Patents by Inventor Chengwu Cui
Chengwu Cui 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).
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Patent number: 10121117Abstract: Techniques for providing a verification of a flight path or landing zone may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture one or more images of a plurality of delivery locations within an area. A computer system may generate one or more image templates or filters using the one or more images and subsequently use the image filters to verify a flight path or landing zone for a delivery by the UAV during flight.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
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Publication number: 20180284197Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods for optical monitoring of a state of charge or a state of health of a battery are described. For example, the battery monitoring system may include an imaging device that captures images of cells of the battery and determines states of charge of the cells based on observed dimensional changes over time, e.g., relative to reference markers. The observed dimensional changes may also be corrected for dimensional changes due to thermal strain. In addition, states of health of individual cells of the battery may be determined by comparing the dimensional changes of each of the cells over time. Further, the images may be captured at various frequencies, e.g., based on an expected operational duration of the battery and/or based on a current state of charge or state of health.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Benjamin Martin Schweitzer
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Patent number: 10049589Abstract: Techniques for providing an object awareness guidance to clear a landing space may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture an image of a potential landing zone and identify one or more objects in the image that may impede or obstruct delivery of the item in the potential landing zone. The UAV may be configured to generate and provide instructions to a user device to move or remove the identified one or more objects from the potential landing zone thereby creating a safe and unobstructed landing zone to deliver the item.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
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Patent number: 10032384Abstract: A location marker that may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may include a plurality of retroreflectors that may form a pattern readable by a vehicle or other device. The pattern may be read to extract an identifier of a location, such as an address or an identifier of a person. A global positioning system (GPS) device may transmit a general location of the location marker to the vehicle, while the location marker may provide a unique visual location identifier to a device within visual range of the location marker. In some embodiments, the location marker may also include lights that may be individually sequenced on and off at different times to create a time domain signal sequence that is readable by the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Patrick Boyd, Chengwu Cui, Sarah Graber, Barry James O'Brien, Joshua John Watson, Scott Michael Wilcox
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Publication number: 20180041668Abstract: In a portable electronic device having a digital camera function, focusing of an image may be accomplished by moving a movable image sensor assembly relative to a lens assembly that is affixed in a housing. An image sensor drive, such as a voice coil motor to move the movable image sensor assembly, may be positioned between the movable image sensor assembly and the lens assembly concentric with the lens assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventor: Chengwu Cui
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Publication number: 20180041689Abstract: Focus self-calibration for a digital camera may be performed by moving a lens assembly of the digital camera over its travel range, and detecting travel limits of the lens assembly based on audio signal generated by the lens assembly reaching ends of the travel range. Digital-to-analog converter values corresponding to the lens assembly at the ends of the travel range may be used to create a camera focus profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventor: Chengwu Cui
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Patent number: 9888164Abstract: Focus self-calibration for a digital camera may be performed by moving a lens assembly of the digital camera over its travel range, and detecting travel limits of the lens assembly based on audio signal generated by the lens assembly reaching ends of the travel range. Digital-to-analog converter values corresponding to the lens assembly at the ends of the travel range may be used to create a camera focus profile.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Chengwu Cui
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Publication number: 20170332021Abstract: Technologies are provided for IR illumination through background lighting sources. Some examples are directed to as IR light source such as IR LEDs being interspersed with visible light sources (e.g., LEDs) in a light guide of a display. IR LED configuration and/or light extraction features of the light guide may be selected such that a desired IR illumination pattern (e.g., a more centralized or a more uniform pattern) can be achieved. In other examples, an activation (turning on/off) of the IR LEDs may be used to generate the desired IR illumination pattern. The IR LEDs may be driven by the same circuitry as the visible light LEDs or by dedicated drive circuitry. Furthermore, the IR LEDs may be activated in an interlaced form with the visible light LEDs (e.g., selected frames in a stream of frames) to provide the IR illumination while displaying content.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Chengwu Cui, Ying Zheng
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Patent number: 9696470Abstract: The description relates to capturing or sensing color images of scenes and information about the type of light (e.g., light source) that illuminated the scene. One example can include an image sensor manifest as an array of pixels. This example can also include a lens configured to focus an image from a scene on the array of pixels. The array of pixels can entail first pixels that are configured to sense the image and second pixels that are configured to capture information about lighting of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Chengwu Cui
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Publication number: 20160282584Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a mobile device to generate high quality images. In some examples, the mobile device includes a lens assembly that includes a first lens configured to provide positive optical power, and a telephoto stage including a second lens configured to provide negative optical power, and a third lens configured to perform one or more of increasing a sharpness and decreasing a distortion of an image associated with light transmitted through the lens assembly. The lens assembly has a track length that is less than or equal to approximately 6.0 mm and a focal length that is greater than or equal to approximately 7.3 mm. Aspects enable a lens assembly to be used in a mobile device environment, such that a mobile device including and/or associated with the lens assembly is configured to take high quality images.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventor: Chengwu Cui
