Patents Examined by Anand Bhatnagar
  • Systems and methods for tracking a model
    Patent number: 9582717
    Abstract: An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A model may be adjusted based on a location or position of one or more extremities estimated or determined for a human target in the grid of voxels. The model may also be adjusted based on a default location or position of the model in a default pose such as a T-pose, a DaVinci pose, and/or a natural pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Johnny Chung Lee, Tommer Leyvand, Szymon Piotr Stachniak, Craig C. Peeper
  • Methods of and apparatuses for identifying geological characteristics in boreholes
    Patent number: 9576374
    Abstract: A method of detecting an edge of a geological characteristic in a borehole comprises, in respect of an image log of a length of a borehole, carrying out the steps of a gradient-based edge detection method, a phase congruence-based edge detection method or a combination of such methods as preliminary, pre-processing stages. Subsequent steps of the method may include operating a relatively computationally simple process to identify sinusoids among detected edge features; and a relatively computationally complex process for parameterizing the thus-identified sinusoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Reeves Wireline Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Peter Adrian Spencer Elkington, Said Assous
  • Non-local means image denoising with an adaptive directional spatial filter
    Patent number: 9576346
    Abstract: System, apparatus, method, and computer readable media for edge-enhanced non-local means (NLM) image denoising. In embodiments, edge detail is preserved in filtered image data by weighting of the noisy input target pixel value with other pixel values based on self-similarity and further informed by a data-driven directional spatial filter. Embodiments herein may denoise regions of an image lacking edge characteristics with a more uniform spatial filter than those having edge characteristics. In embodiments, directionality of a spatial filter function is modulated based on an edge metric to increase the weighting of pixel values along an edge when there is a greater probability the edge passes through the target pixel. In further embodiments, the adaptive spatial filter is elliptical and oriented relative to a spatial gradient direction with non-uniform filter widths that are based on the edge metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Anna Cohen
  • Apparatus for generating dental data for manufacturing an aligner and method of manufacturing clear aligner using the apparatus
    Patent number: 9572637
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating dental data for manufacturing an aligner, the apparatus including: a dental-data generation unit, in which the dental-data generation unit includes a preprocessing module includes a first module that receives data on a current state of the teeth of the patient from a scanner that scans the current state of the teeth of the patient, a second module that generates a state of the teeth of the patient and the vicinity of the teeth as 3D data, based on the data received from the scanner, a third module that sets a central point for dental movement in the 3D data, a fourth module that sets each central reference for a crown, a buccal surface, and a lingual surface of the tooth in the 3D data, and a fifth module that sets a reference for a dental root point in the 3D data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Lee Jinkyun
  • Object image recognition and instant active response with enhanced application and utility
    Patent number: 9563945
    Abstract: A device for pollinating plants such as flowering trees. The device is a movable platform such as a drone that has an image capturing device that is in communication with image recognition software. Images of plants are analyzed to detect objects that are consistent with pollen-receiving plants and/or plant areas. Once such plant object is detected, the device automatically disperses pollen in the proximity of the detected plant or plant object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Bernard Fryshman
  • System and method for tracking objects
    Patent number: 9563813
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for tracking objects are described herein. Aspects of this disclosure efficiently update object “belief” data by creating a bitmap representation of object locations and velocities. The bitmap provides a three-dimensional representation of the object as viewed by one or more sensors. The bitmap representations are blended with sensor data over time to determine a current object belief state which can accurately account for asynchronous sensor data. Peaks in the belief data, which may be represented by pixels with an intensity value above a threshold value, are identified as likely objects. Additional sensor data is used to detect longitudinal velocities located at one or more of the peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Leigh Smith
  • Methods of and apparatuses for identifying geological characteristics in boreholes
    Patent number: 9563963
    Abstract: A method of detecting an edge of a geological characteristic in a borehole comprises, in respect of an image log of a length of a borehole, carrying out the steps of a gradient-based edge detection method, a phase congruence-based edge detection method or a combination of such methods as preliminary, pre-processing stages. Subsequent steps of the method may include operating a relatively computationally simple process to identify sinusoids among detected edge features; and a relatively computationally complex process for parameterizing the thus-identified sinusoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Reeves Wireline Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Peter Adrian Spencer Elkington, Said Assous
  • Skeletal measuring means
    Patent number: 9554752
    Abstract: An integrated imaging system is invented for creating an optimal imaging session by importing information in real time from several sources and using that information to automatically and continuously adjust the parameters of the imaging session so as to create the optimal session for the prescribed testing session
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ORTHO KINEMATICS, INC.
