Patents by Inventor Karl Ola Thörn

Karl Ola Thörn 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: 9105132
    Abstract: An image display apparatus, comprising: a two-dimensional display for displaying three-dimensional object images; an imaging unit for capturing an image of a user who is in the state of viewing the display screen; a processing unit for determining a face direction orientation of the user from the captured image; a tilt sensor for determining an angle of the image display apparatus; wherein the processing unit determines a virtual light direction by subtracting the angle of the image display apparatus from the face direction; and a projection image generator for projecting the three-dimensional objects onto the display, wherein lighting and shading is applied to the three-dimensional objects based on the virtual light direction is disclosed. A method for displaying three-dimensional images and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 9076269
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a way of improving the stitching procedure. The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device for creating a combined image. The method comprises obtaining (701) a first set of at least two sub-images recorded by an array camera. The method further comprises obtaining (702) a second set of at least two sub-images recorded by the array camera. A first depth map is calculated for the first set of sub-images. The first depth map comprises information about a first plane of the sub-images and a second plane of the sub-images. The first plane being at a first distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded, and the second plane being at a second distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded. A second depth map is calculated for the second set of sub-images. The second depth map comprises information about the first plane and the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Per Åstrand, Magnus Landqvist, Karl Ola Thörn, Mats Wernersson, Linus Mårtensson, Henrik Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 9057943
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a sound recording arrangement comprising a sound recording arrangement and a method in the sound recording arrangement for amplifying sounds in a primary gaze direction of the user of the sound recording arrangement. The method comprises the actions of recording sounds arriving at a sound recording unit from objects in the field of view of the user, and recording a first set of images of the head and/or the eyes of the user, and determining a primary gaze direction of the user based on the first set of images, and amplifying sounds arriving in the primary gaze direction compared to sounds arriving from other directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Pär Stenberg, Karl Ola Thörn, Magnus Jendbro, Pär-Anders Aronsson, Magnus Landqvist, Martin Ek
  • Patent number: 9024973
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a way of displaying content of an obscured area of a view for a user. The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device. The electronic device obtains (402) an information identifying a position of the obscured area in relation to the view. The electronic device further calculates (403) an information identifying the position of the obscured area on a display. The electronic device obtains (404) an information regarding the content of the view or part of the view when not obscured from a memory. The electronic device creates (405) an image relating to the content of the obscured area of the view. The electronic device further displays (406) the image on a place on the display that corresponds to the calculated (403) position of the obscured area in relation to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Karl Ola Thörn, Per Åstrand, Henrik Bengtsson, Magnus Landqvist, Linus Mårtensson, Mats Wernersson
  • Publication number: 20140219581
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a way of improving the stitching procedure. The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device for creating a combined image. The method comprises obtaining (701) a first set of at least two sub-images recorded by an array camera. The method further comprises obtaining (702) a second set of at least two sub-images recorded by the array camera. A first depth map is calculated for the first set of sub-images. The first depth map comprises information about a first plane of the sub-images and a second plane of the sub-images. The first plane being at a first distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded, and the second plane being at a second distance from the point where the sub-images have been recorded. A second depth map is calculated for the second set of sub-images. The second depth map comprises information about the first plane and the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Per Astrand, Magnus Landqvist, Karl Ola Thörn, Mats Wernersson, Linus Mårtensson, Henrik Bengtsson
  • Publication number: 20140160159
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a way of displaying content of an obscured area of a view for a user. The object is achieved by a method in an electronic device. The electronic device obtains (402) an information identifying a position of the obscured area in relation to the view. The electronic device further calculates (403) an information identifying the position of the obscured area on a display. The electronic device obtains (404) an information regarding the content of the view or part of the view when not obscured from a memory. The electronic device creates (405) an image relating to the content of the obscured area of the view. The electronic device further displays (406) the image on a place on the display that corresponds to the calculated (403) position of the obscured area in relation to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Karl Ola Thörn, Per Åstrand, Henrik Bengtsson, Magnus Landqvist, Linus Måtensson, Mats Wernersson
  • Patent number: 8723988
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch sensitive display device, a camera device, and a processor that executes computer readable program code embodied in a computer readable storage medium. Some of the computer readable program code is configured to control magnification of a digital image from the camera device to generate a magnified digital image that is displayed on the display device in response to distance between at least two touch points detected relative to a surface of the display device. Some other computer readable program code is configured to initiate capture of the magnified digital image in response to cessation of detection of at least one of the two touch points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 8532346
    Abstract: A device is provided, in which a display screen displays an image; an image analyzer determines at least one potential area of interest in the image; a visual indicator highlights at least a boundary of the at least one potential area of interest, and an optical zoom and/or a digital zoom changes the magnification level of an area of interest selected from the at least one potential area of interest. The device permits a user to zoom in and/or zoom out of the selected area of interest by displacing the boundary of the selected area of interest over at least a portion of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Publication number: 20120257036
