Patents by Inventor Lingfei Meng

Lingfei Meng 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: 10660512
    Abstract: A plenoptic otoscope enables three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging of the inside of the ear to assist in improved diagnosis of inflammations and infections. The plenoptic otoscope includes a primary imaging system and a plenoptic sensor. The primary imaging system includes an otoscope objective and relay optics, which cooperate to form an image of an inside of an ear at an intermediate image plane. The plenoptic sensor includes a microimaging array positioned at the intermediate image plane and a sensor array positioned at a conjugate of the pupil plane. An optional filter module may be positioned at the pupil plane or one of its conjugates to facilitate three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kathrin Berkner, Sapna A. Shroff, Lingfei Meng, Nikhil Balram
  • Patent number: 10502556
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to 3D surface measurement systems and methods configured to direct engineered illumination of beams in one or more ray bundles to N illumination directions incident a sample surface. The systems and methods can measure a map of surface normals, a depth map, and a map of surface properties using intensity images captured while the engineered illumination is directed to the sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Mura Inc.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Jun Jiang
  • Patent number: 10327627
    Abstract: A plenoptic otoscope captures images used in making a medical diagnosis. For example, the plenoptic data can be processed to produce enhanced imagery of the ear interior, and this enhanced imagery can be used in making a medical diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kathrin Berkner, Lingfei Meng, Ivana Tosic, Nikhil Balram
  • Patent number: 10117579
    Abstract: A multimode fundus camera enables three-dimensional and/or spectral/polarization imaging of the interior of the eye to assist in improved diagnosis. In one aspect, the multimode fundus camera includes a first imaging subsystem, a filter module, and a second imaging subsystem. The first imaging subsystem is positionable in front of an eye to form an optical image of an interior of the eye. The filter module is positioned at a pupil plane of the first imaging subsystem or at a conjugate thereof. The second imaging subsystem include a microimaging array and a sensor array. The microimaging array is positioned at the image plane or a conjugate thereof, and the sensor array is positioned at the pupil plane or a conjugate thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Gao, Lingfei Meng, Noah Bedard
  • Patent number: 9918077
    Abstract: A collimated object is adjustable to produce collimated light propagating along different propagation directions. The plenoptic imaging system under calibration captures plenoptic images of the object adjusted to different propagation directions. The captured plenoptic images includes superpixels, each of which includes subpixels. Each subpixel captures light from a corresponding light field viewing direction. Based on the captured plenoptic images, a calibration module calculates which propagation directions map to which subpixels. The mapping defines the light field viewing directions for the subpixels. This can be used to improve processing of plenoptic images captured by the plenoptic imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Noah Bedard, Kathrin Berkner
  • Patent number: 9888229
    Abstract: This invention presents an approach to first estimate a depth/disparity map using spectrally coded plenoptic camera, and then based on the disparity map the parallax between different spectral channels is rectified. Based on our new technique, we can reconstruct not only multispectral images but also a depth/disparity map. Moreover, the quality of reconstructed spectral images is significantly improved using our parallax rectification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Kathrin Berkner
  • Patent number: 9883798
    Abstract: A multimode fundus camera enables three-dimensional and/or spectral/polarization imaging of the interior of the eye to assist in improved diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noah Bedard, Lingfei Meng, Vipin Namboodiri, Krishna Prasad Agara Venkatesha Rao, Kathrin Berkner
  • Publication number: 20180023947
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to 3D surface measurement systems and methods configured to direct engineered illumination of beams in one or more ray bundles to N illumination directions incident a sample surface. The systems and methods can measure a map of surface normals, a depth map, and a map of surface properties using intensity images captured while the engineered illumination is directed to the sample surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Jun Jiang
  • Patent number: 9797716
    Abstract: A plenoptic camera captures a plenoptic image of an object illuminated by a point source (preferably, collimated illumination). The plenoptic image is a sampling of the four-dimensional light field reflected from the object. The plenoptic image is made up of superpixels, each of which is made up of subpixels. Each superpixel captures light from a certain region of the object (i.e., a range of x,y spatial locations) and the subpixels within a superpixel capture light propagating within a certain range of directions (i.e., a range of u,v spatial directions). Accordingly, optical properties estimation, surface normal reconstruction, depth estimation, and three-dimensional rendering can be provided by processing only a single plenoptic image. In one approach, the plenoptic image is used to estimate the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the object surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Kathrin Berkner, Ivana Tosic
  • Patent number: 9741100
    Abstract: The spatial resolution of captured plenoptic images is enhanced. In one aspect, the plenoptic imaging process is modeled by a pupil image function (PIF), and a PIF inversion process is applied to the captured plenoptic image to produce a better resolution estimate of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sapna A. Shroff, Kathrin Berkner, Lingfei Meng
  • Patent number: 9706116
    Abstract: Color plenoptic images captured by a spectrally-coded plenoptic imaging system are combined with higher resolution higher resolution images captured by a conventional imaging system, resulting in color images with higher resolution than those captured by the plenoptic imaging system alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Kathrin Berkner
