Patents Examined by Brian Yenke
  • Patent number: 9261360
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charged particle beam microscope which can obtain information about pattern materials and stereostructure without lowering throughput of pattern dimension measurement. To achieve this, the charged particle beam microscope acquires a plurality of frame images by scanning the field of view of the sample (S304, 305), adds the images together (S307), computes the dimensions of the pattern formed on the sample (308) and at the same time acquires pattern information (314) using components of a frame image, such as a single frame image or subframe image, as a separated image (309, 310).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Okai, Yasunari Sohda, Junichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9237844
    Abstract: A system for tracking the point of gaze of an observer observing an object comprises a camera for recording an image of an eye of the observer, comprises a means for providing a luminous marker, and means for analyzing the image of the eye to determine the reflection of the marker on the eye and the centre of the pupil. The relative positions of the corneal reflection of the marker and the pupil centre are measured. The marker is repositioned, in dependence on the determined relative positions, to improve correspondence between the corneal reflection of the marker and the pupil center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Frederik Jan De Bruijn, Karl Catharina Van Bree, Tommaso Gritti
  • Patent number: 9197847
    Abstract: An electronic device that generates a high frame rate video signal by increasing a frame rate of an input video signal; sets a non-emission frame at a predetermined cycle on the high frame rate video signal; extends an emission time of a frame directly before the frame set to non-emission into less than a full length of a field of the frame set to non-emission; and controls a display panel to display a video based on the setting and the extending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: JOLED INC.
    Inventors: Hideto Mori, Yasuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 9179822
    Abstract: A virtual endoscopic image generating unit for generating, from a 3D medical image representing an interior of a body cavity of a subject formed by a 3D medical image forming unit and inputted thereto, a virtual endoscopic image, in which a position of a structure of interest identified by a position of interest identifying unit is a view point of the virtual endoscopic image, a real-time position of at least one of an endoscope and a surgical tool detected by an endoscope position detecting unit or a surgical tool position detecting unit is contained in a field of view of the virtual endoscopic image, and the position of at least one of the endoscope and the surgical tool is shown in an identifiable manner in the virtual endoscopic image, is provided. A display control unit causes a WS display to display the generated virtual endoscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kitamura, Keigo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9165197
    Abstract: In an image captured by an infrared camera mounted in a vehicle, a featured image portion group including first and second high luminance image portions lined up side by side vertically or horizontally and a third high luminance image portion located below the first and second high luminance image portions is defined. The featured image portion group has a feature indicating that a similarity of one of a luminance distribution and a shape between the first high luminance image portion and the second high luminance image portion is higher than between the third high luminance image portion and at least one of the first and second high luminance image portions. If the featured image portion group is found in the captured image, it is determined that at least the third high luminance image portion is the image of a component of a traffic signal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Makoto Aimura
  • Patent number: 9164621
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus comprising a judging part judging the dominant eye of the user inputting the position coordinates via the coordinate input part based on the reference coordinates of the dominant eye judgment image formed of the left viewpoint image and the right viewpoint image and the obtained position coordinates, depending on whether the obtained position coordinates are near the reference coordinates of the left viewpoint image or the reference coordinates of the right viewpoint image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yanagita, Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 9164287
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display device includes a liquid crystal panel section, a light source section, a light detection section, a light source control section, a shutter glasses section, and a timing generation section generating a light emission drive signal, a light detection gate signal, and shutter switching signals in synchronization with an image synchronization signal. The timing generation section, generates the light emission drive signal which causes each of the regions of the light source section to emit light in accordance with scanning performed in the liquid crystal panel section, and which causes all the regions of the light source section to emit light in a predetermined period, and generates the light detection gate signal which enables detection of the light detection section in the predetermined period, and generates the shutter switching signals for switching left and right shutters to a non-transmissive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Yasui, Masaaki Hanai, Hideki Yoshii
  • Patent number: 9154741
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for processing the data of heterogeneous sensors in an integrated manner to classify one or more objects on a road and detect the locations of the objects. The apparatus includes a camera image processing unit, a scanning information processing unit, and an integrated processing unit. The camera image processing unit generates the results of the processing of camera images based on the camera images collected from one or more cameras. The scanning information processing unit generates the results of the processing of scanning information based on the scanning information collected from one or more laser scanners. The integrated processing unit generates the types and final locations of the objects located on the road by processing the generated results of the processing of the camera images and the generated results of the processing of the scanning information in an integrated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jeong-Ah Jang, Dong-Yong Kwak
  • Patent number: 9148621
    Abstract: A multi-format output device includes decoders to decode first encoded data and second encoded data to generate a first video data having a first-type format with first caption data also having the first-type format, and second video data having a second-type format with second caption data also having the second-type format. A conversion unit converts video data of one format type into video data video data having another format-type. A buffer holds the first video data by the period of time needed for the video data conversion processing. A caption conversion unit delays the caption data for the video data conversion processing time and also converts the caption data of one format type to another format type. A multiplexer outputs the first video data with the first caption data followed by the converted video data with the third caption data having the first-type format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenshi Dachiku
  • Patent number: 9143717
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver and method of providing a preferred channel thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a program of the preferred channel (52) set by a user among a plurality of broadcast channels, transforming an image of the received program of the preferred channel into a reduced image (54) and storing the reduced image per the preferred channel. Accordingly, when a turn-on mode of the broadcast receiver is switched to a turn-off mode (56) of the broadcast receiver, when a turn-off mode (56) of the broadcast receiver is switched to a turn-on mode of the broadcast receiver, or when a display of a preferred channel is requested in a turned-on mode, a per preferred channel reduced image is displayed as OSD (60) on a currently viewed image. So, a user is facilitated to recognize and select a program received on the preferred channel without blocking the currently viewed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Dong Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9142129
    Abstract: A virtual-screen setup unit sets up a virtual screen in a seam of images captured by an image capturing unit, the virtual screen being orthogonal to a road surface and extending in a direction from a near side to a far side of the vehicle. A virtual-screen projection image generation unit performs conversion of the images captured by the image capturing unit for projection onto the virtual screen, and thereby generates a virtual-screen projection image. The virtual-screen projection image is displayed on the image display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 9143698
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing camera lenses and presenting information regarding camera lenses performance are described. An interactive user interface is provided over a network for display on a user terminal by a computer system. A user request is received at the computer system from the user terminal for lens data from a first lens. Lens data, including test data obtained via a first digital image captured using the first lens at the first focal length setting and the first aperture setting is accessed from memory and transmitted to interactive user interface. The interactive user interface is configured to display an identification of the first camera body, an identification of the first lens, the first focal length setting used to capture the image, and the first aperture setting used to capture the image. Using the lens test data, the interactive user interface generates and displays sharpness graph data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Askey, Andrew CG Westlake, Jaysen B. Marais, Simon Ashley Joinson
  • Patent number: 9131191
    Abstract: The current invention addresses the problem of causing closed captioning to be launched or not launched automatically when a viewer mutes the audio on a digital television. The current invention allows for individualized options associated with a particular viewer. These options can be selected from a plurality of options either manually or automatically as determined by the viewer settings or viewer behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Vizio Inc.
