Patents by Inventor Robin Atkins

Robin Atkins 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: 11301972
    Abstract: A method for adjusting color saturation can determine a saturation adjustment from metadata that specifies an adjustment of color saturation based on a first display and from precomputed data, such as data in one or more look-up tables, that specifies a relationship between image data in a first color space and image data in a second color space. An input image in the first color space is converted into an image in the second color space, and the color saturation is adjusted while the image data is in the second color space, which can be a geometrically non-symmetrical color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Partin, Kimball Darr Thurston, III, Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20220086467
    Abstract: Several embodiments of scalable image processing systems and methods are disclosed herein whereby color management processing of source image data to be displayed on a target display is changed according to varying levels of metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Neil W. Messmer, Robin Atkins, Steve Margerm, Peter W. Longhurst
  • Patent number: 11277543
    Abstract: In a method for dithering image data, a processor receives an input image in a first color space and a first bit depth larger than 8 bits. The processor converts the input image into a first image in a perceptually uniform color space, such as the BT. 2100 ICtCp color space, with pixel values scaled to be within a target bit depth, it quantizes the first image to generate a quantized image, it generates an error image between the first image and the quantized image, and using a random threshold, it generates a dithered image based on the random threshold, the error image, and the quantized image, allowing to reduce the bit-depth representation for visually consistent reproduction by two bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz, Robert Wanat
  • Patent number: 11258957
    Abstract: An auto exposure method for an image sensor includes (a) evaluating variance, for each of a plurality of histograms of the pixel values from a respective plurality of individual exposures of the image sensor at respective exposure 5 time settings, of contribution from individual bins of the histogram to total entropy of the histogram, to determine an optimal exposure time for the image sensor corresponding to a minimum value of the variance, and (b) outputting the optimal exposure time to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jon S. McElvain, Walter C. Gish, Jonathan Robert Miller, Gregory John Ward, Robin Atkins
  • Patent number: 11252401
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a display device is disclosed to optically communicating display parameters. The device receives input image data. Embedded in the input image data is a code value identifying a request for a portion of a display parameter of the display device. The device decodes the embedded code value. The device generates an optical image based on the request and transmits the generated optical image to an output of the display device to communicate the requested portion of the requested display parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Kunkel, Robin Atkins, Tao Chen
  • Publication number: 20220038723
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Fangjun Pu, Sean Thomas McCarthy, Walter J. Husak, Tao Chen, Guan-Ming Su
  • Patent number: 11218709
    Abstract: Several embodiments of scalable image processing systems and methods are disclosed herein whereby color management processing of source image data to be displayed on a target display is changed according to varying levels of metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Neil W. Messmer, Robin Atkins, Steve Margerm, Peter W. Longhurst
  • Patent number: 11186476
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a dual modulator display systems and methods for rendering target image data upon the dual modulator display system are disclosed where the display system receives target image data, possible HDR image data and first calculates display control signals and then calculates backlight control signals from the display control signals. This order of calculating display signals and then backlight control signals later as a function of the display systems may tend to reduce clipping artifacts. In other embodiments, it is possible to split the input target HDR image data into a base layer and a detail layer, wherein the base layer is the low spatial resolution image data that may be utilized as for backlight illumination data. The detail layer is higher spatial resolution image data that may be utilized for display control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Rabab K. Ward
  • Patent number: 11183143
    Abstract: A processor receives input video data of a video dynamic range and input dynamic metadata. It also receives: input graphics data of a graphics dynamic range and input static metadata, display identification data from a target display over a video interface, and a blending priority map characterizing a per-pixel priority of output pixels in an image generated by blending the input video data and the input graphics data. A video mapping function and a graphics mapping function which map data from the input video and graphics dynamic ranges to the target dynamic range are generated based on the dynamic and static metadata. Then, the input and graphics data are blended based on the blending priority map and a per-pixel decision to map pixels to the target dynamic range using either the video mapping function or the graphics mapping function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20210360139
    Abstract: An auto exposure method for an image sensor includes (a) evaluating variance, for each of a plurality of histograms of the pixel values from a respective plurality of individual exposures of the image sensor at respective exposure 5 time settings, of contribution from individual bins of the histogram to total entropy of the histogram, to determine an optimal exposure time for the image sensor corresponding to a minimum value of the variance, and (b) outputting the optimal exposure time to the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon S. MCELVAIN, Walter C. GISH, Jonathan Robert MILLER, Gregory John WARD, Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20210349384
