Abstract: Multi-feature image haze removal is described. In one or more implementations, feature maps are extracted from a hazy image of a scene. The feature maps convey information about visual characteristics of the scene captured in the hazy image. Based on the feature maps, portions of light that are not scattered by the atmosphere and are captured to produce the hazy image are computed. Additionally, airlight of the hazy image is ascertained based on at least one of the feature maps. The calculated airlight represents constant light of the scene. Using the computed portions of light and the ascertained airlight, a dehazed image is generated from the hazy image.

Abstract: Joint video deblurring and stabilization techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a deblurring and stabilization module is configured to jointly deblur and stabilize a video by grouping video frames into spatial-neighboring frame clusters, and building local mesh homographies for video frames in each spatial-neighboring frame cluster.

Abstract: Processors and methods disclosed herein include a cache memory unit, n processor cores where n?1, a controller connected to the cache memory unit and to each of the n processor cores, and n obstruction monitoring units, where each obstruction monitoring unit is connected to the controller and to a different one of the n processor cores, and where during operation of the electronic processor, each obstruction monitoring unit is configured to detect an obstruction corresponding to an operation from the processor core connected to the obstruction monitoring unit before the operation executes in the cache memory unit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are described for deblurring an image. The method may include accessing an image having a first blurred region and a second blurred region, and generating a first blur kernel for the first blurred region and a second blur kernel for the second blurred region. Thereafter, the first blur kernel is positioned with respect to the first blurred region, and the second blur kernel is positioned with respect to the second blurred region based on the position of the first blur kernel. The image is then deblurred by deconvolving the first blurred region with the first blur kernel, and deconvolving the second blurred region with the second blur kernel.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic agents to a patient wherein the agent is released in a sustained fashion, and to particles suitable for use in the method. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent comprising administering to the respiratory tract of a patient in need of treatment, prophylaxis or diagnosis an effective amount of particles comprising a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent or any combination thereof in association with a charged lipid, wherein the charged lipid has an overall net charge which is opposite to that of the agent upon association with the agent. Release of the agent from the administered particles occurs in a sustained fashion.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for automatic upright adjustment of digital images. An automatic upright adjustment technique is described that may provide an automated approach for straightening up slanted features in an input image to improve its perceptual quality. This correction may be referred to as upright adjustment. A set of criteria based on human perception may be used in the upright adjustment. A reprojection technique that implements an optimization framework is described that yields an optimal homography for adjustment based on the criteria and adjusts the image according to new camera parameters generated by the optimization. An optimization-based camera calibration technique is described that simultaneously estimates vanishing lines and points as well as camera parameters for an image; the calibration technique may, for example, be used to generate estimates of camera parameters and vanishing points and lines that are input to the reprojection technique.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing images with increased efficiency include using a discriminative index tree to expedite image optimization processes. The discriminative index tree indexes patch-based image priors for modifying an image by using classifiers determined by exploiting a structure of the patch-based image priors. The discriminative index tree quickly and efficiently parses a space of patch-based image patches to determine approximate dominant patch-based image priors for the space of image patches. To further improve the efficiency of the discriminative index tree, one or more embodiments can limit a number of potential patch-based image priors from which a dominant patch-based image prior is selected.

Abstract: A method for coating substrates is provided. The method includes diamond turning a substrate to a surface roughness of between about 60 ? and about 100 ? RMS, wherein the substrate is one of a metal and a metal alloy. The method further includes polishing the diamond turned surface of the substrate to a surface roughness of between about 10 ? and about 25 ? to form a polished substrate, heating the polished substrate, and ion bombarding the substrate with an inert gas. The method includes depositing a coating including at least one metallic layer on the ion bombarded surface of the substrate using low pressure magnetron sputtering, and polishing the coating to form a finished surface having a surface roughness of less than about 25 ? RMS using a glycol based colloidal solution.

Abstract: A system for localization of a radio frequency source in a region includes a first plurality of antennas disposed about the region, a second plurality of antennas disposed about the region, a first radio frequency positioning module in communication with the first plurality of antennas and configured to determine a plurality of spatially separated candidate locations in the region for the radio frequency source, a second radio frequency positioning module in communication with the second plurality of antennas and configured to determine a sub-region of the region, the sub-region including the radio frequency source, and a resolution module for identifying a subset of the candidate locations in the sub-region of the region.

Abstract: A method for implementing Customized Ringing Signal (CRS) services is provided. The method includes: receiving a call request initiated by a caller terminal; obtaining a policy of playing a CRS tone according to the call request, where the policy is a policy of playing a CRS tone, namely, a caller CRS tone or a callee CRS tone, or a policy of filtering the CRS tone; and playing the CRS tone to a callee according to the policy. By setting a policy of playing the CRS tone to the callee in the network or the callee terminal, the users enjoy the CRS services at their own discretion.

