Patents by Inventor Rolf Toft

Rolf Toft 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: 10432861
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Publication number: 20190222766
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short-and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 10277820
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short-and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Publication number: 20180316864
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 10033927
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 9979889
    Abstract: Techniques to improve a digital image capture device's ability to stabilize a video stream are presented. According to some embodiments, improved stabilization of captured video frames is provided by intelligently harnessing the complementary effects of both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). In particular, OIS may be used to remove intra-frame motion blur that is typically lower in amplitude and dominates with longer integration times, while EIS may be used to remove residual unwanted frame-to-frame motion that is typically larger in amplitude. The techniques disclosed herein may also leverage information provided from the image capture device's OIS system to perform improved motion blur-aware video stabilization strength modulation, which permits better video stabilization performance in low light conditions, where integration times tend to be longer, thus leading to a greater amount of motion blurring in the output stabilized video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Damien J. Thivent, George E. Williams, Jianping Zhou, Richard L. Baer, Rolf Toft, Sebastien X. Beysserie
  • Publication number: 20180063441
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 9843730
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Publication number: 20170280059
    Abstract: Techniques to improve a digital image capture device's ability to stabilize a video stream are presented. According to some embodiments, improved stabilization of captured video frames is provided by intelligently harnessing the complementary effects of both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). In particular, OIS may be used to remove intra-frame motion blur that is typically lower in amplitude and dominates with longer integration times, while EIS may be used to remove residual unwanted frame-to-frame motion that is typically larger in amplitude. The techniques disclosed herein may also leverage information provided from the image capture device's OIS system to perform improved motion blur-aware video stabilization strength modulation, which permits better video stabilization performance in low light conditions, where integration times tend to be longer, thus leading to a greater amount of motion blurring in the output stabilized video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Damien J. Thivent, George E. Williams, Jianping Zhou, Richard L. Baer, Rolf Toft, Sebastien X. Beysserie
  • Publication number: 20170237905
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short-and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 9681050
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short-and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 9596411
    Abstract: Techniques to improve a digital image capture device's ability to stabilize a video stream are presented. According to some embodiments, improved stabilization of captured video frames is provided by intelligently harnessing the complementary effects of both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). In particular, OIS may be used to remove intra-frame motion blur that is typically lower in amplitude and dominates with longer integration times, while EIS may be used to remove residual unwanted frame-to-frame motion that is typically larger in amplitude. The techniques disclosed herein may also leverage information provided from the image capture device's OIS system to perform improved motion blur-aware video stabilization strength modulation, which permits better video stabilization performance in low light conditions, where integration times tend to be longer, thus leading to a greater amount of motion blurring in the output stabilized video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Damien J. Thivent, George E. Williams, Jianping Zhou, Richard L. Baer, Rolf Toft, Sebastien X. Beysserie
  • Publication number: 20160360111
    Abstract: Techniques to improve a digital image capture device's ability to stabilize a video stream are presented. According to some embodiments, improved stabilization of captured video frames is provided by intelligently harnessing the complementary effects of both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). In particular, OIS may be used to remove intra-frame motion blur that is typically lower in amplitude and dominates with longer integration times, while EIS may be used to remove residual unwanted frame-to-frame motion that is typically larger in amplitude. The techniques disclosed herein may also leverage information provided from the image capture device's OIS system to perform improved motion blur-aware video stabilization strength modulation, which permits better video stabilization performance in low light conditions, where integration times tend to be longer, thus leading to a greater amount of motion blurring in the output stabilized video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Damien J. Thivent, George E. Williams, Jianping Zhou, Richard L. Baer, Rolf Toft, Sebastien X. Beysserie
  • Patent number: 9491360
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve image stabilization operations are described. A novel combination of image quality and commonality metrics are used to identify a reference frame from a set of commonly captured images which, when the set's other images are combined with it, results in a quality stabilized image. The disclosed image quality and commonality metrics may also be used to optimize the use of a limited amount of image buffer memory during image capture sequences that return more images that the memory may accommodate at one time. Image quality and commonality metrics may also be used to effect the combination of multiple relatively long-exposure images which, when combined with a one or more final (relatively) short-exposure images, yields images exhibiting motion-induced blurring in interesting and visually pleasing ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anita Nariani Schulze, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel, Marius Tico, Jianping Zhou, Ralph Brunner, Claus Molgaard
  • Publication number: 20160301873
    Abstract: Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short-and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Claus Molgaard, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 9426409
    Abstract: Traditionally, time-lapse videos are constructed from images captured at time intervals called “temporal points of interests” or “temporal POIs.” Disclosed herein are systems and methods of constructing improved, motion-stabilized time-lapse videos using temporal points of interest and image similarity comparisons. According to some embodiments, a “burst” of images may be captured, centered around the aforementioned temporal points of interest. Then, each burst sequence of images may be analyzed, e.g., by performing an image similarity comparison between each image in the burst sequence and the image selected at the previous temporal point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastien X. Beysserie, Jason Klivington, Rolf Toft, Frank Doepke
  • Patent number: 9384552
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve image stabilization operations are described. A novel approach to pixel-based registration of non-reference images to a reference frame in a set of commonly captured images is disclosed which makes use of pyramid decomposition to more efficiently detect corners. The disclosed pixel-based registration operation may also be combined with motion sensor data-based registration approaches to register non-reference images with respect to the reference frame. When the registered non-reference images are combined with the pre-selected reference image, the resulting image is a quality stabilized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Zhou, Paul Hubel, Marius Tico, Anita Nariani Schulze, Rolf Toft
  • Patent number: 9357132
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for compensating for lens motion includes estimating a starting position of a lens assembly associated with captured pixel data. The captured pixel data is captured from an image sensor. In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating from the starting position and position data received from the one or more position sensors lens movement associated with the captured pixel data. The lens movement is mapped into pixel movement associated with the captured pixel data. A transform matrix is adjusted to reflect at least the pixel movement. A limit factor associated with the position data is calculated. The captured pixel data is recalculated using the transform matrix and the limit factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Damien J. Thivent, Rolf Toft, Jianping Zhou
  • Patent number: 9357130
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for selectively capturing, retaining, and combining multiple sub-exposure images or brackets to yield a final image having diminished motion-induced blur and good noise characteristics. More specifically, after or during the capture of N brackets, the M best may be identified for combining into a single output image, (N>M). As used here, the term “best” means those brackets that exhibit the least amount of relative motion with respect to one another—with one caveat: integer pixel shifts may be preferred over sub-pixel shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Sachs, Marius Tico, Rolf Toft, Paul Hubel, George Williams
  • Patent number: 9350916
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve image stabilization operations and other image processing operations are described. A novel combination of interleaved image capture and image processing operations, e.g., image registration operations, may be employed on a bracketed capture of still images. Such techniques may result in improved camera performance and processing efficiency, as well as decreased shot-to-shot time intervals. In another embodiment, an image fusion portion of an image post-processing pipeline may also be performed in an interleaved fashion, such that each image in the sequence of obtained bracketed images may be incrementally added to an output composite image after it has been aligned with the preceding image or images from the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Pflughaupt, Rolf Toft, Paul Hubel, Anita Nariani Schulze