Patents Examined by Sheela Chawan
  • Patent number: 8644612
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a gesture locus data recognition unit configured to execute processing for recognizing gesture locus data included in locus data according to characteristic data of the locus data and gesture characteristic shape data included in gesture dictionary data and output a result of the processing, a separation unit configured to separate gesture locus data and locus data other than the gesture locus data from the locus data according to the result of the recognition by the gesture locus data recognition unit, and a character locus data recognition unit configured to execute processing for recognizing locus data of a character included in the locus data other than the gesture locus data according to the characteristic data of the locus data other than the gesture locus data which is separated by the separation unit, and the locus characteristic data of a character included in a character dictionary data, and output a result of the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsunekazu Arai
  • Patent number: 8639041
    Abstract: A product identification service uses image analysis and user interaction. The product identification service includes functionality to compare a first portion of a retail product image to a plurality of candidate retail product images. The retail product image includes a pictorial likeness of a plurality of manufactured retail products. The first portion of the retail product image corresponds to a first retail product. The product identification service also includes functionality to generate a candidate product set comprising candidate retail product images satisfying image comparison criteria. Each candidate retail product image is representative of a retail product having a plurality of product characteristics. The product identification service also includes functionality to determine, based on at least one candidate retail product image in the candidate product set, one or more product identity queries configured to solicit additional product identity information from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Travis M Grigsby, Sunil K Mishra
  • Patent number: 8639018
    Abstract: A system for acquiring multiple images of objects, the system includes: a lateral transferor that comprises multiple lateral transferor portions adapted to transfer the objects to a lateral imaging area in a lateral manner; wherein each lateral transferor portion comprises a object receiver and a transfer element; wherein the transfer element moves the object receiver towards an imaging area unless encountering a resistance that is above a predefined resistance; and an imager that is configured to obtain images of two opposite sides of the object when the objects are positioned at the lateral imaging area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Camtek Ltd.
    Inventor: Shy Cohen
  • Patent number: 8639035
    Abstract: In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Shiba
  • Patent number: 8634649
    Abstract: Systems and methods for backlit scene detection are described. The method includes performing a pre-test on an electronic image to determine that the electronic image does not include a disqualifying characteristic. Next, the method includes performing a type test on the electronic image to determine an image type of the electronic image from a first set of predetermined backlit image types. Next the method includes performing a post test on the electronic image to determine that the image darkness density does not exceed a predetermined density. Finally, the method includes performing a second post test on the electronic image to determine that the electronic image is one of a second set of predetermined backlit image types or that the edge percentage of the electronic image exceeds a predetermined percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jonathan Yen, William C. Kress
  • Patent number: 8634671
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform multi-focal plane image acquisition and compression are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes capturing a first image of a portion of an object at a first focal plane and at a first resolution, computing a contrast metric for the captured first image, comparing the contrast metric to a threshold to determine whether to capture a second image of the portion of the object at the first focal plane and at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is different from the first resolution, capturing the second image of the portion of the object at the first focal plane and at the second resolution, and storing a first representation of the second image in a file, the file containing a second representation of the portion of the object at a second focal plane, wherein the second representation is at the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shai Dekel, Anthony Melanson
  • Patent number: 8634605
    Abstract: A method for reading fingerprints is disclosed. The method comprises acquiring images of a fingerprint from a finger upon relative movement between the finger and an image sensor; selecting lines from said acquired images representing a new area of said fingerprint; determining composition parameters for each selected line: and storing said composition parameters and said selected lines such that a composite image comprising said selected lines is composabte. A corresponding fingerprint reading apparatus, a device, and a computer program are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB
    Inventors: Krister Valfridsson, Björn Nordin
  • Patent number: 8634652
    Abstract: A method and system for detection of video segments in compressed digital video streams is presented. The compressed digital video stream is examine to determine synchronization points, and the compressed video signal is analyzed following detection of the synchronization points to create video fingerprints that are subsequently compared against a library of stored fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Technology, Patents & Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer W. Lienhart, Charles A. Eldering
  • Patent number: 8630477
    Abstract: A method outputs measurement data automatically using an electronic device. The method obtains measurement data of feature elements from a two dimensional (2D) image of a measured object, determines a type of measurement applied to each feature element, obtains feature elements from planes of a three dimensional (3D) image of the measured object, and maps each of the obtained feature elements in the 3D image to the 2D image. The method further obtains sequential marked numbers from the 2D image, determines a feature element which is nearest to any marked number from the mapped feature elements, determines an output axis for each of the determined feature elements, and outputs measured results and measurement codes of the determined feature elements by reference to the measurement data, the type of measurement and the output axis of each determined feature element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kuang Chang, Xin-Yuan Wu, Wei-Quan Wu
  • Patent number: 8625903
    Abstract: In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Shiba
  • Patent number: 8606019
    Abstract: A 2-dimensional pattern matching method contains a process of extracting a query feature data by projecting a vector representation of either of a query 2-dimensional pattern and a transformed query 2-dimensional pattern which is generated by transforming the query 2-dimensional pattern, to a feature space. An enrollment feature data as previously enrolled and a query feature data are inversely projected to the 2-dimensional pattern representation space which has the dimension of the vector representation and the similarity is calculated. The data size of a feature amount is small and a matching technique robust to the positional displacement and the image distortion is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Kamei
