Patents Examined by Tracy Y Li
  • Patent number: 11126831
    Abstract: An object recognition method executed by a computer includes obtaining point cloud data related to a surface of an object having a plurality of joints, from a sensor configured to obtain positional information in three dimensions; deriving or obtaining first parameters representing a position and an axial direction for each of a plurality of parts of the object at a first point in time; and deriving the first parameters at a second point in time after the first point in time, based on the point cloud data at the second point in time, the first parameters at the first point in time, and one or more geometric models each having an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Ryo Murakami
  • Patent number: 11115670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to specification of a tile capable of being independently processed to process a certain area at high speed in encoding and decoding of tiles resulting from division of an image in hierarchical coding of the image. An image encoding apparatus that performs the hierarchical coding of an input image with multiple layers includes an acquiring unit and an encoding unit. The acquiring unit acquires a first image generated from the input image and a second image having resolution different from that of the first image. In the encoding of a first area in the first image acquired by the acquiring unit, the encoding unit performs the encoding using a second area existing at the relatively same position as that of the first area in the first image in the second image as a reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Maeda, Masato Shima
  • Patent number: 11115651
    Abstract: A more efficient way of addressing different bit-depths, or different bit-depths and chroma sampling format requirements is achieved by using a low bit-depth and/or low-chroma resolution representation for providing a respective base layer data stream representing this low bit-depth and/or low-chroma resolution representation as well as for providing a higher bit-depth and/or higher chroma resolution representation so that a respective prediction residual may be encoded in order to obtain a higher bit-depth and/or higher chroma resolution representation. By this measure, an encoder is enabled to store a base-quality representation of a picture or a video sequence, which can be decoded by any legacy decoder or video decoder, together with an enhancement signal for higher bit-depth and/or reduced chroma sub-sampling, which may be ignored by legacy decoders or video decoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Detlev Marpe, Martin Winken, Heiko Schwarz, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 11102456
    Abstract: A camera generates a first video having visibility lower than a predetermined visibility suitable for a process using a video in a video output apparatus, encodes the generated first video, and transmits the encoded first video, and an adjustment instruction including a parameter for adjusting the visibility of the first video to be equivalent to the predetermined visibility, to the video output apparatus. The video output apparatus acquires the first video and the adjustment instruction, transmitted from the camera, adjusts the visibility of the first video to be equivalent to the predetermined visibility by using the parameter, based on the adjustment instruction, and outputs the adjusted video to an output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakano, Jun Ikeda, Tetsuo Tanaka, Mari Yasuda, Manabu Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11100774
    Abstract: A method includes generating, by a camera of a monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property, first image data at a first time, analyzing the first image data, determining that the first image data includes a first object that likely corresponds to a person, generating, second image data at a second, later time, analyzing the second image data, determining that the second image includes a second object that likely corresponds to a person, comparing the first object that likely corresponds to a person to the second object that likely corresponds to a person, based on comparing the first object that likely corresponds to a person to the second object that likely corresponds to a person and based on a difference between the first time and the second, later time, determining that a person is likely moving towards the camera, and performing a monitoring system action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Franklin Bart, John Varn
  • Patent number: 11095890
    Abstract: A memory-efficient filtering approach is used to code images and video. A buffer having a fixed size based on a size of processing units to use for filtering a video frame is allocated. For each of the processing units, pre-filtered pixel values are copied from a respective region of the video frame to the buffer based on a writing point for the video frame and an offset applied to the writing point, filtering is performed against the pre-filtered pixel values from the buffer to produce filtered pixel values, and the filtered pixel values are written to the video frame based on the writing point and the offset. The filtering may be performed using a loop restoration tool, such as where the pre-filtered pixel values are output from a constrained directional enhancement filter (CDEF) tool. Alternatively, the filtering may be performed using the CDEF tool or another coding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Jingning Han
  • Patent number: 11089325
    Abstract: An example device for coding video data may include a memory configured to store a current block of the video data and one or more processors implemented in circuitry coupled to the memory. The one or more processor may be configured to determine delta motion vectors from control point motion vectors of a neighboring block of a current block. The one or more processors may also be configured to clip the delta motion vectors to a predefined range. The one or more processors may also be configured to code the current block of video data using the clipped delta motion vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Han Huang, Wei-Jung Chien, Marta Karczewicz
  • Patent number: 11089332
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for alternative transforms in a video coding system according to a control flag are disclosed. In one embodiment, the control flag for the current PU is determined. If the control flag is on, a first transform is applied to each current TU (transform unit) at an encoder side or an inverse transform of the first transform is applied to each current TU at a decoder side if the current TU has a first boundary type. Furthermore, a second transform is used for each current TU if the current TU has a second boundary type. The first transform is different from the second transform. On the other hand, if the control flag is off, a selected transform is used for each current TU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Chih-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 11048938
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Patent number: 11029149
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (ToF) system disclosed herein provides a method of a method of separating a direct component of light collected by a time of flight (ToF) detector from a global component of light collected by the ToF detector, the method comprising acquiring three or more images represented by three or more matrices in response to illuminating a target with a light source using a first spatial pattern at three or more different modulation frequencies, acquiring an additional image represented by an additional matrix in response to illuminating the target with the light source using a second spatial pattern, the second spatial pattern being different than the first spatial pattern, and determining one or more parameters of the direct component of light and the global component of light based on analysis of the three or more matrices and the additional matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Sergio Ortiz Egea, Hung-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 11022760
