Patents Examined by Jeffery Williams
  • Patent number: 11169028
    Abstract: Flight based infrared imaging systems and related techniques, and in particular UAS based thermal imaging systems, are provided to improve the monitoring capabilities of such systems over conventional infrared monitoring systems. An infrared imaging system is configured to compensate for various environmental effects (e.g., position and/or strength of the sun, atmospheric effects) to provide high resolution and accuracy radiometric measurements of targets imaged by the infrared imaging system. An infrared imaging system is alternatively configured to monitor and determine environmental conditions, modify data received from infrared imaging systems and other systems, modify flight paths and other commands, and/or create a representation of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Thomas J. Scanlon, Theodore R. Hoelter, Nicholas Hogasten, Austin A. Richards, Michael Kent, Julie R. Moreira, Pierre M. Boulanger, Raymond Valdes, Jonathan Li
  • Patent number: 11170483
    Abstract: A sample observation device images a sample placed on a movable table by irradiating and scanning the sample with a charged particle beam of a microscope. A degraded image having poor image quality and a high quality image having satisfactory image quality which are acquired at the same location of the sample by causing the charged particle microscope to change an imaging condition for imaging the sample are stored. An estimation process parameter is calculated for estimating the high quality image from the degraded image by using the stored degraded image and high quality image. A high quality image estimation unit processes the degraded image obtained by causing the charged particle microscope to image the desired site of the sample by using the calculated estimation process parameter. Thereby, the high quality image obtained at the desired site is estimated, and then the estimated high quality image is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Harada, Yuji Takagi, Naoaki Kondo, Takehiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 11166026
    Abstract: An encoder is an encoder which encodes image information and includes memory and circuitry accessible to the memory. The circuitry derives, from the image information, a binary data string according to binarization for arithmetic encoding, and outputs a bit stream including the binary data string and application information indicating whether or not the binary data string has been arithmetic encoded. The circuitry outputs, as the bit stream, a string including as the binary data string, a data string which has not been arithmetic encoded; and, as the application information, information indicating that the binary data string has not been arithmetic encoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishi, Tadamasa Toma, Kiyofumi Abe
  • Patent number: 11159738
    Abstract: An imaging device may include single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). To improve the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio of the SPADs, photon detection efficiency (PDE) may be increased. However increased photon detection efficiency may result in a decreased saturation rate and lower than desired dynamic range. To increase the dynamic range, a SPAD-based semiconductor device may operate with multiple sub-exposures. During the first sub-exposure, an over-bias voltage may be set to a first voltage level so that the SPADs have a first photon detection efficiency. During the second sub-exposure, the over-bias voltage may be set to a second voltage level so that the SPADs have a second photon detection efficiency that is different than the first photon detection efficiency. Image data from the first and second sub-exposures may then be combined into a single high dynamic range depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Salvatore Gnecchi
  • Patent number: 11150485
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-image display apparatus including an image forming device configured to form a first image, a first polarization plate configured to transmit a first polarization component of the first image provided from the image forming device, a second polarization plate configured to transmit a second polarization component of a second image that is provided from a path different from the first image, the second polarization component being different from the first polarization component, a screen configured to reflect and diffuse the first image, and transmit the second image, and a polarization selective lens configured to focus the first image having the first polarization component, and transmit the second image having the second polarization component without refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Changkun Lee, Seokil Moon, Byoungho Lee, Wontaek Seo, Geeyoung Sung, Hongseok Lee
  • Patent number: 11151427
    Abstract: A method for checkout based on an image identification technique of convolutional neural network includes acquiring N pictures of M items to be classified placed on a checkout counter, N shooting angles corresponding to the N pictures have at least one shooting angle for taking pictures downwards from just above, performing object detection in the pictures acquired downwards from just above to obtain first rectangular area images, then respectively performing the object detection in remaining pictures according to the number of the pictures to obtain remaining rectangular area images, obtaining preliminary classification results according to the first rectangular area images, the remaining rectangular area images and a pre-trained first-level classification model, and obtaining first-level classification results according to the preliminary classification results and a pre-trained first-level linear regression model, using the first-level classification results as first classification results and performing c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: YI TUNNEL (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yili Wu
