Abstract: A camera rig including one or more stereoscopic camera pairs and/or one or more light field cameras are described. Images are captured by the light field cameras and stereoscopic camera pairs are captured at the same time. The light field images are used to generate an environmental depth map which accurately reflects the environment in which the stereoscopic images are captured at the time of image capture. In addition to providing depth information, images captured by the light field camera or cameras is combined with or used in place of stereoscopic image data to allow viewing and/or display of portions of a scene not captured by a stereoscopic camera pair.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for receiving content including images of surfaces of an environment visible from a default viewing position and images of surfaces not visible from the default viewing position, e.g., occluded surfaces, are described. Occluded and non-occluded image portions are received in content streams that can be in a variety of stream formats. In one stream format non-occluded image content is packed into a frame with occluded image content with the occluded image content normally occupying a small portion of the frame. In other embodiments occluded image portions are received in an auxiliary data stream which is multiplexed with a data stream providing frames of non-occluded image content. UV maps which are used to map received image content to segments of an environmental model are also supplied with the UV maps corresponding to the format of the frames which are used to provide the images that serve as textures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making and using environmental measurements are described. Environmental information captured using a variety of devices is processed and combined to generate an environmental model which is communicated to customer playback devices. A UV map which is used for applying, e.g., wrapping, images onto the environmental model is also provided to the playback devices. A playback device uses the environmental model and UV map to render images which are then displayed to a viewer as part of providing a 3D viewing experience. In some embodiments updated environmental model is generated based on more recent environmental measurements, e.g., performed during the event. The updated environmental model and/or difference information for updating the existing model, optionally along with updated UV map(s), is communicated to the playback devices for use in rendering and playback of subsequently received image content.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting the capture of images of surfaces of an environment visible from a default viewing position and capturing images of surfaces not visible from the default viewing position, e.g., occluded surfaces, are described. Occluded and non-occluded image portions are packed into one or more frames and communicated to a playback device for use as textures which can be applied to a model of the environment where the images were captured. An environmental model includes a model of surfaces which are occluded from view from a default viewing position but which may be viewed is the user shifts the user's viewing location. Occluded image content can be incorporated directly into a frame that also includes non-occluded image data or sent in frames of a separate, e.g., auxiliary content stream that is multiplexed with the main content stream which communicates image data corresponding to non-occluded environmental portions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting the capture of images of surfaces of an environment visible from a default viewing position and capturing images of surfaces not visible from the default viewing position, e.g., occluded surfaces, are described. Occluded and non-occluded image portions are packed into one or more frames and communicated to a playback device for use as textures which can be applied to a model of the environment where the images were captured. An environmental model includes a model of surfaces which are occluded from view from a default viewing position but which maybe viewed is the user shifts the user's viewing location. Occluded image content can be incorporated directly into a frame that also includes non-occluded image data or sent in frames of a separate, e.g., auxiliary content stream that is multiplexed with the main content stream which communicates image data corresponding to non-occluded environmental portions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for receiving content including images of surfaces of an environment visible from a default viewing position and images of surfaces not visible from the default viewing position, e.g., occluded surfaces, are described. Occluded and non-occluded image portions are received in content streams that can be in a variety of stream formats. In one stream format non-occluded image content is packed into a frame with occluded image content with the occluded image content normally occupying a small portion of the frame. In other embodiments occluded image portions are received in an auxiliary data stream which is multiplexed with a data stream providing frames of non-occluded image content. UV maps which are used to map received image content to segments of an environmental model are also supplied with the UV maps corresponding to the format of the frames which are used to provide the images that serve as textures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making environmental measurements are described. In some embodiments different devices are used to capture environmental information at different times, rates and/or resolutions. Environmental information, e.g., depth information, from multiples sources captured using a variety of devices is processed and combined. Some environmental information is captured during an event. Such information is combined, in some embodiments, with environmental information that was captured prior to the event. Environmental depth model is generated in some embodiments by combining, e.g., reconciling, depth information from at least two different sources including: i) depth information obtained from a static map, ii) depth information obtained from images captured by light field cameras, and iii) depth information obtained from images captured by stereoscopic camera pairs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: There is disclosed an access port for a casing of a gas turbine engine and a plug for plugging the access port. The access port and plug each include first and second baulking formations which are configured to engage with one another. The first and second baulking formations are spaced from one another by a unique angular separation which allows only the correct plug to be inserted into the correct access port.

