Patents Examined by Leo Boudreau
  • Patent number: 6766036
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are new forms of computer inputs particularly using TV Cameras, and providing affordable methods and apparatus for data communication with respect to people and computers using optically inputted information from specialized datum's on objects and/or natural features of objects. Particular embodiments capable of fast and reliable acquisition of features and tracking of motion are disclosed, together with numerous applications in various fields of endeavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Timothy R. Pryor
  • Patent number: 6766038
    Abstract: The method for measuring speed is performed by dividing the time sequence image data A into long and narrow frames (step 401). Next, the framed images and the time sequence image data B produced by the line scan camera B are correlated to obtain a moving time (step 402). Next, a moving time of each framed image and a corresponding moving distance are obtained to compute a moving speed (step 403). Next, scale of a specific shape pattern and the like is corrected using the moving speed obtained to match the scales in the two image sequences A and B to obtain a similarity degree (step 404). Next, a threshold value is applied to the similarity degree to recognize the specific shape pattern, thereby recognizing that the images are produced by a moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakuma, Yasuko Takahashi, Akio Shio, Sakuichi Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 6763121
    Abstract: The watermark system and method. The watermark system includes a watermarking module for generating a half-tone image with a watermark (a watermarked halftone image) and a watermark recovery module for receiving a scanned image of a hard copy of the watermarked halftone image and recovering a watermark that is embedded in or specified by the scanned image. A print engine can be provided to receive the watermarked halftone image and generate a hard copy of the watermarked half-tone image. A scanner can be provided to scan a hard copy of a watermarked half-tone image and to generate a scanned image that can be provided to the watermark recovery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doron Shaked, Izhak Baharav
  • Patent number: 6763128
    Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. A post processing stage is provided where detections are analyzed in the context of a set of images for a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Qualia Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Rogers, Michael J. Collins, Richard A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6763138
    Abstract: To provide a picture coding method and apparatus capable of achieving a high image quality coding and executing a variable bit rate coding in real time. A moving picture coding means codes input moving picture data with a quantization scale Qj given from an average bit rate adjusting means. Then, the moving picture coding means outputs a code quantity Sj towards a GOP complexity computing means and an average complexity computing means. The GOP complexity is calculated on the basis of quantization scale and code quantity in the coded GOP, while the average complexity is calculated on the basis of quantization scale and code quantity from the beginning to the present. Quantization scale Qgop is calculated on the basis of the GOP complexity and the average complexity. The average bit rate adjusting means modifies Qgop and determines quantization scale Qj in accordance with an excess or shortage of Sj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yutaka Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6763129
    Abstract: An input image is inputted into a pre-process circuit and a spatial filter. The pre-process circuit emphasizes a linear shadow or an edge to some extent, or reduces noises overall. Following pre-processing, the image signal is supplied to a direction detection circuit, a direction and its intensity of an area of interest are detected. These two results of the detections are correlated with peripheral areas of interest to some extent by a vector filter. An output of the vector filter is supplied to a spatial filter coefficient generation circuit, and a filter coefficient of the spatial filter is decided. The spatial filter processes the input image based on the direction of the shadow and its intensity, whereby selectively suppressing noise components of the background in real time without damaging the contrasts of a linear shadow or an edge-like shadow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michitaka Honda, Hiroko Umazaki
  • Patent number: 6760469
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system (100) comprises an X-ray tube (110), a sensor plate (120), and a graphics engine (130). The tube (110) and the sensor plate (120) rotate synchronously about a patient (150) and expose a stereoscopic pair of images which are transmitted to the graphics engine (130). The graphics engine (130) determines (312) the geometry of the system (100). If (314) the pair of images are toed-in relative to each other, the graphics engine (130) converts (316) the images into a parallel geometry. Likewise, the graphics engine (130) also processes (320) the images for keystone distortion, if necessary. Simply flipping the images in the stereo pair distorts the depth of objects in the stereoscopic image. Instead of simply flipping the images, it is desirable to “go behind” the screen (412A) and look at the image from the back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Alexander Berestov, Harry T. Garland, Roger D. Melen
  • Patent number: 6757432
    Abstract: A communication system is provided, which includes: a transmitter for transmitting multi-dimensional stream data capable of representing a CG scene; and a receiver for receiving the multi-dimensional stream data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Hijiri, Kazuhiro Nishitani, Yoshiyuki Mochizuki, Toshiya Naka, Shigeo Asahara
  • Patent number: 6757405
    Abstract: A digital watermark embedding device has an input section which inputs pixel value data of an image which is a target for embedding of watermark information, an embedded position selection section which determines a position in frequency domain into which the watermark information is to be embedded, irrespectively of a frequency component value, a frequency component value variation decision section which determines a variation of a frequency component value at each embedded position determined by the embedded position selection section, a pixel value variation calculation section which calculates a variation of a pixel value at each point in pixel value domain of the image based on the embedded position in frequency domain determined by the embedded position selection section and on the variation of a frequency component value determined by the frequency component value variation decision section, a pixel value conversion section which embeds watermark information by changing corresponding pixel value data o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hirofumi Muratani, Taku Katoh, Naoki Endo
  • Patent number: 6757430
    Abstract: A system includes a central processing unit, a bus and circuit. The central processing unit is coupled to the bus and segments an image into at least one text region and at least one graphics region. At least one of the circuit modules is associated with the processing of the text region(s), and at least one of the circuit modules is associated with the processing of the graphics region(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Metz, Tinku Acharya
  • Patent number: 6757413
    Abstract: A medical image transfer and control system of the present invention preferably utilizes a medical image snap-shot formatting device. This device generally includes a digital signal processor and a signal formatting component that is operably connected to the digital signal processor. The signal formatting component is designed to receive medical image snap-shot data from a camera and, if necessary, format the data to a digital format. The signal formatting component then forwards the digital data to the digital signal processor which operates to compress the data to a format suitable for transfer over a plain old telephone system (POTS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: American TeleCare, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward LeMahieu
  • Patent number: 6757444
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image extraction method for extracting, from a subject image that records both the background and the object to be extracted, image data of the object using a mask. An initial mask used for extracting the subject region is generated on the basis of difference data between the subject image and the background image that records the background alone, the region of the initial mask is grown on the basis of the similarity between the features of a first region and its neighboring second region in the subject image corresponding to the initial mask, and the image data of the object is extracted from the first image on the basis of the grown mask region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Matsugu, Hideo Takiguchi, Koji Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 6757415
    Abstract: A computer aided detection method and system to assist radiologists in the reading of medical images. The method and system has particular application to the area of mammography including detection of clustered microcalcifications and densities. A microcalcification detector is provided wherein individual detections are rank ordered and classified, and one of the features for classification is derived using a multilayer perceptron. A density detector is provided including an iterative, dynamic region growing module with embedded subsystem for rank ordering and classification of a best subset of candidate masks. Features are computed from a detection on an input image by providing first and second regions on the input image corresponding to areas inside and outside the detection, measurements are computed based on values derived from the two regions, a standard deviation is computed for the measurements in each region, and a feature for the detection is computed using a Bauer-Fisher ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Qualia Computing, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Rogers, Kenneth W. Bauer, Michael J. Collins, Martin P. DeSimio, Richard A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6757414
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for segmenting a left ventricular epicardium in a magnetic resonance image. Image shape, gradients, and intensity are used to locate the epicardial boundary. Specifically, an intensity map corresponding to acquired data is produced and refined so as to produce a classification map having variations in intensity. The variations, representing the epicardial boundary, are detected and the epicardial boundary may then be clearly identified in the MR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew W. Turek, Gopal B. Avinash, William J. Bridge
  • Patent number: 6754393
    Abstract: Encoding efficiency is enhanced by actively combining a plurality of encoding methods. A picture element memory receives and stores picture elements within a predetermined range. A mode determinator selects an encoding mode based upon a reference picture element. A first encoding section and a second encoding section predicts the value of the encoded picture element, determines whether the prediction is correct, and then encodes the value of the encoding picture element based on the determination result and outputs a codeword for the encoding picture element. An encoding controller selectively operates the first encoding section and the second encoding section based upon one of the specific encoding modes and the other encoding mode other than the specific encoding mode selected by the mode determinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kimura, Ikuro Ueno, Taich Nagiya, Masayuki Yoshida, Fumitaka Ono, Narihiro Matoba, Kunio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6754365
    Abstract: A method of detecting an embedded message in a digital image, the embedded message being embedded in periodic blocks in the image, including the steps of: selecting a first area in the digital image; selecting a second area in the digital image; performing a correlation between the first and the second image areas; and if the correlation exceeds an predetermined threshold value at at least one pixel location, producing a signal indicating the existence of embedded message in the digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Wen, Chris W. Honsinger
  • Patent number: 6754374
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing images with regions representing target objects involves registering a first and a second image, where the second image contains a target object. The method comprises the steps of identifying a region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing the target object, transforming the second image to reduce the size of the region containing the target object, and registering the first image and the second image. Another embodiment comprises the steps of identifying a region in the second image containing one or more image data elements representing a target object. After identifying this region, the first and second images are registered using a first transform component that filters one or more data elements in the second image that are contained in the identified region, and a second transform component that includes one or more data elements in the second image that are contained in the identified region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael I. Miller, Ulf Grenander, Sarang C. Joshi
  • Patent number: 6754364
    Abstract: Methods and systems for fingerprinting digital data are described. In the described embodiment, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology is utilized. Unique fingerprinting words are defined where each includes at least one spread sequence. In the described embodiment, a fingerprinting word comprises a plurality symbols, called “&Ggr; symbols.” Each &Ggr; symbol is composed of 2c-1 blocks, where c represents the number of colluders that are desired to be protected against. Each block contains d spread sequence chips. The fingerprinting words are assigned to a plurality of entities to which protected objects embedded with the fingerprinting words are to be distributed. To ascertain the identity of an entity that has altered its unique fingerprinting word, the relative weight of each block is computed in accordance with a defined function and blocks whose weights satisfy a predetermined relationship are “clipped” to a so-called working range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Yacov Yacobi
  • Patent number: 6754372
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting the movement of objects which consists in computing the differences in each pixel of image signals into n-ary signals and carrying out a step of region growth and breaking it down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: France Telecom S.A.
    Inventor: Michael Collobert
  • Patent number: 6751339
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a texture which best matches an image (100) are provided. The method involves determination of an image feature value from the image (100), and determination of corresponding texture feature values for each member of a set of textures (106, 112). Thereafter the image feature value is compared with the corresponding texture feature values of each member of the set of textures (106, 112) to produce comparison values, from which the best comparison value is selected according to a rule. This best comparison value determines the coresponding desired matching texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: John Richard Windle, Jing Wu