  • Patent number: 11153513
    Abstract: A device comprises a first camera, wherein the first camera includes one or more photosensors configured to detect visible light passing, in a first direction, through a first surface. The device further includes a light source configured to emit infrared (IR) light, in a second direction opposite the first direction, through the first surface. The device also includes a second camera configured to detect reflections of the IR light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Boyan Ivanov Bonev, Marek Mienko
  • Patent number: 11146760
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging sensor including a plurality of pixels; a color filter including a plurality of filters arranged to correspond to the pixels; a first light source configured to irradiate a subject with visible light; a second light source configured to irradiate the subject with near-infrared light; a first processor including hardware, the first processor being configured to control an irradiation timing of each of the first light source and the second light source; and a second processor including hardware, the second processor being configured to generate a plurality of pieces of near-infrared image data on different near-infrared regions based on first image data and second image data, the first image data being generated by the imaging sensor by capturing an image of the subject, the second image data being generated by the imaging sensor by capturing an image of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 11145071
    Abstract: An image processing method, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and an electronic apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring a first initial image by a first camera at a first frame rate during an exposure period, and acquiring at least two second initial images by a second camera at a second frame rate during the exposure period; and stitching the at least two second initial images into one second target image; wherein the second target image is a depth image. The first frame rate is less than the second frame rate, and each second initial image is an image comprising depth information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Yan Chen, Pan Fang
  • Patent number: 11146830
    Abstract: Provided is a video reception method performed by a video reception apparatus including a display. The video reception method includes: receiving a reception signal multiplexed from video data and audio data; outputting, as first transfer characteristics information, transfer characteristics obtained by demultiplexing the reception signal; outputting, as second transfer characteristics information, transfer characteristics obtained by decoding the video data, the second transfer characteristics information being information for specifying, at frame accuracy, a transfer function corresponding to a luminance dynamic range of the video data; and displaying the video data while controlling a luminance dynamic range of the display at frame accuracy according to the second transfer characteristics information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishi, Tadamasa Toma
  • Patent number: 11145116
    Abstract: A system and method for scanning an environment and generating an annotated 2D map is provided. The system includes a 2D scanner having a light source, an image sensor and a first controller. The first controller determines a distance value to at least one of the object points. The system further includes a 360° camera having a movable platform, and a second controller that merges the images acquired by the cameras to generate an image having a 360° view in a horizontal plane. The system also includes processors coupled to the 2D scanner and the 360° camera. The processors are responsive to generate a 2D map of the environment based at least in part on a signal from an operator and the distance value. The processors being further responsive for acquiring a 360° image and integrating it at a location on the 2D map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aleksej Frank, Matthias Wolke, Oliver Zweigle
  • Patent number: 11134270
    Abstract: An encoder capable of properly handling an image to be encoded or decoded includes processing circuitry and memory connected to the processing circuitry. Using the memory, the processing circuitry: obtains parameters including at least one of (i) one or more parameters related to a first process for correcting distortion in an image captured with a wide angle lens and (ii) one or more parameters related to a second process for stitching a plurality of images; generates an encoded image by encoding a current image to be processed that is based on the image or the plurality of images; and writes the parameters into a bitstream including the encoded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Chong Soon Lim, Han Boon Teo, Takahiro Nishi, Tadamasa Toma, Ru Ling Liao, Sughosh Pavan Shashidhar, Hai Wei Sun
  • Patent number: 11128890
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for implementing the method. The method comprises determining movement of a multicamera device between a first time and a second time, the multicamera comprising at least a first camera and a second camera; selecting a frame from the first camera at the first time; and entering the selected frame to a reference frame list of a frame from the second camera at the second time; where position and direction of the first camera at the first time is the same as position and direction of the second camera at the second time, and wherein the first camera and the second camera are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Payman Aflaki Beni