Abstract: The present invention provides lignin derivatives having a certain physical and/or chemical properties. In particular, the lignin derivatives of the invention have particular NMR spectral characteristics, impurity content, average molecular weight, and/or other characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing a user to switch viewing positions and/or perspective while viewing an environment, e.g., as part of a 3D playback/viewing experience, are described. In various embodiments images of the environment are captured using cameras placed at multiple camera positions. During viewing a user can select which camera position he/she would like to experience the environment from. While experiencing the environment from the perspective of a first camera position the user may switch from the first to a second camera position by looking at the second position. A visual indication is provided to the user to indicate that the user can select the other camera position as his/her viewing position. If a user input indicates a desired viewing position change, a switch to the alternate viewing position is made and the user is presented with images captured from the perspective of the user selected alternative viewing position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing user controlled zoom operations during a stereoscopic, e.g., 3D, presentation are described. While viewing a 3D presentation of a scene environment, a user may switch to a zoom mode allowing the user to zoom in on a particular portion of the environment being displayed. In order to maintain the effect of being physically present at the event, and also to reduce the risk of making the user sick from sudden non-real world like changes in views of the environment, the user in response to initiating a zoom mode of operation is presented with a view which is the same or similar to that which might be expected as the result of looking through a pair of binoculars. In some embodiments the restriction in view is achieved by applying masks to enlarged version of left and right eye views to be displayed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stereoscopic image encoding and decoding are described. Left and right eye images are encoded following an entropy reduction operation being applied to one of the eye images when there is a difference between the left and right images of an image pair. Information about regions of negative parallax within the entropy reduced image of an image pair is encoded along with the images. Upon decoding a sharpening filter is applied to the image in an image pair which was subjected to the entropy reduction operation. In addition edge enhancement filtering is performed on the regions of the recovered entropy reduced image which are identified in the encoded image data as regions of negative parallax. Interleaving of left and right eye images at the input of the encoder combined with entropy reduction allows for efficient encoding, storage, and transmission of 3D images.

Abstract: Encoding and streaming methods and apparatus are described. Objects in negative parallax in frame pairs, e.g., pairs of left and right eye images forming a stereoscopic image, are identified. An amount of negative parallax reduction implemented depends, in some embodiments, on the data rate being used for encoding and/or the amount of negative parallax detected in the frame pair to be encoded. The lower the supported data rate the greater the reduction in negative parallax in some embodiments. In some, but not all, embodiments objects in positive parallax, e.g., objects appearing to go into the page, are not subject to parallax reduction. When a lowest supported data rate is used mono encoding is used and parallax reduction steps are skipped. The same frame pair is encoded multiple times at different data rates. Different amounts of negative parallax reduction are performed for at least some of the different supported data rates.

Abstract: A camera rig including one or more stereoscopic camera pairs and/or one or more light field cameras are described. Images are captured by the light field cameras and stereoscopic camera pairs are captured at the same time. The light field images are used to generate an environmental depth map which accurately reflects the environment in which the stereoscopic images are captured at the time of image capture. In addition to providing depth information, images captured by the light field camera or cameras is combined with or used in place of stereoscopic image data to allow viewing and/or display of portions of a scene not captured by a stereoscopic camera pair.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling a wind turbine during adverse wind conditions. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring one or more wind conditions near the wind turbine. Another step includes detecting one or more adverse wind conditions near the wind turbine. In response to detecting one or more adverse wind conditions, the method also includes reducing a power output of the wind turbine by a predetermined percentage. Further, the predetermined percentage is a function of a number and a type of the detected adverse wind conditions occurring during a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastener (1) comprising a band (2) and a holding member (8). The band (2) having a first end (3) and a second end (4), and an inwardly facing surface (5) and an outwardly facing surface (6) extending therebetween. Teeth (7) are provided on the inwardly facing surface (5) and outwardly facing surface (6) at least the first (3) and second (4) ends of the band (2). A holding member (8) for holding the band (2) in a closed loop such that the holding member (8) is arranged to engage the teeth (7) provided by the inwardly facing surface (5) or the outwardly facing surface (6) at least the first end (3) of the band (2) with the teeth (7) provided by the outwardly facing surface (6) or the inwardly facing surface (5) respectively at least the second end (4) of the band (2).