Patents by Inventor John Benjamin Southall

John Benjamin Southall 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: 10769491
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying discriminative, fine-grained features of an object in an image. In one example, an input device receives an image. A machine learning system includes a model comprising a first set, a second set, and a third set of filters. The machine learning system applies the first set of filters to the received image to generate an intermediate representation of the received image. The machine learning system applies the second set of filters to the intermediate representation to generate part localization data identifying sub-parts of an object and one or more regions of the image in which the sub-parts are located. The machine learning system applies the third set of filters to the intermediate representation to generate classification data identifying a subordinate category to which the object belongs. The system uses the part localization and classification data to perform fine-grained classification of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Bogdan Calin Mihai Matei, Xiyang Dai, John Benjamin Southall, Nhon Hoc Trinh, Harpreet Sawhney
  • Publication number: 20190356844
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technologies include a method of capturing, using a mobile device, a best-focused image of a skin surface of a subject, the method including: setting a camera of the mobile device to a fixed focal length; capturing, using the camera, a current image of a plurality of images of the skin surface, the plurality of images having a sequence and including a first previous image captured, using the camera, previously to the current image and a second previous image captured, using the camera, previously to the first previous image; producing a modified image from the current image; transforming the modified image, using a Laplacian pyramid, to produce a plurality of first luminance values from the modified image and a plurality of second luminance values from the plurality of first luminance values; averaging a plurality of first squared values, each including a square of a corresponding first luminance value of the plurality of first luminance values, to produce a first energy value; av
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: David Chao Zhang, John Benjamin Southall, Michael Anthony Isnardi, Michael Raymond Piacentino, David Christopher Berends, Girish Acharya, Douglas A. Bercow, Aaron Spaulding, Sek Chai
  • Patent number: 10477095
    Abstract: Device logic in a mobile device configures a processor to capture a series of images, such as a video, using a consumer-grade camera, and to analyze the images to determine the best-focused image, of the series of images, that captures a region of interest. The images may be of a textured surface, such as facial skin of a mobile device user. The processor sets a focal length of the camera to a fixed position for collecting the images. The processor may guide the user to position the mobile device for capturing the images, using audible cues. For each image, the processor crops the image to the region of interest, extracts luminance information, and determines one or more energy levels of the luminance via a Laplacian pyramid. The energy levels may be filtered, and then are compared to energy levels of the other images to determine the best-focused image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: David Chao Zhang, John Benjamin Southall, Michael Anthony Isnardi, Michael Raymond Piacentino, David Christopher Berends, Girish Acharya, Douglas A. Bercow, Aaron Spaulding, Sek Chai
  • Publication number: 20190073560
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying discriminative, fine-grained features of an object in an image. In one example, an input device receives an image. A machine learning system includes a model comprising a first set, a second set, and a third set of filters. The machine learning system applies the first set of filters to the received image to generate an intermediate representation of the received image. The machine learning system applies the second set of filters to the intermediate representation to generate part localization data identifying sub-parts of an object and one or more regions of the image in which the sub-parts are located. The machine learning system applies the third set of filters to the intermediate representation to generate classification data identifying a subordinate category to which the object belongs. The system uses the part localization and classification data to perform fine-grained classification of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Bogdan Calin Mihai Matei, Xiyang Dai, John Benjamin Southall, Nhon Hoc Trinh, Harpreet Sawhney
  • Publication number: 20180139377
    Abstract: Device logic in a mobile device configures a processor to capture a series of images, such as a video, using a consumer-grade camera, and to analyze the images to determine the best-focused image, of the series of images, that captures a region of interest. The images may be of a textured surface, such as facial skin of a mobile device user. The processor sets a focal length of the camera to a fixed position for collecting the images. The processor may guide the user to position the mobile device for capturing the images, using audible cues. For each image, the processor crops the image to the region of interest, extracts luminance information, and determines one or more energy levels of the luminance via a Laplacian pyramid. The energy levels may be filtered, and then are compared to energy levels of the other images to determine the best-focused image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: David Chao ZHANG, John Benjamin SOUTHALL, Michael Anthony ISNARDI, Michael Raymond PIACENTINO, David Christopher BERENDS, Girish ACHARYA, Douglas A. BERCOW, Aaron SPAULDING, Sek CHAI
  • Patent number: 8744122
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting one or more targets belonging to a first class (e.g., moving and/or stationary people), from a moving platform in a 3D-rich environment. The framework described here is implemented using a number of monocular or stereo cameras distributed around the vehicle to provide 360 degrees coverage. Furthermore, the framework described here utilizes numerous filters to reduce the number of false positive identifications of the targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Garbis Salgian, John Benjamin Southall, Sang-Hack Jung, Vlad Branzoi, Jiangjian Xiao, Feng Han, Supun Samarasekera, Rakesh Kumar, Jayan Eledath
  • Patent number: 8385599
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and a method of segmenting and detecting objects which can be approximated by planar or nearly planar surfaces in order to detect one or more objects with threats or potential threats. The method includes capturing imagery of the scene proximate a platform, producing a depth map from the imagery and tessellating the depth map into a number of patches. The method also includes classifying the plurality of patches as threat patches and projecting the threat patches into a pre-generated vertical support histogram to facilitate selection of the projected threat patches having a score value within a sufficiency criterion. The method further includes grouping the selected patches having the score value using a plane fit to obtain a region of interest and processing the region of interest to detect said object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Theodore Armand Camus, Aparna Taneja, Mayank Bansal, Ankit Kumar, John Benjamin Southall
