Patents by Inventor Alexandre Naaman

Alexandre Naaman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11682108
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Seely, Alexandre Naaman, Patrick Shehane, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Behkish J. Manzari
  • Patent number: 11481096
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 11250571
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for the robust usage of semantic segmentation information in image processing techniques, e.g., shallow depth of field (SDOF) renderings. Semantic segmentation may be defined as a process of creating a mask over an image, wherein pixels are segmented into a predefined set of semantic classes. Segmentations may be binary (e.g., a ‘person pixel’ or a ‘non-person pixel’) or multi-class (e.g., a pixel may be labelled as: ‘person,’ ‘dog,’ ‘cat,’ etc.). As semantic segmentation techniques grow in accuracy and adoption, it is becoming increasingly important to develop methods of utilizing such segmentations and developing flexible techniques for integrating segmentation information into existing computer vision applications, such as synthetic SDOF renderings, to yield improved results in a wide range of image capture scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Lindskog, Michael W. Tao, Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20210407050
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Richard D. Seely, Alexandre Naaman, Patrick Shehane, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Behkish J. Manzari
  • Patent number: 11120528
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Seely, Alexandre Naaman, Patrick Shehane, Andre Souza Dos Santos, Behkish J. Manzari
  • Patent number: 10992845
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for synthesizing out of focus blurring effects in digital images. Cameras having wide aperture lenses typically capture images with a shallow depth of field (SDOF). SDOF cameras are often used in portrait photography, since they emphasize subjects, while deemphasizing the background via blurring. Simulating this kind of blurring using a large depth of field (LDOF) camera may require a large amount of computational resources, i.e., to simulate the physical effects of using a wide aperture lens, while constructing a synthetic SDOF image. Moreover, cameras having smaller lens apertures, such as those in mobile phones, may not have the ability to accurately estimate or recreate the true color of clipped background light sources. Described herein are techniques to synthesize out of focus background blurring effects that attempt to reproduce accurate light intensity and color values for clipped background light sources in images captured by LDOF cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Seely, Shuang Gao, Alexandre Naaman, Patrick Shehane
  • Publication number: 20200379634
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 10788967
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 10600151
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward systems and methods segment an input image for performance of a warp kernel that executes by a graphics processing unit (GPU) the warp kernel on an array of dummy data, wherein cells of the array are populated with data representing the cells' respective locations within the array, determine, from an output array obtained from execution of the warp kernel on the dummy data, a segmentation size, and build by the GPU an output image from the input image by executing the warp kernel on the input image according to the segmentation size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20200082535
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for the robust usage of semantic segmentation information in image processing techniques, e.g., shallow depth of field (SDOF) renderings. Semantic segmentation may be defined as a process of creating a mask over an image, wherein pixels are segmented into a predefined set of semantic classes. Segmentations may be binary (e.g., a ‘person pixel’ or a ‘non-person pixel’) or multi-class (e.g., a pixel may be labelled as: ‘person,’ ‘dog,’ ‘cat,’ etc.). As semantic segmentation techniques grow in accuracy and adoption, it is becoming increasingly important to develop methods of utilizing such segmentations and developing flexible techniques for integrating segmentation information into existing computer vision applications, such as synthetic SDOF renderings, to yield improved results in a wide range of image capture scenarios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander Lindskog, Michael W. Tao, Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20190310768
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 10191636
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S Murthy
  • Patent number: 10039079
    Abstract: Disabling wireless access point notifications is described. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be disabled when movement of the mobile device is detected. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be re-enabled when the mobile device detects that the mobile device has been stationary for a specified period of time following movement of the mobile device. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications can be disabled on a per access point basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20170083218
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 9531947
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S Murthy
  • Publication number: 20160358309
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward systems and methods segment an input image for performance of a warp kernel that executes by a graphics processing unit (GPU) the warp kernel on an array of dummy data, wherein cells of the array are populated with data representing the cells' respective locations within the array, determine, from an output array obtained from execution of the warp kernel on the dummy data, a segmentation size, and build by the GPU an output image from the input image by executing the warp kernel on the input image according to the segmentation size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: David Hayward, Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20160219555
    Abstract: Disabling wireless access point notifications is described. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be disabled when movement of the mobile device is detected. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be re-enabled when the mobile device detects that the mobile device has been stationary for a specified period of time following movement of the mobile device. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications can be disabled on a per access point basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Alexandre Naaman
  • Patent number: 9247393
    Abstract: Disabling wireless access point notifications is described. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be disabled when movement of the mobile device is detected. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be re-enabled when the mobile device detects that the mobile device has been stationary for a specified period of time following movement of the mobile device. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications can be disabled on a per access point basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandre Naaman
  • Patent number: 8970596
    Abstract: A technique for optimizing the rendering of such complex render-graphs caches intermediate buffers of nodes that are expected to be re-used after they've been rendered. The render-graph is examined to determine the number of re-uses of each node's output buffer, and the buffer is cached in memory until all the re-uses of the buffer have occurred. Once all the re-uses of the buffer have occurred, the buffer is removed from the cache. This technique guarantees that for a given render-graph, no nodes will be re-rendered, resulting in improved render performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Giridhar Sreenivasa Murthy, David Hayward, Alexandre Naaman
  • Publication number: 20140240539
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Hayward, Chendi Zhang, Alexandre Naaman, Richard R. Dellinger, Giridhar S. Murthy