Patents Examined by David Czekaj
  • Patent number: 8582646
    Abstract: By implementing a new bitstream for a Delta-Quantization Parameter (DQP), a decoder is able to implement parallel decoding of multiple coding units within a largest coding unit. In some embodiments, the DQP is placed immediately after the mode information of the first coding unit. In some embodiments, the DQP is placed after the mode information of the first non-skipped coding unit. In some embodiments, the DQP is placed after the first non-zero coded block flag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Lina Dong
  • Patent number: 8581984
    Abstract: An analog-state video signal is inputted from each of several in-vehicle cameras via a corresponding signal cable. An amendment amount for making uniform signal levels of the analog-state video signals originating from the respective in-vehicle cameras is determined, with respect to each of the analog-state video signals, based on a burst signal included in each analog-state video signal. According to the determined amendment amounts, the analog-state video signals are amplified to make uniform the signal levels, obtaining analog-state uniformed video signals, respectively. A composite image of combining images originating from the in-vehicle cameras is generated based on the obtained analog-state uniformed video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8582658
    Abstract: A method for improving video quality of a video stream. The method decodes the video stream and generates subblocks of video data from the video stream. The method then removes effects of subblock boundaries from previous deblocking. Each subblock is then smoothed to create pixel values and optionally, subblocks are merged if a predetermined quality is not achieved from the smoothing analysis. The pixels values are filled into each pixel position in the subblock. The subblocks are deblocked and then at least one subblock is outputted to a rendering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Raritan Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Weinstock, Siva Somasundaram
  • Patent number: 8576279
    Abstract: An inspection device and an inspection method for detecting foreign bodies in a filled container, and having at least one inspection camera, a transport device for the at least section-by-section linear transport of the container and at least one vibration device for vibrating the container, where foreign bodies in the containers can be set in motion without complicated acceleration and retarding of the container and the movements can be registered and compared as single images by the inspection cameras even with a stationary camera position. The construction of the device is less space-consuming and less complicated than for machines of the rotary type and the detection of foreign bodies is more reliable than with conventional machines of the linear type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Fiegler
  • Patent number: 8570371
    Abstract: An object tracking apparatus that tracks an object in a time-series image including a plurality of frames has a positional relationship determining unit that determines a positional relationship between the object and an analog having a feature similar to that of the object in an earlier frame of a current frame, an object position specifying unit that specifies a position of the object in the current frame, and an analog position specifying unit that specifies a position of the analog in the current frame when the analog exists in a surrounding region that is of a predetermined region around the object. The object position specifying unit predicts the position of the object in the current frame to specify the position of the object based on the position of the object and a motional state of the object in an earlier frame when the positional relationship is in a first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8571117
    Abstract: In one method embodiment, for a first temporal sequence of first plural frames, frame matching the first plural frames, at least a portion of the first plural frames corrupted with noise, and at a time corresponding to completion of all frame matching for the first temporal sequence, overlap block processing plural sets of matched blocks among the first plural matched frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel W. Schoenblum
  • Patent number: 8564650
    Abstract: An image displaying apparatus includes a signal control unit for receiving an input image signal and converting the signal into a signal for alternately displaying a right-eye image and a left-eye image, display panel into which the signal converted in the signal control unit is input for the right-eye image and the left-eye image, a surface light source for illuminating the display panel from its back, a shutter control unit for generating a timing signal indicating a period in which the right-eye and left-eye shutters are opened for a pair of viewing glasses with the right-eye and left-eye shutters, and for relatively changing the shutter-opened period for the emission timing of the surface light source, and a surface light source control unit for emitting the surface light source in a shorter period than the shutter-opened period in response to the switching between the right-eye image and the left-eye image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Nakahata
  • Patent number: 8565323
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments that implement attention misdirection to conceal errors in streaming video. A video stream quality monitor executed in one or more computing devices determines that an error in a video stream may be user perceivable. The video stream is then configured to include a distraction to mask the error. The distraction is designed to induce a saccade in a user, which interferes with perception of the error by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick G. McCuller
  • Patent number: 8564654
    Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes: a color imager having a color filter formed on a light receiving surface thereof; a monochrome imager not having a color filter formed on a light receiving surface thereof; a light guiding unit for guiding, to the color imager and/or the monochrome imager, light originating from a subject; and an image formation unit for forming an image from a signal based on an output from the color imager and/or the monochrome imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoharu Ogihara
  • Patent number: 8564641
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for adjusting stereo images includes receiving a video sequence associated with a recorded setting of a stereoscopic camera, the video sequence comprising pairs of left and right images. The method includes processing the pairs of left and right images to reduce influence of a discrepancy between the recorded setting and an actual configuration of the stereoscopic camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: John Levin, Brian Cantwell, Ronald Mallet, Jeffrey Saltzman
  • Patent number: 8558880
