Patents Examined by Allen Wong
  • Patent number: 9886773
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes a camera and an ECU. The camera is mounted to a vehicle and captures an image. The ECU is configured to obtain a depth distance for each pixel area of the image based on the image; extract at least one potential object based on the depth distance; calculate an amount of change over time in the depth distance of the at least one potential object; and detect an object around the vehicle from among the at least one potential object using the amount of change over time. When a first potential object and a second potential object that are adjacent in the image are extracted, and a second amount of change over time is twice a first amount of change over time, the second potential object is determined to be the same object as the first potential object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohide Uchida, Noriaki Shirai, Hirotake Ishigami
  • Patent number: 9888203
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for removing noise from a digital video sequence containing a modulated light signal emitted from a beacon light source. In some embodiments, the method includes electronically receiving, by an image sensor of a device, a digital video sequence of a scene, calculating noise from the digital video sequence, wherein the noise comprises information within the digital video sequence corresponding to the un-modulated illumination of the scene, reducing the noise from the digital video sequence to obtain an isolated digital video sequence of the modulated illumination of the scene, and demodulating the emitted light signal from the isolated digital video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Ryan, Peter Staats, Robert Sumner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9877028
    Abstract: Provided are encoding and decoding methods and apparatuses for a video by selectively determining and using a scan mode. The video encoding method includes: generating transformation coefficients by performing transformation based on a transformation unit to encode an image; determining a scan mode, from among a plurality of scan modes, indicating a scanning direction of the generated transformation coefficients, based on characteristics of the transformation coefficients; and determining and outputting an encoding order of the generated transformation coefficients based on the scanning direction of the determined scan mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Vadim Seregin, Jianle Chen
  • Patent number: 9875557
    Abstract: A method and system for determining extrinsic calibration parameters for at least one pair of sensing devices mounted on transportable apparatus obtains (202) image data (110) representing images captured by an image generating sensing device (102) of the pair at a series of poses during motion through an environment (120) by transportable apparatus (100). The method obtains (202) data (112) representing a 3D point cloud based on data produced by a 2D LIDAR sensing device (104) of the pair. The method selects (204) an image captured by the image at a particular pose. The method generates (210) a laser reflectance image based on a portion of the point cloud corresponding to the pose. The method computes (212) a metric measuring alignment between the selected image and the corresponding laser reflectance image and uses (214) the metric to determine extrinsic calibration parameters for at least one of the sensing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford
    Inventors: Ashley Alan Napier, Paul Michael Newman
  • Patent number: 9871968
    Abstract: An imaging system for a machine having an implement includes at least two cameras mounted on the machine at opposing sides of the implement and configured to generate at least two camera views of an environment of the machine, and a processing device in communication with the at least two cameras. The processing device is configured to obtain the at least two camera views, obtain at least one of a position or an angle of the implement, determine at least one of a position or an angle of a stitching line according to the at least one of the position or the angle of the implement, and generate a stitched surround view based on the at least two camera views and the stitching line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Jay Husted, Peter Joseph Petrany, Simon Richard Conway
  • Patent number: 9872036
    Abstract: By the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method, it is possible to improve coding efficiency. The moving picture coding apparatus includes a merge block candidate calculation unit that (i) specifies merge block candidates at merge mode, by using colpic information such as motion vectors and reference picture index values of neighbor blocks of a current block to be coded and a motion vector and the like of a collocated block of the current block which are stored in a colPic memory, and (ii) generates a combined merge block by using the merge block candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Sugio, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Hisao Sasai
  • Patent number: 9871575
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for a mobile ad-hoc radio based linked extensible (MARBLE) unit that is a portable, self-contained mesh-capable radio transceiver unit capable of being deployed with other MARBLE units to form a local area ad hoc mesh network. Several MARBLE units may be distributed in the field by an operator (e.g., first responder) in the form of a ball, puck or other shaped enclosure that may be held by a human hand and thrown, tossed or placed in the field to deploy a local area ad hoc mesh network. The MARBLE units may exchange information among themselves to determine and select one MARBLE unit as a relay gateway to access an IP network for all of the MARBLE units coupled to the local area ad hoc mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Mutualink, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Wengrovitz, Joseph R. Mazzarella
  • Patent number: 9866898
    Abstract: At the time of an encoding process, a video elementary stream is generated and output by capturing and encoding a video image signal at a time interval of a video frame synchronous with a timing of a video synchronization signal, and an audio elementary stream is generated by capturing and encoding an audio signal at each audio interval. An audio packetized elementary stream where one packet has a stream length corresponding to the time interval of the video frame is multiplexed with the audio elementary stream, and the stream is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamashita, Yousuke Yamaguchi, Takafumi Kamito, Yasuo Misuda, Yoshihiro Tomita, Yosuke Takabayashi
  • Patent number: 9866845
    Abstract: A method of content adaptive encoding video comprising segmenting video content into segments based on predefined classifications or models. Based on the segment classifications, each segment is encoded with a different encoder chosen from a plurality of encoders. Each encoder is associated with a model. The chosen encoder is particularly suited to encoding the unique subject matter of the segment. The coded bit-stream for each segment includes information regarding which encoder was used to encode that segment. A matching decoder of a plurality of decoders is chosen using the information in the coded bitstream to decode each segment using a decoder suited for the classification or model of the segment. If scenes exist which do not fall in a predefined classification, or where classification is more difficult based on the scene content, these scenes are segmented, coded and decoded using a generic coder and decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Atul Puri, Mehmet Reha Civanlar
