Patents by Inventor Paul S. Wills

Paul S. Wills 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: 10426143
    Abstract: Systems and methods for object enumeration in a culture tank. The methods comprise: obtaining an array of two dimensional images of an illuminated scene in a culture tank; correcting non-uniform background illumination in the two dimensional images; improving a color contrast between a background and object edges shown in the two dimensional images; performing a defocus analysis using the two dimensional images to generate a focus map image; generating a modified focus map image by eliminating isolated spots shown in the focus map image and merging relatively small spots with adjacent relatively large objects in the focus map image; classifying each object shown in the modified focus map image as an object of interest or an object of no interest; and counting the number of objects classified as objects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Bing Ouyang, Paul S. Wills, Fraser Dalgleish, Anni Dalgleish
  • Publication number: 20180213753
    Abstract: Systems and methods for object enumeration in a culture tank. The methods comprise: obtaining an array of two dimensional images of an illuminated scene in a culture tank; correcting non-uniform background illumination in the two dimensional images; improving a color contrast between a background and object edges shown in the two dimensional images; performing a defocus analysis using the two dimensional images to generate a focus map image; generating a modified focus map image by eliminating isolated spots shown in the focus map image and merging relatively small spots with adjacent relatively large objects in the focus map image; classifying each object shown in the modified focus map image as an object of interest or an object of no interest; and counting the number of objects classified as objects of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Bing Ouyang, Paul S. Wills, Fraser Dalgleish, Anni Dalgleish
  • Publication number: 20170086430
    Abstract: A method for feeding larval fish in an artificial habitat having a water level, includes the step of providing in the habitat a plurality of light sources at a plurality of three dimensional locations in the habitat and below the water level. Inanimate food particles are placed into the water. The plurality of lights are pulsed at the plurality of three dimensional locations intermittently to illuminate the food particles from a variety of different angles within the habitat. A system for feeding fish, a habitat for fish, and a larval fish food are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Paul S. Wills, Martin Riche, Bing Ouyang