Patents Examined by Anand S. Rao
  • Patent number: 10692241
    Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joel A. Kunert, Darwin Y. Chen, George M. Gill, Brian K. Gray, Steven W. Rogers, Ronald D. Swayne, David A. Jackson, Rodney Harrell, Robert J. D'Agostino, Bryan C. Minor, Eric R. Sellers, Sean P. Lecrone, Larry D. Klotz, Jonathan A. Sperry
  • Patent number: 10666893
    Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously and continuously capturing video from the interior and exterior of a vehicle. The system includes, for example, a first housing including a first connection mechanism, first and second cameras and a memory disposed in the first housing. The system also includes a second housing including a second connection mechanism adapted to be removably connected to the first connection mechanism of the first housing and encasing said first housing within the second housing. A mounting mechanism is adjustably connected to said second housing and configured to maintain at least one of the first camera and the second camera in a predetermined position by adjusting the second housing. Additional embodiments are also described including a method for capturing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ROSCO, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Englander, Julian Serer, Peter Plate, Gary Balsam
  • Patent number: 10659679
    Abstract: A method of determining facial location and orientation may include receiving a location of a first radio frequency (RF) tag on a subject; receiving a location of a second RF tag on the subject; determining a location and orientation of a face of the subject using at least the location of the first RF tag and the location of the second RF tag; and sending commands to one or more camera units. The commands may cause the one or more camera units to capture the location and orientation of the face of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Thabo Beeler, Derek Bradley, Giorgio Corbellini
  • Patent number: 10659794
    Abstract: A palette decoding apparatus includes a palette color storage device which stores palette colors, a color index storage device which stores color indices of pixels, and a palette value processing circuit which generates a palette value for each pixel by reading data from the color index storage device and the palette color storage device. A frame is divided into first coding units, and each first coding unit is sub-divided into one or more second coding units. Before a palette value of a last pixel in a first coding unit is generated by the palette value processing circuit, a palette value of a non-last pixel in the first coding unit is generated by the palette value processing circuit and used by a reconstruction circuit of the video decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Min Chen, Min-Hao Chiu, Chia-Yun Cheng, Yung-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 10646101
    Abstract: A medication confirmation method and apparatus for confirming administration of medication employing an inhalable medication administration apparatus. The method of an embodiment of the invention includes the steps of capturing one or more video sequences of a user administering medication employing the inhalable medication administration apparatus, storing the captured one or more video sequences, capturing one or more audio sequences of the user administering medication employing the inhalable medication administration apparatus and storing the captured one or more audio sequences. At least one of the stored video sequences and at least one of the stored audio sequences are then analyzed to confirm that the user has properly administered the medication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Hanina, Gordon Kessler, Lei Guan, Dehua Lai
  • Patent number: 10645331
    Abstract: The video playback technology disclosed herein gives fullscreen immersive experience to users when they watch videos on mobile devices used to watch the video. Specifically, an implementation of the technology disclosed herein gives a continuous all-time immersive experience by treating the screen of the mobile device as a window to watch a wide-angle video, and by keeping the video's relative angle to gravity unchanged while users rotate or tilt their mobile devices. In one implementation, the video also zooms in/out of the display during rotation of the smartphones, to give users a sense of getting closer/farther to the video. One or more implementations disclosed herein use inputs from gravity sensors including magnetic sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer, etc., to determine the amount of zooming in/out and shifting for the video in response to various movements, such as rotate, move, and tilt, of the video display device by the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Loop Now Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wuhsi Li, Vicent Yang, Jerry Luk, Cory Grenier, June Kim, Ethan Fan, Lucas Alves, Ben Hansen, Chen Li, Shawn Samra
  • Patent number: 10638158
    Abstract: A method for encoding a plenoptic image divided into blocks is disclosed. The method comprises: —encoding (S120) a block in a central region of the plenoptic image, called central block, without spatial prediction; and —predictively encoding (S130) blocks immediately surrounding said central block by spatially interleaving spatial unidirectional prediction and spatial bi-directional prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL VC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Guillaume Boisson, Patrick Lopez, Dominique Thoreau
  • Patent number: 10638126
