Patents Examined by John Strege
  • Patent number: 9160945
    Abstract: The present invention provides software, methods, and systems for characterizing an actual scan pattern of a scanning beam device. The characterization of the actual scan pattern may be used in an image remapping method and/or a drive signal remapping method to reduce distortions in an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventor: Richard S. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9152837
    Abstract: Apparatus for identifying a person who wishes to receive a computer file, or to input computer information, where identifying information for each of a plurality of registered individuals is stored in a database, calls for capturing images of an individual requesting to receive or alter computer information, and determining whether this individual is the same as one of the registered individuals whose identifying information is stored in the database. The stored identifying information includes both an alphanumeric identifier and images of a unique, visually observable biologic identifier on a body portion of each registered indvidual. The specificity of the identification process is enhanced by storing registered examples of altered biological information in the database, by causing the computer source to induce an alteration in a biologic indentifier of a requesting person at the time of the request, and by comparing the altered requesting person information to stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Matos
  • Patent number: 9147238
    Abstract: The adaptive contrast enhancer uses an adaptive histogram equalization-based approach to improve contrast in a video signal. For each video frame, the histogram of the pixel luminance values is calculated. The calculated histogram is divided into three regions that are equalized independently of the other. The equalized values are averaged with the original pixel values with a weighting factor that depends on the shape of the histogram. The weighting factors can be also chosen differently for the three regions to enhance the darker regions more than the brighter ones. The statistics calculated from one frame are used to enhance the next frame such that frame buffers are not required. Many of the calculations are done in the inactive time between two frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sujith Srinivasan, Nikhil Balram
  • Patent number: 9147252
    Abstract: A method is provided for dividing a pattern into a plurality of sub-patterns, each sub-pattern being adapted for use with an image search method that can provide a plurality of sub-pattern search results. The method represents the pattern as a plurality of feature points, generates candidate partitions of the plurality of feature points, and then scores the candidate partitions by examining characteristics of each potential sub-pattern of each candidate partition. The highest-scoring partition is selected, and then it is applied to the plurality of feature points, creating one or more sub-pluralities of features. The invention advantageously provides a plurality of sub-patterns where each sub-pattern contains enough information to be located with a feature-based search method, where that information has been pre-evaluated as being useful and particularly adapted for running feature-based searches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment LLC
    Inventors: Jason Davis, Juha Koljonen
  • Patent number: 9146196
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automated inspection of fillet formation along on or more peripheral edges (13a) of a packaged microelectronic device (14) that is attached to a supporting substrate (16), such system (10) including a feedback loop for controlling fillet formation More specifically, the system (10) includes a dispensing system (18) configured for dispensing underfill material (22) onto the supporting substrate (16) The system (19) further includes an automated optical inspection (AOI) system (19) configured for determining a value of a measurable attribute of the fillet (12), such as whether the fillet (12) is properly dimensioned, i e, sized and shaped A feedback loop (66) is included between the dispensing system (18) and automated optical inspection system (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Alec Babiarz, Stephane Etienne, Owen Yikon Sit
  • Patent number: 9135501
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of administering a drug program related to an animal. Specifically, systems are provided that can receive, compile and analyze information regarding the condition of an organ in a form that is readily readable, transferable to others, and associated with, or linked to, other information such as the presence or absence of an administered drug, combination of drugs, or drug program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: JBS USA, LLC
    Inventors: Warren Mirtsching, John Felix, Mark A. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 9129431
    Abstract: An x-ray CT image processing method which carries out a statistical estimate in prior knowledge relating to the movement and the x-ray absorption coefficient of a measurement subject comprises: a step of hypothesizing that the measurement subject changes smoothly over time, and defining a first probability model (prior knowledge of the measurement subject over all times) relating to movement and a second probability model (projected image observation model over all times) relating to observation; and a step of carrying out a statistical estimate dependent on both the first probability model and the second probability model. The first probability model relating to the movement of the measurement subject and the second model relating to observation are defined as probability models with which statistical estimates are carried out at the outset, and motion and CT images are simultaneously estimated by carrying out induction based on the probability models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: National University Corporation Kyoto University
    Inventors: Shinichi Maeda, Takumi Tanaka, Shin Ishii
  • Patent number: 9117282
    Abstract: A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir, Adrian Capata
  • Patent number: 9111182
    Abstract: Described is a system for multispectral image processing with spiking dynamics. For example, the system receives an input image and compresses the image through space and spectrally variant sampling. Center-surround dynamics are modeled to control high dynamic ranges of the image and provide gain control. Further, habituative dynamics are modeled to produce outputs specialized for static or dynamic image content. Finally, neural spikes are generated based on the habituative dynamics. The neural spikes are saved or provided to other systems for further image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Suhas E. Chelian, Narayan Srinivasa
  • Patent number: 9096167
    Abstract: A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Erez Dagan, Ofer Mano, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 9092884
