Patents Examined by Behrooz Senfi
  • Patent number: 9615096
    Abstract: A video encoding device calculates number of frames into which the current image needs to be encoded. The video encoding device divides the current image into a plurality of macro blocks, identifies importance of the respective macro blocks according to content of the current image and ranks the macro blocks from high to low according to the assigned importance. The video encoding device labels each macro block with a label, and encodes the macro blocks according to its label to form frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Long Lin
  • Patent number: 9615064
    Abstract: Techniques are described for tracking moving objects using a plurality of security cameras. Multiple cameras may capture frames that contain images of a moving object. These images may be processed by the cameras to create metadata associated with the images of the objects. Frames of each camera's video feed and metadata may be transmitted to a host computer system. The host computer system may use the metadata received from each camera to determine whether the moving objects imaged by the cameras represent the same moving object. Based upon properties of the images of the objects described in the metadata received from each camera, the host computer system may select a preferable video feed containing images of the moving object for display to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Pelco, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Millar, Farzin Aghdasi, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 9613280
    Abstract: The present invention provides automotive forward-looking system and method. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive forward-looking system including: a forward-looking sensor that has a field of view in a predetermined range of angle and monitors a forward area of a vehicle; a controller that calculates a turning angle of the forward-looking sensor by estimating the curvature of a curved road; and a sensor turning unit that turns the forward-looking sensor by being controlled to operate by the controller, in which the controller estimates the curvature of a curved road on the basis of a guardrail installed at a side of the curved road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 9609304
    Abstract: Provided are three-dimensional (3D) data processing apparatus and method. 3D stereoscopic image common format data preserving common 3D image information is defined by converting 3D stereoscopic image data of each format to apply the same 3D image processing algorithm to 3D data of various formats, and native format data of each format is maintained to maintain merits of each format, and a format-specific algorithm table is maintained with respect to a common 3D image processing function, whereby the same 3D image processing algorithm may be applied to various 3D data and a unique algorithm allowing for maintaining the merits of each 3D data may be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Il Kyu Park, Do Hyung Kim, Seong Jin Park, Jin Sung Choi, Bon Ki Koo
  • Patent number: 9595192
    Abstract: The traffic violation detection system includes a series of smart road studs embedded in the roadway acting as sensors for vehicles moving in the prohibited manner. The road studs have a refraction surface on their upper surfaces for reflecting light to a solar panel, or may have the solar panel without the refraction surface. When the road studs initially sense a violating moving vehicle, an alert is sounded to warn the driver. If the vehicle continues to move in violation, a camera system is activated. The camera system includes solar panels, a camera lens, a light emitting flash mechanism, a distance IR sensor, and controls, all positioned on top of a vertically movable, hydraulic cylinder. The camera assembly is normally hidden underground but will rise to record images when activated by the road stud system. The images are sent to a central monitoring unit in a traffic monitoring building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventor: Ahmad Abdulaziz Alrashid
  • Patent number: 9596464
    Abstract: A video encoding apparatus, a video decoding apparatus and method by using parallel intra-prediction by a coding unit-level are provided. The video encoding apparatus includes a left extrapolation pixel generating unit for generating left extrapolation pixels for a coding unit by using at least one of pixels of a top left block of the coding unit according to a direction of an intra-prediction mode with respect to the coding unit and leftmost original pixels of the coding unit; an intra-prediction encoding unit for predicting the coding unit by using neighboring pixels including the left extrapolation pixels to generate a first prediction block and encode the coding unit; and a prediction information encoding unit for encoding prediction information including the intra-prediction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SK TELECOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhan Song, Jeongyeon Lim, Yung Ho Choi, Yonggoo Kim, Yoonsik Choe
  • Patent number: 9596451
    Abstract: The Invention relates to a device for monitoring at least one three-dimensional safety area, in particular a region in shared work areas of people and machines, comprising at least one capturing device that is pointed at the safety area and captures images of the safety area, and an analyzing device for analyzing the images that are captured by the capturing device in order to determine whether or not persons or objects have entered the safety area. At least one projector is arranged with respect to the safety area such that said projector projects lines or patterns as modulated light, said lines or patterns defining the safety area. The analyzing device analyzes the images for interruptions and/or changes of the projected lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FĂ–DERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V., OTTO-VON-GUERICKE-UNIVERSITĂ„T MAGDEBURG
