Patents Examined by Richard Carter
  • Patent number: 9927605
    Abstract: A certain material irregularly expressed in an observation area is effectively observed. An observing apparatus includes a first observing unit performing a time lapse shooting of a predetermined observation area, a first discriminating unit discriminating whether or not a first material is expressed in the observation area based on an image obtained by the first observing unit, and a second observing unit starting a time lapse shooting relating to a part where the first material is expressed at a timing when the first material is expressed in the observation area, in which a shooting frequency of the time lapse shooting by the second observing unit is higher than a shooting frequency of the time lapse shooting by the first observing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kii
  • Patent number: 9924191
    Abstract: A video coder is configured to apply a separable bilinear interpolation filter when determining reference blocks as part of advanced residual prediction. Particularly, the video coder may determine, based on a motion vector of a current block in a current picture of video data, a location of a first reference block in a first reference picture. The video coder may also determine a location of a second reference block in a second reference picture. The video coder may apply a separable bilinear interpolation filter to samples of the second reference picture to determine samples of the second reference block. The video coder may apply the separable bilinear interpolation filter to samples of a third reference picture to determine samples of a third reference block. Each respective sample of a predictive block may be equal to a respective sample of the first reference block plus a respective residual predictor sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ying Chen, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 9924184
    Abstract: Error detecting and protection innovations for video decoders are described. For example, in a multithreaded video decoder, a picture extent discovery (PED) task detects an error in a video bitstream which corrupts a picture. The PED task then determines any PED sub-stage which have been completed for the picture, and based on this determination, performs error-handing PED operations. In another example, an entropy decoding (ED) task checks validity on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis using a redundant buffer to avoid overflows. Additionally, error recovery innovations are described which facilitate playback of a video bit stream at an arbitrary position. For example, a video decoder chooses a picture in the bit stream after the arbitrary position at which to begin decoding based on a determination of acceptable recovery time and/or acceptable picture quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yongjun Wu, Eric S. Christoffersen, Naveen Thumpudi
  • Patent number: 9918074
    Abstract: A display system creating three dimensional (3D) imagery for a viewer in a viewing space wearing 3D stereo glasses. The 3D stereo glasses have first and second lens passing colored light in first and second ranges of wavelengths. The display system includes a 3D mural element with a display surface facing the viewing space and a light receiving surface opposite the display surface. The display system includes a first wavelength multiplex visualization (WMV) light source outputting a first light stream onto the light receiving surface, and the first light stream has a wavelength in the first range of wavelengths. The display system includes a second WMV light source outputting a second light stream onto the light receiving surface, and the second light stream has a wavelength in the second range of wavelengths. WMV light sources may be directed onto 3D surfaces and props in the viewing space providing 3D effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Thomas Tracey Tait, Mark A. Reichow, Steven T. Kosakura
  • Patent number: 9912947
    Abstract: A system and method for quality restoration filtering is described that can be used either in conjunction with video coding, or standalone for postprocessing. It uses wiener filtering approach in conjunction with an efficient codebook representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Atul Puri, Daniel Socek
  • Patent number: 9903852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for non-destructive judgment of pearl quality by measuring the ultraviolet-visible reflectance spectrum and/or ultraviolet-visible fluorescence spectrum of a pearl or pearl shell to be inspected and comparing the values obtained with those preliminarily measured for a normal pearl or pearl shell. The present invention also relates to a non-destructive inspection apparatus of pearl quality. According to the present invention, the quality of the aimed pearl or pearl shell can be easily and rapidly judged under a non-destructive condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kiyohito Nagai, Junichi Hiramatsu, Yasunori Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 9900549
    Abstract: Image data is accurately resized in real time by downscaling. An image signal generating apparatus includes a parameter generator that dynamically generates a parameter PM and an image signal generator that repeats processing of generating an output image signal Q in response to each sampling signal B. Each parameter includes a division ratio parameter DP. The division ratio parameter DP corresponds to a ratio of a second time period Tb and a third time period Tc other than the second time period Tb. The second time period Tb is a time interval until the generation of a sampling signal Bn in a first time period Ta until input of an immediate timing signal Ak+1 since input of a last timing signal Ak. The image signal generator repeatedly generates a first weighted signal and a second weighted signal of the image signal in response to each sampling signal Bn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kamon, Kazuki Fukui, Kunio Muraji
