Abstract: A computer vision/image processing method generates a depth map. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming a relative depth map from at least three x-ray images of a patient taken from different perspectives. The method includes the steps of: (a) selecting one of the x-ray images as a reference image; (b) identifying corresponding objects within the reference image and the other images; (c) computing a disparity between the identified corresponding objects; and (d) generating the relative depth map from the disparities.

Abstract: A digital image processing method for automatic axial rotation correction for in vivo images, comprising selecting, as a reference image, a first arbitrary in vivo image from a plurality of in vivo images, and subsequently, finding a rotation angle between a second arbitrary in vivo image selected from the plurality of in vivo images and the reference image. The method next corrects the orientation of the second arbitrary in vivo image, with respect to orientation of the reference image and corresponding to the rotation angle, before finding the rotation angle between other selected in vivo images and the reference image. Additionally, the method corrects for the other selected in vivo images that do not match the reference image's orientation and where there exists a rotation angle between the other selected in vivo images and the reference image.

Abstract: A method for creating a message template used for embedding hidden messages, the method includes the steps of determining a message template performance metric comprising a dispersal measure having both a spatial domain function and a frequency domain function; developing a numerical optimization algorithm containing the message template performance metric as a basis for optimization; determining the message template geometric configuration comprising: (i) determining a message template capacity; (ii) determining a message template area; and applying the numerical optimization algorithm to the message template geometric configuration which results in an optimal message template.

Abstract: A method for selecting an emphasis image from a collection of images based on facial identification comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a collection of digital images; (b) detecting image patterns indicative of the presence of one or more faces in the digital images, thereby identifying one or more detected faces for each image in which a face is detected; (c) recognizing one or more faces from the detected faces for each of the images in which a face is detected; and (d) scoring an image based on the relative frequency of occurrence of a recognized face within the collection of images, thereby producing an emphasis image characteristic of the most frequently occurring face in the collection of images.

Abstract: A digital image processing method for multiple passes diagnostic alignment of in vivo images, comprising the steps of: acquiring images using an in vivo video camera system; forming an in vivo video camera system examination bundlette; transmitting the examination bundlette to proximal in vitro computing device(s); processing the transmitted examination bundlette; automatically identifying abnormalities in the transmitted examination bundlette; and setting off alarm signals to a local site provided that suspected abnormalities have been identified for each pass forming a registration bundle; selecting identification elements of an image from the registration bundle of one pass; and retrieving corresponding images from another pass.

Abstract: A digital image processing method for real-time automatic abnormality detection of in vivo images, comprising the steps of: acquiring images using an in vivo video camera system; forming an in vivo video camera system examination bundlette; transmitting the examination bundlette to proximal in vitro computing device(s); processing the transmitted examination bundlette; automatically identifying abnormalities in the transmitted examination bundlette; and setting off alarming signals to a local site provided that suspected abnormalities have been identified.

Abstract: A digital image processing method for detecting faces in a digital color image comprises the steps of: providing a distributed face detection system having complementary classifiers, wherein the classifiers are complementary in a frequency domain; selecting classifier parameters for the complementary classifiers from a plurality of different parameter generating sources, at least one of which is controllable by human input; reconfiguring the complementary classifiers in the distributed face detection system according to the selected classifier parameters; and detecting faces using the distributed face detection system.

Abstract: A sliding glass door system includes a conventional sliding glass door, fixed glass door, and a sliding screen door in combination with a sliding glass door display case. All are mounted on the outside wall of a house to slide parallel to each other in the manner of conventional sliding glass door systems. The sliding glass door display case has a frame commensurate in size to the frame of the sliding glass door and has a dish-shaped body which extends outwardly in cantilever fashion from its frame. Shelves are provided within the body in order to display items placed on them through the sliding glass door and/or the fixed glass door. The sliding glass door display case is especially suited for use as a personal sliding glass door greenhouse.

Abstract: In a continuously variable hydrostatic transmission including a hydraulic pump unit driven by an input shaft, a grounded hydraulic motor unit, and an intermediate, wedge-shaped swashplate for developing torque on an output shaft in response to pumped exchanges of hydraulic fluid between the pump and motor units through swashplate ports, a ratio controller is provided to vary transmission ratio by changing the swashplate angular orientation and to engage a lock-up clutch directly mechanically coupling the input shaft to the output shaft when a 1:1 transmission ratio is set.

Abstract: A continuously variable hydrostatic transmission includes an input shaft connected to drive a hydraulic pump unit, a grounded hydraulic motor unit, and an output shaft. A wedge-shaped swashplate is pivotally mounted to the output shaft in driving connection to receive output torque resulting from the exchange of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump and motor units through ports in the swashplate. A hydraulically actuated ratio controller is pivotally linked to the swashplate to selectively adjust the swashplate angle relative to the output shaft axis and thereby change transmission ratio.

Abstract: A gun is provided having an operating mechanism which receives and stores energy from the gun housing during the recoil of the gun and which subsequently utilizes the stored energy in two distinct phases during the counter-recoil of the gun.

Abstract: A silicon monolithic integrated circuit comprising a DC biasing network and three sets of full wave, synchronous, gated, transistor demodulators to demodulate the red, blue and green color different signals which are present in a composite television signal. The DC biasing network includes; a voltage regulator for providing a direct current voltage independent of variations in the magnitude of a power supply voltage the variations may be caused by voltage transients or varients in the temperature of the monolithic chip, and a direct current bias amplifier connected to the voltage regulator for providing a zero differential temperature coefficient direct current bias voltage to the outputs of the three sets of demodulators. Also disclosed is a blanking amplifier to facilitate direct current restoring at each of the outputs of the demodulators, the blanking amplifier being responsive to a blanking input signal.