    Abstract: An angular image of a scene may be displayed using a light field display. The light field display may comprise a plurality of projection units. Each of the projections units may comprise an imaging system and an optical system. The imaging system may illuminate pixels of a planar image of the scene. Light corresponding to each of the pixels may be directed towards the optical system. The optical system may comprise first and second lenses for redirecting each light beam corresponding to a pixel in different directions. In some embodiments the first and second lenses form a globe lens. A diffusion system may conceal the optical systems. Additionally, or alternatively, the diffusion system may produce a uniform distribution of light at a plurality of different viewing angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Lorne Arthur WHITEHEAD, Robin ATKINS
  • Patent number: 11158032
    Abstract: Input scene images are captured from an original scene. The input scene images may be represented in an input color space. The input scene images are converted into color-space-converted scene images in one of an LMS color space, an ICtCp color space, etc. Scene light levels represented in the color-space-converted scene images are mapped, based at least in part on an optical transfer function, to mapped light levels. A tone mapping is applied to the mapped light levels to generate corresponding display light levels to be represented in display images. The display images may be rendered on a target display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, David Brooks, Jaclyn Anne Pytlarz, Jon S. McElvain, Robert Wanat
  • Publication number: 20210287348
    Abstract: A method for adjusting color saturation can determine a saturation adjustment from metadata that specifies an adjustment of color saturation based on a first display and from precomputed data, such as data in one or more look-up tables, that specifies a relationship between image data in a first color space and image data in a second color space. An input image in the first color space is converted into an image in the second color space, and the color saturation is adjusted while the image data is in the second color space, which can be a geometrically non-symmetrical color space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander PARTIN, Kimball Darr THURSTON III, Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20210280154
    Abstract: A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon Scott MILLER, Scott DALY, Mahdi NEZAMABADI, Robin ATKINS
  • Publication number: 20210250564
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing an image captured with an image sensor, such as a camera. In one embodiment, an estimated ambient light level of the captured image is determined and used to compute an optical-optical transfer function (OOTF) that is used to correct the image to preserve an apparent contrast of the image under the estimated ambient light level in a viewing environment. The estimated ambient light level is determined by scaling pixel values from the image sensor using a function that includes exposure parameters and a camera specific parameter derived from a camera calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth G. PIERI, Robin ATKINS, Jaclyn Anne PYTLARZ
  • Publication number: 20210243478
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized. HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Peng YIN, Taoran LU, Jaclyn Anne PYTLARZ
  • Publication number: 20210243477
    Abstract: In a method to improve backwards compatibility when decoding high-dynamic range images coded in a wide color gamut (WCG) space which may not be compatible with legacy color spaces, hue and/or saturation values of images in an image database are computed for both a legacy color space (say, YCbCr-gamma) and a preferred WCG color space (say, IPT-PQ). Based on a cost function, a reshaped color space is computed so that the distance between the hue values in the legacy color space and rotated hue values in the preferred color space is minimized HDR images are coded in the reshaped color space. Legacy devices can still decode standard dynamic range images assuming they are coded in the legacy color space, while updated devices can use color reshaping information to decode HDR images in the preferred color space at full dynamic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin ATKINS, Peng YIN, Taoran LU, Jaclyn Anne PYTLARZ
  • Publication number: 20210243352
    Abstract: An auto exposure method for a spatially-multiplexed-exposure (SME) high-dynamic-range (HDR) image sensor includes (a) retrieving raw image data from an exposure of the spatially-multiplexed-exposure high-dynamic-range image sensor, (b) preprocessing long-exposure pixel values and short-exposure pixel values of the raw image data to remove therefrom long-exposure pixel values and short-exposure pixel values failing to meet one or more quality requirements, (c) synthesizing, into an high-dynamic-range histogram, the long-exposure pixel values remaining after the step of preprocessing and the short-exposure pixel values remaining after the step of preprocessing, (d) deriving a goodness metric from the high-dynamic-range histogram, (e) adjusting at least one of the long exposure time and the short exposure time, based at least in part upon the goodness metric, and (f) outputting the at least one of the long exposure time and the short exposure time, as adjusted, to the spatially-multiplexed-exposure high-dynamic-
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon S. MCELVAIN, Walter C. GISH, Jonathan Robert MILLER, Gregory John WARD, Robin ATKINS
  • Patent number: 11074677
    Abstract: Methods for recovering saturated pixel values in raw pixel data are described. Given an image with raw pixel values captured using sensors with a color filter array (CFA), image regions are classified according to how many color channels of the CFA are saturated. Values of saturated pixels are estimated based on weighted color ratios of unsaturated pixels and recovered pixels. Example methods for a Bayer CFA are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jon S. McElvain, Robin Atkins
  • Publication number: 20210211688
    Abstract: Methods and systems for frame rate scalability are described. Support is provided for input and output video sequences with variable frame rate and variable shutter angle across scenes, or for input video sequences with fixed input frame rate and input shutter angle, but allowing a decoder to generate a video output at a different output frame rate and shutter angle than the corresponding input values. Techniques allowing a decoder to decode more computationally-efficiently a specific backward compatible target frame rate and shutter angle among those allowed are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Robin Atkins, Peng Yin, Taoran Lu, Fangjun Pu, Sean Thomas McCarthy, Walter J. Husak, Tao Chen, Guan-Ming Su