  • Publication number: 20170127928
    Abstract: A plenoptic otoscope enables three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging of the inside of the ear to assist in improved diagnosis of inflammations and infections. The plenoptic otoscope includes a primary imaging system and a plenoptic sensor. The primary imaging system includes an otoscope objective and relay optics, which cooperate to form an image of an inside of an ear at an intermediate image plane. The plenoptic sensor includes a microimaging array positioned at the intermediate image plane and a sensor array positioned at a conjugate of the pupil plane. An optional filter module may be positioned at the pupil plane or one of its conjugates to facilitate three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kathrin Berkner, Sapna A. Shroff, Lingfei Meng, Nikhil Balram
  • Publication number: 20170084034
    Abstract: A collimated object is adjustable to produce collimated light propagating along different propagation directions. The plenoptic imaging system under calibration captures plenoptic images of the object adjusted to different propagation directions. The captured plenoptic images includes superpixels, each of which includes subpixels. Each subpixel captures light from a corresponding light field viewing direction. Based on the captured plenoptic images, a calibration module calculates which propagation directions map to which subpixels. The mapping defines the light field viewing directions for the subpixels. This can be used to improve processing of plenoptic images captured by the plenoptic imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Noah Bedard, Kathrin Berkner
  • Patent number: 9565996
    Abstract: A plenoptic otoscope enables three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging of the inside of the ear to assist in improved diagnosis of inflammations and infections. The plenoptic otoscope includes a primary imaging system and a plenoptic sensor. The primary imaging system includes an otoscope objective and relay optics, which cooperate to form an image of an inside of an ear at an intermediate image plane. The plenoptic sensor includes a microimaging array positioned at the intermediate image plane and a sensor array positioned at a conjugate of the pupil plane. An optional filter module may be positioned at the pupil plane or one of its conjugates to facilitate three-dimensional and/or spectral imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kathrin Berkner, Sapna A. Shroff, Lingfei Meng, Nikhil Balram
  • Patent number: 9544583
    Abstract: A collimated object is adjustable to produce collimated light propagating along different propagation directions. The plenoptic imaging system under calibration captures plenoptic images of the object adjusted to different propagation directions. The captured plenoptic images includes superpixels, each of which includes subpixels. Each subpixel captures light from a corresponding light field viewing direction. Based on the captured plenoptic images, a calibration module calculates which propagation directions map to which subpixels. The mapping defines the light field viewing directions for the subpixels. This can be used to improve processing of plenoptic images captured by the plenoptic imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Noah Bedard, Kathrin Berkner
  • Publication number: 20160278637
    Abstract: A multimode fundus camera enables three-dimensional and/or spectral/polarization imaging of the interior of the eye to assist in improved diagnosis. In one aspect, the multimode fundus camera includes a first imaging subsystem, a filter module, and a second imaging subsystem. The first imaging subsystem is positionable in front of an eye to form an optical image of an interior of the eye. The filter module is positioned at a pupil plane of the first imaging subsystem or at a conjugate thereof. The second imaging subsystem include a microimaging array and a sensor array. The microimaging array is positioned at the image plane or a conjugate thereof, and the sensor array is positioned at the pupil plane or a conjugate thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Gao, Lingfei Meng, Noah Bedard
  • Patent number: 9392933
    Abstract: Various types of illuminators for plenoptic otoscopes. The illuminators provide illuminating light to image the inside of the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noah Bedard, Lingfei Meng
  • Publication number: 20160205394
    Abstract: A collimated object is adjustable to produce collimated light propagating along different propagation directions. The plenoptic imaging system under calibration captures plenoptic images of the object adjusted to different propagation directions. The captured plenoptic images includes superpixels, each of which includes subpixels. Each subpixel captures light from a corresponding light field viewing direction. Based on the captured plenoptic images, a calibration module calculates which propagation directions map to which subpixels. The mapping defines the light field viewing directions for the subpixels. This can be used to improve processing of plenoptic images captured by the plenoptic imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Noah Bedard, Kathrin Berkner
  • Publication number: 20160202048
    Abstract: A plenoptic camera captures a plenoptic image of an object illuminated by a point source (preferably, collimated illumination). The plenoptic image is a sampling of the four-dimensional light field reflected from the object. The plenoptic image is made up of superpixels, each of which is made up of subpixels. Each superpixel captures light from a certain region of the object (i.e., a range of x,y spatial locations) and the subpixels within a superpixel capture light propagating within a certain range of directions (i.e., a range of u,v spatial directions). Accordingly, optical properties estimation, surface normal reconstruction, depth estimation, and three-dimensional rendering can be provided by processing only a single plenoptic image. In one approach, the plenoptic image is used to estimate the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the object surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Lingfei Meng, Liyang Lu, Kathrin Berkner, Ivana Tosic
  • Publication number: 20160135682
    Abstract: A multimode fundus camera enables three-dimensional and/or spectral/polarization imaging of the interior of the eye to assist in improved diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Noah Bedard, Lingfei Meng, Vipin Namboodiri, Krishna Prasad Agara Venkatesha Rao, Kathrin Berkner