Patents Examined by Mikhail Itskovich
  • Patent number: 9420308
    Abstract: A scaled motion search section can be used in a video processing device that processes a video input signal that includes a plurality of pictures. The scaled motion search section includes a downscaling module that downscales the plurality of pictures to generate a plurality of downscaled pictures. A reduced-scale motion search module generates a plurality of motion vector candidates at a downscaled resolution, based on the plurality of downscaled pictures. The reduced-scale motion search module includes a column buffer that stores a column of reference data and generates the plurality of motion vector candidates based on a parallel processing of the column of reference data for a group of adjacent macroblock pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: VIXS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Young
  • Patent number: 9412149
    Abstract: A method of processing an image includes receiving an omnidirectional image. An instruction is received with a processor to process the omnidirectional image to generate a rectangular image, in response to user input via a display on the omnidirectional image. At least one intermediate image is generated showing a transition between the omnidirectional image and the rectangular image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Suzuki, Ryoji Ogino
  • Patent number: 9412156
    Abstract: A data structure defining a high dynamic range image comprises a tone map having a reduced dynamic range and HDR information. The high dynamic range image can be reconstructed from the tone map and the HDR information. The data structure can be backwards compatible with legacy hardware or software viewers. The data structure may comprise a JFIF file having the tone map encoded as a JPEG image with the HDR information in an application extension or comment field of the JFIF file, or a MPEG file having the tone map encoded as a MPEG image with the HDR information in a video or audio channel of the MPEG file. Apparatus and methods for encoding or decoding the data structure may apply pre- or post correction to compensate for lossy encoding of the high dynamic range information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory John Ward, Maryann Simmons
  • Patent number: 9386322
    Abstract: A scalable video encoding method of performing encoding by predicting an upper-layer signal having a relatively high spatial resolution by means of interpolation using an immediately-lower-layer signal having a relatively low spatial resolution. The method computes a first weighting coefficient for each image area of a predetermined unit size in a search for estimating a motion between an encoding target image area in an upper layer and a reference image area, where the first weighting coefficient is computed based on a brightness variation between an image area, which belongs to an immediately-lower layer and has the same spatial position as the encoding target image area, and the reference image area; and performs a motion estimation using a signal which is obtained by correcting a decoded signal of the reference image area by the first weighting coefficient and functions as an estimated signal in the motion estimation, so as to compute a motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Hayase, Yukihiro Bandoh, Seishi Takamura, Kazuto Kamikura, Yoshiyuki Yashima
  • Patent number: 9384543
    Abstract: A method of characterizing a person's skin imperfections uses a digital color image-taking device to take at least one digital image of an area of skin including at least one imperfection to be characterized. An apparatus for characterizing the imperfections of the skin and a method for measuring the effectiveness of a treatment for skin imperfections use an active cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical agent and further measure the effectiveness of a staining method aiming to attenuate or mask skin imperfections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LVMH RECHERCHE
    Inventors: Sandrine Stephan, Delphine Pelle de Queral
  • Patent number: 9380313
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter describes a new pattern description that can be part of an SEI message or a parameter set, and can be used to describe a temporal picture coding structure and associated bitrates and frame rates. The knowledge of the coding structure can benefit transraters, bitstream extractors, and digital video recorders. Decoders can utilize the coding structure information for example, to decode pictures in parallel, using multiple threads/cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VIDYO, INC.
    Inventors: Danny Hong, Jill Boyce
  • Patent number: 9378561
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a decoder circuit, a memory circuit and a processing circuit. The decoder circuit may be configured to generate a first intermediate signal having a plurality of coefficients of a target layer and a plurality of coefficients of a base layer, in response to an input bitstream. The memory circuit may be configured to (i) store the first intermediate signal and (ii) present (a) a second intermediate signal comprising the plurality of coefficients of the target layer or (b) a third intermediate signal comprising the plurality of coefficients of the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ambarella, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie D. Kohn, Ellen M. Lee, Peter Verplaetse
  • Patent number: 9271008
    Abstract: A video encoding apparatus and a corresponding method for applying orthogonal transformation to a prediction error signal between a video signal of an encoding target area and a predicted signal for the video signal, and quantizing an obtained orthogonal transformation coefficient by using a preset quantization step size so as to encode the coefficient. A prediction error power which is a power of the prediction error signal is computed. For input information such as the computed prediction error power, the preset quantization step size, and an upper limit of an amount of code generated for the encoding target area, it is determined whether or not an amount of code generated when performing quantization using the preset quantization step size exceeds the upper limit. An encoding process is changed based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Shimizu, Yasuyuki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9175952
    Abstract: A shape measurement method for a tire includes: detecting an outer surface shape data and an inner surface shape of the tire from image data of the outer surface and the inner surface; subjecting irregularities along the tire circumferential direction around the tire in the outer surface shape data and in the inner surface shape data to Fourier transformation to take out primary waveform components respectively; adjusting the tire circumferential positions of both of the waveform components to adjust the tire circumferential positions thereof; adjusting the tire radial direction cross section positions of the outer surface shape data and the inner surface shape data from information about the placement angles and the positions of the first camera and the second camera; and synthesizing the outer surface shape data and the inner surface shape data based on the adjusted tire circumferential positions and the tire radial direction cross section positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinobu Mizutani, Daisuke Kato, Akira Togii, Kenichi Okude
  • Patent number: 9161016
    Abstract: A image processing method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a parallax amount calculating step of calculating a parallax amount of each pixel of a plurality of viewpoint images constituting a multi-viewpoint image; and a parallax amount correcting step of correcting the parallax amount of each pixel, based on a zoom value of the multi-viewpoint image and the calculated parallax amount of each pixel, in such a manner that a different in parallax amount corresponding to an object distance is kept unchanged even if the zoom value is changed, when a parallax amount of each pixel of at least a portion of the multi-viewpoint image is corrected by image processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youichi Sawachi
  • Patent number: 9146312
    Abstract: Pre-processing is applied to a raw VideoSAR (or similar near-video rate) product to transform the image frame sequence into a product that resembles more closely the type of product for which conventional video codecs are designed, while sufficiently maintaining utility and visual quality of the product delivered by the codec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby G. Rush, Robert Riley
  • Patent number: 9128036
    Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging system includes a first light source that emits a first wavelength and a second light source that emits a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The system further includes a camera having a lens, a beam splitter downstream of the lens and a pair of sensors downstream of the beam splitter. The lens is configured to focus the first and second wavelengths onto separate ones of the sensors, and the beam splitter allows one of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to pass through the beam splitter, and the other of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to be reflected off the beam splitter. One of the pair of sensors is configured to receive the first wavelength to produce a first image and the other of the sensors is configured to receive the second wavelength to produce a second image different from the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel John Holmes
  • Patent number: 9118823
    Abstract: An image generation apparatus comprises: a first-image obtaining unit adapted to obtain an image obtained by causing an image capturing unit to capture the grip unit controlled so as to place the target object in one predetermined orientation of a plurality of predetermined orientations with respect to the image capturing unit and the target object in the one predetermined orientation as a grip-state image; a second-image obtaining unit adapted to obtain, as a non-grip-state image corresponding to the one predetermined orientation, an image of the grip unit that does not grip the target object and is placed in a predetermined orientation coincident with the orientation controlled to place the target object in the one predetermined orientation; and an image generation unit adapted to generate a target object image including only the target object for the one predetermined orientation based on a difference between the grip-state image and the non-grip-state image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Masakazu Matsugu
  • Patent number: 9113172
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter describes a new pattern description that can be part of an SEI message or a parameter set, and can be used to describe a temporal picture coding structure and associated bitrates and frame rates. The knowledge of the coding structure can benefit transraters, bitstream extractors, and digital video recorders. Decoders can utilize the coding structure information for example, to decode pictures in parallel, using multiple threads/cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Vidyo, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Hong, Jill Boyce
  • Patent number: 9094608
    Abstract: A virtual director's viewfinder includes: a housing with a form factor of a director's viewfinder; at least one mechanical viewfinder control connected to the housing, the virtual director's viewfinder encoding a setting of the mechanical viewfinder control into digital setting information; at least one communication device for communication of the digital setting information to a computer system, and for receiving from the computer system an image generated using the digital setting information; and a display device that presents at least the image received from the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Wooley, Spencer Reynolds, Michael Sanders
  • Patent number: 9025016
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for audible facial recognition. In one implementation, an apparatus for aiding a visually impaired user to identify individuals is provided. The apparatus may include a portable image sensor configured to be worn by the visually impaired user and to capture real-time image data from an environment of the user. The apparatus may also include at least one portable processor device configured to determine an existence of face-identifying information in the real-time image data, and access stored facial information and audible indicators. The at least one portable processor device may also be configured to compare the face-identifying information with the stored facial information, and identify a match. Based on the match, the at least one portable processor may be configured to cause an audible indicator to be announced to the visually impaired user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 9001187
    Abstract: An optical imaging system having a folded optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: CapsoVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Cook Wilson, Mark Wang
  • Patent number: 8964855
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus receives information used to identify video data in which an error occurs on a communication path, and changes a coding mode in which data coding is performed by referring to video data in other frame so that video data coded by referring to the video data corresponding to the identification information is coded in a coding mode in which data coding is performed without referring to the video data in the other frame. Further, the transmission apparatus codes video data in the changed coding mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8897364
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for decoding a video sequence encoded according to a predictive format, which video sequence includes predicted images containing encoded residual data representing differences between the respective predicted image and a respective reference image in the video sequence. The method of the invention comprises, applying to a current image which contains at least one area which is to be reconstructed, the steps of: obtaining (E605) projected residual data for said at least one area to be reconstructed, from residual data of at least one image predicted from the current image, corresponding to a temporal projection of at least part of the at least one area to be reconstructed onto said at least one image predicted from the current image; and reconstructing (E606) at least part of said at least one area using the projected residual data obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hervé Le Floch, Cédric Riou
  • Patent number: 8878934
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image display device that allows intuitive guidance of a vehicle body based on an assisting image displaced in a screen. The image display device includes an image processing section for displaying a captured image of a rear camera on a monitor. This image processing section includes a synthesis processing unit for displaying a perspective image providing a perspective in superposition over the captured image being displayed on the monitor and a display mode setting unit that realizes selection between a viewing field-fixed mode for displaying the perspective image in superposition with the perspective image being fixed within a viewing field of the monitor and a road surface-fixed mode for displaying the perspective image in superposition with allowing scrolling thereof in unison with a road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Ikeda, Noboru Nagamine, Tomoyuki Matsuba