Patents Examined by Geoffrey E Summers
  • Patent number: 9805294
    Abstract: A method for denoising a range image acquired by a time-of-flight (ToF) camera by first determining locations of edges, and a confidence value of each pixel, and based on the locations of the edges, determining geodesic distances of neighboring pixels. Based on the confidence values, reliabilities of the neighboring pixels are determined and scene dependent noise is reduced using a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Yu Liu, Yuichi Taguchi, Kilho Son
  • Patent number: 9791268
    Abstract: A device for measuring the characteristic angles and dimensions of wheels, steering system and chassis of vehicles in general, comprising a plurality of three-dimensional optical readers which are functionally connected to a computer and can be arranged peripherally to a vehicle whose dimensions and characteristic angles of wheels, steering system and chassis are to be measured in such a manner that each one frames at least one wheel of the vehicle for the three-dimensional acquisition of an image of the wheel, each three-dimensional optical reader being provided with at least one fixed target for the setting and calibration of the measurement device, at least one camera of each three-dimensional optical reader being arranged in such a manner as to frame clearly and directly at least one fixed target of another three-dimensional optical reader for the setting and calibration of the measurement device by three-dimensional acquisitions of the fixed targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: CEMB S.P.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Buzzi, Giancarlo Torri
  • Patent number: 9792491
    Abstract: The location of a user's head, for purposes such as head tracking or motion input, can be determined using a two-step process. In a first step, at least one image is captured including a representation of at least a portion of the person, such as a head portion of the person. In a second step, a contour of the head portion can be determined, and a two-dimensional model, for example, an ellipse or other similar shape can be used to approximate the head portion of the person represented in the image. The ellipse, for example, can be modeled using a number of shapes, such as rectangles, and the portion of the person can be tracked by locating an ellipse that bounds a maximum intensity gradient of pixel values in each one of a series of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Sharadh Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9750473
    Abstract: A calculation unit generates a depth image corresponding to a first three-dimensional image with respect to a region of interest and sets a first image region based on a depth gradient of the depth image. The calculation unit moves the origin of a projection line to the near side or far side in the projection line direction by an amount of movement B for a pixel in the first image region, constructs a depth image based on the moved origin of the projection line in the first image region, sets a second image region based on the depth gradient of the depth image based on the moved origin of the projection line in the first image region, sets the second image region as the first image region, and repeats these processes. Once end conditions are satisfied, the calculation unit constructs a second three-dimensional image based on the moved origin of the projection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Goto
  • Patent number: 9721150
    Abstract: Biometric enrollment and verification techniques for ocular-vascular, periocular, and facial regions are described. Periocular image regions can be defined based on the dimensions of an ocular region identified in an image of a facial region. Feature descriptors can be generated for interest points in the ocular and periocular regions using a combination of patterned histogram feature descriptors. Quality metrics for the regions can be determined based on region value scores calculated based on texture surrounding the interest points. A biometric matching process for calculating a match score based on the ocular and periocular regions can progressively include additional periocular regions to obtain a greater match confidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EyeVerify Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Gottemukkula, Reza R. Derakhshani, Sashi K. Saripalle
  • Patent number: 9709395
    Abstract: A method is provided, which comprises generating at least three images of an area of interest from at least one imaging system, the generated images being provided from at least three different angles, establishing point correspondence between the provided images. The method further involves generating at least two sets of three-dimensional information based on the provided images, wherein the at least two sets of three-dimensional information are generated based on at least two different combinations of at least two of the at least three provided images of the area of interest. The method further includes comparing the at least two sets of three-dimensional information so as to determine discrepancies, and providing information related to the imaging system or errors in the images based on the determined discrepancies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: VRICON SYSTEMS AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Johan Bejeryd, Johan Borg, Folke Isaksson, Leif Haglund, Per Carlbom, Ola Nygren, Ingmar Andersson
  • Patent number: 9710462
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a graphical representation of an object surface having a number of inscriptions indicative of information encoded upon the object surface. The graphical representation of the object surface is transcribed by the system to determine markings from the inscriptions. A number of alternative corresponding symbols are determined by the system. The alternative corresponding cuneiform symbols are determined from a number of the markings. A number of alternative transliterations are determined by the system. The alternative transliterations are determined from of a symbol of the multiple alternative corresponding symbols. A number of alternative translations are also determined by the system of a transliteration of the multiple translations transliterations. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Learning Sites, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald H. Sanders, Eben Gay
  • Patent number: 9712806
    Abstract: Depth camera systems and methods of operation use coded structured light to determine depth values. One example method includes projecting a structured light pattern towards a target region. The structured light pattern includes a plurality of parallel bars that encode a plurality of codes. The method includes, for each of a plurality of rows of pixels that are transverse to the plurality of parallel bars: decoding the plurality of parallel bars represented in the row of pixels to identify a location of each of the plurality of codes in the row of pixels; determining a plurality of disparities respectively between the identified locations of the plurality of codes and a plurality of reference locations respectively associated with the plurality of codes; and determining a depth value for each identified location based at least in part on the determined disparity for such location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DATALOGIC ADC, INC.
