Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic image includes receiving a first image, dividing the first image into a first portion and a second portion, rotating the first portion of the first image, saving the rotated first portion of the first image in a nonvolatile memory, receiving a second image, dividing the second image into a third portion and a fourth portion, matching an overlapping region between the second portion of the first image and the third portion of the second image, stitching the second portion of the first image and the third portion of the second image to form a first stitched image, rotating the first stitched image, and saving the first stitched image in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A method for indexing minimum coded units (MCUs) in a Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) bit stream includes (1) entropy decoding a first MCU to determine a bit offset of a second MCU and a DC coefficient of the first MCU, wherein the first MCU immediately precedes the second MCU in the bit stream, and (2) indexing the second MCU by storing the bit offset and the DC coefficient in an index. The method may further include (3) receiving a request for the second MCU, (4) reading the index to determine the bit offset of the second MCU and the DC coefficient of the first MCU, and (5) entropy decoding the second MCU starting at its bit offset in the bit stream, wherein the entropy decoding the second MCU includes determining a DC coefficient of the second MCU using the DC coefficient of the first MCU.

Abstract: A method for aligning images includes (1) selecting a pair of overlapping pixels when two second image are aligned with a camera motion; (2) if both pixels are edge pixels, incrementing a correlation value between the two images for the camera motion; (3) if only one of pixels is an edge pixel, decrementing the correlation value between the two images for the camera motion; (4) repeating steps (1) to (3) for other pairs of overlapping pixels in the two images to determine the correlation value for the camera motion. The method further includes (5) repeating steps (1) to (4) for other camera motions; (6) selecting camera motions having large correlation values; (7) determining matched edge counts for members of the group; (8) selecting the camera motion with the largest matched edge count; and (8) aligning the two images with the selected camera motion.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image includes applying an auto-level transformation to an original image to form a first image, applying an auto-contrast transformation to the original image to form a second image, and applying an auto-brightness transformation to the original image to form a third image. The method further includes applying a color cast correction to the first, the second, and the third image to generate a first group of images, applying a gamma correction to the first plurality of images to generate a second group of images, applying a sharpening correction to the second plurality of images to generate a third group of images, and presenting the third group of images to a user to select a final result.

Abstract: A method for correcting a nonlinear distortion in an image includes receiving an image of a calibration template comprising calibration patterns, detecting at least three points from the calibration patterns, calculating a distortion parameter from coordinates of the at least three points that should align along a straight line, and correcting the nonlinear distortion in the image using the distortion parameter. A method for correcting a radial distortion in an image includes receiving a radial distortion parameter from the user and calculating new intensity values of points in the image to correct a radial exposure distortion in the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a class of fragrance precursor compounds comprising one or more of the compounds derived from the reaction of X—OH and an aldehyde or ketone, said fragrance precursor compounds being of the formula X—O—C(R) (R*) (OR**) wherein R is a C6-24 alkyl group, a C6-24 aralkyl group or a C6-24 alkaryl group; R* is H or a C6-24 alkyl group, a C6-24 aralkyl group or a C6-24 alkaryl group; R** is H or X; X—O representing a moiety derived from X—OH, and wherein X—OH is a compound selected from the group consisting of surfactants, fabric softeners, softener precursor ester amines, softener precursor amido amines, hair conditioners, skin conditions, saccharides and polymers. In a second aspect it relates to a method of preparing such precusors. Further the invention relates to compositions, comprising the precursor of the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating three-dimensional models of an object use images having unmeasured camera parameters. Camera calibration determines the perspective of the camera from the content of the images. A background having a pattern with a known marks in each image can facilitate determination of the camera parameters. One background pattern includes separated marks having rectangular sections where corners of the rectangular sections provide calibrations points for the camera parameters. The camera parameters can also be determined by matching features of the object in different images and determining differences in perspective from differences in the appearance of the matched features in different images. A combination of projective and metric reconstructions provides robust reconstruction.

Abstract: A granular laundry detergent composition is described comprising (a) from about 1 to 60% by weight of an anionic surfactant consisting essentially of a water-soluble salt of an alkyl benzene sulfonate; and (b) an effective amount of a water-soluble triblock copolymer surfactant comprising groups of polyethylene oxide (EO) and polypropylene (PO) such as a PO/EO/PO type copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of from about 1,000 to about 15,000. A method of washing laundry with the laundry composition of the invention is also described.