Patents by Inventor Weichun Ku

Weichun Ku 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: 20200053377
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to generating motion vectors. An image signal processor includes a statistics circuit and a vector correlation analysis circuit. The statistics circuit determines image statistics such as vectors representing sums of pixel values of rows or columns of blocks of an image. Additionally, the statistics circuit may mix or aggregate sums of multiple color components. The vector correlation analysis performs cross-correlation between vectors of a current image and reference vectors of a prior image to determine cross-correlation scores. The vector correlation analysis generates a motion vector by identifying shifts in horizontal and vertical directions corresponding to peak values of cross-correlation scores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Muge Wang, Sheng Lin, Weichun Ku, Hsiao-Chen Chang, Yixiang Tao
  • Patent number: 10547863
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to generating motion vectors. An image signal processor includes a statistics circuit and a vector correlation analysis circuit. The statistics circuit determines image statistics such as vectors representing sums of pixel values of rows or columns of blocks of an image. Additionally, the statistics circuit may mix or aggregate sums of multiple color components. The vector correlation analysis performs cross-correlation between vectors of a current image and reference vectors of a prior image to determine cross-correlation scores. The vector correlation analysis generates a motion vector by identifying shifts in horizontal and vertical directions corresponding to peak values of cross-correlation scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Muge Wang, Sheng Lin, Weichun Ku, Hsiao-Chen Chang, Yixiang Tao
  • Patent number: 10158874
    Abstract: System and method for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding pipeline used to encode image data. In embodiments, the video encoding pipeline includes a transcode pipeline that provides entropy encoding of binarized syntax elements. More specifically, multiple bins may be encoded in parallel, resulting in increased encoding throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jim C. Chou, Syed Muhammad Ali Rizvi, Weichun Ku
  • Patent number: 9741099
    Abstract: Systems and methods for local tone mapping are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes an electronic display, an imaging device, and an image signal processor. The electronic display may display images of a first bit depth, and the imaging device may include an image sensor that obtains image data of a higher bit depth than the first bit depth. The image signal processor may process the image data, and may include local tone mapping logic that may apply a spatially varying local tone curve to a pixel of the image data to preserve local contrast when displayed on the display. The local tone mapping logic may smooth the local tone curve applied to the intensity difference between the pixel and another nearby pixel exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Patent number: 9686556
    Abstract: System and method for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding pipeline used to encode image data. In embodiments, the video encoding pipeline includes bit-rate statistics generation that is useful for controlling subsequent bit rates and/or determining encoding operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jim C. Chou, Weichun Ku
  • Publication number: 20170094284
    Abstract: System and method for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding pipeline used to encode image data. In embodiments, the video encoding pipeline includes bit-rate statistics generation that is useful for controlling subsequent bit rates and/or determining encoding operational modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Jim C. Chou, Weichun Ku
  • Publication number: 20170094300
    Abstract: System and method for improving operational efficiency of a video encoding pipeline used to encode image data. In embodiments, the video encoding pipeline includes a transcode pipeline that provides entropy encoding of binarized syntax elements. More specifically, multiple bins may be encoded in parallel, resulting in increased encoding throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Jim C. Chou, Syed Muhammad Ali Rizvi, Weichun Ku
  • Patent number: 9392292
    Abstract: A video encoder may include a context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) encode component that converts each syntax element of a representation of a block of pixels to binary code, serializes it, and codes it mathematically with its probability model, after which the resulting bit stream is output. When the probability of a bin being coded with one of two possible symbols is one-half, the bin may be coded using bypass bin coding mode rather than a more compute-intensive regular bin coding mode. The CABAC encoder may code multiple consecutive bypass bins in a series of cascaded processing units during a single processing cycle (e.g., a regular bin coding cycle). Intermediate outputs of each processing unit may be coupled to inputs of the next processing unit. A resolver unit may accept intermediate outputs of the processing units and generate final output bits for the bypass bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Weichun Ku, Jim C. Chou
  • Patent number: 9351003
    Abstract: A video encoder may include a context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) encode component that converts each syntax element of a representation of a block of pixels to binary code, serializes it, and codes it mathematically, after which the resulting bit stream is output. A lookup table in memory and a context cache may store probability values for supported contexts, which may be retrieved from the table or cache for use in coding syntax elements. Depending on the results of a syntax element coding, the probability value for its context may be modified (e.g., increased or decreased) in the cache and, subsequently, in the table. After coding multiple syntax elements, and based on observed access patterns for probability values, a mapping or indexing for the cache or the table may be modified to improve cache performance (e.g., to reduce cache misses or access data for related contexts using fewer accesses).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Weichun Ku, Jim C. Chou
  • Patent number: 9224187
    Abstract: Blocks of pixels from a video frame may be encoded in a block processing pipeline using wavefront ordering, e.g. according to knight's order. Each of the encoded blocks may be written to a particular one of multiple buffers such that the blocks written to each of the buffers represent consecutive blocks of the frame in scan order. Stitching information may be written to the buffers at the end of each row. A stitcher may read the rows from the buffers in order and generate a scan order output stream for the frame. The stitcher component may read the stitching information at the end of each row and apply the stitching information to one or more blocks at the beginning of a next row to stitch the next row to the previous row. Stitching may involve modifying pixel(s) of the blocks and/or modifying metadata for the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Jim C. Chou, Timothy John Millet, Manching Ko, Weichun Ku