    Inventors: John Schindler, William Pat Price
  • Patent number: 9128367
    Abstract: A 3D imaging device obtains a 3D image (3D video) that achieves an appropriate 3D effect and/or intended placement. The 3D imaging device estimates (calculates) an ideal disparity of a main subject based on a preset viewing environment (display condition) and a distance to the main subject, and obtains a disparity (an actual disparity) of the subject (main subject) actually occurring on a virtual screen. The 3D imaging device obtains a correction disparity using the ideal disparity and the actual disparity, and adds the calculated correction disparity to the 3D image (horizontally shifts the image) to perform appropriate disparity correction. The 3D imaging device obtains a 3D image (3D video) that achieves an appropriate 3D effect and/or intended placement without being affected by a disparity occurring in the horizontal direction caused by insufficient precision (in particular, insufficient optical precision).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruo Yamashita, Takeshi Ito, Hiromichi Ono
  • Patent number: 9118881
    Abstract: Methods and systems for use in calibrating imaging data, are provided that include using a calibration array to generate a test pattern. The calibration array can emit a test pattern having geometric, temporal, and electromagnetic characteristics. The collected data can be compared with the geometric, temporal and electromagnetic characteristics to determine an error factor that can then be used in analyzing the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Electronic Warfare Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl N. Guerreri, Lester Anderson Foster, III
  • Patent number: 9118958
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be provided for passive programming such as television programs, commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may be provided in interactive applications such as interactive television program guides, web browsers, home shopping applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Scott Reichardt, W. Benjamin Herrington
  • Patent number: 9118894
    Abstract: A viewpoint position sets, when a stereoscopic video image is provided that includes a left-eye parallax image and a right-eye parallax image having a predetermined parallax distribution and that is observed from a given viewpoint, a virtual viewpoint for observing a subject from another viewpoint. A parallax image generation unit generates a left-eye and a right-eye parallax image for providing a desired parallax distribution that are obtained when an observation is made from the virtual viewpoint, by shifting the image cut-out position of at least one of the left-eye or the right-eye parallax image. When the shift amount at the image cut-out position changes due to a position change of the virtual viewpoint, the parallax image generation unit generates a parallax image while changing the shift amount in stages from a shift amount obtained before the change to a shift amount obtained after the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shinohara, Hidehiko Morisada, Aritoki Kawai
  • Patent number: 9113211
    Abstract: Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to consolidate unicast video streams into multicast video streams. In some implementations, a skewing window associated with multiple unicast video streams for a video can be identified using a maximum skewing rate and a program duration, and a multicast stream for the video can be generated based on the skewing window. The unicast video streams can then be skewed and merged with the multicast stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ARRIS Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William Turner Hanks
  • Patent number: 9073484
    Abstract: A surrounding area of a vehicle is imaged, and target objects in the area are detected based on captured images. A driver is warned of the presence of the detected target objects by displaying a warning indication on the displayed image. If a total number of simultaneously detected target objects is equal to or less than a specified number, the warning indication of a first display mode is applied in which each target object is emphasized individually. If the total number is more than the specified number, the warning indication of a second warning display mode is applied in which one emphasized indication predefined is displayed for the whole displayed image without displaying the warning indication of the first display mode. The warning image becomes easier to understand for a driver, compared to an image where all detected objects are always emphasized individually regardless of the total number of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Aimura, Yusuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9064293
    Abstract: A vehicle surroundings monitoring device carries out a position mapping process of expressing a positional relationship in the detection ranges of distance sensors 2 for detecting an obstacle 100 by coordinates on a camera image captured by a camera unit 3 having an image capture range in the surroundings of a vehicle, derives transformation parameters used for carrying out a mapping transformation in such a way that the obstacle detected by the distance sensors 2 is placed at a predetermined position on the camera image on which the position mapping process has been carried out, and carries out an image transformation on the camera image by using the transformation parameters in such a way that the obstacle is placed at the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mitsugi, Satoru Inoue, Ryotaro Suzuki, Hirokazu Shimizu