    Inventor: Adam Deitz
  • System and method for managing water
    Patent number: 9552638
    Abstract: A device includes an image data receiving component, a vegetation index generation component, a spatial structure variance generation component, a classification component and a water budget component. The image data receiving component receives multiband image data of a geographic region. The vegetation index generation component generates a vegetation index based on the received multiband image data. The spatial structure variance generation component generates a spatial structure variance image band based on the received multiband image data. The classification component generates a land cover classification based on the received multiband image data, the vegetation index and the spatial structure variance image band. The water budget component generates a water budget of a portion of the geographic region based on the land cover classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: OMNIEARTH, INC.
    Inventors: Kristin Lavigne, Shadrian Strong, David Murr, Lars P. Dyrud, Jonathan T. Fentzke, Indra Epple
  • Method for quantifying caries
    Patent number: 9547903
    Abstract: Method and/or apparatus embodiments for automatically identifying caries, executed at least in part on data processing hardware, can acquire, multiple reflectance images of a tooth, wherein each reflectance image includes at least red, green, and blue intensity values for a region of pixels corresponding to the tooth. Each reflectance image in the plurality of reflectance images is processed by (i) defining a tooth region within the reflectance image; and (ii) identifying caries within the defined tooth region for each reflectance image. The reflectance images are registered and the registered processed images are combined to form a result image that shows the identified caries. In one embodiment, multiple reflectance images of a tooth are taken from substantially the same camera position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingqian Wu, Wei Wang, Yuan Chen, Victor C. Wong
  • Image processing device, information storage device, and image processing method
    Patent number: 9547794
    Abstract: An image summarization device includes a first image summarization section that performs a first image summarization process based on a similarity between a plurality of images to acquire a first summary image sequence, a second image summarization section that performs a second image summarization process based on a target object/scene recognition process on each image among the plurality of images to acquire a second summary image sequence, and an integration processing section that performs an integration process on the first summary image sequence and the second summary image sequence, or performs an integration process on the first image summarization process and the second image summarization process to acquire an output summary image sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsuzaki
  • Image reconstruction unit, X-ray imaging apparatus, and method of reconstructing image
    Patent number: 9538973
    Abstract: An imaging method includes calculating a derivative back projection (DBP) result value using a DBP method with respect to a projection image of a field of view (FOV) inside an object, and reconstructing an image of the FOV by applying a regulation function to the FOV while reconstructing the image of the FOV using the DBP result value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kye Young Jeong, Jong Ha Lee, Young Hun Sung, Jong Chul Ye, Min Ji Lee
  • Methods and systems for correcting table deflection
    Patent number: 9538974
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for estimating and compensating for table deflection in reconstructed images. In one embodiment, a method for computed tomography (CT) imaging comprises reconstructing images from data acquired during a helical CT scan where table deflection parameters are estimated and the reconstruction is adjusted based on the table deflection parameters. In this way, images may be reconstructed without artifacts caused by table deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, The University of Notre Dame du Lac
    Inventors: Guangzhi Cao, Jiang Hsieh, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Jiahua Fan, Ken D. Sauer
  • Method and system for automatic pelvis unfolding from 3D computed tomography images
    Patent number: 9542741
    Abstract: A method and system for automatic pelvis unfolding from 3D computed tomography (CT) images is disclosed. A 3D medical image, such as a 3D CT image, is received. Pelvis anatomy is segmented in the 3D medical image. The 3D medical image is reformatted to visualize an unfolded pelvis based on the segmented pelvis anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Neil Birkbeck, Dijia Wu, Michal Sofka, Meizhu Liu, Grzegorz Soza, Shaohua Kevin Zhou, Clifford R. Weiss, Atilla Peter Kiraly
  • Using frequency decomposition for better color consistency in a synthesized region
    Patent number: 9536335
