Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a confidence map for a disparity map associated to a set of two or more images are described. Motion between at least two subsequent sets of two or more images is determined. Based on the determined motion information static and dynamic regions in the images of the sets of two or more images are detected and separated. A disparity change between a disparity value determined for a static region of a current image and a motion compensated disparity value of a previous image is determined. The result of the determination is taken into account for generating or refining a confidence map.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital signal processing technique that changes the length of an audio signal and, thus, effectively its play-out speed. This is used for frame rate conversion or sound effects in music production. Time scaling may further be used for fast forward or slow-motion audio play-out. According said method the waveform similarity overlap add approach is modified such that a maximized similarity is determined among similarity measures of sub-sequence pairs each comprising a sub-sequence to-be-matched from a input window and a matching sub-sequence from a search window wherein said sub-sequence pairs comprise at least two sub-sequence pairs of which a first pair comprises a first sub-sequence to-be-matched and a second pair comprises a different second sub-sequence to-be-matched. The input window allows for finding sub-sequence pairs with higher similarity than with a WSOLA approach based on a single sub-sequence to-be-matched. This results in less perceivable artefacts.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for bilayer image segmentation are described. A set of segmentation seeds for the image is generated by analyzing a depth histogram of the image. Then a segmentation map is generated by minimizing an objective function, which models a directed flow from the foreground segmentation seeds towards the background segmentation seeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic component comprising at least two elements which form a working chamber therebetween and which comprises a primary wheel and a secondary wheel. A working medium which can be introduced into the working chamber allows torque to be transmitted between said elements. At least one of the elements is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a shaft. The hydrodynamic component comprises a device for detecting a variable characterising at least directly the transmitted torque and/or the rotation of the shaft. According to the invention, the shaft is at least designed to have at least two sections which are at an axial distance from each other and which are made of a ferromagnetic material and is provided with a magnetic field which is rotationally stable with the respective section. Magnetic field sensors are arranged in areas corresponding to the at least two sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining a disparity value for an object located in or to be placed into a stereoscopic image pair having an associated disparity map. First an area to be analyzed in one of the stereoscopic images is determined Then a histogram is built from disparity estimates of the associated disparity map that fall within the determined area. Subsequently a contiguous range of bins is searched in the histogram that also contains a sufficient number of pixels. Finally, a disparity estimate for the determined area is selected from the contiguous range of histogram bins.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for bi-layer segmentation of an image or a sequence of images are described. A classifier is derived based on depth data of the image and another classifier is derived based on color data of the image. The image is then segmented by maximizing a weighted sum of matching scores derived from the classifiers based on depth data and color data of the image. The classifier based on color data of the image is derived using color sampling subsequent to generating an initial segmentation of the image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for multi-label segmentation of an image are described. First an energy function is determined for the image. Then for a homogeneous region of the image variables of the energy function are grouped to a single variable. Subsequently the energy function is minimized and labels are assigned to regions of the image based on the minimized energy function.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating images from a multi camera system is proposed, the multi camera system comprising a main camera for generating a main image and at least two satellite cameras for generating at least a first and a second satellite image. The cameras can be orientated to a common observation area. The apparatus is operable to estimate a combined positional data of a point in the 3D-space. of the observation area corresponding to a pixel or group of pixels of interest of the main image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a confidence value of a disparity estimate for a pixel or a group of pixels of a selected image of at least two stereo images are described, the confidence value being a measure for an improved reliability value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels. First an initial reliability value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels is determined, wherein the reliability is one of at least reliable and unreliable. Then a distance of the pixel or the group of pixels to a nearest pixel or group of pixels with an unreliable disparity estimate is determined. Finally, the confidence value of the disparity estimate for the pixel or the group of pixels is obtained from the determined distance.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recovering a component of a distortion field of an image of a set of multi-view images are described. Also described are a method and an apparatus for determining a disparity field of an image of a set of multi-view images, which makes use of such method. In a first step pixel correspondences between the image and another image of the set of multi-view images are determined. A disparity field is then determined from at least a subset of the determined pixel correspondences. The disparity field is smoothed and the component of the distortion field is estimated from the smoothed disparity field. When determining a second disparity field the estimated component of the distortion field is taken into account when determining pixel correspondences between the image and another image of the set of multi-view images.

Abstract: A circuit for correcting the output of an audio level meter comprises input means for generating the square or the absolute value of an input signal, a low pass filter having a predetermined attack time and release time, and output means for converting the output signal from a linear scale to a logarithmic scale. The circuit further comprises a correction means to which an information about whether the input signal to the audio level meter was subject to squaring or converting into an absolute value at the input, as well as the attack and release time of the low pass filter, are supplied as input values, and which provides, at its output, a value representing the difference between the output of the audio level meter and the true signal power of the input signal.

Abstract: A solution for determining a similarity or dissimilarity measure for a selected pixel of a first image relative to another selected pixel in a second image is described. The first image and the second image form a stereoscopic image pair or part of a multi-view image group. In a first step a first support window containing the selected pixel in the first image is determining. Then a second support window containing the selected pixel in the second image is determining. Subsequently one or more statistical properties of the selected pixel in the first image are calculated to define a probability distribution for the selected pixel in the first image. Finally, pixel similarity or dissimilarity between the first support window and the second support window is aggregated using only those pixels belonging to the probability distribution for the selected pixel in the first image with a probability above a defined minimum.

Abstract: A method for generating a confidence map comprising a plurality of confidence values, each being assigned to a respective disparity value in a disparity map assigned to at least two stereo images each having a plurality of pixels, wherein a single confidence value is determined for each disparity value, and wherein for determination of the confidence value at least a first confidence value based on a match quality between a pixel or a group of pixels in the first stereo image and a corresponding pixel or a corresponding group of pixels in the second stereo image and a second confidence value based on a consistency of the corresponding disparity estimates is taken into account.

Abstract: A circuit for correcting the output of an audio level meter comprises input means for generating the square or the absolute value of an input signal, a low pass filter having a predetermined attack time and release time, and output means for converting the output signal from a linear scale to a logarithmic scale. The circuit further comprises a correction means to which an information about whether the input signal to the audio level meter was subject to squaring or converting into an absolute value at the input, as well as the attack and release time of the low pass filter, are supplied as input values, and which provides, at its output, a value representing the difference between the output of the audio level meter and the true signal power of the input signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for refining a value of a similarity measure are described. A similarity measure is assigned to a pixel or a group of pixels of a disparity map, which is assigned to at least two stereo images each having a plurality of pixels. The similarity measure constitutes an estimate for a match quality of the pixel or the group of pixels. For refinement of the value of the similarity measure, the similarity measure between a pixel or a group of pixels in a first stereo image and a corresponding pixel or a group of corresponding pixels in a second stereo image is determined. A contrast value for the pixel or the group of pixels of the first or the second stereo image is determined and the value of the similarity measure is corrected by a correction value that is a function of the determined contrast value.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the colors of stereoscopic or multi-view images is described. The method comprises the steps of retrieving one or more disparity maps for the stereoscopic or multi-view images, aligning one or more of the images to a reference image by warping the one or more images according to the retrieved disparity maps, and performing an analysis of discrepancies on one or more of the aligned images.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating images from a multi camera system is proposed, the multi camera system comprising a main camera for generating a main image and at least two satellite cameras for generating at least a first and a second satellite image. The cameras can be orientated to a common observation area. The apparatus is operable to estimate a combined positional data of a point in the 3D-space of the observation area corresponding to a pixel or group of pixels of interest of the main image.

Abstract: An process for recognizing an acoustic event in an audio signal has two stages The first stage involves possible candidates being selected, and the second stage involves each of the possible candidates being allocated a confidence value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital signal processing technique that changes the length of an audio signal and, thus, effectively its play-out speed. This is used for frame rate conversion or sound effects in music production. Time scaling may further be used for fast forward or slow-motion audio play-out. According said method the waveform similarity overlap add approach is modified such that a maximized similarity is determined among similarity measures of sub-sequence pairs each comprising a sub-sequence to-be-matched from a input window and a matching sub-sequence from a search window wherein said sub-sequence pairs comprise at least two sub-sequence pairs of which a first pair comprises a first sub-sequence to-be-matched and a second pair comprises a different second sub-sequence to-be-matched. The input window allows for finding sub-sequence pairs with higher similarity than with a WSOLA approach based on a single sub-sequence to-be-matched. This results in less perceivable artefacts.

Abstract: A circuit for correcting the output of an audio level meter comprises input means for generating the square or the absolute value of an input signal, a low pass filter having a predetermined attack time and release time, and output means for converting the output signal from a linear scale to a logarithmic scale. The circuit further comprises a correction means to which an information about whether the input signal to the audio level meter was subject to squaring or converting into an absolute value at the input, as well as the attack and release time of the low pass filter, are supplied as input values, and which provides, at its output, a value representing the difference between the output of the audio level meter and the true signal power of the input signal.