Patents by Inventor Wei Ming

Wei Ming 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).

  • Publication number: 20210097323
    Abstract: In augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) representations of natural scenes that includes text on different kinds of surfaces, real-time text replacement facilitates user involvement with and appreciation of the natural scenes. Determination of surface curvature using a three-dimensional (3D) camera enables determination of consequent textual distortion and necessary compensation in order to read text accurately. Translation, transliteration, or other modification of text and replacement with that text in a natural scene enables a user to participate more fully in the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Junchao WEI, Wei MING, Xiaonong ZHAN
  • Patent number: 10742962
    Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Xiaonong Zhan, Taisuke Akahori
  • Patent number: 10473919
    Abstract: A 3D scanning system includes a base stand, two circular arc shaped support tracks, a mounting assembly for mounting the support tracks to the base stand with one or more degrees of rotational freedom, two sensor holders mounted on the respective support track for holding two depth sensors, and a drive mechanism for driving the sensor holders to move along the respective support tracks. The mounting assembly supports relative rotation of the two support tracks and pitch and roll rotations of the support tracks. To perform a 3D scan, a stationary object is placed in front of the two depth sensors. The sensor holders are moved along the respective support tracks to different positions to obtain depth images of the objects from different angles, from which a 3D surface of the object is constructed. Prior to scanning, the two depth sensors are calibrated relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Yongmian Zhang, Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 10425633
    Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Xiaonong Zhan, Taisuke Akahori
  • Publication number: 20190204588
    Abstract: A 3D scanning system includes a base stand, two circular arc shaped support tracks, a mounting assembly for mounting the support tracks to the base stand with one or more degrees of rotational freedom, two sensor holders mounted on the respective support track for holding two depth sensors, and a drive mechanism for driving the sensor holders to move along the respective support tracks. The mounting assembly supports relative rotation of the two support tracks and pitch and roll rotations of the support tracks. To perform a 3D scan, a stationary object is placed in front of the two depth sensors. The sensor holders are moved along the respective support tracks to different positions to obtain depth images of the objects from different angles, from which a 3D surface of the object is constructed. Prior to scanning, the two depth sensors are calibrated relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Yongmian Zhang, Wei Ming
  • Publication number: 20190149803
    Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Xiaonong Zhan, Taisuke Akahori
  • Patent number: 10201306
    Abstract: A wound image capture method that uses self color compensation to improve color consistency of the captured image and reliability of color-based wound detection. The method uses the skin tone of parts of the patient's own body for color calibration and compensation. In a data registration process, multiple parts of a new patient's body are imaged as baseline images and color data of the baseline images are registered in the system as reference color data. During subsequent wound image capture and wound assessment process, the same parts of the patient's body are imaged again as baseline images, and the wound and its surrounding areas are also imaged. Color data of the newly capture baseline images are compared to the registered reference color data and used to perform color compensation for the wound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Publication number: 20190005325
    Abstract: To identify emphasized text, bounding boxes are based on clusters resulting from horizontal compression and horizontal morphological dilation. The bounding boxes are processed to determine if any contain words or characters in bold. A bounding box is eliminated based on a comparison of its density and an average density across all bounding boxes. If its density is greater, text elements within the bounding box are evaluated to determine whether the text element is bold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Wei MING
  • Patent number: 10169650
    Abstract: To identify emphasized text, bounding boxes are based on clusters resulting from horizontal compression and horizontal morphological dilation. The bounding boxes are processed to determine if any contain words or characters in bold. A bounding box is eliminated based on a comparison of its density and an average density across all bounding boxes. If its density is greater, text elements within the bounding box are evaluated to determine whether the text element is bold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 10070049
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of capturing an image of a wound on a subject for wound assessment. The method includes obtaining an image of a portion of the subject with one or more cameras; displaying the image on a display panel on an imaging device; obtaining a stored condition from a memory; obtaining a present condition; comparing the stored condition and the present condition; displaying a crosshair over the image on the display panel when it is decided that the present condition corresponds to the stored condition on the basis of the comparison; receiving an instruction for capturing; and capturing an image of the wound in response to the received instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC
    Inventors: Kim Chai Ng, Xiaonong Zhan, Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 10037708
    Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and a system for analyzing exam-taking behavior and improving exam-taking skills are disclosed, the method includes obtaining a student answering sequence and timing to an examination having a series of questions; comparing the student answering sequence and timing with results from a statistic analysis of the examination obtained from a plurality of students; and identifying an abnormality in the student answering sequence and timing according to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Yibin Tian
  • Publication number: 20180192029
    Abstract: A wound assessment method which can estimate a moisture level of the wound, and related image capture device. The wound area is imaged at least twice where the wound is illuminated under different illumination light intensities. The first image captured using a relatively low illumination light intensity is analyzed to assess the wound, for example measuring its size, color and texture. The second image captures using a relatively high illumination light intensity (e.g. using a flash) is analyzed to estimate the moisture level of the wound. The moisture level estimation method extracts white connected components from the second image, and estimates the moisture level based on the number, sizes, and centroid distribution of the white connected components. A 3D image of the wound may also be captured, e.g. using a structured-light 3D scanner of the image capture device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Xiaonong Zhan, Taisuke Akahori
