Patents Examined by Nathan Bloom
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Patent number: 9405994Abstract: Methods for characterizing two-dimensional concept drawings are disclosed. The concept drawings comprise cross-sections intersecting at cross-hairs. The method comprises: determining, for each cross-section: a plane on which the cross-section is located, the plane having a normal vector in a three-dimensional coordinate system; and, for each cross-hair on the cross-section, a tangent vector in the three-dimensional coordinate system which is tangent to the cross-section at the cross-hair. For each cross-hair comprising ith and jth intersecting cross-sections, one or more constraints are satisfied, the constraints comprising: the normal vector ni of the plane on which the ith cross-section is located is at least approximately orthogonal to the normal vector nj of the plane on which the jth cross-section is located; and the tangent vector tij to the ith cross-section at the cross-hair is at least approximately orthogonal to the tangent vector tji to the jth cross-section at the cross-hair.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignees: The University of British Columbia, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria), The Governing Council of the University of TorontoInventors: Cloud Yunfei Shao, Adrien Bousseau, Alla Sheffer, Karansher Singh
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Patent number: 9400996Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting, selecting, and displaying an image or image set in a network based environment are described. The systems and methods can collect multiple images for any given item from multiple sources, select a desired image (or set of images) that best depicts that item, and then display that selected image (or image set) in the network based environment. The desired image (or image set) that best depicts the item can be selected using any number or combination of pre-selected criteria. By using the pre-selected criteria, the process needs no manual intervention, and can therefore be automated or semi-automated to save both time and cost.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Toby R. Latin-Stoermer, Abhoy Bhaktwatsalam, Randy C. Chung, Chi Ming Kan
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Patent number: 9400939Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for relating corresponding points in images with an overlapping scene. An example method includes generating transformed images of a target image using different image transformations for each of transformed images. Texture descriptors are extracted for feature points in the transformed images and a reference image. Matched feature points are identified and inliers from matched feature points are selected. An aligning transformation is generated using the inliers for at least one of the transformed images. A panorama image is created with the target image and reference image after the images are aligned.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Chung-Ching Lin, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti, John R. Smith
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Patent number: 9396577Abstract: Embodiments relate to selecting textures for a user-supplied photographic image in image-based three-dimensional modeling. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes a method positioning a geographic structure using user-supplied photographic images of a geographic structure. In the method, a user-supplied photographic images inputted by a user are received. Embedded camera parameters that specify a position of the cameras when each user-supplied photographic image was taken and are embedded in each user-supplied photographic image are read. An estimated location of the geographic structure is automatically determined based on the embedded camera parameters in each user-supplied photographic image. Each user-supplied photographic image to be texture mapped to the three-dimensional model is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Brian Brewington, David Hawkey, Bryce Stout
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Patent number: 9390171Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of archiving and optimizing lectures, presentations and other captured video for playback, particularly for blind and low vision individuals. A digital imaging device captures a preselected field of view that is subject to periodic change such as a whiteboard in a classroom. A sequence of frames is captured. Frames associated with additions or erasures to the whiteboard are identified. The Cartesian coordinates of the regions of these alterations within the frame are identified. When the presentation is played back, the regions that are altered are enlarged or masked to assist the low vision user. In another embodiment of the invention, the timing of the alterations segments the recorded audio into chapters so that the blind user can skip forward and backward to different sections of the presentation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Freedom Scientific, Inc.Inventors: Garald Lee Voorhees, Robert Steinberger, Ralph Ocampo
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Patent number: 9390310Abstract: Provided are a striped pattern image examination support device, method, and program. The device includes: image transformation element for transforming at least one of two striped pattern images so as to cause coordinates of charting points, which are points that correspond across the two striped pattern images, to match in a plurality of pairs of the charting points which are included in the two striped pattern images; intersecting point extraction element for calculating coordinates of intersecting points of stripes in the striped pattern images and line segments each of which connects two of the charting points in the striped pattern images; charting diagram display element for displaying the two striped pattern images after transformation by the image transformation element, and displaying figures representing charting points at positions corresponding to coordinates after the transformations of each of the charting points on the two striped pattern images.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, NEC SOFT, LTD.Inventors: Masanori Hara, Hiroaki Toyama
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Patent number: 9354606Abstract: Methodologies and systems for generating data that can be used to provide 3-D imaging for one or more viewers are described. In some implementations, images and depth information are obtained from objects. Processing systems are disclosed for producing from these images and depth information data that can be used by projectors to project images that appear in 3-D.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Integrity Applications IncorporatedInventor: James A. Georges, III
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Patent number: 9355338Abstract: A delivery device according to the present invention includes a learning image storage unit, a first recognition unit, a second recognition unit, and a registration unit. The learning image storage unit stores at least one piece of learning image. The first recognition unit recognizes a recognition target image using the learning image stored in the learning image storage unit. The second recognition unit recognizes the recognition target image with finer precision than that of the first recognition unit, when the first recognition unit fails to recognize the recognition target image. When the second recognition unit succeeds in recognizing the recognition target image, the registration unit registers information on the successfully recognized recognition target image in a storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATIONInventor: Masajiro Iwasaki
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Patent number: 9347765Abstract: The present invention relates to distributed computing system to acquire, process, and display OCT images at real-time frame rates.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Volcano CorporationInventors: Nathaniel J. Kemp, Austin Broderick McElroy, Joseph P. Piercy
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Methods and apparatus for locating lines in images and using located lines to make image adjustments
