Patents by Inventor Matthew Merzbacher

Matthew Merzbacher 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).

  • Publication number: 20100284618
    Abstract: A method for identifying an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data, and separating a sheet object from a bulk object within the acquired image data by using a top hat algorithm. Information relating to at least one of the sheet object and the bulk object is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Dimitrios Ioannou, Matthew Merzbacher, Todd Gable
  • Patent number: 7515675
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a projection image directly from data acquired by a CT scanner, the method comprising: acquiring an amount of data corresponding to an object that is scanned by the CT scanner, wherein the amount of data is generated by an x-ray source that projects a fan beam of x-rays toward a detector array on an opposite side of a gantry of the CT scanner as the object is passed through an opening in the gantry, the acquired amount of data comprising a reconstruction volume; selecting a viewing direction of the object; selecting a portion of a surface intersecting the reconstruction volume, wherein the selected portion comprises an imaging surface inside the reconstruction volume and corresponding to the viewing direction of the object; dividing the imaging surface into a plurality of rows and columns, thus creating a grid of points corresponding to the imaging surface; determining, for each point in the grid, a data point in the acquired amount of data corresponding to an x-ray sourc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: GE Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Garms, Ugo Di Girolamo, Matthew Merzbacher
  • Patent number: 7492856
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a projection image directly from data acquired by a CT scanner, the method comprising: acquiring an amount of data corresponding to an entire object that is scanned by the CT scanner, wherein the amount of data is generated by an x-ray source that projects a fan beam of x-rays toward a detector array on an opposite side of a gantry of the CT scanner as the object is passed through an opening in the gantry; selecting an imaging plane, the imaging plane corresponding to a view of the object; dividing the imaging plane into a plurality of rows and columns, thus creating a grid of points corresponding to the imaging plane; determining, for each point in the grid, a data point from the acquired data corresponding to an x-ray source position wherein a ray from the x-ray source to the grid point is closest to a perpendicular orientation with respect to the imaging plane, and a detector position where the ray intersects the detector array; and presenting a projection image corres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: GE Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter I. Garms, Ugo Di Girolamo, Matthew Merzbacher
  • Publication number: 20080123895
    Abstract: A method for quickly identifying object volumetric data and air volumetric data from image data of an object is disclosed. Significantly, embodiments of the method result in significant savings in disk space and a significant reduction in computer processing time as compared to the types of known three-dimensional image processing methods described above. An explosive detection system is also provided that includes computer executable instructions stored in a memory coupled with a computer processor. When executed by the computer processor, the computer executable instructions cause the computer processor to: operate the imaging system to obtain the image data of the object; sample the image data in three dimensions; identify one or more candidate voxels; and identify, from the one or more candidate voxels, one or more starting voxels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Todd Gable, Matthew Merzbacher
  • Publication number: 20070140414
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a projection image directly from data acquired by a CT scanner, the method comprising: acquiring an amount of data corresponding to an object that is scanned by the CT scanner, wherein the amount of data is generated by an x-ray source that projects a fan beam of x-rays toward a detector array on an opposite side of a gantry of the CT scanner as the object is passed through an opening in the gantry, the acquired amount of data comprising a reconstruction volume; selecting a viewing direction of the object; selecting a portion of a surface intersecting the reconstruction volume, wherein the selected portion comprises an imaging surface inside the reconstruction volume and corresponding to the viewing direction of the object; dividing the imaging surface into a plurality of rows and columns, thus creating a grid of points corresponding to the imaging surface; determining, for each point in the grid, a data point in the acquired amount of data corresponding to an x-ray sourc
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Walter Garms, Ugo Girolamo, Matthew Merzbacher
  • Publication number: 20070140415
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a projection image directly from data acquired by a CT scanner, the method comprising: acquiring an amount of data corresponding to an entire object that is scanned by the CT scanner, wherein the amount of data is generated by an x-ray source that projects a fan beam of x-rays toward a detector array on an opposite side of a gantry of the CT scanner as the object is passed through an opening in the gantry; selecting an imaging plane, the imaging plane corresponding to a view of the object; dividing the imaging plane into a plurality of rows and columns, thus creating a grid of points corresponding to the imaging plane; determining, for each point in the grid, a data point from the acquired data corresponding to an x-ray source position wherein a ray from the x-ray source to the grid point is closest to a perpendicular orientation with respect to the imaging plane, and a detector position where the ray intersects the detector array; and presenting a projection image corres
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Walter Garms, Ugo Girolamo, Matthew Merzbacher