Patents by Inventor Benoit Maison

Benoit Maison 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: 9465774
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved OCR system wherein the same can be utilized for capturing and analyzing multiple images of a document to increase the efficiency and accuracy of digitizing printed texts on the document. Captured images are merged into a single set of character recognition results via a recognition method from multiple images, which include early fusion, late fusion, and hybrid fusion embodiments. The end product from each of the embodiments provides text and metadata that include recognized words. In late and hybrid fusion, words having confidence scores above a predetermined threshold are assembled together to form paragraphs to reconstruct a digital version of the document. In this way, the present invention utilizes multiple images that can be combined to aggregate information and achieve high accuracy when scanning and digitizing printed texts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventor: Benoit Maison
  • Patent number: 9430059
    Abstract: An apparatus for interaction of a plurality of users with an application, comprising: a plurality of pointing devices (10) capable of emitting a signal (80; 110) (such as visible or infrared light, a laser or omnidirectional flashes), each pointing device comprising one or more triggers; a presentation device (20) (such as display, a wall, or any objects); and detection means (30) (camera, stereo camera, other) capable of detecting said signal (80; 110). The apparatus also comprises means (30, 40) for detecting trigger actions by said users, and recording the identity and time of said trigger actions (30, 40), means (40, 13) for enabling said pointing devices (10) to emit said signal (80; 110) and means (40) for enabling said detection means (30) to detect said signal (80, 110), and for linking said signal detection to a specific pointing device (10) trigger action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Xavier Sohy, Olivier Pierre, Matthieu Laheux
  • Publication number: 20150286888
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved OCR system wherein the same can be utilized for capturing and analyzing multiple images of a document to increase the efficiency and accuracy of digitizing printed texts on the document. Captured images are merged into a single set of character recognition results via a recognition method from multiple images, which include early fusion, late fusion, and hybrid fusion embodiments. The end product from each of the embodiments provides text and metadata that include recognized words. In late and hybrid fusion, words having confidence scores above a predetermined threshold are assembled together to form paragraphs to reconstruct a digital version of the document. In this way, the present invention utilizes multiple images that can be combined to aggregate information and achieve high accuracy when scanning and digitizing printed texts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventor: Benoit Maison
  • Patent number: 9140546
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for the three dimensional inspection of saw marks (2) on at least one surface (3) of a wafer (4) are disclosed. At least one camera (6) is required to capture an image of the entire surface (3) of the wafer (4). At least one line projector (8) provides a light bundle (5), centered about a central beam axis (9). The line projector (8) is arranged such that the central beam axis (9) is at an acute angle (?) with regard to the plane (P) of the wafer (4). A line shifter (12) is positioned in the light bundle (5) between each line projector (8) and the surface (3) of the wafer (4). A frame grabber (14) and an image processor (16) are used to synchronize and coordinate the image capture and the position of the pattern (20) of lines (22) on the front side (3F) and/or the back side (3B) of the wafer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Andy Hill, Laurent Hermans, Frans Nijs, Karel Van Gils, Christophe Wouters
  • Patent number: 9103665
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for the three dimensional inspection of saw marks (2) on at least one surface (3) of a wafer (4) are disclosed. At least one camera (6) is required to capture an image of the entire surface (3) of the wafer (4). At least one line projector (8) provides a light bundle (5), centered about a central beam axis (9). The line projector (8) is arranged such that the central beam axis (9) is at an acute angle (?) with regard to the plane (P) of the wafer (4). A line shifter (12) is positioned in the light bundle (5) between each line projector (8) and the surface (3) of the wafer (4). A frame grabber (14) and an image processor (16) are used to synchronize and coordinate the image capture and the position of the pattern (20) of lines (22) on the front side (3F) and/or the back side (3B) of the wafer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Andy Hill, Laurent Hermans, Frans Nijs, Karel Van Gils, Christophe Wouters
  • Patent number: 8411149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying and extracting images of one or more users in an interactive environment comprising the steps of: —obtaining a depth map (7) of a scene in the form of an array of depth values, and an image (8) of said scene in the form of a corresponding array of pixel values, said depth map (7) and said image (8) being registered; applying a coordinate transformation to said depth map (7) and said image (8) for obtaining a corresponding array (15) containing the 3D positions in a real-world coordinates system and pixel values points; —grouping said points according to their relative positions, by using a clustering process (18) so that each group contains points that are in the same region of space and correspond to a user location (19); —defining individual volumes of interest (20) each corresponding to one of said user locations (19); —selecting, from said array (15) containing the 3D positions and pixel values, the points located in said volumes of interest for obtaining
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Alterface S.A.