  • Patent number: 9894341
    Abstract: Provided is a video providing method and a video playing method for a three-dimensional (3D) video, and an apparatus for performing the methods. The video providing method may transmit a reconstruction mode for reconstructing a low-resolution additional video having lower resolution than a high-resolution reference video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, KAI MEDIA CO., Hidea Solutions Co., Ltd., Kookmin University Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Kim, Joo Young Lee, Hyon Gon Choo, Jin Soo Choi, Jin Woong Kim, Suk Jin Hong, Jin Suk Kwak, Min Suk Lee, Dong Wook Kang, Kyeong Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 9872610
    Abstract: A reflected light image and a fluorescent light image of an observed region are acquired with an imaging system. A gradation level of the reflected light image is set on the basis of a feature value of the acquired reflected light image. The focus of the imaging system is controlled in accordance with the set gradation level. The fluorescent light image is corrected using a focus-controlled reflected light image of the observed region. Accordingly, the image of an object in the observed region from which the fluorescent light is generated is sharpened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9860521
    Abstract: An image processing system is provided, the image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure being configured to generate an accurate depth image even in a low light level by obtaining RGB images and/or IR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Seo Lee
  • Patent number: 9846928
    Abstract: An inspection method and apparatus comprising, a step of reflecting linearly-polarized light having a predetermined wavelength using an non-polarizing beam splitter after transmitting the linearly-polarized light through a half-wave plate, irradiating a sample with the linearly-polarized light having a polarization plane of a predetermined angle, causing the light reflected by the sample to be incident to an image capturing sensor through a lens, the non-polarizing beam splitter, and an analyzer, and acquiring an optical image of a pattern formed on the sample; acquiring a plurality of optical images by changing an angle of the analyzer or the half-wave plate, and obtaining an angle of the analyzer or the half-wave plate such that a value of (?/?A) becomes a minimum; and a step of inspecting whether a defect of the pattern exists, wherein the pattern is a repetitive pattern having a period at a resolution limit or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Riki Ogawa, Masatoshi Hirono
  • Patent number: 9840199
    Abstract: A vehicle image processing apparatus includes a group of cameras, a drawing unit that converts a captured image into an image viewed along a line of sight running from a predetermined position in a predetermined direction, a viewing-line-of-sight changing unit that detects whether a first line of sight is switched to a second line of sight, and a viewing-line-of-sight generation/updating unit that acquires parameters concerning the first and second lines of sight after detecting the switching and generates a parameter which is gradually changed from the parameter of the first line of sight to the parameter of the second line of sight. Moreover, the drawing unit generates, on the basis of the gradually changed parameter, an image which is gradually changed from an image viewed along the first line of sight to an image viewed along the second line of sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Asako Kitaura, Seiya Shimizu, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9838671
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an autostereoscopic screen for the simultaneous reproduction of at least two different images, in a manner such that each of these images is visible from at least one of different viewing zones, comprising a subpixel matrix, an optical element and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured, on the subpixel matrix, to define different subsets of subpixels such that each of the subsets forms a family of parallel strips and is assigned to at least one of the viewing zones, wherein the strips of the different subsets cyclically alternate, and to activate the subpixels in dependence on image data such that each of the images is reproduced on one of the subsets, wherein the optical element has a grating-like structure aligned according to the strips, in order to lead light departing from the subpixels of each of the subsets into the viewing zone assigned to this subgroup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: René de la Barré, Silvio Jurk
  • Patent number: 9824590
    Abstract: A lane departure warning system includes a front camera generating front image information of a vehicle. A speaker outputs a departure warning message, and a screen displays an image including user interface objects. A touch detector generates touch information by detecting a user's touch on the screen. A controller recognizes lanes at both sides of a current driving road by using the front image information, sets first and second warning lines based on the lanes, and controls the speaker to output the departure warning message if the vehicle reaches one of the first and second warning lines. The controller calculates a touch operation time by using the touch information and changes the first and second warning lines to third and fourth warning liens if the touch operation time is greater than a first reference time. A distance between the third and fourth warning lines is less than a distance between the first and second warning lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 9813731