  • Patent number: 11122950
    Abstract: A cleaning robot includes a housing, a camera rotationally connected to the housing, and power component mounted on the housing. The power component includes a motor and a gear set, and is connected to the camera via the gear set, and the motor is configured to drive the camera to rotate around a rotation axis via the gear set. The present disclosure also provides a cleaning robot system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA ROBOZONE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11122296
    Abstract: A coding unit having a size multiple of three in horizontal or vertical direction is coded through one of several embodiments. In one embodiment, for some block sizes, the coding unit is coded and decoded systematically through SKIP mode. In another embodiment, the coding units can be coded in SKIP mode or with a DC coefficient. In another embodiment, an asymmetric division of a common coding unit parent is performed and transform coefficients are factorized among at least two sub-blocks to encode a coding unit. In another embodiment, a separable two dimensional transform can be applied by applying a transform over the block in one direction, and using two one-dimensional transforms on sub-blocks in the other direction to code. Methods, apparatus, and signal embodiments are provided for encoding and decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL VC HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Fabrice Leleannec, Franck Galpin, Tangi Poirier
  • Patent number: 11108939
    Abstract: A method for assembling an imager assembly for a vehicular camera includes providing a lens barrel that accommodates a lens, providing a lens holder, and providing a PCB with an imager disposed thereat. A cylindrical portion of the lens barrel is disposed in a cylindrical passageway of the lens holder and the PCB is disposed at the lens holder. An adhesive is dispensed to hold the lens optically aligned with the imager. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a longer further-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the imager assembly in a vehicular camera in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Brian J. Winden, Robert A. Devota, Matthew C. Sesti, Joseph A. Stemmer, Steven V. Byrne, John R. Garcia, David F. Olson
  • Patent number: 11109019
    Abstract: A video coding or decoding method using inter-image prediction to encode input video data in which each chrominance component has 1/Mth of the horizontal resolution and 1/Nth of the vertical resolution of the luminance component, where M and N are integers equal to 1 or more, including storing one or more images preceding a current image, interpolating a higher resolution version of prediction units of the stored images so that the luminance component has a horizontal resolution P times that of the corresponding portion of the stored image and a vertical resolution Q times that of the corresponding portion of the stored image, detecting inter-image motion between a current image and the one or more interpolated stored images so as to generate motion vectors between a prediction unit of the current image and areas of the one or more preceding images, and generating a motion compensated prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: James Alexander Gamei, Nicholas Ian Saunders, Karl James Sharman, Paul James Silcock
  • Patent number: 11109009
    Abstract: A disparity image in a stereoscopic image is generated not to collapse. In a case where a viewing position in the entire celestial image space, specified on the basis of position information of a user, is within a range of a predetermined distance from an original point in a coordinate system of the entire celestial image, a disparity image based on the viewing position is generated, and in a case where the viewing position in the entire celestial image space is not within the range of a predetermined distance from the original point in the coordinate system of the entire celestial image, the viewing position in the entire celestial image space is moved to the original point of the entire celestial image space, and the disparity image is generated. The present disclosure can be applied to an HMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kikukawa
  • Patent number: 11096565
    Abstract: Driving an emitter to emit pulses of electromagnetic radiation according to a jitter specification in a hyperspectral, fluorescence, and laser mapping imaging system is described. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a driver for driving emissions by the emitter according to a jitter specification. The system is h that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of a hyperspectral emission, a fluorescence emission, and/or a laser mapping pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11099003
    Abstract: Examples of a light field metrology system for use with a display are disclosed. The light field metrology may capture images of a projected light field, and determine focus depths (or lateral focus positions) for various regions of the light field using the captured images. The determined focus depths (or lateral positions) may then be compared with intended focus depths (or lateral positions), to quantify the imperfections of the display. Based on the measured imperfections, an appropriate error correction may be performed on the light field to correct for the measured imperfections. The display can be an optical display element in a head mounted display, for example, an optical display element capable of generating multiple depth planes or a light field display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh, Lionel Ernest Edwin, Samuel A. Miller