    Inventors: Benoît Maison, Xavier Sohy
  • Patent number: 8355920
    Abstract: A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Gopinath, Benoit Maison, Brian C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20120300039
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for the three dimensional inspection of saw marks (2) on at least one surface (3) of a wafer (4) are disclosed. At least one camera (6) is required to capture an image of the entire surface (3) of the wafer (4). At least one line projector (8) provides a light bundle (5), centered about a central beam axis (9). The line projector (8) is arranged such that the central beam axis (9) is at an acute angle (?) with regard to the plane (P) of the wafer (4). A line shifter (12) is positioned in the light bundle (5) between each line projector (8) and the surface (3) of the wafer (4). A frame grabber (14) and an image processor (16) are used to synchronize and coordinate the image capture and the position of the pattern (20) of lines (22) on the front side (3F) and/or the back side (3B) of the wafer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Andy Hill, Laurent Hermans, Frans Nijs, Karel Van Gils, Christophe Wouters
  • Patent number: 7702512
    Abstract: A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Gopinath, Benoit Maison, Brian C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20090315829
    Abstract: An apparatus for interaction of a plurality of users with an application, comprising: a plurality of pointing devices (10) capable of emitting a signal (80; 110) (such as visible or infrared light, a laser or omnidirectional flashes), each pointing device comprising one or more triggers; a presentation device (20) (such as display, a wall, or any objects); and detection means (30) (camera, stereo camera, other) capable of detecting said signal (80; 110). The apparatus also comprises means (30, 40) for detecting trigger actions by said users, and recording the identity and time of said trigger actions (30, 40), means (40, 13) for enabling said pointing devices (10) to emit said signal (80; 110) and means (40) for enabling said detection means (30) to detect said signal (80, 110), and for linking said signal detection to a specific pointing device (10) trigger action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Xavier Sohy, Olivier Pierre, Matthieu Laheux
  • Publication number: 20090244309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying and extracting images of one or more users in an interactive environment comprising the steps of: —obtaining a depth map (7) of a scene in the form of an array of depth values, and an image (8) of said scene in the form of a corresponding array of pixel values, said depth map (7) and said image (8) being registered; applying a coordinate transformation to said depth map (7) and said image (8) for obtaining a corresponding array (15) containing the 3D positions in a real-world coordinates system and pixel values points; —grouping said points according to their relative positions, by using a clustering process (18) so that each group contains points that are in the same region of space and correspond to a user location (19); —defining individual volumes of interest (20) each corresponding to one of said user locations (19); —selecting, from said array (15) containing the 3D positions and pixel values, the points located in said volumes of interest for obtaining
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Xavier Sohy
  • Publication number: 20080312921
    Abstract: In a speech recognition system, the combination of a log-linear model with a multitude of speech features is provided to recognize unknown speech utterances. The speech recognition system models the posterior probability of linguistic units relevant to speech recognition using a log-linear model. The posterior model captures the probability of the linguistic unit given the observed speech features and the parameters of the posterior model. The posterior model may be determined using the probability of the word sequence hypotheses given a multitude of speech features. Log-linear models are used with features derived from sparse or incomplete data. The speech features that are utilized may include asynchronous, overlapping, and statistically non-independent speech features. Not all features used in training need to appear in testing/recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Scott E. Axelrod, Sreeram Viswanath Balakrishnan, Stanley F. Chen, Yuging Gao, Rameah A. Gopinath, Hong-Kwang Kuo, Benoit Maison, David Nahamoo, Michael Alan Picheny, George A. Saon, Geoffrey G. Zweig
  • Patent number: 7464031
    Abstract: In a speech recognition system, the combination of a log-linear model with a multitude of speech features is provided to recognize unknown speech utterances. The speech recognition system models the posterior probability of linguistic units relevant to speech recognition using a log-linear model. The posterior model captures the probability of the linguistic unit given the observed speech features and the parameters of the posterior model. The posterior model may be determined using the probability of the word sequence hypotheses given a multitude of speech features. Log-linear models are used with features derived from sparse or incomplete data. The speech features that are utilized may include asynchronous, overlapping, and statistically non-independent speech features. Not all features used in training need to appear in testing/recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott E. Axelrod, Sreeram Viswanath Balakrishnan, Stanley F. Chen, Yuging Gao, Ramesh A. Gopinath, Hong-Kwang Kuo, Benoit Maison, David Nahamoo, Michael Alan Picheny, George A. Saon, Geoffrey G. Zweig
  • Publication number: 20080243514
    Abstract: A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Gopinath, Benoit Maison, Brian C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20080243507
    Abstract: A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Gopinath, Benoit Maison, Brian C. Wu
  • Patent number: 7386454
    Abstract: A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Gopinath, Benoit Maison, Brian C. Wu
  • Publication number: 20070179787
    Abstract: A method of updating an application in a processing system, the aforesaid method comprising the steps of: (a) starting operation of a first version of an application in the aforesaid processing system; (b) starting operation of a second version of the aforesaid application in the aforesaid processing system; and (c) incrementally reallocating processing system resources from the aforesaid first version of the aforesaid application to a second version of the aforesaid application, such that at most one application selected from the aforesaid first version and the aforesaid second version of the aforesaid application operates at full capacity at any time, and such that at least one of the aforesaid first version and the aforesaid second version of the aforesaid application is operating at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ea-Ee Jan, Benoit Maison
  • Patent number: 7251599
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for facilitating database access in speech recognition. A plurality of possible subsequences corresponding to a database entry are ascertained, a record of such subsequences and their correspondence to database entries is created, and either or both of the following are carried out: unique signatures are ascertained via determining whether a subsequence corresponding to a given database entry does not also correspond to at least one other database entry; and/or multiple occurrences of a given subsequence are found, with corresponding database entries being grouped into a confusion set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Maison, Geoffrey G. Zweig
  • Publication number: 20070162275
    Abstract: A method includes applying at least one tag to at least one data element stored in a database the tag having at least one associated rule, utilizing the at least one associated rule to generate at least one variant of the data element, and storing the at least one variant in the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Ablondi, Vaibhava Goel, Ea-Ee Jan, Benoit Maison, Jerome Quinn, Karthik Visweswariah
  • Patent number: 7206387
    Abstract: A voice processing system is provided in which sets of engines running on a plurality of servers are configured differently from one another. The sets of engines may be configured to achieve different trade-offs between performance of a task and resources required to perform the task. In the voice processing system, a task routing server is provided that assigns different sets of sub-tasks to different sets of task engines. The number of engines used to perform a task and the number of engines in each set are adjusted. By adjusting the parameters settings for the set of engines based on the type of application, the particular requirements of the application, or the nature and importance of the subtasks, for example, advantages such as improvement of resource utilization and the hardware and software costs reduction may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: International Business MAchines Corporation
    Inventors: Ea-Ee Jan, Benoit Maison, Andrzei Sakrajda