  • Publication number: 20150348246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for local tone mapping are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes an electronic display, an imaging device, and an image signal processor. The electronic display may display images of a first bit depth, and the imaging device may include an image sensor that obtains image data of a higher bit depth than the first bit depth. The image signal processor may process the image data, and may include local tone mapping logic that may apply a spatially varying local tone curve to a pixel of the image data to preserve local contrast when displayed on the display. The local tone mapping logic may smooth the local tone curve applied to the intensity difference between the pixel and another nearby pixel exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Patent number: 9105078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for local tone mapping are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes an electronic display, an imaging device, and an image signal processor. The electronic display may display images of a first bit depth, and the imaging device may include an image sensor that obtains image data of a higher bit depth than the first bit depth. The image signal processor may process the image data, and may include local tone mapping logic that may apply a spatially varying local tone curve to a pixel of the image data to preserve local contrast when displayed on the display. The local tone mapping logic may smooth the local tone curve applied to the intensity difference between the pixel and another nearby pixel exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Patent number: 9077943
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating local image statistics are provided. In one example, an image signal processing system may include a statistics pipeline with image processing logic and local image statistics collection logic. The image processing logic may receive and process pixels of raw image data. The local image statistics collection logic may generate a local histogram associated with a luminance of the pixels of a first block of pixels of the raw image data or a thumbnail in which a pixel of the thumbnail represents a downscaled version of the luminance of the pixels of the first block of the pixel. The raw image data may include many other blocks of pixels of the same size as the first block of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Publication number: 20150092834
    Abstract: A video encoder may include a context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) encode component that converts each syntax element of a representation of a block of pixels to binary code, serializes it, and codes it mathematically, after which the resulting bit stream is output. A lookup table in memory and a context cache may store probability values for supported contexts, which may be retrieved from the table or cache for use in coding syntax elements. Depending on the results of a syntax element coding, the probability value for its context may be modified (e.g., increased or decreased) in the cache and, subsequently, in the table. After coding multiple syntax elements, and based on observed access patterns for probability values, a mapping or indexing for the cache or the table may be modified to improve cache performance (e.g., to reduce cache misses or access data for related contexts using fewer accesses).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Weichun Ku, Jim C. Chou
  • Publication number: 20150092833
    Abstract: A video encoder may include a context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) encode component that converts each syntax element of a representation of a block of pixels to binary code, serializes it, and codes it mathematically with its probability model, after which the resulting bit stream is output. When the probability of a bin being coded with one of two possible symbols is one-half, the bin may be coded using bypass bin coding mode rather than a more compute-intensive regular bin coding mode. The CABAC encoder may code multiple consecutive bypass bins in a series of cascaded processing units during a single processing cycle (e.g., a regular bin coding cycle). Intermediate outputs of each processing unit may be coupled to inputs of the next processing unit. A resolver unit may accept intermediate outputs of the processing units and generate final output bits for the bypass bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Weichun Ku, Jim C. Chou
  • Publication number: 20150091927
    Abstract: Blocks of pixels from a video frame may be encoded in a block processing pipeline using wavefront ordering, e.g. according to knight's order. Each of the encoded blocks may be written to a particular one of multiple buffers such that the blocks written to each of the buffers represent consecutive blocks of the frame in scan order. Stitching information may be written to the buffers at the end of each row. A stitcher may read the rows from the buffers in order and generate a scan order output stream for the frame. The stitcher component may read the stitching information at the end of each row and apply the stitching information to one or more blocks at the beginning of a next row to stitch the next row to the previous row. Stitching may involve modifying pixel(s) of the blocks and/or modifying metadata for the blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Jim C. Chou, Timothy John Millet, Manching Ko, Weichun Ku
  • Publication number: 20130322745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating local image statistics are provided. In one example, an image signal processing system may include a statistics pipeline with image processing logic and local image statistics collection logic. The image processing logic may receive and process pixels of raw image data. The local image statistics collection logic may generate a local histogram associated with a luminance of the pixels of a first block of pixels of the raw image data or a thumbnail in which a pixel of the thumbnail represents a downscaled version of the luminance of the pixels of the first block of the pixel. The raw image data may include many other blocks of pixels of the same size as the first block of pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Publication number: 20130322753
    Abstract: Systems and methods for local tone mapping are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes an electronic display, an imaging device, and an image signal processor. The electronic display may display images of a first bit depth, and the imaging device may include an image sensor that obtains image data of a higher bit depth than the first bit depth. The image signal processor may process the image data, and may include local tone mapping logic that may apply a spatially varying local tone curve to a pixel of the image data to preserve local contrast when displayed on the display. The local tone mapping logic may smooth the local tone curve applied to the intensity difference between the pixel and another nearby pixel exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
  • Publication number: 20110307759
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a direct memory access (DMA) controller comprises a transmit control circuit, an offload engine, and a receive control circuit. The transmit control circuit is configured to read first DMA data from an address space in a host. Coupled to receive the first DMA data from the transmit control circuit, the offload engine is configured to perform at least a first operation on the first DMA data to produce a result. The offload engine is configured to at least start performing the first operation during a DMA transfer that provides the first DMA data to the offload engine. Coupled to the offload engine to receive the result, the receive control circuit is configured to write the result to the address space in the host according to a DMA descriptor data structure that describes the DMA transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Dominic Go, Mark D. Hayter, Zongjian Chen, Weichun Ku
  • Patent number: 8028103
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a direct memory access (DMA) controller comprises a transmit control circuit, an offload engine, and a receive control circuit. The transmit control circuit is configured to read first DMA data from an address space in a host. Coupled to receive the first DMA data from the transmit control circuit, the offload engine is configured to perform at least a first operation on the first DMA data to produce a result. The offload engine is configured to at least start performing the first operation during a DMA transfer that provides the first DMA data to the offload engine. Coupled to the offload engine to receive the result, the receive control circuit is configured to write the result to the address space in the host according to a DMA descriptor data structure that describes the DMA transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic Go, Mark D. Hayter, Zongjian Chen, Weichun Ku