Patents by Inventor Clifton L. Forlines

Clifton L. Forlines 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: 7773099
    Abstract: The embodiments of invention provide method and apparatus for converting one or more images for display on a display surface. The output image is obtained from an input image. We scale the input image to generate a foreground image, in which a content of the foreground image corresponds directly to a content of the input image, and in which a resolution of the foreground image when displayed is smaller than a resolution of a display surface. The input image is also transformed to a background image, in which a content of the background image depends indirectly on the input image, and in which a resolution of the background image is larger than the resolution of the foreground image. Next, the foreground image is combined with the background image to form the output image, in which pixels of the foreground image replace corresponding pixels of the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Anthony Vetro
  • Publication number: 20100008541
    Abstract: A method presents a set of images to a viewer. The images include objects, which can be either distractor objects or target objects. A prevalence of the target objects is substantially lower than the distractor objects. Each image is segmented into portions so that each portion includes one object. The portions are then combined into a combined image. The combined image is presented to a viewer so that the target objects can be accurately and rapidly identified. The combining of the portions can be random or ordered in either the spatial or temporal domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Clifton L. Forlines
  • Patent number: 7526725
    Abstract: A computer implemented method converts and displays a video. An input video acquired of a scene is segmented into shots. Similar shots are combined sequentially into corresponding chains. Each frame of the input video is then rendered into a composite image according to the chains and templates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton L. Forlines
  • Patent number: 7486274
    Abstract: The invention provides a method to stabilize a pointer displayed within an output image. The method enables the user to magnify selected areas within the output image. This allows the user to ‘zoom’ in on areas of interest in the output image, and to make accurate selections with the stabilized pointer. Design features of the method enable pixel and sub-pixel accurate pointing, which is not possible with most conventional direct pointing devices. The invention can be worked for 2D and 3D pointers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Ravin Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20090002397
    Abstract: The embodiments of invention provide method and apparatus for converting one or more images for display on a display surface. The output image is obtained from an input image. We scale the input image to generate a foreground image, in which a content of the foreground image corresponds directly to a content of the input image, and in which a resolution of the foreground image when displayed is smaller than a resolution of a display surface. The input image is also transformed to a background image, in which a content of the background image depends indirectly on the input image, and in which a resolution of the background image is larger than the resolution of the foreground image. Next, the foreground image is combined with the background image to form the output image, in which pixels of the foreground image replace corresponding pixels of the background image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Anthony Vetro
  • Patent number: 7441202
    Abstract: A graphical user interface has a display surface that is segmented into multiple regions. A set of unique, non-overlapping locations is associated with each region. A set of actions that can be performed by the graphical user interface is defined. A document to be displayed on the display surface is selected. The document is moved to a particular location, and a particular action of the set of actions is performed on the selected object according to the particular location of the object on the display surface to operate the graphical user interface in one of a plurality of modes for the particular action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Shen, Katherine Everitt, Kathleen Ryall, Clifton L. Forlines
  • Patent number: 7327376
    Abstract: A multi-user collaborative graphical user interface has a display area with a horizontal orientation, the display surface is positioned between the multiple users. The display area also has a centroid and a circumference. The display area is partitioned into work areas so that there is one working area for each user of the multiple users. An item is displayed in a particular working area using a global polar coordinate system centered on the centroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Shen, Frédéric D. Vernier, Clifton L. Forlines
  • Patent number: 7292269
    Abstract: A method displays an output image on an object. A set of unique markers are fixed to the object at predetermined locations. An input image of the object and the markers is acquired with a camera in a fixed physical relationship to a projector. A pose of the projector with respect to the markers is determined from the image. Then, one or more output images related to the object can be projected onto the object, at predetermine locations, according to the pose of the projector and the unique markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Ramesh Raskar, Clifton L. Forlines, Paul A. Beardsley
  • Patent number: 7179171
