Patents Examined by Shervin Nakhjavan
  • Patent number: 8594371
    Abstract: A subject tracking device includes: a first similarity factor calculation unit that compares an input image assuming characteristics quantities corresponding to a plurality of characteristics components, with a template image assuming characteristics quantities corresponding to the plurality of characteristics components, and calculates a similarity factor indicating a level of similarity between the input image and the template image in correspondence to each of the plurality of characteristics components; a normalization unit that normalizes similarity factors corresponding to the plurality of characteristics components having been calculated by the first similarity factor calculation unit; and a second similarity factor calculation unit that calculates a similarity factor indicating a level of similarity between the input image and the template image based upon results of normalization achieved via the normalization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Ito
  • Patent number: 8594462
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a display configured to include a display screen and to display image information at a display position on the display screen, the display screen having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the display position represented by pixel-based coordinates; a calculation module configured to calculate coordinates of a next display position at which the image information is to be displayed next based on coordinate information of the display position and differential coordinate information, the coordinate information representing a position where the image information is to be displayed, the differential coordinate information representing a pixel-based distance with which the display position shifts; and a display control module configured to control the display to display the image information at the next display position based on the coordinate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited
    Inventor: Yoshio Furuichi
  • Patent number: 8594411
    Abstract: This invention is directed to improvement of the accuracy of cancer differentiation in the pathologic diagnosis using a pathologic tissue image analysis. There are included a stroma area/duct area detecting module for detecting, from a biological tissue image, a duct area on the basis of duct characteristic information indicating the characteristic of ducts included in a tissue area in the biological tissue image; an intraduct cell-nucleus detecting module for extracting, based on a predetermined pigment reference, cell nucleuses included in the detected duct area; and a duct formation evaluating module for calculating a heterotypic degree of each duct on the basis of the distribution state of the cell nucleuses for a predetermined base areas in each duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiko Yoshihara, Kenji Okajima, Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 8594412
    Abstract: Pathologic tissue images are to be output which allow effective image diagnosis to be performed. There are included an index amount calculating unit that divides a captured pathologic image into a predetermined divisional areas and sets a measurement index value related to a reference of pathologic diagnosis for each divisional area; and a significance calculating module that sets, for each divisional area, a significance related to the pathologic measurement on the basis of both the measurement index value of each divisional area and the measurement index value of a respective divisional area adjacent to that divisional area. The significance calculating module extracts that one of the divisional areas in which the areas for which images of the living tissues have been captured represent a given percentage, and further the significance calculating module associates, with the extracted divisional area, the measurement index value and significance set therefor for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Marugame
  • Patent number: 8594405
    Abstract: A method includes: obtaining designated 3D template for a designated part in a heart; generating 3D annulus data representing an annulus of a heart valve identified as a reference of transformation, from a cross-section image in a plane passing through an axis within the annulus of the identified heart valve in 3D volume data generated from tomographic images; identifying a first point on the annulus of the identified heart valve in the designated 3D template and a second point on the annulus represented by the 3D annulus data; arranging n starting points from the first point on the annulus of the identified heart valve in the designated 3D template and n target points from the second point on the annulus represented by the 3D annulus data; and calculating movement destination coordinates of vertices of polygons relating to the designated 3D template to transform the designated 3D template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Machiko Nakagawa, Toshiaki Hisada, Seiryo Sugiura, Takumi Washio, Jun-ichi Okada, Yoshimasa Kadooka
  • Patent number: 8526767
    Abstract: A state machine gesture recognition algorithm for interpreting streams of coordinates received from a touch sensor. The gesture recognition code can be written in a high level language such as C and then compiled and embedded in a microcontroller chip, or CPU chip as desired. The gesture recognition code can be loaded into the same chip that interprets the touch signals from the touch sensor and generates the time series data, e.g. a microcontroller, or other programmable logic device such as a field programmable gate array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Bowens
  • Patent number: 8520902
    Abstract: An optical control method for use in print finishing, comprising the following steps: First, guiding a planar printed product (12, 13) along a conveying path past at least one optical sensor (14). Secondly, detecting an electronic image by the optical sensor (14), wherein the electronic image comprises at least one region of the printed product (12, 13). Thirdly, transferring the electronic image into a corrected image on the basis of corrective information, which converts a recording perspective of the at least one optical sensor (14) into a target perspective. Fourth, comparing the corrected image to a reference value or a reference image, and generating at least one signal (27) on the basis of a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Carl Conrad Mäder
  • Patent number: 8503755
    Abstract: In a maximum a posteriori tomosynthesis method to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from two-dimensional x-ray images, a Geman prior function to reduce the noise is used in which the edges and boundaries of tissue structures remain visible. The method is parameterized by the estimated noise value of the attenuation coefficients and the estimated average tissue attenuation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anna Jerebko
  • Patent number: 8502760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control circuit and a scanning method thereof, and can be applied to a color sequential liquid crystal display (LCD). The color sequential LCD produces a plurality of color backlights, receives a data signal, and receives a plurality of scanning signals produced by a scan driving circuit. The voltage levels of the plurality of scan signals corresponding to each of the color backlights are select levels alternately. When the voltage level of a scan signal in the plurality of scan signals is the select level, the voltage levels of the other scan signals in the plurality of scan signals are non-select levels. Because the voltage levels of the plurality of scan signals corresponding to each of the color backlights are select levels alternately to scan sequentially the same backlight, color-mixing effects on images can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sitronix Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Jung Lin
  • Patent number: 8472744
    Abstract: A method for estimating whether an image (14) is either blurred or sharp includes the steps of (i) determining an image gradient histogram distrbution (410) of at least a portion of the image (14), (ii) comparing at least a portion of the image gradient histogram distribution (410) to a Gaussian model (414), and (iii) estimating a defocus blur size of at least a portion of the image (14) Additional methods for evaluating whether the image (14) has motion blur are provided herein For example, a dominant gradient orientation can be detected by histogram analysis (716), and the dominant gradient orientation (718) can be used to determine a possible motion blur direction (720) Alternatively, a dominant gradient orientation can be detected using principal component analysis (“PCA”) on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Li Hong
  • Patent number: 8472672
    Abstract: A method of identifying, tracking, and counting human objects of interest based upon at least one pair of stereo image frames taken by at least one image capturing device, comprising the steps of: obtaining said stereo image frames and converting each said stereo image frame to a rectified image frame using calibration data obtained for said at least one image capturing device; generating a disparity map based upon a pair of said rectified image frames; generating a depth map based upon said disparity map and said calibration data; identifying the presence or absence of said objects of interest from said depth map and comparing each of said objects of interest to existing tracks comprising previously identified objects of interest; for each said presence of an object of interest, adding said object of interest to one of said existing tracks if said object of interest matches said one existing track, or creating a new track comprising said object of interest if said object of interest does not match any of sai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: ShopperTrak RCT Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqian Wang, William C. Kastilahn
  • Patent number: 8457353
    Abstract: Gesture modifiers are provided for modifying and enhancing the control of a user-interface such as that provided by an operating system or application of a general computing system or multimedia console. Symbolic gesture movements are performed by a user in mid-air. A capture device generates depth images and a three-dimensional representation of a capture area including a human target. The human target is tracked using skeletal mapping to capture the mid-air motion of the user. Skeletal mapping data is used to identify movements corresponding to pre-defined gestures using gesture filters. Detection of a viable gesture can trigger one or more user-interface actions or controls. Gesture modifiers are provided to modify the user-interface action triggered by detection of a gesture and/or to aid in the identification of gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brendan Reville, Ali Vassigh, Christian Klein, Adam Poulos, Jordan Andersen, Zack Fleischman
  • Patent number: 8452067
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for generating a bone mask. The method comprises the following steps: performing a noncontrast computed tomography scan on a subject in axial mode to get a first data set; after the subject injected with a contrast medium, performing a postcontrast computer tomography angiography scanning on the subject in helical mode to get a second data set; reconstructing the two mentioned data set to acquire a first reconstruction image and a second reconstruction image respectively; resampling the first reconstruction image based on the second reconstruction image by using a computer to get a third reconstruction image; and thresholding values of data which are greater than or equal to a scheduled Hounsfield unit in the third reconstruction image to get a bone mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Hui-Yang Huang, Chung-Yi Yang, Chung-Wei Lee, Hon-Man Liu
  • Patent number: 8447070
    Abstract: An electronic device can utilize image capture technology to detect the presence and location of another device. Using this information, the electronic device can display, in a user interface, a graphical element representing a detected device, along with identity information and the location of the detected device relative to the electronic device. The location of each detected device relative to the electronic device can be tracked and thus the graphical element can be updated in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Bozarth, Kenneth M. Karakotsios, Gregory M. Hart, Ian W. Freed, Jeffrey P. Bezos
  • Patent number: 8433118
    Abstract: A medical image-processing apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of medical images obtained at different imaging positions, a setting unit configured to set a point of interest on each of the medical images in accordance with an operation of an operator, an alignment unit configured to align the medical images on the display unit, with the points of interest on the medical images made to coincide with each other, and a post-processing unit configured to perform post processing concerning the medical images aligned by the alignment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8428338
    Abstract: A method of determining a solder paste height of solder paste printed on a circuit board, the method including obtaining a two-dimensional image of the circuit board which is captured from above a solder printed surface, and determining the solder paste height corresponding to a pixel value of each of pixels of the two-dimensional image, based on height information which defines a relationship between the pixel value and the solder paste height, the pixel value being a value representing at least one of luminance of red in a RGB color model, luminance of green in the RGB color model, luminance of blue in the RGB color model, hue in a HSI color model, saturation in the HSI color model, and intensity in the HSI color model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Ikeda, Michinori Tomomatsu, Masahiro Taniguchi, Yousuke Hassaku, Hiroshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 8422738
    Abstract: A method involves adapting a vessel detection algorithm based upon received synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data and associated metadata, detecting one or more vessels within an image tile of the SAR image data by iteratively applying the adapted vessel detection algorithm to successive portions of the image tile, discarding a detected vessel if a false alarm is determined, extracting one or more features from the detected vessels that are not discarded, and generating one or more output products based upon the extracted features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John C. Stastny, Michael R. Hughes, Keith Pifko, Daniel Garcia, Bryan Bagnall, Heidi Buck
  • Patent number: 8417002
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a digital image containing the result of an agglutination assay to generate a quantitative result value representative of the degree of agglutination of the sample is provided. The method for analyzing the digital image includes: applying a filter to extract a component of the image or portion of a spectrum where a signal to noise ratio between agglutinated and background is maximized; extracting a set of features that characterize the agglutination pattern, obtaining a quantification function which maps measured features to the actual concentration of the sample and computing a quantitative result for each sample in the assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Laboratorios Celsius S.A.
    Inventors: Julio Batistoni, Juan Andres Abin, Alvaro Pardo
  • Patent number: 8411962
    Abstract: A computing device may select a source tile from a source image. From the source tile, the computing device may select a first rectangular feature and a second rectangular feature. Based on the first and second rectangular features, the computing device may calculate a source feature vector. The computing device may also select a search area of a target image, and a target tile within the within the search area. Based on the target tile, the computing device may calculate a target feature vector. The computing device may determine that a difference between the source feature vector and the target feature vector is below an error threshold, and based on this determination, further determine a mapping between the source image and the target image. The computing device may then apply the mapping to the source image to produce a transformed source image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Geiss, Marc Levoy
  • Patent number: 8406495
    Abstract: When correcting attenuation in a nuclear image (e.g., PET or SPECT), an MR-based attenuation correction (AC) map (16) is generated using MR image data (14) of a subject (60). The subject (60) is then placed in a nuclear imaging device with a radioactive point or line source (18, 18?) from which transmission data is measured as the patient is imaged. In order to resolve ambiguity between air voxels and bone voxels in the MR-based AC map (16), estimated transmission data (24) is generated from the AC map and compared to the measured transmission data (22) from the point or line source. An error is iteratively calculated for the estimated and measured transmission data, and attenuation values of the AC map (16) are refined to minimize the error. The refined AC map (32) is used to correct attenuation in collected nuclear data (41) which is reconstructed into an attenuation corrected image (99) of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Gagnon, Zhiqiang Hu