Patent number: 9336455Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying lines in an image are described. An image to be processed is divided into a plurality of tiles, and processing is performed on a per tile basis. Lines are identified in tiles and a weight is assigned to each line based on among other things, the length of the line. Quantized first and second parameter values, e.g., values defining where lines enters and leave an area, are used in defining the identified lines. A set of lines is selected based on the weight information and output or used in image processing the image including the lines.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Accusoft CorporationInventors: William Douglas Withers, Stephen A. Martucci -
Patent number: 9330318Abstract: Important information about an object is detected using less arithmetic processing. An object detection unit generates an edge image from a color image. The object detection unit evaluates symmetry of an image included in the edge image. The object detection unit identifies a symmetry center pixel forming an object having symmetry. The object detection detects an object width for each symmetry center pixel. The object detection unit identifies the width of the object in the vertical direction based on the width of the symmetry center pixels in the vertical direction, and identifies the width of the object in the horizontal direction based on the object width identified for each symmetry center pixel.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: MegaChips CorporationInventor: Hiromu Hasegawa
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Patent number: 9311548Abstract: Handling data for a photographic image, includes detecting a reference pattern in the data, detecting at least one sticker in the data, determining an action associated with the at least one sticker, and performing the action on the data. The reference pattern may be a uniform grid pattern of dots preprinted on paper. A paper type may be determined according to the reference image. Determining an action associated with the at least one sticker may depend, at least in part, on the paper type. Detecting a particular one of the stickers may cause data for the photographic image to be stored in a particular location. Detecting a particular one of the stickers may cause data for the photographic images to be assigned particular tags used for organizing and searching.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Evernote CorporationInventors: Phil Constantinou, Chris Dahl, John W. Hoye, Jamie Hull, Gabriel Campodonico, Stephen James White, Alexander Pashintsev
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Patent number: 9311713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignees: 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
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Patent number: 9311695Abstract: An image processing method is provided including the steps of generating a first band image through high-pass filter processing to a source image having an image of a subject falling thereon; generating a reduction image through reduction of the source image; performing low-pass filter processing to the reduction image to generate a low-pass image; magnifying the low-pass image to generate a magnified low-pass image; generating a second band image based on the source image, the first band image, and the magnified low-pass image; generating a third band image through performing of band-pass filter processing to the reduction image; and performing image processing to the source image with each of the band images.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventor: Wataru Takahashi
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Patent number: 9239954Abstract: The disclosure provides an image processing device, image processing method, scanner and storage medium. The image processing device is used for tracing a boundary of an object image in an image, the boundary being continuous and the rate of change in slope between adjacent points on the boundary being slow. The image processing device includes: a boundary estimation unit, adapted to estimate the location of the boundary of the object image; an interfering gradient processing unit, adapted to process an interfering gradient near the estimated boundary, so as to reduce the interfering gradient or remove the interfering gradient from the image; and a boundary tracing unit, adapted to trace the boundary in the image having the interfering gradient processed. By using the technique of the disclosure, the accuracy of tracing a boundary of an image is improved significantly.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Pan Pan, Yuan He, Jun Sun, Satoshi Naoi
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Patent number: 9202265Abstract: A PSF cost function used for determining a PSF kernel (438) of at least a portion of an image (16) includes (i) a first fidelity term having a first direction derivative, (ii) a first fidelity term weight for the first fidelity term, (iii) a second fidelity term having a second direction derivative, and (iv) a second fidelity term weight for the second fidelity term. Another PSF cost function for determining a PSF kernel (638) includes (i) a first fidelity term with a first derivative in a dominant edge direction (d), and (ii) a second fidelity term having a second derivative in a perpendicular direction(p) to the dominant edge direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Radka Tezaur
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Patent number: 9202282Abstract: The present invention discloses a boundary extraction method and apparatus, the method including: a gradient estimation step of estimating a gradient of each pixel in a captured image; a gradient adjustment step of adjusting, by enhancing a gradient of a target boundary of an object contained in the captured image and weakening a gradient of a noise boundary, the estimated gradient, so that the adjusted gradient is considered as a current gradient; and a boundary extraction step of extracting a boundary of the object based on the current gradient. According to the embodiments of the invention, in a case of using a non-contact imaging device to capture an image, it is possible to more accurately extract a boundary of an object contained in the captured image.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Yuan He, Jun Sun, Satoshi Naoi
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Patent number: 9196019Abstract: A color image is enhanced in the following fashion. A saturation detector (SDT) detects a degree of color saturation (LC, CC) that occurs in an image area (SP). A filter arrangement (DE1, DE2, DE3) filters at least one spatial detail in the image area to a degree that depends on the degree of color saturation. This allows an improvement of perceptual quality of color images.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: TP VISION HOLDING B.V.Inventor: Gerard De Haan
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Patent number: 9196025Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a conditional probability calculating element calculates the probability of existence of an attribute as to each region in an input degraded image, for each attribute. Optimization function determining element uses a conditional probability calculated by the conditional probability calculating element with regard to each region in the degraded image for each attribute, a-priori knowledge defined as a conditional probability of appearance of an attribute in a region of a candidate of a restored image when there is the attribute in the region, and the input degraded image to determine an optimization function using the candidate of the restored image as a variable and yielding a smaller value as the candidate of the restored image is closer to a true restored image. Restored image determining element adopts the candidate of the restored image with which the optimization function yields a minimum value as the restored image.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Shibata, Akihiko Iketani, Shuji Senda
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Patent number: 9177365Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Il Soon Lim, Seung Sin Lee, Young Ran Han