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for synthesis of homogeneous regions when infilling a missing region, such as for inpainting removed (or moved) objects from the image is presented. A color interpolation process is performed across opposing boundaries of the missing region for directing the color selection in the patch matching process. Patch matching is performed based on using a detail layer modified by information from color interpolation for each target patch which fills from the extremity of the missing region in towards its center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Golnaz Abdollahian, Mohammad Gharavi-Alkhansari
  • Method for registering medical images, apparatus performing the method, and computer readable media including the method
    Patent number: 9521980
    Abstract: A medical image registration method includes performing a first registration by registering first medical images, including a registration image and a display image, the display image being an image to be displayed, performing a second registration by registering a second medical image having a different modality than a modality of the first medical images, with the registration image, and extracting a cross-section of one of the first medical images, corresponding to a cross-section of the second medical image, from the display image, according to the first registration and the second registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungbae Kim, Youngkyoo Hwang, Youngtaek Oh, Wonchul Bang
  • System and method for generating three-dimensional images from two-dimensional bioluminescence images and visualizing tumor shapes and locations
    Patent number: 9519964
    Abstract: A system and methods for generating 3D images from 2D bioluminescent images and visualizing tumor locations are provided. A plurality of 2D bioluminescent images of a subject are acquired using any suitable bioluminescent imaging system. The 2D images are registered to align each image and to compensate for differences between adjacent images. After registration, corresponding features are identified between consecutive sets of 2D images. For each corresponding feature identified in each set of 2D images, an orthographic projection model is applied, such that rays are projected through each point in the feature. The intersection points of the rays are plotted in a 3D image space. All of the 2D images are processed in the same manner, such that a resulting 3D image of a tumor is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Dimitris Metaxas, Debabrata Banerjee, Xiaolei Huang
  • Processing a fingerprint for fingerprint matching
    Patent number: 9514351
    Abstract: Processing a fingerprint can include determining one or more optimal weights based on ridge flow angles or ridge flow angle differences. Determination of the optimal weight(s) can be based on predicting a ridge flow angle for each cell in a ridge flow map using one or more neighboring cells. The optimal weights may be estimated so as to minimize error between the predicted and actual ridge flow angles. Alternatively, the optimal weight(s) may be determined using a predicted ridge flow angle difference for each cell in a difference map that is based on an actual ridge flow angle difference for one or more neighboring cells. The optimal weights can be estimated to minimize the error between predicted and actual angle differences. Additionally, a correlation penalty may be determined based on an extent of spatial correlation in the ridge flow angle differences in the difference map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Boshra
  • Systems and methods for object detection
    Patent number: 9508018
    Abstract: An object detection system and a method of detecting an object in an image are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for detecting the object includes computing one or more feature planes of one or more types for each image pixel of the image. A plurality of cells is defined in the image, where each cell includes first through nth number of pixels, and starting locations of each cell in the image in horizontal and vertical directions are integral multiples of predefined horizontal and vertical step sizes, respectively. One or more feature plane summations of one or more types are computed for each cell. A feature vector is determined for an image portion of the image based on a set of feature plane summations, and the feature vector is compared with a corresponding object classifier to detect a presence of the corresponding object in the image portion of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kumar Arrakutti Desappan, Manu Mathew, Pramod Kumar Swami
  • Image processing device, information storage device, and image processing method
    Patent number: 9508013
    Abstract: An image summarization device includes a first image summarization section that performs a first image summarization process based on a similarity between a plurality of images to acquire a first summary image sequence, a second image summarization section that performs a second image summarization process based on a target object/scene recognition process on each image among the plurality of images to acquire a second summary image sequence, and an integration processing section that performs an integration process on the first summary image sequence and the second summary image sequence, or performs an integration process on the first image summarization process and the second image summarization process to acquire an output summary image sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsuzaki