Patents Examined by Nathan Bloom
  • Patent number: 9684849
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image sequence acquisition section that acquires an image sequence that includes a plurality of constituent images; and a processing section that performs an image summarization process that deletes some of the plurality of constituent images included in the image sequence to generate a summary image sequence, the processing section detecting an observation target area from each of the plurality of constituent images, selecting a reference image and a determination target image from the plurality of constituent images, calculating deformation information about a deformation estimation target area included in the reference image and the deformation estimation target area included in the determination target image, and determining whether or not the determination target image can be deleted based on the observation target area included in the reference image, the observation target area included in the determination target image, and the deformation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 9654654
    Abstract: A server is configured to identify items of visual content; assign the identified items to clusters; assign the identified items, of a particular cluster, to layers; generate a document that includes information regarding the identified items arranged according to the clusters and the layers; and provide the document. The document may include, for the particular cluster, a first item, corresponding to one of the identified items assigned to a first layer, and second items, corresponding to multiple ones of the identified items assigned to a second layer. The size of the first item may be greater than a size of each of the second items. The first item may be presented on top of the second items, within the document, to at least partially cover the second items, where at least one of the second items is at least partially visible within the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yushi Jing, Wei Cai
  • Patent number: 9652843
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inspecting a specimen are disclosed. An inspection tool is used at one or more operating modes to obtain images of a plurality of training regions of a specimen, and the training regions are identified as defect-free. Three or more basis training images are derived from the images of the training regions. A classifier is formed based on the three or more basis training images. The inspection system is used at the one or more operating modes to obtain images of a plurality of test regions of a specimen. Three or more basis test images are derived from to the test regions. The classifier is applied to the three or more basis test images to find defects in the test regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Abdurrahman Sezginer, Gang Pan, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 9613250
    Abstract: A method for biometrical identification of a user includes receiving, as an input, biometrical properties of a user, and encoding the biometrical properties. The encoded biometrical properties are checked with corresponding provided biometrical user information, Based on a result of the check, the user is identified and a response of the identification is outputted. Prior to encoding, the biometrical properties are encrypted, The encoded biometrical properties are provided as a biometrical challenge. The biometrical challenge is decrypted for performing the check. A verification of the response is provided for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ghassan Karame
  • Patent number: 9607244
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing device that includes: a storage unit that holds model information including information indicating a plurality of feature points of a detection object; a correspondence-relationship determination unit that extracts a plurality of feature points included in an input image as a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image and that determines a correspondence relationship between an extracted plurality of feature points and a plurality of feature points of the model information; and a position estimating unit that estimates, based on the correspondence relationship, one or a plurality of second positions of the input image corresponding to one or a plurality of first positions set relatively to the detection object. The one or plurality of first positions is included in a point, a line, or a region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Minato, Yutaka Kato
  • Patent number: 9600888
    Abstract: A plurality of processes for emphasizing a stereoscopic effect of an image is supposed and a plurality of stereoscopic effect emphasis processes is integrated in a mode suitable for the image. An image processing device is provided with a stereoscopic effect emphasis processing unit and an integration processing unit. The stereoscopic effect emphasis processing unit executes a plurality of stereoscopic effect emphasis processes on an input image. The integration processing unit integrates results of a plurality of stereoscopic effect emphasis processes according to an integration coefficient used when a plurality of stereoscopic effect emphasis processes is integrated obtained by analyzing the input image. This may be further provided with an image analyzing unit which analyzes the input image to generate the integration coefficient used when a plurality of stereoscopic effect emphasis processes is integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuro Kawai, Masami Ogata
  • Patent number: 9591282
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing method including acquiring an original image and a disparity map, the disparity map indicating distribution of disparity values associated with respective pixels in the original image, causing a processor to decide a dynamic range of disparity on the basis of the acquired original image and the acquired disparity map, and converting the disparity map in a manner that each disparity in the disparity map is distributed within the decided dynamic range of the disparity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhide Hyodo, Takanori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9582716
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for iris based biometric recognition. The method includes receiving an image from an image sensor and determining whether the received image includes an iris. The steps of receiving and determining are repeated until the received image includes an iris. Responsive to determining that a received image includes an iris, iris information corresponding to such received image is compared with stored iris information corresponding to at least one iris and a match decision or a non-match decision is rendered based on an output of the comparison. The invention additionally provides a system and computer program product configured for iris based biometric recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Delta ID Inc.
