Patents Examined by Sumati Lefkowitz
  • Patent number: 9922423
    Abstract: An image angle variation detection means 81 detects an image angle variation of a imaging device from videos shot by the imaging device based on fixed point information including the position of a fixed point specified by an image angle of the imaging device and the features indicating the characteristics of the fixed point, and a situation determination means 82 determines that the image angle of the imaging device is varied when a change in the image angle variation is stable for a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryoma Oami
  • Patent number: 9916516
    Abstract: At least one image processing apparatus, and at least one method, of the present invention(s) generate a corrected image obtained by removing, from a color image whose pixel values contain components derived from scattered light, at least part of the components derived from the scattered light. The at least one image processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate the corrected image by correcting a pixel value of a first color component of each pixel in the color image by using a first reference intensity and a weight value, and by correcting a pixel value of a second color component of each pixel in the color image by using a second reference intensity and a weight value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Itoh, Hisato Sekine
  • Patent number: 9911197
    Abstract: Described is a system for detecting moving objects using multi-frame motion history images. An input video sequence of consecutive registered image frames is received. The sequence of consecutive registered image frames comprises forward and backward registered image frames registered to a coordinate system of a reference image frame. Frame differences are computed between each of the consecutive registered image frames and the reference image frame. The frame differences are accumulated based on characteristics of the input video sequence to compute a corresponding motion response value. A selected threshold value is then applied to the motion response value to produce at least one binary image used for detection of moving objects in the input video sequence. Additionally, the invention includes a system for adaptive parameter optimization by input image characterization, wherein parameters that are based on characteristics of the image influence the motion detection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Kyungnam Kim, Changsoo S. Jeong, Deepak Khosla, Yang Chen, Shinko Y. Cheng, Alexander L. Honda, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9911351
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to tracking one or more objects during a process that utilizes the objects. For example, one embodiment provides a method for monitoring performance of a process involving one or more objects, wherein the method includes receiving a set of rules defining one or more portions of the process and receiving object identification information regarding the one or more objects. The method further includes, for a selected portion of the process, receiving image information of a physical scene, identifying from the image information and the object identification information an operation performed with an identified object in the physical scene, and taking an action based upon whether the operation satisfies a rule of the set of rules associated with the selected portion of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher White, Anson Tsao, David Molyneaux
  • Patent number: 9909993
    Abstract: A system for quantitative detection and analysis of the interactions of molecules with molecular receptors on the surfaces of biological cells based on detecting a mechanical deformation in the membrane of a cell associated with the molecular interactions, which works for both large and small molecules. The mechanical deformation can be detected with high precision in real time from an optical image of the cell with a differential detection method. The system can be also used to detect the electrical activities, such as ion channel opening and closing, as well as action potential propagation in neuronal cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Nongjian Tao, Yan Guan
  • Patent number: 9904983
    Abstract: One or more embodiments provide a neurosynaptic circuit that includes multiple neurosynaptic core circuits that: perform image sharpening by converting a source image to a sharpened destination image by: taking as input a sequence of image frames of a video with one or more channels per frame, and representing the intensity of each pixel of each channel of each frame as neural spikes; processing the source image to obtain the sharpened destination image for a particular frame and channel that enhances certain high frequency components of the source image; and processing neural spike representations of the destination image for outputting a spike representation of the sharpened destination image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Andreopoulos, Daniel F. Gruhl, Michael Karasick, Dharmendra S. Modha
  • Patent number: 9904981
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method, which add depth information to a color pixel and add color information to a depth pixel in an image including the color pixel and the depth pixel includes a depth information determination unit to determine depth information of a current color pixel using peripheral color pixels of the current color pixel and peripheral depth pixels of the current color pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Won Jung, Kee Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 9892314
    Abstract: A method and device for determining an associated user are provided. The method includes: acquiring a face album including face sets of multiple users; determining a target user in the face album; selecting, from the face album, at least one associated-user candidate of the target user; acquiring attribute information of the at least one associated-user candidate, and determining an associated user of the target user according to the attribute information; and setting tag information for the associated user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Xiaomi Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Fei Long, Zhijun Chen
  • Patent number: 9892342
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of grouping faces in large user account for creating an image product includes adding the face images obtained from an image album in a user's account into a first chunk; if the chunk size of the first chuck is smaller than a maximum chuck value, keeping the face images from the image album into the first chunk; otherwise, automatically separating the face images from the image album into a first portion and one or more second portions; keeping the first portion in the first chunk; automatically moving the second portions to subsequent chunks; automatically grouping face images in the first chunk to form face groups; assigning the face groups to known face models associated with the user account; and creating a design for an image-based product based on the face images in the first chunk associated with the face models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Shutterfly, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Sandler, Alexander M. Kenis
  • Patent number: 9886744
    Abstract: To remove components, such as fog, from a captured image while suppressing a reduction in image quality. An image processing apparatus includes a unit configured to derive parameters for image quality improving processing based on the transmittance of light incident on each pixel of captured image data including a fine particle component and a unit configured to generate corrected image data of the captured image data by performing image quality improving processing to improve image quality of the captured image data using the parameters and removal processing to remove the fine particle component from the captured image data on the captured image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichi Sawada
  • Patent number: 9875255