    Abstract: A cellular telephone breeding toy includes a memory storing genetic traits of corresponding breedable virtual fish. The memory also stores sets of image templates, there being at least one genetic trait associated with each image template. A keypad is used to select one or more of the virtual fish, and to render the virtual fish according to the genetic traits and the sets of image templates. Lineage of the virtual fish can also be displayed, and the virtual fish can be traded between cellular telephones using communications protocols. Genetic traits of two virtual fish can be combined randomly to generate off-springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Joseph W. Marks
  • Patent number: 7139006
    Abstract: A method presents a set of input images on a display device. First, a set of display images is selected from the set of images. A 3D layout is assigned to each selected image, and a 3D trajectory is assigned to a virtual camera. A set of active images of the set of display images is rendered according to the layout and the trajectory. The set of active images includes a collector image. The collector images is rendered statically in a collector frame of an image plane of the display device, while remaining images in the set of active images are rendered dynamically on the image plane. Then, the layout and trajectory are animated according user input, and the rendering and animating is repeated until a termination condition is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc
    Inventors: Kent B. Wittenburg, Thomas R. Lanning, Clifton L. Forlines, Alan W. Esenther
  • Publication number: 20040201823
    Abstract: A method displays an output image on an object. A set of unique markers are fixed to the object at predetermined locations. An input image of the object and the markers is acquired with a camera in a fixed physical relationship to a projector. A pose of the projector with respect to the markers is determined from the image. Then, one or more output images related to the object can be projected onto the object, at predetermine locations, according to the pose of the projector and the unique markers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Ramesh Raskar, Clifton L. Forlines, Paul A. Beardsley
  • Publication number: 20040204127
    Abstract: A method generates images on a display of a cellular telephone. First, vectors are stored in a memory of the cellular telephone. Each vector includes an identical number of elements. Sets of image templates are also stored in the memory. Then, a particular vector is indirectly selected by an input device, and selected ones of the image templates are composited by stacking the image templates in an image buffer in a predetermined order. Copying the image buffer to a screen buffer will then render an image corresponding to the selected vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Joseph W. Marks
  • Publication number: 20040150657
    Abstract: A method presents a set of input images on a display device. First, a set of display images is selected from the set of images. A 3D layout is assigned to each selected image, and a 3D trajectory is assigned to a virtual camera. A set of active images of the set of display images is rendered according to the layout and the trajectory. The set of active images includes a collector image. The collector images is rendered statically in a collector frame of an image plane of the display device, while remaining images in the set of active images are rendered dynamically on the image plane. Then, the layout and trajectory are animated according user input, and the rendering and animating is repeated until a termination condition is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Kent B. Wittenburg, Thomas R. Lanning, Clifton L. Forlines, Alan W. Esenther
  • Patent number: 6764185
    Abstract: An interactive display system includes a sensor for sensing a relationship between a mobile coordinate frame fixed to a moving projector, and a stable coordinate frame fixed to a stationary display surface in the real world. An output image to be projected on the display surface is partitioned into a black image portion having a fixed relationship to the mobile coordinate frame, a stable image portion within the block image portion having a fixed relationship to the stable coordinate frame, and a mobile image portion within the stable image portion having a fixed relationship to the mobile coordinate frame. The mobile portion can be used as a pointer within the stable portion in a mouse-cursor like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Beardsley, Ramesh Raskar, Clifton L. Forlines, Dirk Brinkman
  • Publication number: 20040046784
    Abstract: A multi-user collaborative graphical user interface has a display area with a horizontal orientation, the display surface is positioned between the multiple users. The display area also has a centroid and a circumference. The display area is partitioned into work areas so that there is one working area for each user of the multiple users. An item is displayed in a particular working area using a global polar coordinate system centered on the centroid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Chia Shen, Frederic D. Vernier, Clifton L. Forlines
  • Publication number: 20030236119
    Abstract: A cellular telephone breeding toy includes a memory storing genetic traits of corresponding breedable virtual fish. The memory also stores sets of image templates, there being at least one genetic trait associated with each image template. A keypad is used to select one or more of the virtual fish, and to render the virtual fish according to the genetic traits and the sets of image templates. Lineage of the virtual fish can also be displayed, and the virtual fish can be traded between cellular telephones using communications protocols. Genetic traits of two virtual fish can be combined randomly to generate off-springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Clifton L. Forlines, Joseph W. Marks