    Abstract: A wireless operating room communication system provides wireless transmission of video signals from a wireless camera or a wireless transmitter unit to a portable wireless display unit. A wireless multiple device control unit is in wireless communication with the transmitter unit, the display unit, and a plurality of surgical devices disposed within the operating room. Each of the surgical devices has a video receiver to obtain a video signal to synchronize the devices and units. The video transmitter unit has a video transmitter and the other units or devices have a non-video transmitter. The arrangement enables transmission of device control signals on the same channel as the video signal. In response to changes in bandwidth, the video transmitter unit reduces the video signal to enable transmission thereof to the video display unit, while maintaining robustness of the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Vasudev Nambakam, John Shen, Joshua Talbert, Amit Mahadik
  • Patent number: 8558884
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus estimate background reflectance, aerosol type and visibility within a multispectral imagery using the measured spectral radiance of one or more calibration targets of known reflectance and the measured radiance of the background of the target. The computer implemented method and apparatus uses predefined aerosol types, characterized by a plurality of known parameters, and the known reflectance of the one or more calibration targets, to select an aerosol that best matches the measured radiances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Paul M. Ingram, Jr., Joseph C. Landry
  • Patent number: 8559503
    Abstract: A moving image coding method includes changing at least one of a resolution and a frame rate of an input image, according to a degree of difficulty in coding the input image, and outputting an image to be coded, coding the image outputted in the changing, and transmitting a coded bit stream through a transmission channel, and determining a coding bit rate that is a bit rate of the coded bit stream transmitted through the transmission channel. The moving image coding method also includes selecting a resolution range for determining an upper limit of a resolution of the image to be coded according to the coding bit rate determined in the determining to control the change in the changing so that the resolution of the image to be coded does not exceed the upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Satou, Shinya Kadono
  • Patent number: 8558881
    Abstract: A telescopic probe monitoring system for riverbed elevation monitoring at a bridge pier is revealed. The system includes a measurement module for measuring riverbed elevation under water and a control module. The measurement module includes a housing, a multi-layer tube, a driving member with scales, a photographic unit for capturing images, and a sensing unit. The control module controls the driving member to extend the multi-layer tube. Thus the sensing unit on the bottom of the multi-layer tube contacts the riverbed and then sends a sensing signal to the control module for stopping pushing the multi-layer tube and controlling the photographic unit to capture images of the driving member. According to the images and movement of the measurement module, the control module learns the riverbed elevation and sends the riverbed elevation to a remote monitor unit for real-time monitoring of the riverbed elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: National Applied Research Labortories
    Inventors: Teng-Yi Yu, Wen-Yi Chang, Franco Lin, Lung-Chang Lee, Whey-Fone Tsai, Jihn-Sung Lai, Chin-Hsiung Loh
  • Patent number: 8558879
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises an imaging unit, a measurement point setting unit, a corresponding-point setting unit, a region setting unit, a display unit, and a measuring unit. The imaging unit acquires image data containing a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image being about the same subject to be inspected. The measurement point setting unit sets a measurement point on the first image. The corresponding-point setting unit sets a corresponding point on the second image based on a position of the measurement point. The region setting unit sets an information display region on the second image based on a position of the corresponding point. The display unit displays the first image, the second image, the measurement point, the corresponding point, and the information display region. The measuring unit measures a subject using the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Doi
  • Patent number: 8558885
    Abstract: At least one of an area to protect and an area to ignore are marked using a visual indicator. The area to protect and the area to ignore are in proximity to a moveable barrier operator system. Visual inputs from a camera representative of the visual indicator are received and evaluated to automatically distinguish between the area to protect and the area to ignore. An evaluation area of the camera is limited so as to coincide with substantially only with the area to protect. Thereafter, it is determined whether an obstruction exists in the evaluation area of the camera. The evaluation area may be recorded and used for future determinations as to whether obstructions exist in the pathway of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 8553087
    Abstract: An image display system provided on a vehicle, which takes a side-rear view image of a first area alongside and to the rear of the vehicle, computes running conditions of the vehicle and an obstacle in the first area using the side-rear view image, determines a time point to start displaying the side-rear view image based on the computed running conditions, and presents the side-rear view image at the time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsumi Yanai
  • Patent number: 8553149
    Abstract: A television leveling module determines, using at least one accelerometer module in response to activation of the television leveling module, an angle of orientation relative to horizontal of a television coupled to a horizontal level-adjustable mounting assembly. An indication of the angle of orientation relative to horizontal is displayed on a television display. The display of the indication of the angle of orientation relative to horizontal of the television is iteratively updated in response to detected adjustments of the angle of orientation. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick W. Ansfield
  • Patent number: 8553761
    Abstract: A coding method includes: defining an access unit; and coding each of the pictures included in the access unit, for each access unit. The defining includes: determining a unit of coding for determining whether the pictures included in the access unit are to be uniformly coded on a per-field basis or on a per-frame basis; and determining a field type for determining whether the pictures are to be uniformly coded as top fields or bottom fields when it is determined that the pictures included in the access unit are to be coded on a per-field basis. In the coding, each of the pictures is coded for each access unit in a format determined in the determining of a unit of coding and in the determining of a field type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Chong Soon Lim, Takahiro Nishi, Youji Shibahara
  • Patent number: 8553769
    Abstract: An encoder and method for encoding data in a scalable data compression format are described. In particular, process for encoding spatially scalable video are described in which the base layer uses downscaled residuals from a full-resolution encoding of the video in its motion estimation process. The downscaled residuals may also be used in the coding mode selection process at the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Dake He, Mingkai Shao