Patents by Inventor Stephen B Pollard

Stephen B Pollard 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: 7071978
    Abstract: This invention relates to the reconstruction of a full colour image from image mosaic data in particular where the image mosaic data is unequally weighted between different colours. The image mosaic is composed of a plurality of image pixels. Each image pixel has one of at least three colour values and has a luminance value representing the intensity of the colour value for that pixel in the image mosaic. The pixels of each colour value are interleaved across the image mosaic with pixels of different colour values to form the image mosaic. For each colour value, both a low spatial frequency monochrome image and a high spatial frequency luminance image are generated, the high spatial frequency luminance image extending only across pixels locations of the image mosaic for that colour value. Each of the high spatial frequency luminance images is then combined with a corresponding low spatial frequency monochrome image to form the full colour image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Hunter, Stephen B Pollard
  • Patent number: 7006686
    Abstract: This invention relates to the reconstruction of a full colour image from an image mosaic composed of a plurality of image pixels that have one of at least three colour values. The pixels are interleaved in rows and columns across the mosaic with pixels of different colour values to form the mosaic in such a way that each row and column contains pixels of at least two colours. A high spatial frequency luminance image is generated from the mosaic that extends across all pixel locations of the image mosaic. The luminance values of pixels in the high frequency image are adjusted to reduce zippering effects. The adjustment is performed on pixels generated from a particular colour value at least in a first row and/or a first column of the high frequency luminance image according to the luminance values for said pixels and the luminance values of pixels generated from another colour value. A low spatial frequency luminance image is generated from the mosaic for each colour value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Hunter, Stephen B Pollard
  • Patent number: 6978050
    Abstract: This invention relates to the reconstruction of a color plane in image mosaic data with correction for color aliasing artefacts, in particular where the image mosaic data is unequally weighted between different colors. The image mosaic is composed of a plurality of interleaved image pixels of at least three color values, each of which has a luminance value. Each row and column of the mosaic contains image pixels of at least two colors. An edge strength metric is assessed at locations in the image mosaic using at least two luminance values of the same color value to determine the strength of luminance changes and hence of detected edges at said locations. A low spatial frequency image is generated for each color value in which changes in luminance values are smoothed. The smoothing for each color value is in accordance with said edge strength metric so that smoothing at the locations of detected edges is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Arthur Hunter, Stephen B Pollard
  • Patent number: 6970824
    Abstract: Voice-controlled apparatus is provided which minimises the risk of activating more than one such apparatus at a time where multiple voice-controlled apparatus exist in close proximity. To start voice control of the apparatus, a user needs to be looking at the apparatus when speaking. Preferably, after the user stops looking at the apparatus, continuing voice control can only be effected whilst the user continues speaking without breaks longer than a predetermined duration. Detection of whether the user is looking at the apparatus can be effected in a number of ways including by the use of camera systems, by a head-mounted directional transmitter, and by detecting the location and direction of facing of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen John Hinde, Timothy Alan Heath Wilkinson, Stephen B Pollard, Andrew Arthur Hunter