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera, a dark field illumination source, and a fiber inspection housing including a fiber connector input situated to receive an optical fiber connector so that an optical fiber output end of the optical fiber connector is removably insertable into an interior region of the fiber inspection housing and securable at a predetermined location in the interior region, a camera input situated to receive and secure the camera so that the camera is in optical communication with the interior region and the optical fiber output end, and a dark field illumination source input situated to receive the dark field illumination source so that light emitted from the dark field illumination source is received by the optical fiber output end at a dark field illumination angle and is scattered by contamination or defects associated with the optical fiber output end so as to be detectable by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: nLIGHT, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Brown, Dahv A. V. Kliner, Scott R. Karlsen, Jeremy Young, Ryan Hawke, David R. Balsley, Ron Stevens
  • Patent number: 11007936
    Abstract: A camera system for a vehicle includes a camera and an image evaluating unit. The camera is arranged in an interior of the vehicle behind a windowpane of the vehicle so that the camera can record an image sequence with a plurality of external recordings of external surroundings of the vehicle through the windowpane. The image evaluating unit is adapted to detect static image components that are projected into the external recordings by reflections on the windowpane, and to extract the detected static image components from the external recordings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fechner, Karsten Breuer, Dieter Kroekel
  • Patent number: 11012742
    Abstract: The present application discloses a video scrambling method and device with adaptive mode selection, a network camera and a readable storage medium, which are used for scrambling a video code stream. The video scrambling method with adaptive mode selection comprises: firstly acquiring a video code stream and determining the frame type of a current frame; and then scrambling, according to the frame type of the current frame, the data subjected to entropy decoding by using a scrambling method corresponding to the frame type. The video scrambling device with adaptive mode selection in the present application comprises a determination module and a scrambling module. According to the method and device of the present application, I-frames and P-frames are respectively scrambled, without changing the original coding standard format, effectively scrambling the video contents, and improving the security of video content information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kesen Yan, Hui Wu
  • Patent number: 11012619
    Abstract: High image quality real-time distribution of omnidirectional images is enabled. An imaging unit obtains a front image and a back image each having an ultra-wide viewing angle of greater than or equal to 180°. A transmission unit transmits the front image and the back image each having the ultra-wide viewing angle to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ichikawa, Makoto Urushihara, Yukinobu Mine
  • Patent number: 11002985
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels arrayed along first and second directions, a distribution unit that distributes light emitted from each pixel configured to display a parallax image corresponding to each of a plurality of viewpoints, and a light blocking unit between the display panel and the distribution unit. The distribution unit distributes light emitted from each of the pixels to the plurality of viewpoints along the first direction in a first display state where the display panel displays a parallax image, or stops distributing emitted light in a second display state, displaying a planar image. The light blocking unit forms, along the first direction, a plurality of first light blocking areas each extending along the second direction blocking some emitted light in the first display state, and stops forming the first light blocking areas in the second display state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TIANMA MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Matsushima, Koji Shigemura, Yukie Keicho, Tetsushi Sato
  • Patent number: 10996915
    Abstract: A novel electronic system provides a mixed-reality live environment sharing between a surrogate visitor, who is on-site at a physical landmark, and remotely-located visitors via holographic space live streaming. This novel electronic system reduces the logistical complexity and bottlenecks for providing mixed-reality holographic environments to a large number of participants in real-time by virtualizing the visitors' mixed-reality experiences through a perspective of the surrogate visitor, who may be an on-site curator or a qualified tour guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: DOUBLEME, INC.
    Inventor: Heekwan Kim
  • Patent number: 10991844
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning a solar cell element. The apparatus includes a transfer device configured for moving the solar cell element from a first position on a transport device to a second position on a support device, a detection device configured to detect a first orientation of the solar cell element on the transport device and configured to detect a second orientation of the solar cell element held by the transfer device, and a controller configured to change an orientation of the solar cell element held by the transfer device based on at least one of the first orientation and the second orientation to align the solar cell element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniele Gislon, Enrico Boscolo Marchi, Roberto Boscheratto
  • Patent number: 10986343
    Abstract: A method is provided for inter-coding video in which transmission bandwidth requirements associated with second motion vectors for bi-directional temporal prediction is reduced. In the method, vector information for one of motion vectors for multi-directional temporal prediction can be transmitted together with information on how to derive or construct the second motion vectors. Thus, rather than sending express information regarding each of the plurality of motion vectors, express information related to only one motion vector along with information related to reconstruction/derivation of the second motion vectors is transmitted, thus reducing bandwidth requirements and increasing coding efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Yue Yu, Krit Panusopone, Limin Wang
  • Patent number: 10973390
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion having a light source portion configured to emit illuminating light therefrom when inserted into a body cavity. An imaging portion is configured to capture an image in the body cavity. A transmission portion configured to transmit the image captured by the imaging portion. A battery is configured to supply electric power needed for endoscopic observation. A power control portion is configured to selectively control a supply of electric power to all of the light source portion, the imaging portion, and the transmission portion in a standby mode in which power consumption is reduced compared with a normal operation mode in which a supply of electric power is performed from the battery to all of the light source portion, the imaging portion, and the transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Erika Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 10979646
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for fluorescence imaging with a minimal area image sensor are disclosed. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation, wherein the pixel array comprises active pixels and optical black pixels. The system includes a black clamp circuit providing offset control for data generated by the pixel array and a controller comprising a processor in electrical communication with the image sensor and the emitter. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 795 nm to about 815 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern