Patents Examined by Janese Duley
  • Patent number: 10131277
    Abstract: A surroundings monitoring apparatus includes an acquisition portion acquiring captured image data from an imaging portion that captures an image of an area including a road surface in a moving direction of a vehicle and in a vicinity of the vehicle, and an output control portion outputting the captured image data acquired by the acquisition portion to a display device by switching a screen displayed at the display device to the captured image data based on one of a change of a pitch angle of the vehicle and a change of a gradient of the road surface on which the vehicle is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10126532
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, which includes a terminal body, an optical system located in the terminal body and being configured to receive light; a rod located at a side of the optical system; and a curved mirror located at an end portion of the rod, wherein the rod and the curved mirror are positionable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the rod and the curved mirror are relatively closer to the optical system, and in the second state the rod and the curved mirror have been extended outward from the optical system, and wherein the curved mirror reflects omnidirectional light incident on the curved mirror toward the optical system when in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongpil Kim, Dongjin Lee, Sungbum Joo, Hakhae Kim
  • Patent number: 10124730
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a vehicle in a lane includes receiving perception information from a first camera positioned on a first side of a vehicle and a second camera positioned on a second side of the vehicle. The method includes determining, using one or more neural networks, a position of the vehicle with respect to lane markings on the first side and the second side of the vehicle. The method further includes notifying a driver or control system of the position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vidya Nariyambut Murali, Tejaswi Koduri, Smita Vinayak Bailur, Kyle J Carey
  • Patent number: 10113977
    Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a two-dimensional image of an external surface of a three-dimensional object is described. The apparatus includes a conveyor for supporting and displacing the object, a camera for capturing images of portions of the object surface, and a friction member for rotating the object. The camera is configured to capture images corresponding to successive exposed portions of the object surface, and to sequentially capture the images as respective single frames. The apparatus further includes an electronic control unit adapted to read out a sub-frame from the single frame, store the sub-frame, and assemble successive sub-frames into an assembled frame corresponding to a two-dimensional image of a surface area of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Capsugel Belgium NV
    Inventors: Mark Robson Humphries, Paul Antony Merritt, Stefaan Jaak Vanquickenborne
  • Patent number: 10110900
    Abstract: The quantization parameter QP is well-known in digital video compression as an indication of picture quality. Digital symbols representing a moving image are quantized with a quantizing step that is a function QSN of the quantization parameter QP, which function QSN has been normalized to the most significant bit of the bit depth of the digital symbols. As a result, the effect of a given QP is essentially independent of bit depth a particular QP value has a standard effect on image quality, regardless of bit depth. The invention is useful, for example, in encoding and decoding at different bit depths, to generate compatible, bitstreams having different bit depths, and to allow different bit depths for different components of a video signal by compressing each with the same fidelity (i.e., the same QP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Walter C. Gish, Christopher J. Vogt
  • Patent number: 10110902
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tammy Lee, Woo-jin Han, Kyo-hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 10105056
    Abstract: A system for acquiring an image of veins of a finger includes a camera designed to acquire an image of said finger when it is passed in front of it, a lighting device designed to illuminate said finger and a control unit for controlling the illumination intensity of said lighting device. Also, at least one system measures the transmission power of said finger upstream of the camera with respect to the passage of said finger towards said camera, said control unit being designed to control the illumination intensity of said lighting device according to the transmission power measured by said measuring system. Additionally, a method for acquiring images of veins of a finger is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: MORPHO
    Inventors: Michel Cruchaga, Sylvaine Picard
  • Patent number: 10104393
    Abstract: A predicted signal generation unit provided in a video predictive encoding device estimates a zero-th motion vector for derivation of a zero-th predicted signal, selects a zero-th motion vector predictor similar to the zero-th motion vector, and generates zero-th side information containing a zero-th motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector predictor and a motion vector difference determined from the zero-th motion vector and the zero-th motion vector predictor. The video predictive encoding device selects a motion vector for generation of a first predicted signal having a high correlation with a target region, generates first side information containing a first motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector as a first motion vector predictor, sets the first motion vector predictor to a first motion vector, and combines the zero-th and first predicted signals to generate a predicted signal of the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Suzuki, Choong Seng Boon