    Inventors: Christoph Walter, Christian Vogel, Norbert Elkmann
  • Patent number: 9589193
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object detection device has an image capturing unit, a first object detection unit, a light source detection unit, a second object detection unit, a degree-of-clouding calculation unit and a controller. The image capturing unit captures images rearward of a vehicle. The first object detection unit detects a presence of a three-dimensional object from the captured images. The second object detection unit detects a presence of a three-dimensional object from a detection result of the light source detection unit. The degree-of-clouding calculation unit calculates a degree of lens clouding from the captured images. The controller assess the object as an adjacent vehicle in an adjacent lane from the degree of lens clouding when the degree of lens clouding is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and from the presence of the object in the captured images when the degree of lens clouding is less than the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Osamu Fukata, Yasuhisa Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9574874
    Abstract: A system and method for reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) model are described. The 3D model reconstruction system includes: a low resolution reconstruction unit that converts a first depth map, acquired by scanning a scene with a depth camera, into a second depth map having a low resolution, processes the second depth map to extract pose change information about a pose change of the depth camera, and reconstructs a low resolution 3D model in real-time; and a high resolution reconstruction unit that processes the first depth map by using the pose change information of the depth camera that is extracted from the second depth map and reconstructs a high resolution 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-ram Son, Han Oh
  • Patent number: 9578078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multimedia encoding and decoding are disclosed. The systems and methods include multimedia format detection systems, decoder functionality generation systems, decoder instantiation systems, and multimedia processing engines which are capable of selecting a decoder or playback mechanism for each input encoded multimedia stream. The functionality of the decoder or playback mechanism is represented as syntax elements which may be further encoded. The functionality for decoding or playback is then stored or transmitted with the multimedia bitstream. Alternatively, the functionality and multimedia bitstream can be embedded in or associated with a second digital bitstream. Further, the functionality associated with an encoded multimedia stream can be used to instantiate a decoder or playback mechanism and the encoded multimedia stream decoded with the instantiated decoder or mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BEVARA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Maja Bystrom, Iain E Richardson
  • Patent number: 9578337
    Abstract: To estimate an image quality deterioration level at a high accuracy. An image quality deterioration level is estimated by judging whether image quality deterioration is suppressed or not by error concealment processing when decoding is not correctly performed, based on information obtained in decoding processing. When it is judged that error concealment is effectively operated, it is estimated that deterioration of an image quality even in an image region not correctly decoded is small. When it is estimated that error concealment is not effectively operated, it is estimated that image deterioration is heavy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Yamada
  • Patent number: 9565401
    Abstract: Digital media files that are captured using one or more imaging devices and stored in one or more data stores may be compressed, modified or disposed of based on business value scores associated with such files. The business value scores may be generated on any available information that may be known or determined regarding the contents of such files, including records of activity occurring within a vicinity of the imaging devices, or data obtained through an analysis of such files. Moreover, the business value scores may be altered on any basis, including according to one or more functions, and the compression, modification or disposal of such files may be altered accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jules Cook Graybill, James Christopher Curlander
  • Patent number: 9565455
    Abstract: A method of decoding a video through symbol decoding includes parsing symbols of image blocks from a received bitstream; classifying a current symbol into a prefix bit string and a suffix bit string based on a threshold value determined according to a size of a current block; performing arithmetic decoding of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string by using respective arithmetic decoding methods determined for each of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string; performing inverse binarization of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string by using respective binarization methods determined for each of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string; and restoring the image blocks by performing an inverse transformation operation and a prediction operation on the current block by using the current symbol restored through the arithmetic decoding and the inverse binarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Vadim Seregin, Il-koo Kim