Abstract: A coated metal fluoride optic is provided. The coated metal fluoride optic includes an alkaline earth metal fluoride substrate and a coating disposed on at least one surface of the substrate. The coating includes an adhesion layer comprising a fluoride-containing material, a non-densified intermediate layer deposited on the adhesion layer, and a densified capping layer deposited on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: Techniques for mining API method usage patterns from source code are described. These techniques include parsing the source code to generate API method call sequences that include an API method. These call sequences are clustered to obtain clusters. Based on the clusters, frequent closed sequences are determined and then clustered to obtain an API usage pattern. In addition, optimal clustering parameters may also be determined. In some instances, a graphical representation is generated based on the API usage pattern in response to a query associated with the API method.

Abstract: An expanded cold mirror is provided. The mirror includes a substrate and a coating deposited on the substrate. The coating includes a first coating stack comprising at least one period of a low refractive index metal oxide coating layer and a high refractive index metal oxide coating layer, a second coating stack comprising at least one period of a low refractive index metal fluoride coating layer and a high refractive index metal oxide layer, and a third coating stack comprising at least one period of a low refractive index metal fluoride coating layer and a high refractive index metal fluoride coating layer.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for automatic upright adjustment of digital images. An automatic upright adjustment technique is described that may provide an automated approach for straightening up slanted features in an input image to improve its perceptual quality. This correction may be referred to as upright adjustment. A set of criteria based on human perception may be used in the upright adjustment. A reprojection technique that implements an optimization framework is described that yields an optimal homography for adjustment based on the criteria and adjusts the image according to new camera parameters generated by the optimization. An optimization-based camera calibration technique is described that simultaneously estimates vanishing lines and points as well as camera parameters for an image; the calibration technique may, for example, be used to generate estimates of camera parameters and vanishing points and lines that are input to the reprojection technique.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for automatic upright adjustment of digital images. An automatic upright adjustment technique is described that may provide an automated approach for straightening up slanted features in an input image to improve its perceptual quality. This correction may be referred to as upright adjustment. A set of criteria based on human perception may be used in the upright adjustment. A reprojection technique that implements an optimization framework is described that yields an optimal homography for adjustment based on the criteria and adjusts the image according to new camera parameters generated by the optimization. An optimization-based camera calibration technique is described that simultaneously estimates vanishing lines and points as well as camera parameters for an image; the calibration technique may, for example, be used to generate estimates of camera parameters and vanishing points and lines that are input to the reprojection technique.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject and a distractor in a target image is disclosed. The method receives a reference image comprising image content corresponding to image content of the target image. A first saliency map, which defines a distribution of visual attraction values identifying salient regions within the target image, and a second saliency map, which defines a distribution of visual attraction values identifying salient regions within the reference image, are determined. The method compares image content in salient regions of the first saliency map and the second saliency map. The subject is identified by a salient region of the target image sharing image content with a salient region of the reference image. The distractor is identified based on at least one remaining salient region of the target image.

Abstract: Joint video deblurring and stabilization techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a deblurring and stabilization module is configured to jointly deblur and stabilize a video by grouping video frames into spatial-neighboring frame clusters, and building local mesh homographies for video frames in each spatial-neighboring frame cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an input current through an inductor includes an RC circuit connected in parallel with the inductor across first and second input pins of an integrated circuit. A voltage monitoring circuit monitors a first voltage at the first input pin of the integrated circuit and monitors a second voltage at the second input pin of the integrated circuit. An op-amp compares the first voltage with the second voltage and generates a control output responsive to the comparison. A current sink circuit responsive to the indication controls the first voltage to substantially equal the second voltage.

Abstract: An image de-blurring system obtains a blurred input image and generates, based on the blurred input image, a blur kernel. The blur kernel is an indication of how the image capture device was moved and/or how the subject captured in the image moved during image capture. Based on the blur kernel and the blurred input image, a de-blurred image is generated. The blur kernel is generated based on the direction of edges identified in the blurred input image and/or based on curves having a high curvature identified in the image (e.g., corners identified in the image).

Abstract: A system and method of text detection in an image are described. A component detection module applies a filter having a stroke width constraint and a stroke color constraint to an image to identify text stroke pixels in the image and to generate both a first map based on the stroke width constraint and a second map based on the stroke color constraint. A component filtering module has a first classifier and second classifier. The first classifier is applied to both the first map and the second map to generate a third map identifying a component of a text in the image. The second classifier is applied to the third map to generate a fourth map identifying a text line of the text in the image. A text region locator module thresholds the fourth map to identify text regions in the image.