Patents by Inventor Edward T. Chang

Edward T. Chang 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: 11164337
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable autocalibration for multiple cameras using near-infrared (NIR) illuminators. The techniques and systems include a user device that uses NIR images, including dot images and flood images, captured by the multiple cameras. The user device implements an autocalibration module that normalizes the contrast of each image. Then, the autocalibration module detects dot features in the dot images and detects flood features in the flood images. The autocalibration module uses the flood features to disambiguate the dot features in the dot images. Then, the autocalibration module uses the disambiguated dot features to determine new calibration parameters for recalibration of the multiple cameras. In some aspects, the autocalibration module uses the dot images, rather than the flood images, to detect the flood features for disambiguating the dot features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Edward T. Chang, Mykhaylo Kurinnyy, Zhaowei Wang, Jonathan James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20210248782
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable autocalibration for multiple cameras using near-infrared (NIR) illuminators. The techniques and systems include a user device that uses NIR images, including dot images and flood images, captured by the multiple cameras. The user device implements an autocalibration module that normalizes the contrast of each image. Then, the autocalibration module detects dot features in the dot images and detects flood features in the flood images. The autocalibration module uses the flood features to disambiguate the dot features in the dot images. Then, the autocalibration module uses the disambiguated dot features to determine new calibration parameters for recalibration of the multiple cameras. In some aspects, the autocalibration module uses the dot images, rather than the flood images, to detect the flood features for disambiguating the dot features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Google LLC
    Inventors: Edward T. Chang, Mykhaylo Kurinnyy, Zhaowei Wang, Jonathan James Taylor
  • Patent number: 9965824
    Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an image processing unit. The image processing unit includes a network. The image processing unit includes a plurality of stencil processor circuits each comprising an array of execution unit lanes coupled to a two-dimensional shift register array structure to simultaneously process multiple overlapping stencils through execution of program code. The image processing unit includes a plurality of sheet generators respectively coupled between the plurality of stencil processors and the network. The sheet generators are to parse input line groups of image data into input sheets of image data for processing by the stencil processors, and, to form output line groups of image data from output sheets of image data received from the stencil processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Qiuling Zhu, Ofer Shacham, Albert Meixner, Jason Rupert Redgrave, Daniel Frederic Finchelstein, David Patterson, Neeti Desai, Donald Stark, Edward T. Chang, William R. Mark
  • Publication number: 20160314555
    Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an image processing unit. The image processing unit includes a network. The image processing unit includes a plurality of stencil processor circuits each comprising an array of execution unit lanes coupled to a two-dimensional shift register array structure to simultaneously process multiple overlapping stencils through execution of program code. The image processing unit includes a plurality of sheet generators respectively coupled between the plurality of stencil processors and the network. The sheet generators are to parse input line groups of image data into input sheets of image data for processing by the stencil processors, and, to form output line groups of image data from output sheets of image data received from the stencil processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Qiuling Zhu, Ofer Shacham, Albert Meixner, Jason Rupert Redgrave, Daniel Frederic Finchelstein, David Patterson, Neeti Desai, Donald Stark, Edward T. Chang, William R. Mark
  • Patent number: 9080916
    Abstract: The color response of camera devices may be calibrated, using a correction factor that can account for differences in the spectra of light emitted by different light sources used during calibration. The correction factor may be calculated based on the expected spectral sensitivities of the camera devices, the power spectrum of an actual light source, and the power spectrum of a canonical light source. The correction factor is then applied to adjust a measured color response of a given camera device, so that the adjusted color response is effectively the response of the given camera device if it had been illuminated by the canonical light source. In this manner, any measured color response differences, which may be due to differences between the actual light source used and the canonical light source, can be effectively reduced (if not essentially eliminated.) Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Chang, Scott T. Smith, Damien J. Thivent, Richard L. Baer, Paul M. Hubel
  • Publication number: 20140063283
    Abstract: The color response of camera devices may be calibrated, using a correction factor that can account for differences in the spectra of light emitted by different light sources used during calibration. The correction factor may be calculated based on the expected spectral sensitivities of the camera devices, the power spectrum of an actual light source, and the power spectrum of a canonical light source. The correction factor is then applied to adjust a measured color response of a given camera device, so that the adjusted color response is effectively the response of the given camera device if it had been illuminated by the canonical light source. In this manner, any measured color response differences, which may be due to differences between the actual light source used and the canonical light source, can be effectively reduced (if not essentially eliminated.) Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Chang, Scott T. Smith, Damien J. Thivent, Richard L. Baer, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 7349574
    Abstract: A system and method process non-linear image data, still or video, from a digital imager. Noise generated by analog-to-digital converters is filtered from a pixel of digital image data. Moreover, the effects of single pixel defects in the imager are eliminated by clamping a predetermined pixel of image data within the window when the value of the predetermined pixel is greater than a maximum value of the image data of neighboring pixels or less than a minimum value of the image data of neighboring pixels. Ripples in image data are reduced by eliminating the effects of single pixel defects before filtering for crosstalk caused by electrical crosstalk between sensor elements in an imager. Dark current is removed from image data generated by an imager by subtracting a fraction of a determined dark current value from all image data generated by the imager to compensate for nonlinearities in dark current across the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Sodini, Jason Y. Sproul, Edward T. Chang
  • Patent number: 6421084
    Abstract: A digital imaging system is provided for interpolating a full color image from a camera having an array of single color sensors. Measured color values are stored as an array of data elements in a memory of the system. Each data element corresponds to the measured color value from one sensor. A set of gradient values is determined for each data element at a specific location in the array. The gradient values correspond to color value differences in a plurality of directions from the data element. From the set of gradient values, a threshold value is determined. Using the threshold value, a subset of gradient values is selected so that the members of the subset have gradient values less than the threshold. Additional color values for each data element are interpolated according to the subset of gradient values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Edward T. Chang, Shiufun Cheung, Davis Pan
  • Patent number: 6401263
    Abstract: A portable urinal apparatus includes a supporter attached to the top of a catch basin and a discharge tube attached to the bottom of the catch basin, in which the catch basin is constructed so as to catch urinary fluids and direct those fluids down through the discharge tube into the toilet bowl of a conventional sit down toilet. An interior chamber is defined by the walls of the catch basin. The sides of the catch basin are sloped to direct fluids towards the middle and bottom of the interior chamber of the catch basin, rather than outside the basin. The bottom of the catch basin is sloped to direct fluids towards the discharge tube. When in use, the bottom end of the discharge tube is positioned over the middle area of the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Edward T. Chang
  • Publication number: 20020002734
    Abstract: A portable urinal apparatus includes a supporter attached to the top of a catch basin and a discharge tube attached to the bottom of the catch basin, in which the catch basin is constructed so as to catch urinary fluids and direct those fluids down through the discharge tube into the toilet bowl of a conventional sit down toilet. An interior chamber is defined by the walls of the catch basin. The sides of the catch basin are sloped to direct fluids towards the middle and bottom of the interior chamber of the catch basin, rather than outside the basin. The bottom of the catch basin is sloped to direct fluids towards the discharge tube. When in use, the bottom end of the discharge tube is positioned over the middle area of the toilet bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: Edward T. Chang