    Inventor: Salil Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 9542737
    Abstract: Image inspecting apparatus compares first image data created as data representing a reference-image acting as an inspecting reference with second image data created as data representing an inspection-image acting as a target to automatically extract a difference point between first and second image data, and includes a storage means for the reference- and inspection-image, an image processing means for establishing correspondences between part of stored reference-image as first image data with part of stored target image as second image data at a pixel level to perform an image matching processing of them, a difference detecting means for comparing image-matched first and second image data to detect a difference between first and second image data, image producing means for comparing difference with a plurality of threshold values to produce error representing image data at each threshold value, and inspecting process using produced error representing image data at each threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: PROSPER CREATIVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kawabata, Akira Kijima
  • Patent number: 9530195
    Abstract: A method is performed to refocus a digital photographic image comprising a plurality of pixels. In the method, a set of images is computed corresponding to the digital photographic image and focused at different depths. Refocus depths for at least a subset of the pixels are identified and stored in a look-up table. At least a portion of the digital photographic image is refocused at a desired refocus depth determined from the look-up table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Ren Ng
  • Patent number: 9524546
    Abstract: A reference density profile is generated in an outer circumference direction of a pipe having a reference welded portion on the basis of a reference fluoroscopic image generated from a radiation detection medium when a radiation source is disposed on a central axis of the pipe. A weld inspection density profile is generated in an outer circumference direction of a pipe having an inspection target welded portion on the basis of a weld inspection fluoroscopic image. On the basis of the reference density profile and the weld inspection density profile, density correction information is calculated. The density correction information is for correcting density irregularities in the weld inspection fluoroscopic image in the outer circumference direction of the pipe. On the basis of the density correction information, the density irregularities in the weld inspection fluoroscopic image are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Nagashima, Yasunori Narukawa
  • Patent number: 9495736
    Abstract: Image inspecting apparatus compares first image data created as data representing a reference-image acting as an inspecting reference with second image data created as data representing an inspection-image acting as a target to automatically extract a difference point between first and second image data, and includes a storage means for the reference-and inspection-image, an image processing means for establishing correspondences between part of stored reference-image as first image data with part of stored target image as second image data at a pixel level to perform an image matching processing of them, a difference detecting means for comparing image-matched first and second image data to detect a difference between first and second image data, image producing means for comparing difference with a plurality of threshold values to produce error representing image data at each threshold value, and inspecting process using produced error representing image data at each threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PROSPER CREATIVE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kawabata, Akira Kijima
  • Patent number: 9495620
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media related to a technique for providing handwriting input functionality on a user device. A handwriting recognition module is trained to have a repertoire comprising multiple non-overlapping scripts and capable of recognizing tens of thousands of characters using a single handwriting recognition model. The handwriting input module provides real-time, stroke-order and stroke-direction independent handwriting recognition. User interfaces for providing the handwriting input functionality are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jannes G. A. Dolfing, Karl M. Groethe, Ryan S. Dixon, Jerome R. Bellegarda
  • Patent number: 9449392
    Abstract: An estimator training method and a pose estimating method using a depth image are disclosed, in which the estimator training method may train an estimator configured to estimate a pose of an object, based on an association between synthetic data and real data, and the pose estimating method may estimate the pose of the object using the trained estimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Imperial Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Joon Han, Danhang Tang, Tae Kyun Kim, Seung Ju Han, Byung In Yoo, Chang Kyu Choi, Alykhan Tejani, Hyung Jin Chang
  • Patent number: 9430824
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inspecting a photolithographic reticle are disclosed. A reticle inspection tool is used at one or more operating modes to obtain images of a plurality of training regions of a reticle, and the training regions are identified as defect-free. Three or more basis training images are derived from the images of the training regions. A classifier is formed based on the three or more basis training images. The inspection system is used at the one or more operating modes to obtain images of a plurality of test regions of a reticle. Three or more basis test images are derived from to the test regions. The classifier is applied to the three or more basis test images to find defects in the test regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Abdurrahman Sezginer, Gang Pan, Bing Li
  • Patent number: 9430841
    Abstract: There is provided a defect inspection method capable of detecting a crack with high accuracy. The defect inspection method includes the steps of: obtaining a shot image comprising pixels; and scanning the shot image in predetermined directions, and assigning a high evaluation value to a pixel M for each scanning direction when the luminance of the pixel M is lower than the luminances of first adjacent pixels K, O, located on both sides of the pixel M in the scanning direction and, in addition, the luminance of each of second adjacent pixels C, W, located on both sides of the pixel M in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, is lower than the luminances of third adjacent pixels A, E or U, Y located on both sides of the second adjacent pixel in the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO WELD CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9430842
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods fusing material classification with spatio-spectral edge detection in spectral imagery can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, a classifier can be applied to neighboring pixels in data for an image to determine, based on material changes, if the neighboring pixels are correlated to two different materials with respect to a candidate location for an edge. Results of the classification can be used with a spatio-spectral mask to accept or reject the candidate location as an edge. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Majeed M. Hayat, Sanjay Krishna, Sebastian Eugenio Godoy
  • Patent number: 9424630
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting and removing a false contour, a method and an apparatus for verifying whether a pixel is included in a contour, and a method and an apparatus for calculating simplicity are provided. The method for detecting and removing the false contour includes: verifying whether a pixel of an input video is included in a contour; calculating simplicity of the pixel; determining whether the pixel is included in a false contour based on the simplicity and based on whether the pixel is included in the contour; and removing the false contour from the input video via smoothing with respect to the false contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il Soon Lim, Seung Sin Lee, Young Ran Han
  • Patent number: 9412158
    Abstract: A machine vision system includes a computer with one or more processors and software that has a plurality of tool routines each performing a different image analysis function. A machine vision application program is created by selecting certain ones of the plurality of tool routines to analyze the image. A maximum number of processors on the computer is designated as available for executing a machine vision application, wherein the maximum number may be less than the total number of processors on the computer. When the machine vision application program operates execution of each tool routine is limited to using simultaneously no more than the maximum number of processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Adam Davis, Adam Wagman
  • Patent number: 9406116
    Abstract: Method of measuring a point cloud of an object includes obtaining the point cloud of the object from a storage device of the electronic device. Based on the point cloud, a triangular mesh surface is constructed and triangles of the triangular mesh surface are determined. According to the triangles, a reference plane is determined. According to the reference plane, a three dimensional (3D) object coordinate system is established. 3D object coordinates of points in the point cloud are calculated in the 3D object coordinate system. Measurement elements of a profile of the point cloud are determined and points in the point cloud corresponding to each of the measurement elements are determined. According to the 3D object coordinates of the determined points corresponding to each of the measurement elements, each of the measurement elements are fit. A distance and an angle of two fit measurement elements are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Zijilai Innovative Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Xin-Yuan Wu, Yi Liu