Patents Examined by Sherali Ishrat
  • Patent number: 7657124
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing image data/information products to customers are provided. A data management facility generates a graphical user interface that is viewed by customers on computer systems coupled to a processor of the data management facility over a network. The graphical user interface allows a customer to search at least one of stored image data/information products or algorithms, to select at least one of the stored image data/information products or algorithms, and to select a desired geographic location. The data management facility generates a data/information product based on the selected image data/information product and the selected geographic location, and receives a request for an image data/information product, if a desired image data/information product cannot be found in the data management facility. In addition, the processor sends the generated image data/information product to the customer and bills the requestor based on the generated image data product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Turner, Pauline Joe, James J. Rustik, Bryan R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7653263
    Abstract: A technique is provided for comparative image analysis and/or change detection using computer assisted detection and/or diagnosis (CAD) algorithms. The technique includes registering two or more images, comparing the images with one another to generate a change map, and detecting anomalies in the images based on the change map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick Wilson Wheeler, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, John Patrick Kaufhold, Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard, Mark Lewis Grabb, Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg
  • Patent number: 7643677
    Abstract: In the image display device according to the present invention, control is performed such that a condition of not using a subsidiary pixel which corresponds to a specific color among the subsidiary pixels constituting a first pixel is selected as a condition for signal processing to output a signal for designating intensity of each subsidiary pixels constituting the first pixel, and a condition of using a subsidiary pixel which corresponds to a specific color among the subsidiary pixel constituting a second pixel is selected as a condition for signal processing to output a signal for designating intensity of each subsidiary pixels constituting the second pixel adjacent to the first pixel in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Hiraki, Izumi Kanai, Kohei Inamura, Seiji Osawa, Masaru Tada, Nobuhiro Hoshi
  • Patent number: 7636466
    Abstract: Apparatus for high resolution processing of a generally planar workpiece having microscopic features to be imaged, comprising a video camera acquiring at least two candidate images of a microscopic portion on generally planar workpiece; a motion controller operative to effect motion, relative to the workpiece, of at least an optical element of the video camera along an optical axis extending generally normally to a location on a surface of the workpiece, the video camera acquiring the at least two candidate images at selected time intervals, each of the at least two candidate images differing by at least one image parameter; an image selector operative to select an individual image from among the at least two candidate images according to predefined criteria of image quality; and a selected image analyzer operative to analyze at least a portion of the individual image selected by the image selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd
    Inventors: Ofer Saphier, Raanan Adin, David Fisch
  • Patent number: 7636470
    Abstract: Red-eye detection based on red region detection with eye confirmation initially identifies pixels that correspond to the color of red-eye within an image. A determination is then made as to whether these identified pixels and surrounding areas are part of an eye or not part of an eye. Those identified pixels that are determined to be part of an eye are the detected red-eye regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tong-Xian Chen, Xiangrong Chen, John C. Platt, Jie Yan, Hong-Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7636468
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for supporting a color management system that processes an image in accordance to a hierarchically-structured policy are provided. The policy may be modeled with a schema in which the policy is organized with a plurality of policy levels. Policy settings at a lower policy level may override policy settings at a higher policy level, which may be inhibited with a lockout mechanism. A user interface supports the capability of a user configuring policy settings through a series of dialog boxes. The dialog boxes are hierarchically organized in accordance with configuration levels, where the configuration levels are associated with the policy levels. The dialog boxes provide a consolidated approach for configuring a color management system by a user. An interface is supported, enabling a component to send inputs to a color management system in order to configure the policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley P. Gibson, Anthony Presley, Michael Stokes
  • Patent number: 7634132
    Abstract: A false-color suppression method for correcting a pixel value of a target position of an output frame corresponding to a target field is disclosed. The false-color suppression method includes determining whether the target position has motion; determining whether image corresponding to the target position meets a predetermined condition; and if the target position is determined to have motion and the image corresponding to the target position meets the predetermined condition, performing at least one false-color suppression operation to correct the pixel value of the target position of the output frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Po-Wei Chao
  • Patent number: 7634157
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for imaging spectroscopy using improved data acquisition for infrared and near-infrared imaging. A first filter corresponding to a first wavelength may be positioned in the optical path of an infrared camera, and subframe data may be acquired for different exposures. A second filter corresponding to a second different wavelength may be positioned in the optical path of the infrared camera, and subframe data acquired for different exposures. Image data for the first wavelength and the second wavelength may then be compared to reference spectroscopic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin A. Richards, Shariff D'Souza
  • Patent number: 7630583
    Abstract: An image processing circuit includes a processor that receives an encoded portion of a first version of an image. The processor decodes this encoded portion directly into a decoded portion of a second version of the image, the second version having a resolution that is different than the resolution of the first version. Therefore, such an image processing circuit can decode an encoded hi-res version of an image directly into a decoded lo-res version of the image. Alternatively, the image processing circuit includes a processor that modifies a motion vector associated with a portion of a first version of a first image. The processor then identifies a portion of a second image to which the modified motion vector points, the second image having a different resolution than the first version of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Pixelworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramachandran Natarajan, T. George Campbell