    Abstract: Tilt is reduced or eliminated in captured digital images. Edges in a first image are detected. Angles corresponding to the detected edges are determined. A dominant angle is selected from the determined angles. The first image is rotated according to the selected dominant angle to generate a second image. The second image is a de-tilted version of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Denis Demandolx, Sing Bing Kang
  • Patent number: 9088758
    Abstract: A mark information recording apparatus includes an output unit and a recording unit. The output unit is configured to output, for displaying a partial image being a part of an entire image having an arbitrary resolution among entire images generated at a plurality of different resolutions with respect to a single target, the partial image. The recording unit is configured to associate mark information with information on a position within the entire image and information on the resolution of the output partial image and record the mark information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Kimoto, Masato Kajimoto, Seiji Miyama, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9087231
    Abstract: A plurality of block pairs are set by setting two of the rectangular blocks contained in one template as one block pair. A score showing a degree to which a part of an object is included in the template is held based on a relation of a relative level between block luminance values in each of the block pairs set in the template. These processes are carried out for all templates. Based on a sum of the scores of all the templates, and whether the object is included in the image is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuji Aoki, Cher Keng Heng
  • Patent number: 9081721
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for correcting for artificial deformations in anatomical modeling. One method includes obtaining an anatomic model; obtaining information indicating a presence of an artificial deformation of the anatomic model; identifying a portion of the anatomic model associated with the artificial deformation; estimating a non-deformed local area corresponding to the portion of the anatomic model; and modifying the portion of the anatomic model associated with the artificial deformation, based on the estimated non-deformed local area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo John Grady, Michiel Schaap, Sophie Khem, Sarah Wilkes, Ying Bai
  • Patent number: 9082162
    Abstract: A system includes an image analysis module that is configured to programmatically analyze individual images in a collection of images in order to determine information about each image in the collection. The system may also include a manual interface that is configured to (i) interface with one or more human editors, and (ii) displays a plurality of panels concurrently. Individual panels may be provided for one or more analyzed images, and individual panels may be configured to display information that is at least indicative of the one or more images of that panel and/or of the information determined from the one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Salih Burak Gokturk, Baris Sumengen, Diem Vu, Navneet Dalal, Danny Yang, Xiaofan Lin, Azhar Khan, Munjal Shah, Dragomir Anguelov, Lorenzo Torresani, Vincent Vanhoucke
  • Patent number: 9076234
    Abstract: A super-resolution method and apparatus for a video image are disclosed. The method includes performing super-resolution processing based on fuzzy motion estimation by integral multiple times on an original low-resolution video image, to obtain an intermediate high-resolution video image. When resolution of the intermediate high-resolution video image is different from resolution of a target high-resolution video image, a non-integral multiple between the resolution of the target high-resolution video image and the resolution of the intermediate high-resolution video image is calculated. Super-resolution processing based on interpolation by the non-integral is performed multiple times on the intermediate high-resolution video image, to obtain the target high-resolution video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chenglin Zheng, Hai Chen
  • Patent number: 9076042
    Abstract: A camera system comprises an image capturing device, object detection module, object tracking module, and match classifier. The object detection module receives image data and detects objects appearing in one or more of the images. The object tracking module temporally associates instances of a first object detected in a first group of the images. The first object has a first signature representing features of the first object. The match classifier matches object instances by analyzing data derived from the first signature of the first object and a second signature of a second object detected in a second image. The second signature represents features of the second object derived from the second image. The match classifier determine whether the second signature matches the first signature. A training process automatically configures the match classifier using a set of possible object features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AVO USA HOLDING 2 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mahesh Saptharishi, Dimitri A. Lisin
  • Patent number: 9071746
    Abstract: A multimedia device includes input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal and a processor system dedicated to capturing the real-time media signal. The processor system defines an embedded environment. The input ports and the processor system are integrated into the multimedia capture device. The input ports include an audio input port and at least one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Echo 360, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Benjamin Allen, Steven Lee Geyer, Rodney Dale McElrath
  • Patent number: 9058673
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating a mosaic image using a virtual grid are described. In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing, by a processor of an apparatus, a boundary of a requested image to determine source images that collectively form an area that includes the requested image. The method also includes generating, by the processor, a virtual grid from coordinates of the source images by identifying edges of the source images from the coordinates to define rows and columns of the virtual grid within the boundary. The rows and columns of the virtual grid define virtual tiles in the virtual grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fengting Chen, Qingyun Xie
  • Patent number: 9047317
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for determining a storage location for an image of a check. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive an image of a check, the image being associated with an account associated with a user; analyze check retrieval activity associated with the account; determine, based on the check retrieval activity, a storage location for the image; and store the image at the storage location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Craig David Palmer, Eric Scott Sandoz, Michael Gerald Smith, Geoffrey Reed Williams, Lisa Gibson, Melvin Gregory Nixon