  • Patent number: 8600151
    Abstract: A method of producing a digital stereoscopic image using a processor is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of digital image files which include digital images and the time of capture of each image and using time of capture to identify candidate pairs of images. The method further includes using the processor to analyze the image content of the candidate pairs of images to identify at least one image pair that can be used to produce a stereoscopic image; and using an identified image pair to produce the digital stereoscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Louis James Beato, Andrew C. Blose
  • Patent number: 8594392
    Abstract: To identify a media item from a database of media items that have common content, a region of interest is defined to include a plurality of frames of a test fingerprint that correspond to different segments of a media item. A media identification system queries a database of reference fingerprints to identify candidate reference fingerprints that contain a frame that matches a frame of the test fingerprint. When a candidate reference fingerprint is found, additional matching frames are determined and the region of interest is reduced to eliminate the matched frames of the test fingerprint. This continues until the region of interest is empty or there are no further matching candidates. Once the set of candidate reference fingerprints are identified, the media identification system compares the test fingerprint to the candidates to determine a closest match, thereby identifying the media item associated with the test fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Sergiy Bilobrov
  • Patent number: 8594435
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device that specifies a region including a specific subject on each input image of a plurality of continuous frames. The image processing device includes: subject map generation means that, from feature maps corresponding to features of respective pixels of the input image and representing feature amounts in respective regions of the input image, selects one feature amount of any of the feature maps for each pixel so as to thereby generate a subject map representing similarities of the respective regions of the input image to the subject; and subject region specification means that, on the basis of the subject map, specifies a subject region, which is a region most similar to the subject, in the subject map so as to thereby specify a region which includes the subject on the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Kinoshita, Yutaka Yoneda, Takashi Kameya
  • Patent number: 8594430
    Abstract: A method of locating features of an object, of a class of objects, of a class of objects, within a target image. The method comprises initializing a set of feature points within the target image, each feature point corresponding to a predetermined feature for objects of the class of objects; deriving a set of template detectors, from the set of feature points, using a statistical model of the class of objects, each template detector comprising an area of image located about the location of a feature point for an object of the class of objects; comparing the set of template detectors with the target image; and updating the set of feature points within the target image in response to the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: The University of Manchester, Toyota Motor Europe
    Inventors: David Cristinacce, Timothy Francis Cootes
  • Patent number: 8588508
    Abstract: A method for matching characterizing features of an optical scanner against target characterizing features is provided. The characterizing features are produced from characterizing data (also referred to as a signature characteristic) produced from a scan of a mask by the scanner against target scanner signature characteristics produced from a scan of the mask by another optical scanner that produces the target scanner signature characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Shane Roy Palmer, Donis G. Flagello
  • Patent number: 8588482
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a plurality of images having human faces. The method further includes generating a data structure having representations of the faces and associations that link the representations based on similarities in appearance between the faces. The method further includes outputting a first gender value for a first representation of a first face that indicates a gender of the first face based on one or more other gender values of one or more other representations of one or more other faces that are linked to the first representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Shumeet Baluja, Yushi Jing
  • Patent number: 8577153
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for creating a sample image index table, filtering image, and searching image, to improve accuracy of monitoring images. A method for image filtering comprises: establishing a sample image index table; extracting regional characteristics from an image to be searched; clustering the regional characteristics of the image to be searched into corresponding nodes; obtaining a corresponding sample image identification by indexing the sample image index table using node identifications of the nodes of the image to be searched; determining a number of duplicate nodes between the image to be searched and the sample image; obtaining a degree of similarity of the image to be searched based on a number of the nodes of the image to be searched and a number of the nodes of the sample image; and filtering out the image to be searched when a degree of similarity between the image to be searched and the sample image exceeds a similarity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Manni Duan, Xinci Wen, Xurui Feng
  • Patent number: 8577155
    Abstract: A system for duplicate text recognition includes a first means for dividing an electronic text into a plurality of phrase segments; a second means for converting each of the phrase segments into a unique and fixed-length bit string; a third means for storing a plurality of groups of the bit strings, each group of bit strings (string group) including a plurality of bit strings respectively corresponding to the phrase segments in a particular electronic text; and a fourth means for determining whether a predefined similarity between any two string groups in the third means reaches a first threshold, and for determining the two electronic texts corresponding to the two string groups are duplicate texts if the predefined similarity between the two string groups reaches the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Wisers Information Limited
    Inventors: Tat Ming Damein Wu, Ka Yeung Sin
  • Patent number: 8577119
    Abstract: A wafer surface observing apparatus for inspecting a peripheral portion of an object has (A) a lens system and a CCD camera for taking images of the peripheral portion of the object, (B) storage for storing image data about the taken images, and (C) display for displaying the image data stored in the storage device. In particular, the present apparatus can have functions of rotating the object placed on a prealignment portion, recording images of one full outer periphery of an end portion of the object by the lens system and CCD camera into the location where the orientation flat portions or notched portions of the object are placed in position, accepting the images into the storage device, and displaying the images on a CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higashi, Tetsuya Watanabe, Kenji Aiko