    Abstract: A method of decoding video data that includes receiving a current block of video data encoded using an intra prediction mode, determining residual video data for the current block of video data, determining reference samples of the current block of video data, determining filter coefficients for a bilateral filter based on a distance between the reference samples and neighboring reference samples and based on a sample value difference between the reference samples and the neighboring reference samples, applying the bilateral filter with the determined filter coefficients to the determined reference samples to produce filtered reference samples, generating a prediction block using the filtered reference samples, and adding samples of the prediction block to the determined residual video data to produce a decoded block of video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Marta Karczewicz, Xin Zhao, Vadim Seregin, Amir Said
  • Patent number: 10620190
    Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Animal Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefano Bresolin, David A. Calderwood, Tobias M. Heineck, David Newcomb, Chris Paul, Jaspar N> Pollard, Rodolfo R. Rodriguez, Demetris Young
  • Patent number: 10621452
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine contextual information describing at least one physical structure corresponding to a location based at least in part on data captured by one or more sensors of a vehicle. A set of candidate interaction points for the at least one physical structure can be determined based at least in part on the determined contextual information describing the at least one physical structure corresponding to the location. The set of candidate interaction points can be filtered to identify one or more interaction points. An interaction point can be selected from the one or more interaction points to use for stopping the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LYFT, INC.
    Inventor: Kris Richard Efland
  • Patent number: 10602193
    Abstract: An image decoding method of decoding, on a per-block basis, a coded image included in a bitstream, includes: performing arithmetic decoding on a current block to be decoded; determining whether or not the current block is at the end of a slice; determining, when it is determined that the current block is not at the end of the slice, whether or not the current block is at the end of a sub-stream which is a structural unit of the image that is different from the slice; and performing arithmetic decoding on a sub-last bit and performing arithmetic decoding termination, when it is determined that the current block is at the end of the sub-stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SUN PATENT TRUST
    Inventors: Hisao Sasai, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara, Kyoko Tanikawa, Toshiyasu Sugio, Toru Matsunobu, Kengo Terada
  • Patent number: 10580123
    Abstract: A device includes illuminator configured to emit first and second illumination signal having first and second illumination intensities, respectively, in the direction of a surface region of an object to be measured, the second illumination intensity being smaller than the first illumination intensity. The device includes sensor configured to provide a first and second measurement signals based on first and second reflections of the first and second illumination signals on the surface region, respectively. The device includes evaluator configured to combine the first and second measurement signals with each other so as to obtain a combination result from which a position of the first illumination signal on the surface region may be derived, wherein an influence of a reflectance of the surface region within the combination result is reduced as compared to the influence on the first and second measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER
    Inventors: Jens Döge, Christoph Hoppe, Holger Priwitzer
  • Patent number: 10582175
    Abstract: An imaging sensor includes a color filter, and DBPF that has a transmission characteristic in a visible-light band, a blocking characteristic in a first wavelength band adjacent to a long-wavelength side of the visible-light band, and a transmission characteristic in a second wavelength band that is a part of the first wavelength band. A transmission characteristic of DBPF and a transmission characteristic of each filter part of the color filter are set in such a manner that the second wavelength band of DBPF is included in a third wavelength band that is a wavelength band in which transmittance of the filter parts in colors is approximate to each other on a long-wavelength side of the visible-light band and a fourth wavelength band that is a wavelength band in which a filter part for infrared light has a transmission characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Otsubo, Osamu Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 10574980
    Abstract: A video evaluation device is coupled to a video source, such as a set-top box, that obtains video data, and to a display device that presents video data received from the set-top box. Content received by the video source is communicated to the testing device, which communicates the video data to the display device for presentation to a user and generates a copy of the video data. The video evaluation device applies one or more computer vision methods and machine learned models to the copy of the video data to generate metrics identifying quality of the video data from characteristics extracted from the copy of the video data and likely user interaction with the video data. The video evaluation device testing device also communicates with an online system that combines metrics determined by the video evaluation device as well as data from other sources to identify video data quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CASE ON IT, S.L.