  • Patent number: 8108119
    Abstract: The present invention provides a collision avoidance apparatus and method employing stereo vision applications for adaptive vehicular control. The stereo vision applications are comprised of a road detection function and a vehicle detection and tracking function. The road detection function makes use of three-dimensional point data, computed from stereo image data, to locate the road surface ahead of a host vehicle. Information gathered by the road detection function is used to guide the vehicle detection and tracking function, which provides lead motion data to a vehicular control system of the collision avoidance apparatus. Similar to the road detection function, stereo image data is used by the vehicle detection and tracking function to determine the depth of image scene features, thereby providing a robust means for identifying potential lead vehicles in a headway direction of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: John Benjamin Southall, Mayank Bansal, Aastha Jain, Manish Kumar, Theodore Armand Camus, Aveek Kumar Das, John Richard Fields, Gary Alan Greene, Jayakrishnan Eledath
  • Patent number: 7974442
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target list to produce target size and classification estimates. The target is then tracked as it moves near a vehicle and the target position, classification and velocity are determined. This information can be used in a number of ways. For example, the target information may be displayed to the driver, the information may be used for an obstacle avoidance system that adjusts the trajectory or other parameters of the vehicle to safely avoid the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: SRI International, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Armand Camus, David Hirvonen, Robert Mandelbaum, Billie Joe Call, Ian Gregory Hill, André Rieder, John Benjamin Southall
  • Publication number: 20100202657
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for detecting one or more targets belonging to a first class (e.g., moving and/or stationary people), from a moving platform in a 3D-rich environment. The framework described here is implemented using a number of monocular or stereo cameras distributed around the vehicle to provide 360 degrees coverage. Furthermore, the framework described here utilizes numerous filters to reduce the number of false positive identifications of the targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Garbis Salgian, John Benjamin Southall, Sang-Hack Jung, Vlad Branzoi, Jiangjian Xiao, Feng Han, Supun Samarasekera, Rakesh Kumar, Jayan Eledath
  • Publication number: 20100092038
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and a method of segmenting and detecting objects which can be approximated by planar or nearly planar surfaces in order to detect one or more objects with threats or potential threats. The method includes capturing imagery of the scene proximate a platform, producing a depth map from the imagery and tessellating the depth map into a number of patches. The method also includes classifying the plurality of patches as threat patches and projecting the threat patches into a pre-generated vertical support histogram to facilitate selection of the projected threat patches having a score value within a sufficiency criterion. The method further includes grouping the selected patches having the score value using a plane fit to obtain a region of interest and processing the region of interest to detect said object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Armand Camus Theodore, Aparna Taneja, Mayank Bansal, Ankit Kumar, John Benjamin Southall
  • Publication number: 20080159620
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target list to produce target size and classification estimates. The target is then tracked as it moves near a vehicle and the target position, classification and velocity are determined. This information can be used in a number of ways. For example, the target information may be displayed to the driver, the information may be used for an obstacle avoidance system that adjusts the trajectory or other parameters of the vehicle to safely avoid the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Theodore Armand Camus, David Hirvonen, Robert Mandelbaum, Billie Joe Call, Ian Gregory Hill, Andre Rieder, John Benjamin Southall
  • Patent number: 7321669
    Abstract: A vehicle vision system that uses a depth map, image intensity data, and system calibration parameter to determine a target's dimensions and relative position. Initial target boundary information is projected onto the depth map and onto the image intensity. A visibility analysis determines whether the rear of a target is within the system's field of view. If so, the mapped image boundary is analyzed to determine an upper boundary of the target. Then, vertical image edges of the mapped image boundary are found by searching for a strongest pair of vertical image edges that are located at about the same depth. Then, the bottom of the mapped image boundary is found (or assumed from calibration parameters). Then, the target's position is found by an averaging technique. The height and width of the target are then computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignees: Sarnoff Corporation, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John Benjamin Southall, David Hirvonen, Theodore Armand Camus
  • Patent number: 7263209
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target list to produce target size and classification estimates. The target is then tracked as it moves near a vehicle and the target position, classification and velocity are determined. This information can be used in a number of ways. For example, the target information may be displayed to the driver, the information may be used for an obstacle avoidance system that adjusts the trajectory or other parameters of the vehicle to safely avoid the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignees: Sarnoff Corporation, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Theodore Armand Camus, David Hirvonen, Robert Mandelbaum, Billie Joe Call, Ian Gregory Hill, André Rieder, John Benjamin Southall
  • Publication number: 20040252862
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target list to produce target size and classification estimates. The target is then tracked as it moves near a vehicle and the target position, classification and velocity are determined. This information can be used in a number of ways. For example, the target information may be displayed to the driver, the information may be used for an obstacle avoidance system that adjusts the trajectory or other parameters of the vehicle to safely avoid the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Armand Camus, David Hirvonen, Robert Mandelbaum, Billie Joe Call, Ian Gregory Hill, Andre Rieder, John Benjamin Southall