    Abstract: A video compression framework based on parametric object and background compression is proposed. At the encoder, an embodiment detects objects and segments frames into regions corresponding to the foreground object and the background. The object and the background are individually encoded using separate parametric coding techniques. While the object is encoded using the projection of coefficients to the orthonormal basis of the learnt subspace (used for appearance based object tracking), the background is characterized using an auto-regressive (AR) process model. An advantage of the proposed schemes is that the decoder structure allows for simultaneous reconstruction of object and background, thus making it amenable to the new multi-thread/multi-processor architectures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Santanu Chaudhury, Mona Mathur, Aditya Khandelia, Subarna Tripathi, Brejesh Lall, Sumantra Dutta Roy, Saurabh Gorecha
  • Patent number: 9800824
    Abstract: In order to detect interlace errors in a video signal, one receives successive digitally coded frames, each frame comprising data for a field of a first type and data for a field of a second type (i.e. a top field and bottom field or vice versa). One then generates for each field of the first type:—a first difference signal (D1 F1) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the previous frame;—a second difference signal (D1 F2) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the same frame; and—a third difference signal (D1 F3) representative of the difference between the field and the second-type field of the following frame. Then, in dependence of the values of said difference signals, a decision signal (wOFlag) is generated indicating an estimated temporal relationship of the field to the second-type field of the same frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company
    Inventor: Andrew G Davis
  • Patent number: 9799112
    Abstract: A method for measuring overlay at a semiconductor device on which circuit patterns are formed by a plurality of exposure processes is characterized in including an image capturing step for capturing images of a plurality of areas of the semiconductor device, a reference image setting step for setting a reference image based on a plurality of the images captured in the image capturing step, a difference quantifying step for quantifying a difference between the reference image set in the reference image setting step and the plurality of images captured in the image capturing step, and an overlay calculating step for calculating the overlay based on the difference quantified in the difference quantifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Harada, Ryo Nakagaki, Fumihiko Fukunaga, Yuji Takagi
  • Patent number: 9787949
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus to recognize an illumination environment of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The apparatus includes an infrared illumination sensor to detect an infrared illumination amount emitted from the sun, a camera, and an illumination environment recognition unit which detects the infrared illumination amount by the infrared illumination sensor, receives a camera exposure time from the camera, receives double exposure images captured to have different exposure values, calculates a general illumination value based on the detected infrared illumination amount, the received camera exposure time, and an illumination value obtained through an image clustering analysis of the double exposure images, calculates a rate of change in the calculated general illumination value, and recognizes a current illumination environment as an illumination environment for each time section based on the calculated general illumination value and the rate of change in the general illumination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Myung-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9788018
    Abstract: Error concealment techniques for video decoding are described. For example, a video decoder after finding a corrupted picture in a bit stream, finds a suitable neighbor for the corrupted picture. For example, the video decoder favors pictures with the same parity as the corrupted picture and considers picture order count and picture corruption in choosing a neighbor. The decoder then modifies syntax elements for the encoded video in the bit stream to allow the neighbor to be used in concealing the corruption in the corrupted picture. The modification of syntax elements can depend on the particular video decoder implementation. For example, in a software-only multithreaded video decoder, a task graph is modified, while in a system utilizing video acceleration, syntax elements for reference lists are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yongjun Wu, Naveen Thumpudi, Daniel Dinu, William R. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9781406
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating depth image is provided, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure being configured to perform an accurate stereo matching even in a low light level by obtaining RGB images and/or IR images, and using the obtained RGB images and/or IR images to extraction of a depth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Seo Lee