Abstract: A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a lens. The method includes defining a plurality of omni-symmetrical regions within the lens, determining one or more localized lens parameters associated with each of the plurality of omni-symmetrical regions, and defining a localized set of calibration parameters for each of the plurality of omni-symmetrical region. The localized set of calibration parameters may then be employed in a computational image application.

Abstract: A gesture-enabled keyboard and method are defined. The gesture-enabled keyboard includes a keyboard housing including one or more keyboard keys for typing, a pair of stereo camera sensors mounted within the keyboard housing, a field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors projecting substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the keyboard housing, and a pair of micro-electronic machines, each of the micro-electronic machines being coupled with, and adapted to adjust a position of a corresponding one of the pair of stereo cameras. A background of the field of view is updated when one or more alternative input devices are in use. A gesture region including a plurality of interaction zones and a virtual membrane defining a region of transition from one of the plurality of interaction zones to another of the plurality of interaction zones is defined within the field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications.

Abstract: A novel disparity computation technique is presented which comprises multiple orthogonal disparity maps, generated from approximately orthogonal decomposition feature spaces, collaboratively generating a composite disparity map. Using an approximately orthogonal feature set extracted from such feature spaces produces an approximately orthogonal set of disparity maps that can be composited together to produce a final disparity map. Various methods for dimensioning scenes and are presented. One approach extracts the top and bottom vertices of a cuboid, along with the set of lines, whose intersections define such points. It then defines a unique box from these two intersections as well as the associated lines. Orthographic projection is then attempted, to recenter the box perspective. This is followed by the extraction of the three-dimensional information that is associated with the box, and finally, the dimensions of the box are computed. The same concepts can apply to hallways, rooms, and any other object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing gesture recognition. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from one or more cameras, each of the one or more raw frames representing a time sequence of images, determining one or more regions of the one or more received raw frames that comprise highly textured regions, segmenting the one or more determined highly textured regions in accordance textured features thereof to determine one or more segments thereof, determining one or more regions of the one or more received raw frames that comprise other than highly textured regions, and segmenting the one or more determined other than highly textured regions in accordance with color thereof to determine one or more segments thereof. One or more of the segments are then tracked through the one or more raw frames representing he time sequence of images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an adaptive mosaic pixel-wise virtual Bayer pattern. The method may include receiving a plurality of monochromatic images from an array of imaging elements, creating a reference ordered set at infinity from the plurality of monochromatic images, running a demosaicing process on the reference ordered set, and creating a color image from the demosaiced ordered set. One or more offset artifacts resulting from the demosaicing process may be computed at a distance other than infinity, the ordered set may be modified in accordance with the computed offsets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: A novel disparity computation technique is presented which comprises multiple orthogonal disparity maps, generated from approximately orthogonal decomposition feature spaces, collaboratively generating a composite disparity map. Using an approximately orthogonal feature set extracted from such feature spaces produces an approximately orthogonal set of disparity maps that can be composited together to produce a final disparity map. Various methods for dimensioning scenes and are presented. One approach extracts the top and bottom vertices of a cuboid, along with the set of lines, whose intersections define such points. It then defines a unique box from these two intersections as well as the associated lines. Orthographic projection is then attempted, to recenter the box perspective. This is followed by the extraction of the three-dimensional information that is associated with the box, and finally, the dimensions of the box are computed. The same concepts can apply to hallways, rooms, and any other object.

Abstract: A gesture-enabled keyboard and method are defined. The gesture-enabled keyboard includes a keyboard housing including one or more keyboard keys for typing, a pair of stereo camera sensors mounted within the keyboard housing, a field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors projecting substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the keyboard housing, and a pair of micro-electronic machines, each of the micro-electronic machines being coupled with, and adapted to adjust a position of a corresponding one of the pair of stereo cameras. A background of the field of view is updated when one or more alternative input devices are in use. A gesture region including a plurality of interaction zones and a virtual membrane defining a region of transition from one of the plurality of interaction zones to another of the plurality of interaction zones is defined within the field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for segmenting an image are provided. The method may include the steps of clustering pixels from one of a plurality of images into one or more segments, determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from a prior of the plurality of images, determining one or more segments transitioning from an unstable to a stable segment, determining depth for one or more of the one or more segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold, determining depth for one or more of the one or more transitioning segments, and combining the determined depth for the one or more unstable segments and the one or more transitioning segments with a predetermined depth of all segments changing less than the predetermined threshold from the prior of the plurality of images.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying the presence of an occupant in a vehicle. The system includes a first sensor positioned within a seating area of a seat and having a corresponding sensitive zone passing through the seating area vertically, and a second sensor positioned within a back rest area of the seat and having a corresponding sensitive zone passing through a chest area of an occupant horizontally. The first sensor is adapted to sense coarse movements adjacent to and farther from the sensor while the second sensor is adapted to capture both coarse and finer movements, such as breathing and heartbeats.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a lens. The method includes defining a plurality of omni-symmetrical regions within the lens, determining one or more localized lens parameters associated with each of the plurality of omni-symmetrical regions, and defining a localized set of calibration parameters for each of the plurality of omni-symmetrical region. The localized set of calibration parameters may then be employed in a computational image application.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses are provided to determine an occurrence of a first user indication and determine a plurality of Points of Interest (POI) corresponding to the first user indication, and to determine an occurrence of a second user indication and responsively determine a narrowed POI from the plurality of POIs. An action corresponding to the narrowed POI and the first and/or second user indication is determined and effected.

Abstract: A method and system for dimensioning an object are provided. A system for dimensioning an object includes a camera associated with a dimensioning device for acquiring an image of a scene including an object to be dimensioned, and a display associated with the dimensioning device for displaying the scene acquired by the camera. A first indicator is displayed on the display indicative of a first desired position of the object to be dimensioned, and a second indicator is displayed on the display indicative of a second desired position of the object to be dimensioned. A processor is provided for receiving the scene acquired by the camera, the first indicator, and the second indicator, and for determining one or more dimensions of the object to be dimensioned.

Abstract: A user, such as the driver of a vehicle, to retrieve information related to a point of interest (POI) near the vehicle by pointing at the POI or performing some other gesture to identify the POI. Gesture recognition is performed on the gesture to generate a target region that includes the POI that the user identified. After generating the target region, information about the POI can be retrieved by querying a server-based POI service with the target region or by searching in a micromap that is stored locally. The retrieved POI information can then be provided to the user via a display and/or speaker in the vehicle. This process beneficially allows a user to rapidly identify and retrieve information about a POI near the vehicle without having to navigate a user interface by manipulating a touchscreen or physical buttons.