Patents by Inventor James E. Wheeler

James E. Wheeler 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: 5261012
    Abstract: Image data is subjected to a thinning process so as to derive a medial axis for each image. Boolean image data is reduced to lines and/or dots, each line generally being a centroid line of an image. The thinning process uses a change look-up table which is addressed using values from pixels in the neighborhood of a particular pixel which is the target for possible change. Pixels in the neighborhood which are to be evaluated are given a weight by use of a weight look-up table and the weight of the pixel is multiplied by the value of the pixel. Alternately, the weight of the pixel may be added to the pixel value. The pixels in the neighborhood of a target pixel (i.e., pixel which is being evaluated for possible removal) have their weights and values taken into account by a summation of the results of the multiplication (or addition) performed for each pixel so as to provide an address used to address a change look-up table which supplies an output indicative of change in the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Hardy, James E. Wheeler, John R. Meckley
  • Patent number: 4694416
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for performing a plurality of digital signal processing functions wherein each said function is a unique combination of identical subfunctions. A plurality of operating units are provided wherein each operating unit is adapted to perform one said subfunction. Apparatus and method are disclosed for programmably configuring these operating units in a variety of serial combinations wherein each combination will perform a respective signal processing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James E. Wheeler, Robert M. Hardy, Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, William J. Premerlani
  • Patent number: 4586844
    Abstract: A hybrid scaffold assembly which employs a scaffold adaptor for transferring from a Tube Lox type of scaffolding to a stack-up type of scaffolding and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: James W. Hammonds, James E. Wheeler