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a sound recording arrangement comprising a sound recording arrangement and a method in the sound recording arrangement for amplifying sounds in a primary gaze direction of the user of the sound recording arrangement. The method comprises the actions of recording sounds arriving at a sound recording unit from objects in the field of view of the user, and recording a first set of images of the head and/or the eyes of the user, and determining a primary gaze direction of the user based on the first set of images, and amplifying sounds arriving in the primary gaze direction compared to sounds arriving from other directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Pär Stenberg, Karl Ola Thörn, Magnus Jendbro, Pär-Anders Aronsson, Magnus Landqvist, Martin Ek
  • Publication number: 20120209508
    Abstract: A method for determining a route between a current location of a wireless device and a destination location includes establishing the current location of the wireless device by providing a signal corresponding to said current location and obtaining the destination location of the wireless device. A route is calculated from the current location to the destination location, wherein the route comprises a number of spots. One or more places relating to respective one or more of the spots along the calculated route are determined, wherein the one or more places has been registered as being visited by the wireless device. An alternative route is calculated and a set of data is stored that comprises replacement to one or more of the spots with a respective received visited place related to it. The one or more spots between the current location and the replaced spots are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Magnus Johansson, Karl Ola Thörn
  • Publication number: 20120105589
    Abstract: An image display apparatus, comprising: a two-dimensional display for displaying three-dimensional object images; an imaging unit for capturing an image of a user who is in the state of viewing the display screen; a processing unit for determining a face direction orientation of the user from the captured image; a tilt sensor for determining an angle of the image display apparatus; wherein the processing unit determines a virtual light direction by subtracting the angle of the image display apparatus from the face direction; and a projection image generator for projecting the three-dimensional objects onto the display, wherein lighting and shading is applied to the three-dimensional objects based on the virtual light direction is disclosed. A method for displaying three-dimensional images and a computer program for implementing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola THÖRN
  • Patent number: 8154644
    Abstract: A system for rendering a digital image includes a rendering device for rendering a digital image and a camera for capturing a sequence of images of a user. A conversion module converts the sequence of images into a manipulation command for altering the rendering of the digital image. In one embodiment, the conversion module is a lip reading module that converts a sequence of images depicting the motion of the user's facial features into text tag or visual effects command. The text tag or command may then be applied to the digital image. The digital image may be divided into portions containing principle subject matter, and a text tag or visual effects command may be generated for one or more of the image portions. A facial detection module may be employed to detect changes in the user's facial features to navigate among the image portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 8134597
    Abstract: Techniques for focusing a camera assembly on a moving object may include generating a preview video signal of a scene containing the object and analyzing the video signal to track movement of the moving object. As part of the analysis, a touch area for a touch sensitive electronic viewfinder of the camera assembly may be established. The touch area corresponds to the moving object and remains active in a former position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 8111247
    Abstract: A system and method changes touch screen functionality based on whether a user is detected during camera operation. A first camera generates a video signal containing a representation of at least a portion of a scene within a field of view of the first camera. A controller analyzes the video signal to determine whether one or more physical features of a user of the electronic device are present within the field of view of the first camera. A touch input device includes one or more touch points for receiving user input, each touch point being associated with controlling a respective one of a plurality of functions of the second camera. At least one of the touch points is associated with controlling a shutter function of a second camera, and a total number of touch points is dependent upon a result of the video signal analysis made by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 8022982
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a camera assembly may include monitoring an image field for blinks by one or more subjects in the image field. The monitoring may be carried out by generating a video signal of the image field, the video signal having a sequence of frames; subtracting a previous frame of the video signal from a current frame of the video signal to generate a difference frame; and identifying image data in the difference frame that is representative of a blink. Each blink may be tracked and associated with a subject from the one or more subjects. Statistical data regarding blink duration and blink rate for each subject from the one or more subjects may be generated. In response to user input to command the taking of a photograph, a determination if a blink is in progress may be made and a flash of the camera assembly may be fired and image data for the photograph may be captured if no blink is detected at the time of the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Patent number: 7952596
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a display and a controller. The controller identifies a location within a displayable area of video frames which has movement, and controls panning/zooming of a sub-area within the video frames that is displayed on the display in response to the identified location of the movement. Some configurations of the controller detect movement of a person's mouth within the video frames while the person is speaking, identifies the associated location of the person speaking, identifies characteristics of voice in the video frames that is concurrently occurring with the detected movement of the person's mouth, and correlates the identified voice characteristics with the identified location of the person speaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn
  • Publication number: 20110013049
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch sensitive display device, a camera device, and a processor that executes computer readable program code embodied in a computer readable storage medium. Some of the computer readable program code is configured to control magnification of a digital image from the camera device to generate a magnified digital image that is displayed on the display device in response to distance between at least two touch points detected relative to a surface of the display device. Some other computer readable program code is configured to initiate capture of the magnified digital image in response to cessation of detection of at least one of the two touch points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Karl Ola Thörn