  • Patent number: 7630543
    Abstract: A digital image that includes first and second regions is processed. An intrinsic color of a given pixel located in an area of interest that is adjacent to at least one of the first and second regions is estimated by extrapolating from colors of multiple pixels in one of the first and second regions and multiple pixels in the other of the two regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregg D. Wilensky, Martin E. Newell
  • Patent number: 7623706
    Abstract: Chromatic bleeding artifacts in a digital image are reduced by modifying chrominance values of at least some pixels in the digital image. The chrominance values are modified according to luminance values and chromatic dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ron P. Maurer
  • Patent number: 7623692
    Abstract: A method of generating a pulmonary nodule image from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: producing a map of a clear lung field; removing low frequency variation from the clear lung field to generate a level image; and performing at least one grayscale morphological operation on the level image to generate a nodule-bone image. Pulmonary nodules can be detected using the nodule-bone image by the further steps of: pulmonary nodules from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: identifying candidate nodule locations in the nodule-bone image; segmenting a region around each candidate nodule location in the nodule-bone image; and using the features of the segmented region to determine if a candidate is a nodule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay S. Schildkraut, Michael D. Heath, Robert A. Senn, Joseph F. Revelli, Jr., Brette Luck
  • Patent number: 7609900
    Abstract: It is intended to restore moving-picture data whose pixels have been thinned rapidly with a small-capacity memory and with prevention of image deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ishii, Seiji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7606437
    Abstract: A method of processing a digital image captured by a camera includes providing an ambient air measuring device associated with the camera; using the ambient air measuring device to measure air attributes at substantially the time the digital image was captured; determining a transform for modifying the digital image from the measured air attributes; and applying the transform to the digital image to produce an improved digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Andrew C. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7602988
    Abstract: A method for adjusting saturation of an area of an image is disclosed. The method includes calculating a deviation level of a pixel in the area of the image and calculating a modified saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image according to the deviation level of the pixel in the area of the image and an original saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image. The deviation level indicates brightness differences of the brightness values among the pixel and a pixel set in a vicinity of the pixel in the area of the image. The pixel set includes pixels in the vicinity of the pixel of the area of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Keh-Tsong Li
  • Patent number: 7602970
    Abstract: A method of segmenting tubular structures in digital images comprises providing a digitized image, selecting a point within an object for segmenting in the image, defining an initial state of the selected point in the object, performing an initial segmentation of a 2D cross section of the object based on the initial state, predicting a new state of said object about a new point that is a translation of said selected point along the object tangent, correcting said new state prediction based on a measurement of said new point in said image, and segmenting a 2D cross section of said object based on said new state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Florin, James P. Williams, Nikolaos Paragios
  • Patent number: 7602938
    Abstract: Systematic use of infrared imaging characterizes marks made on items and identifies the particular marking tool with better accuracy than use of visual imaging. Infrared imaging performed in total darkness eliminates shadows, glint, and other lighting variations and artifacts associated with visible imaging. Although normally used to obtain temperature measurements, details in IR imagery result from emissivity variations as well as thermal variations. Disturbing an item's surface texture creates an emissivity difference producing local changes in the infrared image. Identification is most accurate when IR images of unknown marks are compared to IR images of marks made by known tools. However, infrared analysis offers improvements even when only visual reference images are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Francine J. Prokoski
  • Patent number: 7593570
    Abstract: Software of a simple configuration checks whether an original image to be corrected is an image picture, and an image correction process based upon a formed histogram of the original image is not performed for an image different from the image picture. An image processing condition is set in accordance with the formed histogram to perform the image correction process for the original image. An image processing method judges from a shape of the formed histogram whether the original image is an image picture, and does not perform not perform the image correction process for the original image if it is judged that the original image is not an image picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Yamazoe, Nobuo Ogura, Akihiko Uekusa, Kentaro Yano, Tetsuya Suwa
  • Patent number: 7590297
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for compressing and decompressing pixel data and the device thereof. The method comprises receiving current pixel data from a preprocessor and comparing the current pixel data with predictor pixel data to obtain a section index from a quantization table. Output the section index to a memory as compressed data. Then, receive the compressed data from the memory. Use the quantization table to look up a representative level corresponding to the compressed data and output decompressed pixel data based on the representative level to an image processing unit. The device mentioned above comprises a memory, a compressor and a decompressor. The memory stores compressed data. The compressor quantizes and compresses pixel data and outputs the compressed pixel data to the memory. The decompressor receives the compressed pixel data and decompresses the compressed pixel data and outputs the decompressed pixel data as pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Po-Chin Hu
  • Patent number: 7590309
    Abstract: An image processing system provides a method for processing an image including classifying the image, comparing the image to stored images, storing the image if the image does not match one of the stored images, and storing a link to a stored image if the image matches one of the stored images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Steffan, Jeffrey P. Erhardt