Patents Examined by Wesley Tucker
  • Image processing apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9202261
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an image processing apparatus and method. The image processing apparatus may include: a filter for performing an iterative filtering on an input image; and an iterative filtering stopping device for determining whether to stop the iterative filtering according to a variation speed of the filtered image obtained from each iteration of the iterative filtering with increasing of iteration times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hongfeng Ma, Pin Zhang, Yanli Wang, Hitoshi Yamagata
  • Apparatus and method for analyzing ultrasonic image
    Patent number: 9202279
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing an ultrasonic image is provided. The apparatus includes a feature point extracting unit configured to convert the ultrasonic image into a phase information image and extract a feature point from the phase information image, and an image registering unit configured to perform an image registration on the ultrasonic image based on the extracted feature point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Ha Lee, Moon-Ho Park, Yeong-Kyeong Seong
  • Device and method of binarization for payment or accounting documents
    Patent number: 9171205
    Abstract: A binarization device for payment or accounting documents including sensitive data located in respective data window provides a primary binarized document file of the document; a memory stores identification files including identifying images and location information associated to given types of documents; the data window can be identified and localized as comparison with the identification files of the memory; the contribution of the background is subtracted from the window file, the window file is binarized and filtered for spurious pixels obtaining a binarized window file; the binarized document file and the binarized window file are merged to provide the binarized window file in the data window; the evidence of the significant pixel is obtained by sequential analysis on groups of pixels, applying morphological expansion operators on each group of pixels and following erosion of said group of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: CTS ELECTRONICS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Barbara Penna, Patrizia Ugo
  • System to compile landmark image search results
    Patent number: 9171231
    Abstract: This patent discloses a system to compile a landmark image search result. The system may determine a rank of each image within a visual cluster according to at least one of a low-level self-similarity score, a low-level discriminative modeling score, and a point wise linking score. The landmark image search result may be compiled as a function of the rank of each image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: YAHOO! INC.
    Inventors: Mor Naaman, Lyndon Kennedy
  • System and method for generating robust depth maps utilizing a multi-resolution procedure
    Patent number: 9161010
    Abstract: A system and method for generating robust depth maps includes a depth estimator that creates a depth map pyramid structure that includes a plurality of depth map levels that each have different resolution characteristics. In one embodiment, the depth map levels include a fine-scale depth map, a medium-scale depth map, and a coarse scale depth map. The depth estimator evaluates depth values from the fine-scale depth map by utilizing fine-scale confidence features, and evaluates depth values from the medium-scale depth map and the coarse-scale depth map by utilizing coarse-scale confidence features. The depth estimator then fuses optimal depth values from the different depth map levels into an optimal depth map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Gazi Ali, Pingshan Li, Akira Matsui, Takami Mizukura
  • Method and system for evaluating the quality of a rendered image
    Patent number: 9158981
    Abstract: Techniques for evaluating the quality of a an image on a printing surface. The techniques generally includes receiving a first signal corresponding to the original image and a second signal corresponding to the rendition of the original image. The techniques further include filtering both signals using a common set of filters to extract at least partial contours of the original image and of its rendition and to determine a quality value of the rendition of the original image based on a comparison between the filtered images in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Andrew James Sauer
  • Systems and methods for remotely assessing roof condition
    Patent number: 9152863
    Abstract: A system for remotely assessing the condition of a roof of a building is disclosed. The system may compare multiple pieces of image data of the roof, representing the roof at different moments in time, to determine if at least a portion of the roof has been repaired, replaced or damaged in the time between the pieces of image data. If the roof is determined to have been repaired, replaced or damaged, the system may calculate a date of repair, replacement or damage of the roof that corresponds to the date on which at least one of the pieces of image data was captured or created. In the case where the roof has been repaired or replaced, the system may calculate the age of the roof based on the date of repair or replacement, and subsequently, calculate the actual cash value (ACV) of the roof based on the roof age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Rosemarie Geier Grant
  • Systems and methods for data and model-driven image reconstruction and enhancement
    Patent number: 9153047
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image reconstruction and enhancement, using a computer system. One method includes acquiring a plurality of images associated with a target anatomy; determining, using a processor, one or more associations between subdivisions of localized anatomy of the target anatomy identified from the plurality of images, and local image regions identified from the plurality of images; performing an initial image reconstruction based on image acquisition information of the target anatomy; and updating the initial image reconstruction or generating a new image reconstruction based on the image acquisition information and the one or more determined associations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Grady, Michiel Schaap
  • Personal identification combining proximity sensing with biometrics
    Patent number: 9152868
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which the identity of a person (e.g., a customer in a commercial transaction) is determinable without active identification effort, via biometric data is obtained without action by the person. Machine processing of the biometric data over a set of possible persons, determined from secondary proximity sensing, is used to determine or assist in determining the identity of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Stephen Frederick Smowton, Ronnie Chaiken, Weidong Cui, Oliver H. Foehr, Jacob Rubin Lorch, David Molnar, Bryan Jeffrey Parno, Stefan Saroiu, Alastair Wolman
  • Image processing device
    Patent number: 9143755
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an obtaining unit, a separating unit, a processing unit and a combining unit. The obtaining unit obtains a depth value of a subject imaged on an input image. The separating unit separates the input image into a first component that is a component including a gradation and a second component that is a component other than the first component. The processing unit enhances the first component in accordance with the depth value to generate a processed component. The combining unit combines the processed component and the second component to generate a combined component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ono, Yasunori Taguchi, Nobuyuki Matsumoto
  • Non-uniformity correction (NUC) gain damping
    Patent number: 9143709
    Abstract: A system of non-uniformity correction (NUC) for a pixel in an imaging array includes: a storage module for storing (a) a first gain coefficient for correcting a gain error of the pixel and (b) multiple damping factors, including a first damping factor, for adjusting the first gain coefficient, in response to multiple respective light levels that the pixel senses during operation. Also included is a NUC corrector module for receiving a first intensity value from the pixel in response to a first light level. The NUC corrector module extracts the first gain coefficient and a first damping factor from the storage module, and then corrects the first intensity value of the pixel using the (a) first gain coefficient and (b) first damping factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Martin Winn
  • Systems and methods for modifying stereoscopic images
    Patent number: 9143754
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for modifying stereoscopic images. One embodiment is a method implemented in an image processing device for modifying stereoscopic images. The method comprises retrieving, by an image processing device, a stereoscopic image having at least a first view image and a second view image and retrieving an orientation selection relating to the stereoscopic image, the orientation selection comprising a selection other than one of: a horizontal flip selection and a 180 degree rotation selection. The method further comprises calculating a depth map according to at least part of the stereoscopic image, rotating the first view image based on the orientation selection to obtain a rotated first view image, and generating a new second view image according to the depth map and the rotated first view image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: CYBERLINK CORP.