    Inventor: Bryan Olmstead
  • Patent number: 9701202
    Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure is a fingerprint bookmark system which may be implemented in a vehicle with one or more configurable interior settings. The fingerprint bookmark system may contain a scanner which may be configured to record a fingerprint from a vehicle occupant such that a fingerprint image showing the fingerprint and a duration data for the fingerprint image are recorded by the scanner. The system may contain one or more processors which may be configured to compare the duration data associated with the fingerprint image with a duration threshold. The one or more processors may be configured to initiate a search to obtain a bookmark for the fingerprint shown in the fingerprint image when the duration data is less than the duration threshold. The one or more processors may be further configured to create a new bookmark when the duration data exceeds the duration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Jia-Wei Ding
  • Patent number: 9689807
    Abstract: A substrate detection device and a substrate direction method are disclosed in the embodiments for achieving a wide-range high-compatibility detection of leads in a peripheral circuit region of a liquid crystal display. The detection device comprises a converting unit configured to calculate a gray scale of a gray image of a circuit lead region of a substrate based on the gray image of the circuit lead region of the substrate, and to convert the gray image into an image of leads in the circuit lead region, based on a difference between the calculated gray scales of the leads and of the substrate in the circuit lead region; and a judging unit configured to judge a state of the leads in the circuit lead region based on the image of the leads in the circuit lead region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Ye, Tao Wang, Yuandan Chen, Shengzuo Guan, Guanglong Guo
  • Patent number: 9665762
    Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus and method is disclosed which may comprise a biometric authentication unit which may comprise: a biometric object sensor comprising sensor elements and a sensor computing device; a wake-on-event logic controller maintaining the sensor computing device in one of a powered-off or powered down mode, and including a bulk biometric object detector configured to detect a biometric object on or in the vicinity of the sensor elements and to power-on or power-up the sensor computing device responsive to the detection of the biometric object on or in the vicinity of the sensor elements; the sensor computing device configured to analyze one or more lines of biometric object image comprising a partial biometric object image and determine if the partial biometric image belongs to a biometric object desired to be imaged to obtain a complete biometric object image, and to provide a power-on or power-up signal to a host electronic device computing device when the partial biometric image i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Erik Jonathon Thompson, Charles Walter Bellman, Anthony P. Russo, Philip Yiu Kwong Chan, Bjoren Kurt Davis, Gregory Lewis Dean, Richard Alexander Erhart, Jaswinder Jandu, Ty Bao Lien, Frank Schwab
  • Patent number: 9659207
    Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure is a fingerprint bookmark system which may be implemented in a vehicle with one or more configurable interior settings. The fingerprint bookmark system may contain a scanner which may be configured to record a fingerprint from a vehicle occupant such that a fingerprint image showing the fingerprint and a duration data for the fingerprint image are recorded by the scanner. The system may contain one or more processors which may be configured to compare the duration data associated with the fingerprint image with a duration threshold. The one or more processors may be configured to initiate a search to obtain a bookmark for the fingerprint shown in the fingerprint image when the duration data is less than the duration threshold. The one or more processors may be further configured to create a new bookmark when the duration data exceeds the duration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Jia-Wei Ding
  • Patent number: 9646200
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented for determining whether a gesture is being performed in a sequence of source images. In some embodiments, a method includes detecting a gesture in each of one or more reference images using one or more gesture models of a plurality of gesture models. The method may also include selecting a first gesture model from the one or more gesture models that most closely matches the detected gesture, prioritizing the first gesture model over other gesture models in the plurality of gesture models for searching for the gesture in the sequence of source images, and scanning the sequence of source images to determine whether the gesture is being performed, using the prioritized first gesture model. If the gesture is being performed, the method may end scanning prior to using another gesture model of the plurality of gesture models to determine whether the gesture is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Fitzgerald John Archibald, Francis B. MacDougall
  • Patent number: 9639620
    Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure is a fingerprint bookmark system which may be implemented in a vehicle with one or more configurable interior settings. The fingerprint bookmark system may contain a scanner which may be configured to record a fingerprint from a vehicle occupant such that a fingerprint image showing the fingerprint and a duration data for the fingerprint image are recorded by the scanner. The system may contain one or more processors which may be configured to compare the duration data associated with the fingerprint image with a duration threshold. The one or more processors may be configured to initiate a search to obtain a bookmark for the fingerprint shown in the fingerprint image when the duration data is less than the duration threshold. The one or more processors may be further configured to create a new bookmark when the duration data exceeds the duration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Jia-Wei Ding
  • Patent number: 9639839
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first memory unit for storing a non-payment application, a first processor, a fingerprint sensing unit and a security element including a second memory unit and a second processor. The second memory unit stores a payment application and user fingerprint information. When the second processor executes the payment application, the fingerprint sensing unit captures a fingerprint image of a user's finger and the second processor transmits the fingerprint image to the first processor via a secure channel. The first processor calculates biometric characteristics of the fingerprint image to generate to-be-recognized fingerprint information which is transmitted to the second processor via the secure channel. When the second processor determines that the to-be-recognized fingerprint information matches the user fingerprint information, the second processor generates an authentication signal for a payment transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Egis Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Chien Lee, Chieh-Pin Su
  • Patent number: 9626755
    Abstract: In a mask inspection apparatus, an optical image acquisition unit acquires an optical image of a pattern in a mask by irradiating light. A reference image generation unit generates a corresponding reference image. A defect detection unit detects a defect of the pattern by comparing the two images. A misplacement data processing unit obtains a misplacement amount of the pattern from the images, and generates misplacement data. A misplacement map processing unit generates and outputs the map to the defect detection unit. The defect detection unit includes, a first comparison unit for comparing the images, a threshold value reconfiguring unit for specifying a portion of the map corresponding to the defect detected, reconfiguring a threshold value according to the shape of the defect and the misplacement direction of the optical image of the specified portion, and a second comparison unit for re-comparing both images using the reconfigured threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Tsuchiya, Nobutaka Kikuiri, Ikunao Isomura
  • Patent number: 9589188
    Abstract: A control circuit having access to at least one high-energy image of a scene assesses that image to identify candidate obfuscaters as well as candidate obfuscated objects. This control circuit then processes information regarding the candidate objects to identify objects of interest. By one approach these objects of interest are deemed “of interest” as a function of their being obfuscated in a particular context. By one approach these teachings will accommodate identifying objects as being of interest as a function, at least in part, of the material composition of both the object as well as the visual obfuscater. These teachings also will accommodate peeling away background content/attenuation information in order to separate (and facilitate displaying) a given object in relative isolation from that background content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Holt
  • Patent number: 9585575
    Abstract: Elicited MRI signals are processed into MR image data in conjunction (a) with use of an initial spatially-selective RF tag pulse (tag-on) and (b) without use of an initial spatially-selective NMR RF tag pulse (tag-off) in respectively corresponding data acquisition subsequences. Multi-dimensional tag-on and tag-off data acquisition subsequences are used for each of plural time-to-inversion (TI) intervals without using an injected contrast agent. Acquired image data sets are subtracted for each TI interval to produce difference values as a function of time representing blood perfusion for the ROI that differentiates between normal, ischemic and infarct tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou, Tsutomu Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9589338
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a component acquisition unit that acquires a chromaticity component and a luminance component from each of a process target image and a reference image, a feature quantity extraction unit that extracts a feature quantity from the chromaticity component and the luminance component of each of the process target image and the reference image, a chromaticity component adjustment unit that matches the chromaticity component of the process target image to the chromaticity component of the reference image using the feature quantity of the chromaticity component, and a luminance component adjustment unit that matches the luminance component of the process target image to the luminance component of the reference image in a non-dark region other than a dark region, and reduces an amount of adjustment in the adjustment of the dark region to be smaller than an amount of adjustment applied to the non-dark region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9576211
    Abstract: The recognition rate is improved and recognition errors are suppressed when recognizing magnetic ink characters. When the magnetic ink character 101 one character before the target character to which a magnetic recognition process is applied is not recognized, the character recognition unit 80 of a check reader 1 detects a different peak in a specific range before and after the position of the peak detected as the first peak of the one preceding magnetic ink character 101 in the signal waveform data, extracts character waveform data for the one preceding magnetic ink character 101 from the signal waveform data based on the position of the detected different peak, and applies the magnetic recognition process to the extracted character waveform data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kinoshita