  • Patent number: 10104392
    Abstract: A predicted signal generation unit provided in a video predictive encoding device estimates a zero-th motion vector for derivation of a zero-th predicted signal, selects a zero-th motion vector predictor similar to the zero-th motion vector, and generates zero-th side information containing a zero-th motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector predictor and a motion vector difference determined from the zero-th motion vector and the zero-th motion vector predictor. The video predictive encoding device selects a motion vector for generation of a first predicted signal having a high correlation with a target region, generates first side information containing a first motion vector predictor index to identify the motion vector as a first motion vector predictor, sets the first motion vector predictor to a first motion vector, and combines the zero-th and first predicted signals to generate a predicted signal of the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Suzuki, Choong Seng Boon
  • Patent number: 10097810
    Abstract: The unavailability of a depth map for a current picture of a reference view may be adequately addressed so as to reduce inter-view redundancies by estimating a depth map for the pictures of the reference and dependent views and updating same using motion and/or disparity data signaled within the multi-view data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GE VIDEO COMPRESSION, LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Schwarz, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 10097795
    Abstract: A video recorder cluster for use in a video surveillance system includes multiple recorder nodes that can each participate in processing of user-specified operations such as playback, recording, and analysis of the video streams. The video recorder cluster determines the required resources for processing the video data of streams, determines the available resources on each of the recorder nodes, and forwards the video data of the streams to recorder nodes that either include the required resources or include a preferred set of available resources in accordance with the required resources. The video recorder cluster presents a single cluster address for client user devices to access the resources of the video recorder cluster, thereby enabling the video recorder cluster to appear as a single virtual network video recorder to clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: James Trani
  • Patent number: 10096101
    Abstract: A method and system for determining if an individual is impaired. In one embodiment, physical and cognitive testing of the individual are conducted in the field or at the scene of an event. The test results are compared to previously stored baseline test results taken for the specific individual while the individual is known to be in an unimpaired state or condition. The current test results are electronically compared to the baseline test results and if the results differ or deviate beyond a predetermined level or amount the individual is considered to be impaired. If no baseline test results exist for the specific individual, the current test results can alternatively be compared to previously determined or known scientifically accepted or minimums for the specific tests given to the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: COLLATERAL OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Kusens
  • Patent number: 10094551
    Abstract: Apparatus and method embedding a camera in a street light includes structure and/or function whereby the street light has a first compartment having an LED array configured to illuminate an area beneath the street light. A second compartment is coupled to the first compartment and has a camera directed toward the area beneath the street light. A third compartment is coupled to the second compartment and is configured to attach the street light to a vertical support. A passive air channel is disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and is configured to direct air from beneath the street light to the top of the street light. Preferably, the power supply for the LED array is disposed in a compartment different than the first compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: OWLS AG International Marketing & Consulting
    Inventors: Wilfried Gabriel, Gerhard Eberl
  • Patent number: 10091465
    Abstract: A vehicular scalable integrated control system includes a plurality of cameras having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. Image data captured by the cameras is processed by an image processor of a vehicular scalable integrated control unit. A display screen for displaying video images derived, at least in part, from captured image data. The system is operable to fuse captured image data with data captured by a radar device, an ultrasonic sensor and/or an infrared sensor. The system is part of an overall active safety sensing system, which includes fusion of outputs from a plurality of sensing devices to achieve environmental awareness at and surrounding the vehicle. The overall active safety sensing system is operable to at least one of (i) at least partially control the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a road and (ii) provide alert warnings to a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Dellantoni, Bernhard Schinkowitsch, André Schoenekaes, Axel Nix, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10087064
