Patents by Inventor Stephen Ssu-te Lin

Stephen Ssu-te Lin 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: 9609180
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Publication number: 20150341529
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Patent number: 9113057
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Patent number: 8405746
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Patent number: 8233715
    Abstract: Technologies for comparing observed intensities using a probabilistic similarity measure. In the probabilistic similarity measure example, there is no attempt to estimate a true intensity. Rather, the similarity of two observed intensities is defined as the likelihood that they each resulted from the same but unknown true identity while taking into account the noise characteristics of the camera observing the intensities. Since the true intensity is unknown, all possible true intensities are taken into account, rather than using a specific true intensity estimate. The probabilistic similarity measure indicates the degree to which two intensities correspond to the same intensity without estimating a true scene intensity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Publication number: 20120147198
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Patent number: 8190403
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is decomposed into a weighted sum of a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and an optional residual field. Source radiances from single and optionally multiple scattering are directly computed at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. Unique approximation techniques are introduced in the computational algorithms to simplify and speed up the computation of source radiance contributed by single and multiple scattering. Using the computed source radiances, a ray marching technique using slice-based integration of radiance along each viewing ray may be performed to render the final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 8149300
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Patent number: 8082129
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is decomposed into a weighted sum of a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and an optional residual field. Source radiances from single and optionally multiple scattering are directly computed at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. Unique approximation techniques are introduced in the computational algorithms to simplify and speed up the computation of source radiance contributed by single and multiple scattering. Using the computed source radiances, a ray marching technique using slice-based integration of radiance along each viewing ray may be performed to render the final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 8009168
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is decompressed into a weighted sum of a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and an optional residual field. Source radiances from single and optionally multiple scattering are directly computed at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. Using the computed source radiances, a ray marching technique using slice-based integration of radiance along each viewing ray is performed to render the final image. During the ray marching process, the residual field may be compensated back into the radiance integral to generate images of higher detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 7990377
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is represented by an approximate model density field and a residual density field. The algorithm uses the approximate model density field to compute an approximate source radiance, and further computes an effective exitant radiance by compositing the approximate source radiance using a compositing methods such as ray marching. During the compositing process (e.g., ray marching), the residual field is compensated back into the radiance integral to generate images of higher detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Publication number: 20090268938
    Abstract: Technologies for comparing observed intensities using a probabilistic similarity measure. In the probabilistic similarity measure example, there is no attempt to estimate a true intensity. Rather, the similarity of two observed intensities is defined as the likelihood that they each resulted from the same but unknown true identity while taking into account the noise characteristics of the camera observing the intensities. Since the true intensity is unknown, all possible true intensities are taken into account, rather than using a specific true intensity estimate. The probabilistic similarity measure indicates the degree to which two intensities correspond to the same intensity without estimating a true scene intensity value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Publication number: 20090268062
    Abstract: Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Matsushita, Stephen Ssu-te Lin
  • Publication number: 20090006047
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is decomposed into a weighted sum of a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and an optional residual field. Source radiances from single and optionally multiple scattering are directly computed at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. Unique approximation techniques are introduced in the computational algorithms to simplify and speed up the computation of source radiance contributed by single and multiple scattering. Using the computed source radiances, a ray marching technique using slice-based integration of radiance along each viewing ray may be performed to render the final image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Publication number: 20090006044
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is decompressed into a weighted sum of a set of radial basis functions (RBFs) and an optional residual field. Source radiances from single and optionally multiple scattering are directly computed at only the RBF centers and then approximated at other points in the volume using an RBF-based interpolation. Using the computed source radiances, a ray marching technique using slice-based integration of radiance along each viewing ray is performed to render the final image. During the ray marching process, the residual field may be compensated back into the radiance integral to generate images of higher detail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Publication number: 20090006046
    Abstract: A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is represented by an approximate model density field and a residual density field. The algorithm uses the approximate model density field to compute an approximate source radiance, and further computes an effective exitant radiance by compositing the approximate source radiance using a compositing methods such as ray marching. During the compositing process (e.g., ray marching), the residual field is compensated back into the radiance integral to generate images of higher detail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Zhong Ren, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 7433490
    Abstract: A novel method for synchronizing the lips of a sketched face to an input voice. The lip synchronization system and method approach is to use training video as much as possible when the input voice is similar to the training voice sequences. Initially, face sequences are clustered from video segments, then by making use of sub-sequence Hidden Markov Models, a correlation between speech signals and face shape sequences is built. From this re-use of video, the discontinuity between two consecutive output faces is decreased and accurate and realistic synthesized animations are obtained. The lip synchronization system and method can synthesize faces from input audio in real-time without noticeable delay. Since acoustic feature data calculated from audio is directly used to drive the system without considering its phonemic representation, the method can adapt to any kind of voice, language or sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corp
    Inventors: Ying Huang, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Patent number: 7133535
    Abstract: A novel method for synchronizing the lips of a sketched face to an input voice. The lip synchronization system and method approach is to use training video as much as possible when the input voice is similar to the training voice sequences. Initially, face sequences are clustered from video segments, then by making use of sub-sequence Hidden Markov Models, a correlation between speech signals and face shape sequences is built. From this re-use of video, the discontinuity between two consecutive output faces is decreased and accurate and realistic synthesized animations are obtained. The lip synchronization system and method can synthesize faces from input audio in real-time without noticeable delay. Since acoustic feature data calculated from audio is directly used to drive the system without considering its phonemic representation, the method can adapt to any kind of voice, language or sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corp.
    Inventors: Ying Huang, Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum
  • Publication number: 20040120554
    Abstract: A novel method for synchronizing the lips of a sketched face to an input voice. The lip synchronization system and method approach is to use training video as much as possible when the input voice is similar to the training voice sequences. Initially, face sequences are clustered from video segments, then by making use of sub-sequence Hidden Markov Models, a correlation between speech signals and face shape sequences is built. From this re-use of video, the discontinuity between two consecutive output faces is decreased and accurate and realistic synthesized animations are obtained. The lip synchronization system and method can synthesize faces from input audio in real-time without noticeable delay. Since acoustic feature data calculated from audio is directly used to drive the system without considering its phonemic representation, the method can adapt to any kind of voice, language or sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen Ssu-te Lin, Baining Guo, Heung-Yeung Shum