  • Patent number: 9565421
    Abstract: A device for creating more natural three-dimensional image effects which may be recorded, for example, by video cameras. The device has an intermittent image pathway occluder for receiving at least two image pathways which alternately and intermittently occludes the two image pathways, a horizontal imaging-shifting component for shifting at least one of the image pathways leftward or rightward, a vertical imaging-shifting component for shifting the image pathways upward and downward, and an image pathway compositing component which forms a coincident superimposed composite three-dimensional image after the image pathways have been shifted by the horizontal and vertical imaging-shifting components, and after passing through the intermittent image pathway occluder. Also, a device for enhancing the more natural three-dimensional effect of such images which are created and which may be recorded and/or displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Harold O. Hosea
  • Patent number: 9558391
    Abstract: An identification recognition device includes a light emission module, a light sensing module, a pulse scanning unit, a fingerprint scanning unit and a controller. The light sensing module is used to generate first light currents and second light currents according to first reflecting light and second reflecting light. The pulse scanning unit is used to generate data of current variance of the object and the fingerprint scanning unit is used to generate features of fingerprint of the object. The controller is used to control the light emission module to emit the first incident light and to emit the second incident light when the object has a pulse according to the data of current variance of the object, and determine if the object passes the identification recognition test according to the features of fingerprint of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Lun Cheng, Yu-Jung Liu
  • Patent number: 9557574
    Abstract: A depth image capture device uses a circular polarization structure positioned at the output of an illumination radiation source, such as a diode laser. A linear polarization element receives the collimated illumination radiation and provides polarized radiation to a quarter wave plate. Radiation exits the quarter wave plate as circularly polarized radiation and is provided to a diffractive optical element outputting a pattern to illuminate a target. A detector receives a reflection of the output pattern from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Scott McEldowney
  • Patent number: 9560382
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for adaptively reducing blocking artifacts in block-coded video are disclosed. In one implementation, a system includes processing logic at least capable of deblock filtering at least a portion of a line of video data based, at least in part, on edge information and texture information to generate at least a portion of a line of deblocked video data, and an image data output device responsive to the processing logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge E. Caviedes, Mahesh M. Subedar, Khasim S. Dudekula
  • Patent number: 9549104
    Abstract: A borescope having a miniature camera concealable within a hand-held casing, includes a casing, which is preferably a clam shell casing and is able to be held in a single hand of a user, along with a device for opening the casing. A flexible probe has a first end mounted in the casing and a second end being a distal end that is able to be moved from inside the casing to outside the casing with the miniature camera being located at, or proximate to, the distal end of the flexible probe for viewing structures outside of the casing after the casing is opened. The flexible probe with the miniature camera is able to be completely concealed within the casing when not in use. A display is located on a surface of the casing for viewing by the user that which is being seen by the miniature camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Tools & Instruments Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Basso, Jerome O. Ennis
  • Patent number: 9549114
    Abstract: In a focus identification method for identifying different focuses of an object, discrete image data is acquired from captured images of an object. The images are captured by a charge coupled device (CCD) in motion of a measurement machine at a predetermined time period. The discrete image data includes definitions of the images and Z-coordinates of the CCD when capturing the images. Maxima and minima of the discrete image data are computed to establish intervals within the discrete image data. The intervals are selected one by one, and a curve is fitted according to the discrete image data at the selected interval. A peak value of the fitted curve is computed as one of focuses of the object when a goodness of fit of the fitted curve meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Jia-Jia Chen, Zhong-Kui Yuan, Li Jiang, Dong-Hai Li, Xiao-Guang Xue
  • Patent number: 9544602
    Abstract: A transmission systems suitable for video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehmet Umut Demircin, Petrus J. L. van Beek