  • Patent number: 10013889
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a system for enhancing an interaction between a teacher and a student are disclosed, the method includes receiving video images of a region of interest from a plurality of multi-functional devices; comparing the video images of the region of interest received from the plurality of multi-functional devices; detecting differences in the region of interest of at least one multi-functional device in comparison to the region of interest of the plurality of multi-functional devices; and providing a signal to the at least one multi-functional device based on the detected difference in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Yibin Tian, Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 9965695
    Abstract: A method for binarizing a grayscale document image, which first divides the document image into a plurality of sub-images and determining a type of each sub-image based on a horizontal projection profile and a density of each sub-image, the type being 1: text only, 2: graphics only, 3: photo only, 4: text and graphics, 5: text and photo, 6: graphics and photo, or 7: text and graphics and photo. Then a selected one of first to seventh binarization processes is applied to binarize each sub-image based on its type to generate a binary sub-image. All binary sub-images are then combine to generate a binary image of the grayscale document image. Of the first to seventh binarization processes respectively applied to the first to seventh types of sub-images, at least those for the first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh type are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Publication number: 20180055440
    Abstract: A wound image capture method that uses self color compensation to improve color consistency of the captured image and reliability of color-based wound detection. The method uses the skin tone of parts of the patient's own body for color calibration and compensation. In a data registration process, multiple parts of a new patient's body are imaged as baseline images and color data of the baseline images are registered in the system as reference color data. During subsequent wound image capture and wound assessment process, the same parts of the patient's body are imaged again as baseline images, and the wound and its surrounding areas are also imaged. Color data of the newly capture baseline images are compared to the registered reference color data and used to perform color compensation for the wound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Publication number: 20180005029
    Abstract: A method for recognizing a binary document image as a table, pure text, or flowchart includes calculating a side profile of the image for each of the four sides, calculating a boundary removal size N corresponding to each side based on widths of lines or strokes closest to that side, and for each side, removing a boundary of size N from the document image, and re-calculating the side profile for each side after the removal. Then, based on a comparison of the side profiles and the re-calculated side profiles, the input document image is recognized as a table if all side profiles change from smooth to non-smooth, as pure text if the side profile changes are small, and as a flowchart if the original side profiles contain multiple sharp changes and wide flat regions and if the side profile changes significantly in the previously wide flat regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 9858476
    Abstract: A method for recognizing a binary document image as a table, pure text, or flowchart includes calculating a side profile of the image for each of the four sides, calculating a boundary removal size N corresponding to each side based on widths of lines or strokes closest to that side, and for each side, removing a boundary of size N from the document image, and re-calculating the side profile for each side after the removal. Then, based on a comparison of the side profiles and the re-calculated side profiles, the input document image is recognized as a table if all side profiles change from smooth to non-smooth, as pure text if the side profile changes are small, and as a flowchart if the original side profiles contain multiple sharp changes and wide flat regions and if the side profile changes significantly in the previously wide flat regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 9852499
    Abstract: A method for processing high dynamic range (HDR) images by selecting preferred tone mapping operators and gamut mapping algorithms based on scene classification. Scenes are classified into indoor scenes, outdoor scenes, and scenes with people, and tone mapping operators and gamut mapping algorithms are selected on that basis. Prior to scene classification, the multiple images taken at various exposure values are fused into a low dynamic range (LDR) image using an exposure fusing algorithm, and scene classification is performed using the fused LDR image. Then, the HDR image generated from the multiple images are tone mapped into a LDR image using the selected tone mapping operator and then gamut mapped to the color space of the output device such as printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Wei Ming, Xiaonong Zhan
  • Publication number: 20170104925
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of capturing an image of a wound on a subject for wound assessment. The method includes obtaining an image of a portion of the subject with one or more cameras; displaying the image on a display panel on an imaging device; obtaining a stored condition from a memory; obtaining a present condition; comparing the stored condition and the present condition; displaying a crosshair over the image on the display panel when it is decided that the present condition corresponds to the stored condition on the basis of the comparison; receiving an instruction for capturing; and capturing an image of the wound in response to the received instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: KIM Chai NG, Xiaonong ZHAN, Wei MING
  • Patent number: 9596378
    Abstract: A document authentication method determines the authenticity of a target hardcopy document, which purports to be a true copy of an original hardcopy document. The method compares a binarized image of the target document with a binarized image of the original document which has been stored in a storage device. The image of the original document is generated by binarizing a scanned grayscale image of the original document. Halftone and non-halftone text areas in the grayscale image area separated, and the two types of text are separately binarized. The non-halftone text areas are then down-sampled. During authenticating, a scanned grayscale image of the target document is binarized by separating halftone and non-halftone text areas and binarizing them separately, and then down-sampling the non-halftone text areas. The binarized images of the target document and the original document are compared to determine the authenticity of the target document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA LABORATORY U.S.A., INC.
    Inventors: Xiaonong Zhan, Wei Ming, Songyang Yu