    Abstract: A method and associated system for managing vehicle fuel safety. Input from at least one sensor is received. The input indicates that a fuel pump nozzle of a fuel pump is disengaged from the fuel pump or inserted into a vehicle's tank enclosure. The vehicle adjacent to the fuel pump is monitored to detect when the vehicle is preparing to move or is starting to move away from the fuel pump. An alarm is activated indicating that the fuel pump nozzle is disengaged from the fuel pump, or inserted into the vehicle's tank enclosure, and the vehicle is preparing to move or is starting to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthieu Debeaux, Ivan Deleuze, Guilhaume Garcia
  • Patent number: 10088303
    Abstract: A displacement measuring device, comprising a pattern projecting unit, a pattern image pickup unit capable of relatively displacing with respect to the pattern projecting unit and a control unit, wherein the pattern projecting unit projects a displacement detecting pattern to the pattern image pickup unit, the pattern image pickup unit picks up the displacement detecting pattern as projected, the control unit circulates image of the displacement detecting pattern picked up by the pattern image pickup unit to the pattern projecting unit, updates the displacement detecting pattern projected by the pattern projecting unit to the displacement detecting pattern as circulated, and projects the displacement detecting pattern as updated to the pattern image pickup unit, wherein relative displacement between the pattern projecting unit and the pattern image pickup unit is obtained by dividing a displacement amount of the displacement detecting pattern in the image acquired by circulation by the number of circulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai, Masayuki Momiuchi, Kazuki Osaragi
  • Patent number: 10091469
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus can measure a three-dimensional shape of a subject with high accuracy when an image of a projection pattern is captured with a favorable contrast. The image processing apparatus includes a matching calculation unit that performs matching calculation between a projection pattern in an image being captured and an image of a projection pattern generated by a projection pattern generation unit. An image evaluation unit calculates a contrast as an evaluation standard in the captured image. A symbol position calculation unit highly accurately calculates a position of each of a group of points forming the projection pattern, for each area in the captured image determined to be a highly accurate shape measurable area based on the contrast, and thus obtains a peak luminance position. A three-dimensional shape calculation unit calculates the three-dimensional shape of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuri Sonoda
  • Patent number: 10091443
    Abstract: The invention relates to a camera system for inspecting and/or measuring objects in an environment, comprising a color image sensor, an objective arrangement in front of the color image sensor for imaging an object from the environment on the color image sensor and at least one taking illumination light source with which the environment can be illuminated by non-monochromatic light, in particular without passing through the objective arrangement. In accordance with the invention, an internal reference illumination light source is provided which is arranged such that the color image sensor can be illuminated by it without the light irradiated by it for this purpose passing through the objective arrangement. The invention furthermore relates to a method for inspecting and/or measuring objects using such a camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 10091531
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an image coding method, where the coding method includes: performing predictive coding on an image; performing transform coding on the image on which the predictive coding has been performed; performing, by using a quantization matrix, quantization coding on the image on which the transform coding has been performed, where the quantization matrix is a matrix reflecting image quantization step information, the quantization matrix includes an M*N quantization matrix and an N*M quantization matrix, and the N*M quantization matrix is obtained by transposing the M*N quantization matrix; and performing entropy coding on the image on which the quantization coding has been performed, and coding the M*N quantization matrix, so as to generate a code stream. In the present invention, the number of bits required for coding a quantization matrix is effectively saved, thereby improving compression efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haitao Yang, Jiantong Zhou
  • Patent number: 10082237
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a base, an imaging assembly, and a holder assembly. The imaging assembly includes a first arm including a first arm first portion and a first arm second portion distal from the first arm first portion and a second arm including a second arm first portion and a second arm second portion distal from the second arm first portion. The first arm is pivotally mounted on the base and the second arm is pivotally mounted on the first arm second portion. An imaging device is mounted on the second arm second portion. The holder assembly includes a base mount mounted on a platform. A strut is coupled to the base mount, and a gripper is coupled to the strut. The gripper is configured to grip and position a part in line of sight of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Crain, Jewel Burks, Nashlie Sephus