    Inventors: Yi-Chao Tsai, Chih-Yu Cheng
  • Predictive theft notification for the prevention of theft
    Patent number: 9135499
    Abstract: Predictive theft notifications are used to coordinate appropriate responses to persons who are likely to commit acts of theft. Image data is generated and processed in a computer processing device to recognize the presence of a facial image comprising a face of a person. An analysis is performed of data representative of the facial image to determine a biometric match relative to one or more biometric models of facial images stored in a database. Based on this analysis, at least one predictive notification is generated with regard to a future potential theft of merchandise from the secured facility. The predictive notification is generated based upon a determination of the biometric match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Adam S. Bergman, David R. Noone
  • Hardening security images
    Patent number: 9129102
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for authenticating a human user. A memory can store a plurality of images and can store account information for a plurality of users. The account information can include personal image information for at least some of the users. A processor can receive a communication including an indication of a desire of a user to be authenticated, access an account of the user, modify the plurality of images to form a plurality of modified images, provide the plurality of modified images to the user, receive trial personal image information from the user, and compare the personal image information stored in the memory to the trial personal image information received from the user. The processor can authenticate the user if the personal image information stored in the memory is the same as the trial personal image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: William Joseph Leddy
  • Method and apparatus for three-dimensional tracking of infra-red beacons
    Patent number: 9122945
    Abstract: A method for processing data includes identifying a time signature of an infra-red (IR) beacon. Image data associated with the IR beacon is identified using the time signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Cowperthwaite, Bradford H. Needham
  • Method and system for liver lesion detection
    Patent number: 9117259
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically detecting liver lesions in medical image data, such as 3D CT images, is disclosed. A liver region is segmented in a 3D image. Liver lesion center candidates are detected in the segmented liver region. Lesion candidates are segmented corresponding to the liver lesion center candidates, and lesions are detected from the segmented lesion candidates using learning based verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Liu, Dijia Wu, Shaohua Kevin Zhou, Maria Jimena Costa, Michael Suehling, Christian Tietjen
  • Method for correcting user's gaze direction in image, machine-readable storage medium and communication terminal
    Patent number: 9111171
    Abstract: A method and mobile terminal for correcting a gaze of a user in an image includes setting eye outer points that define an eye region of the user in an original image, transforming the set eye outer points to a predetermined reference camera gaze direction, and transforming the eye region of the original image based on the transformed eye outer points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Postech Academy-Industry
    Inventors: Byung-Jun Son, Dai-Jin Kim, Jong-Ju Shin, In-Ho Choi, Tae-Hwa Hong
  • Methods and apparatus for coherent manipulation and stylization of stereoscopic images
    Patent number: 9105117
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coherent manipulation and stylization of stereoscopic images. A stereo image manipulation method may use the disparity map for a stereo image pair to divide the left and right images into a set of slices, each of which is the portion of the images that correspond to a certain, small depth range. The method may merge the left and right slices for a depth into a single image. The method may then apply a stylization technique to each slice. The method may then extract the left and right portions of each stylized slice, and stack them together to create a coherent stylized stereo image. As an alternative to first extracting slices from a merged image and then applying a stylization technique to the slices, the method may first apply the stylization technique to the merged image and then extract slices from the stylized merged image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Asente, Lesley Ann Northam
  • Information processing device, information processing method, and program
    Patent number: 9104980
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a learning unit that performs, using an action performed by an object and an observation value of an image as learning data, learning of a separation learning model that includes a background model that is a model of the background of the image and one or more foreground model(s) that is a model of a foreground of the image, which can move on the background, in which the background model includes a background appearance model indicating the appearance of the background, and at least one among the one or more foreground model(s) includes a transition probability, with which a state corresponding to the position of the foreground on the background is transitioned by an action performed by the object corresponding to the foreground, for each action, and a foreground appearance model indicating the appearance of the foreground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki Noda, Takashi Hasuo, Kenta Kawamoto, Kohtaro Sabe
  • Wide-angle lens image correction
    Patent number: 9105090
    Abstract: A system for correcting distortion effects in a distorted image includes a memory controller for reading pixels (corresponding to a subset region in a destination image) of the distorted image from a system memory to local memory. A look-up table stores an offset and interpolation weight for each pixel, and an ALU computes, using stored values only in the local memory, values of each of the pixels in the region in the destination image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Akshayakumar Haribhatt, Rajesh Vijayakumar