    Abstract: A terminal and a method for sharing content are provided. A terminal includes an image acquirer configured to acquire face image data from a camera while content is being displayed, a face recognizer configured to recognize a face included in the face image data, a face change detector configured to detect whether the recognized face is different from a face recognized in a previous image data, a contact searcher configured to, in response to the detection that the recognized face is different from the face recognized in the previous image data, search a contact corresponding to the recognized face, and an information transmitter configured to transmit content usage information to the searched contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Yoo, Kyoung Gu Woo, Seok Jin Hong, Yo Han Roh, Ji Hyun Lee, Ho Dong Lee
  • Patent number: 9861332
    Abstract: An image obtaining unit obtains a plurality of projection images by imaging a subject with different radiation source positions. A pixel value projecting unit projects pixel values of the projection images on coordinate positions on a desired slice plane of the subject based on the positional relationship between the radiation source position with which each projection image is taken and the radiation detector, while preserving pixel values of the projection images, to obtain a plurality of slice plane projection images. A positional misalignment correcting unit corrects positional misalignment between the slice plane projection images. A pixel value calculating unit generates a tomographic image from the slice plane projection images having been subjected to the correction of the positional misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9858638
    Abstract: A spherical harmonic is defined which is an operationally optimal small finite subset of the infinite number of spherical harmonics allowed to exist mathematically. The composition of the subset differs depending on its position on virtual hemisphere. The subsets are further divided into small spherical tesserae whose dimensions vary depending on the distance from the hemispherical center. The images of the outside visual scenes are projected on the flat surface of the webcam and from there are read and recalculated programmatically as if the images have been projected on the hemisphere. rotational invariants are then computed in the smallest tesserae using numerical integration, and then invariants from neighboring tesserae are added to compute the rotational invariant of their union. Every computed invariant is checked with the library and stored there if there is no match. The rotational invariants are solely used for visual recognition and classification and operational decision making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Alex Simon Blaivas
  • Patent number: 9858658
    Abstract: A method for classification includes receiving an image of an area of a semiconductor wafer on which a pattern has been formed, the area containing an image location of interest, and receiving computer-aided design (CAD) data relating to the pattern comprising a CAD location of interest corresponding to the image location of interest. At least one value for one or more attributes of the image location of interest is computed based on a context of the CAD location of interest with respect to the CAD data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel Ltd
    Inventors: Idan Kaizerman, Ishai Schwarzband, Efrat Rozenman
  • Patent number: 9852516
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a river velocity estimation system is provided. The river velocity estimation system includes one or more components executable by at least one processor that are configured to receive terrain information and at least one image including a river, identify an area of interest in the at least one image that includes the river, identify a course of the river and a boundary of the river based on the area of interest in the at least one image, estimate a slope of the river based on the terrain information, determine a hydraulic radius of the river based on the boundary of the river and the course of the river, and estimate a flow rate of water in the river based on at least the slope of the river and the hydraulic radius of the river.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Mac A. Cody, Grant B. Boroughs
  • Patent number: 9848170
    Abstract: A method, computer readable storage medium, and system are disclosed for improving communication productivity in a conference between two or more subjects, wherein at least one of the two or more subjects participates in the conference from a first location and one or more of the two or more subjects participate in the meeting from a second location. The method includes capturing, at least one first three-dimensional (3D) stream of data and at least one second three-dimensional (3D) stream of data on each of the two or more subjects participating in the conference; generating a synchrony score for the two or more subjects, wherein the synchrony score is calculated by comparing time series of skeletal data of each of the two or more subjects to one another for a defined period of time; and using the synchrony score to generate an engagement index between the two or more subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Foram Manish Paradkar, Yongmian Zhang, Haisong Gu
  • Patent number: 9846799
    Abstract: A scannable object is sensed and scanned. A map is constructed based on the scan results. The map is compared to one or more stored templates. Results of the comparison are provided. In some implementations, a secured processor may construct the map and may provide reduced resolution (and/or other versions that contain less information) versions of the map and/or the stored templates to one or more other processors. The one or more other processors may determine a match-set based on matching between the reduced resolution map and stored templates. The secured processor may then identify whether or not a match exists between the map and any stored template based on the match-set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Westerman, Byron B. Han, Craig A. Marciniak
  • Patent number: 9843703
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that can suppress a tint phenomenon in image recovery processing and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A saturation determination unit determines whether or not a saturated pixel is included in a reference region referred to by filter processing units. An R component output adjustment unit and a B component output adjustment unit adjust corresponding color components resulting from image recovery processing according to the determination result obtained by the saturation determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Uchihara
  • Patent number: 9842245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a fingerprint sensing system for liveness authentication. The method comprising acquiring a first set of sensing signals and a second set of sensing signals from a fingerprint sensor in two different operational modes and subsequently provide a liveness authentication signal based on the first set of sensing signals and the second set of sensing signals. The invention also relates to a fingerprint sensing system and an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
    Inventors: Eric Setterberg, Frank Riedijk
  • Patent number: 9836667
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and a method for analyzing apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events and characterizing these apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events by constructal analysis. The resulting statistical values obtained can be used to compare the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events with other apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events. The comparison can yield knowledge about the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events as well as the neighborhood or surroundings of the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel John Dickrell, III, Wallace Gregory Sawyer, Richard D. Clark, III