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Publication number: 20160259099Abstract: The description relates to capturing or sensing color images of scenes and information about the type of light (e.g., light source) that illuminated the scene. One example can include an image sensor manifest as an array of pixels. This example can also include a lens configured to focus an image from a scene on the array of pixels. The array of pixels can entail first pixels that are configured to sense the image and second pixels that are configured to capture information about lighting of the scene.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Chengwu CUI
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Patent number: 8833967Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner comprising a light source, a primary reflector and a secondary reflector. The primary reflector comprises a lower member and upper member spaced away from the lower member. The upper member has a heatsink for dissipating the heat of the light source. The light source is positioned between the lower and upper members and is attached to the upper member allowing for decreased vertical height for the illumination assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
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Patent number: 8610969Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a scan head frame. A thermally conductive heat sink component has an elongated base portion that is mounted along a longitudinal edge of the scan head frame and a protruding portion having a generally L-shaped structure that includes a first portion extending from the base portion and a second portion extending from and generally orthogonal to the first portion. A light source is coupled to the second portion of the protruding portion of the heat sink component. A first reflector is removably coupled to the first portion of the protruding portion of the heat sink component and is positioned directly in the optical path of the light source.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
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Patent number: 8610972Abstract: An optical system for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a light source for illuminating a target area and a plurality of mirrors that includes a first mirror positioned to receive a light beam traveling along a first optical path and to reflect the beam along a second optical path. A second mirror receives the beam traveling along the second optical path and reflects the beam along a third optical path. A third mirror receives the beam traveling along the third optical path and reflects the beam along a fourth optical path. A fourth mirror receives the beam traveling along the fourth optical path and reflects the beam along a fifth optical path. A fifth mirror receives the beam traveling along the fifth optical path and reflects the beam along a sixth optical path. An image sensor receives the beam and senses an image of the target area.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
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Publication number: 20130271975Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner comprising a light source, a primary reflector and a secondary reflector. The primary reflector comprises a lower member and upper member spaced away from the lower member. The upper member has a heatsink for dissipating the heat of the light source. The light source is positioned between the lower and upper members and is attached to the upper member allowing for decreased vertical height for the illumination assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
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Patent number: 8485675Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a light source, a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector has a curved structure and is positioned directly in the optical path of the light source. The first reflector has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the first reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the light source toward a target area to be scanned. The second portion of the first reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the light source toward the second reflector. The second reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the first reflector toward the target area.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow
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Patent number: 8432584Abstract: A scan module including an image sensor defining a scan field, at least one lamp positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the scan field, and a second light source positioned to provide illumination for the portion of the scan field.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: Chengwu Cui
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Patent number: 8422096Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a computer program product for dissipating heat produced in a scan head assembly of an imaging apparatus during scanning of media sheets in the imaging apparatus. The method includes determining at least one of a temperature of the scan head assembly and a media sheet scan count. The method further includes moving the scan head assembly between a first position of the scan head assembly and a second position of the scan head assembly for dissipating heat, based on at least one of the temperature of the scan head assembly and the media sheet scan count.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Charles Brandon Langrel
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Patent number: 8405889Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an automatic document feeder having a media feeding section, a media collecting section and a media conveying path extending from the media feeding section to the media collecting section. The imaging apparatus includes a scan head adjacent to the automatic document feeder. The scan head is moveable to a raised position aligned with a portion of the media conveying path for scanning a media sheet in the portion of the media conveying path.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Charles Brandon Langrel
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Patent number: 8400688Abstract: A mounting bracket for an image sensing unit of a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion. The first portion has a plurality of elongated holes therein each for receiving a fastener to mount the mounting bracket to a scan head frame. The second portion includes a cutout section therein for allowing an image sensor of the image sensing unit to receive an image from an optical unit of the scanner. A pivot hole in the first portion is centered about a width of the cutout section. When the mounting bracket is mounted on the scan head frame, the elongated holes in the first portion permit linear adjustment of the mounting bracket relative to the scan head frame and the pivot hole permits angular adjustment of the mounting bracket relative to the scan head frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Eugene David Allen, Chengwu Cui, Joshua Tyler Strow