  • Patent number: 9849334
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a target situation in an athletic event. Positional information including the relative positions of a group of selected participants is initially received from a tracking system, and the aggregate motion of the selected participants is detected in real-time using the positional information. The target situation may be determined to have occurred when a change in the aggregate motion occurs in accordance with a predetermined characteristic during an initial time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ISOLYNX, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas J. DeAngelis, Kirk M. Sigel, Edward G. Evansen
  • Patent number: 9843814
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image encoding/decoding method and device supporting a plurality of layers. The image decoding method supporting the plurality of layers comprises the steps of; receiving a bitstream comprising the plurality of layers; and decoding the bitstream so as to acquire maximum number information about sublayers with respect to each of the plurality of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jung Won Kang, Ha Hyun Lee, Jin Ho Lee, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 9835710
    Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Ganick, Daniel Ryan
  • Patent number: 9829559
    Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Ganick, Daniel Ryan
  • Patent number: 9826203
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for controlling a laser-based lighting system comprising a scanning mirror arrangement, arranged to be rotatable around two substantially orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Michel Combes
  • Patent number: 9817224
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for Fourier ptychographic microscopy, the system comprising (i) an image capture apparatus including an objective lens, (ii) at least one processor, and (iii) data storage including program instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to: (a) capture, via the image capture apparatus, a plurality of initial images of an object, wherein each of the plurality of initial images of the object have a first resolution, and (b) process each of the plurality of initial images in Fourier space to generate a final image of the object having a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Guoan Zheng, Siyuan Dong
  • Patent number: 9813633
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for configuring one or more imaging sensors of an imaging device to capture digital images for digital pulse recognition demodulation. In some embodiments, the method includes initializing one or more imaging sensors of the imaging device, determining a subset of the one or more imaging sensors to configure, setting a configuration for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset by defining a region of interest as a metering area for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset and automatically adjusting a setting for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset, and adjusting input parameters of a demodulation function based on a device profile of the imaging device. In some embodiments, the adjusted setting is locked to prevent further adjustment of the adjusted setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Ryan, Peter Staats, Robert Sumner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9802540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for representing vehicle surroundings information of a motor vehicle, wherein the process comprises the following steps: recording a front surrounding environment of a vehicle by at least two cameras provided on a vehicle front end of the motor vehicle; detecting objects within the recorded front surrounding environment; if at least one object is detected within the front surrounding environment, determining a field of view of a driver of the motor vehicle and making a comparison to determine whether the object detrimentally affects the field of view of the driver of the motor vehicle; if the field of view of the driver is detrimentally affected by the detected object, acquiring information from the recorded front surrounding environment that is not within the field of view of the driver of the motor vehicle; and providing a perspective representation of the acquired information in the determined field of view of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Patent number: 9802541
    Abstract: A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera mounted at a front windshield of the vehicle, and an event recorder having an image processor and memory. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a lane departure warning is generated if, when a turn signal of the vehicle is not activated, at least one of (i) the vehicle is heading towards a lane marking and (ii) the vehicle is within a certain distance of an edge of a lane marking for a certain time. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a forward collision alert is generated if the vehicle is heading towards a given object with the separation between the vehicle and the given object being less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Axel Nix
  • Patent number: 9791264
    Abstract: A method to estimate a set of camera locations, in clockwise or counter-clockwise order, according to the videos captured by these cameras is described herein. In some embodiments, the cameras are assumed to be fixed, with no or very mild tilting angles and no rolling angles (the horizon is horizontal in each camera image). The difference of orientation (rolling angle) between each neighboring (closest) camera pair is able to be up to 45 degrees. Each camera is assumed to have overlapped views with at least one other camera. Each camera has one right neighboring camera and one left neighboring camera, except the first and the last cameras which have only one neighboring camera at one side. The locations of the cameras then are able to be expressed as a unique list counter-clockwise. The input videos are assumed to be synchronized in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Liu, Alexander Berestov
  • Patent number: 9781343
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first input section configured to receive image data including images in a forward field of view and a lateral field of view; an enhancement processing section configured to enhance edges of images corresponding to the image data received; and a boundary correction section provided on a downstream side of the enhancement processing section and configured to perform a correction process non-commutative with an edge enhancement process, the correction process being performed on a boundary region between a forward field of view and a lateral field of view using the image data subjected to edge enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kutsuma, Tatsuhiko Suzuki, Tomoki Iwasaki, Susumu Hashimoto, Toshihiro Hamada