation of selected image locations, relative to the spatial plane of the image and utilizing the matrix equation to solve for an intrinsic image corresponding to the image.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method comprises the steps of providing a sequence of image files depicting images of a same scene, in a computer memory, determining correspondence information relevant to the same scene across the sequence of images, and generating individual intrinsic images for each one of the sequence of images, as a function of the correspondence information.