    Inventors: Agustin Batiz, Diego Ruiz-Moreno, Arthur Filoche, Rodolfo Boris Oporto, Cesar Corbacho, Jorge Soria
  • Patent number: 10574955
    Abstract: Innovations in reconstruction and rendering of panoramic video are described. For example, a view-dependent operation controller of a panoramic video playback system receives an indication of a view direction for an application and, based at least in part on the view direction, identifies a section of a picture of panoramic video in an input projection. The view-dependent operation controller limits operations of a color converter, video decoder, and/or streaming controller to the identified section. In this way, the panoramic video playback system can avoid performing operations to reconstruct sections of the picture of panoramic video that will not be viewed. As another example, a mapper of a panoramic video playback system re-projects at least some sample values in an input flat projection towards a center location for a view direction, producing an output flat projection, which an application can use to generate one or more screen projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Wozniak, Bakkama Srinath Reddy, Vladislav Alexandrov, David H. Mebane, Dibyajyoti Roy, Shyam Sadhwani
  • Patent number: 10567745
    Abstract: A head mount display for use with a virtual reality system allows for an automatic adjustment of an inter-lens distance based on a particular user's inter-pupillary distance (IPD). The IPD for the user is measured, for example by taking an image of the user in a controlled environment and calculating the distance between the user's pupils within the image. Once the IPD is known, a desired inter-lens distance for the particular user may be defined based on user IPD. A computing device in communication with a head mount display unit may automatically adjust the inter-lens distance to match the desired inter-lens distance. A user's IPD and desired inter-lens distance may be stored for the user in a user account. As such, whenever the user participates in the virtual reality system, a head mount display used by the user may be configured with the user's desired inter-lens distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Void, LLC
    Inventor: Sajid Patel
  • Patent number: 10562452
    Abstract: A method displays information graphically on an image captured by an optical system used to simulate a rear-view mirror system of a vehicle. The method includes capturing the image and identifying an object in the image. The method the assigns a priority level to the object based on a predetermined criterion. The object is altered based on its priority level to create an altered object. An altered object may have a changed color, a colored halo surrounding it, or a colored object inside it. Other possible ways to alter the way the object looks are possible. The altered object is displayed in the image in place of the object to alert a vehicle operator of its presence and the priority level associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann
  • Patent number: 10558030
    Abstract: A structured illumination microscopy system including an illumination optical system illuminating excitation light to excite a fluorescent material contained in a sample on the sample with an interference fringe; a controlling part controlling a direction, a phase, and a spatial frequency of the interference fringe; an image-forming optical system forming an image of the sample which is modulated by illumination of the interference fringe; an imaging sensor capturing the image formed by the image-forming optical system; and a demodulating part performing demodulation processing by using a plurality of images captured by the imaging sensor in which the controlling part controls the spatial frequency of the interference fringe in accordance with an illuminating position of the interference fringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yumiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 10554979
    Abstract: In a palette prediction that includes a copy-above mode for predicting one or more first pixels based on one or more above pixels located above said one or more first pixels correspondingly, a method of palette mode coding using palette prediction for a picture includes receiving input data associated with a current block and determining a current coding mode for one or more current pixels. If the current coding mode corresponds to the copy-above mode, then the method identifies one or more above pixels located above said one or more current pixels correspondingly, wherein said one or more above pixels are restricted to be non-Escape pixels. The method further encodes the one or more current pixels by using said one or more above pixels as predictors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HFI INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: Tzu-Der Chuang, Yu-Chen Sun, Jungsun Kim, Shan Liu, Wang-Lin Lai, Yi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 10547861
    Abstract: A video image decoding device (1) is equipped with a TT information decoder (14) that, in the case where encoded data includes merge/skip information that merges or skips presence information indicating whether or not frequency-domain transform coefficients are included in the quantized transform coefficients, does not decode the presence information, and a TT information inference unit (33) that, in the case where the encoded data includes merge/skip information that merges or skips the presence information, infers the presence information. The TT information decoder (14) uses presence information inferred by the TT information inference unit (33) to decode the encoded and quantized transform coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Yamamoto